Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

A week had passed since the news of the heir made rounds through the Athenian streets, and now that things had settled, a gathering of seventy-one guests was arranged at the mansion 'Phordite. Among them were the hero's allies, potential partners, and even those with whom he had dubious relations. However, nobody questioned each other's presence, for they were all very aware of the seriousness of the topic that had drawn them there.

"That's the queen of Elenaris! Mono Aurarelia. Gods! She's beautiful…" Standing by a table with her friends with a glass of bubbling wine in hand, Aura clenched her pearls while her eyes wandered everywhere. From Mono to Shamisha, even a dragoness and the rebel leaders of Lululalia, absolutely everyone of note was present and mingling with each other.

"No wonder she's talking to our king," said Mako, her old grey eyes focused on Mono's spiralling golden locks as she conversed with the king and the queen.

"Who's that woman beside her, though?" Her daughter asked, taking a sip of the wine and staring at the machina standing tall beside the foreign queen.

"If I'm not wrong, that would be Grace–they say she's as old as the queen. Two hundred and fifty something years," to Aura's response, the girls gasped. Seeing their youthful look, none of them could've expected them to be so old. But since a machina's age wasn't a concept they could understand, they remained confused a while longer until Tanya came back with a tray of dessert.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the open garden, the Red Madam had set Amedith down and was thoroughly inspecting his darkened nails. A look of disappointment rested on her lips, she even clicked her tongue every time her fingers moved from one set of nails to the other.

"Aughh, such a travesty…" Scoffing out loud, the old woman glanced up at the warrior's face. His face had suddenly grown more feminine since he'd woken up, and his hair had also grown into a fine and curly bunch, giving him an even more refined look of a woman. But unlike the last time, where he seemed like a cute girl, now he appeared more mature with a razor sharp look carried by his long lashes. "It's a shame how much you remind me of myself, boy–but know this, dark polish doesn't suit you in the least; try something more delicate."

"What are you talking about?" Pulling his hands away, Amedith grabbed onto Liliyana's hands which had been looming right beside him. "I didn't paint my nails, they turned dark since my powers were unleashed. I just want you to tell me if you can paint them to look normal again!"

"I think they look good as they are," Liliyana teased with a smirk, but rolling his eyes, Amedith turned his attention back to the front.

Humming at the request, the Red Madame pondered for a bit, her eyes digging a hole in the back of Amedith's hand.

"I can try, no promises." Not entirely sure how she would paint his nails to make them appear normal, the madam made the promise with no real way of knowing whether she could make it work or not.

Before the conversation was over, however, Mel walked up to the group–dressed lavishly in an elven garb with dazzling adorns. Stopping next to the madam–the person who'd just given her the dress–she cast a scornful gaze down at her.

"Everything is one or two sizes small…" With much bewilderment, the Madam looked up at her, and sure enough, the clothes were tighter than she'd expected. But upon looking closer, it took only a few seconds for her to realize why that was.

"You've grown…like Amedith." Shaking her head, the old woman looked around at the many faces. In each one of them, she could see a difference–a difference that wasn't there when she'd taken their measurements the last time. "You've all grown. By the goddess, did you all plan this out together somehow or something?"

Although as confused as her, the crowd had already accepted that reality. Ever since waking up, their bodies had been changing, and now the change was nearing new heights. From the strength of their muscles to the appearance of their body, even their magic was undergoing change–and that could especially be seen in the priestess.

Glowing like a blooming flower drizzled with morning dew, Erika was off in another corner with her skin brimming with a silver glow of holy magic. With her was Maria, and together the two were going through some verses in the goddess's tome. After being reunited with her soul, the ex-queen had decided to become a priestess as well. And under the guidance of Erika, she was being taught, all the while, the clergymen, both Rowen and Ray, were handling Tanya's forgotten child right next to them.

And it wasn't just them taking care of children, for Aerin had brought in the baby yak to the gathering as well. Standing by his father–Rose's male yak, the little horned devil was being groomed with a comb by Mino after she was just done with the adult. Meanwhile, in the background, Rose and Brenna were both talking about their recent experiences, and since Lady Gray too was invited, the trio's small talk turned into gossip about the king's new heir.

Far from done, Maine and Arche, along with Aria, had gathered under the gazebo as Maine's enlarged size after having consumed her mother's arm was getting in the way of the guests. Sure, the Lamia had garnered a great many powers, but her tail always remained a problem amongst a crowd. The same spelt true for Amelia and Ophelia, and thus, they too had confined themselves under a different gazebo.

"What are we all waiting for exactly?" Amelia asked, having grown tired of waiting for seemingly nothing.

"Raven should address everyone soon; he has new roles and alliances for us to work on." Taking a sip of her wine, Ophelia closed her eyes for a moment before opening them back up. Looking to the other centuarian, she added. "A one-year plan or something like that, I'm not sure either, but it's supposed to be his biggest move yet."

"I'm not sure how he hopes to change how everything works, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see, huh?" As Amelia lifted her glass, finally, Tan walked up the temporary stage made near the entrance of the mansion. There, with a profound voice, he declared.

"I'm glad you're here, everyone. My master will address you shortly. Until then, let's enjoy this gathering for a few minutes more." And with that, the main dishes were rolled out into the crowd. All the while, Raven was getting himself ready to make perhaps the most important announcement of his life thus far…