The next day passed by without much happening, which surprised me. I expected to get into some sort of trouble for attacking a student of the Solarian Imperial Academy. Granted, I did so in self defense, but still. There should've been some kind of reaction from the academy's faculty. However, nothing happened. Or perhaps something had happened, but my parents took care of it for me.

Regardless, I suffered no official consequences for my altercation with Lady Daisy. As for any unofficial consequences, that remained to be seen.

With nothing on my agenda until the ball, which would take place in the evening, I focused on my cultivation and training. Aurora cultivated with me. Well, sort of. She just spent the entire time eating Ice elemental crystals, the little glutton. However, since I benefited from it as well, I made no comment.

Aurora did help me with mastering my affinity for Ice. As the spirit of a frost drake, Ice was a fundamental part of her being. Plus, the only reason why I had an affinity for Ice in the first place was because of my contract with her. This made her the perfect teacher for me. However, she didn't lecture or explain anything.

Instead, she used our bond to help me experience what it meant to use Ice. This was a strange but effective way to learn. As Aurora used Ice, it felt like I was the one doing it. It accelerated my proficiency, to the point where I could begin using Ice in my techniques. However, I still had a ways to go before achieving mastery.

At some point, Leroy, Lorelei, and Corrie joined me as well. They focused on their own training, though I offered them some insights and pointers from time to time. Already used to this, Leroy accepted my advice without question. Lorelei and Corrie on the other hand were more skeptical.

After all, I was about the same age as them. I couldn't be that much ahead. However, they looked shocked when they put my advice into practice and realized just how effective it was. From that point on, they became far more amenable.

In fact, Lorelei even offered some of her own insights into Ice. While her knowledge wasn't as deep as Aurora's, they came from a human perspective, which proved more beneficial than I expected.

Kaylee came by at some point. She didn't join us in training, or interacted with us at all really. Instead, she just watched us with an inscrutable expression on her face. While she kept an eye on everyone, she focused her attention on me. Perhaps she still found it difficult to believe that her older brother, the failed wizard, turned out to be a talented martial artist.

After watching us a while, Kaylee left.

Training ended when afternoon rolled around. My family and I prepared for the upcoming ball, while the others visited Sanctuary. Lorelei and Corrie weren't students, nor were they related to Kaylee, so they had no reason to attend the ball. However, they didn't want to stay in the manor doing nothing, so they decided to head into town.

I didn't need Leroy with me for the ball, so I told him to join Lorelei and Corrie. He didn't even pretend to hesitate. This deepened my suspicions about his feelings for Corrie.

And so time passed in the blink of an eye. When evening arrived, my family and I headed to the ball.

The Solarian Imperial Academy had a dedicated ballroom, located within one of the academy's central buildings. It was a circular room, two-stories high, with a glass skylight as the ceiling. This allowed the guests to gaze upon the evening sky unimpeded. A balcony wrapped around the second floor, held up by pillars. Dozens of floating lights illuminated the room, like stars that had come down to the mortal world.

The dancing area took up most of the first floor. Tables laden with drinks and light refreshments took up the rest. Meanwhile, the second floor was reserved for guests who wanted to take a break from dancing in order to rest their feet. This also made it the perfect place to chat and mingle.

Beautiful music came from an unseen source. It seemed to echo throughout the entire ballroom. Was this a result of good acoustics, or some kind of spell?

Hundreds of people filled the ballroom. About half danced, while the rest either lingered at the refreshment tables or socialized on the second floor. The smell of cologne, perfume, scented oils filled the air, mingling together into a dizzying fume.

My family and I arrived late, about half an hour after the ball started. Part of it was to establish our status, and part of it was because we walked here. We could've taken a carriage, but the ballroom was close enough to the manor that we decided not to bother. It was summer, so it was still light out by the time we left.

Father and I wore matching outfits, black and blue with silver accents, with our hair styled in a similar manner. Mother and Kaylee wore dresses that matched the color of their eyes: brilliant green for the former, and silvery-blue for the latter. Like Father and I, they also had their hair styled in a similar manner, to show off that they were mother and daughter.

Despite this, they exuded different airs. Mother appeared elegant and graceful, with a hint of fire beneath the surface. Meanwhile, Kaylee appeared cold and foreboding, but oddly compelling. They made for an interesting contrast.

The moment my family arrived, we attracted a lot of attention. Unsurprising, given House Sturm's status. Everyone wanted to forge a connection with us for their own benefit.

A crowd surrounded us. The students, both male and female, swarmed Kaylee. Meanwhile, their parents focused on Father and Mother. I was the odd one out. While I attracted some attention, most just gave me polite greetings before focusing on the other members of my family.

This didn't surprise me. I was somewhat famous, or infamous rather, in high society for my lack of talent with magic. Most thought that I was out of favor within House Sturm because of this, so they saw no reason to curry favor with me. However, I was still a Sturm, so they didn't dare outright snub me.

Rather than feel upset about being ignored by high society, I felt relieved. It wasn't until we arrived at the ball that I realized just how much I disliked these events. They made me feel suffocated and constrained. The only reason why I was participating in this ball was out of obligation.

After a while, my family and I broke free from the crowd and made it to the dance floor. Father and Mother partnered with each other, while I partnered with Kaylee.

"Are you alright?" My sister asked as soon as we started dancing, speaking in a low voice.

I gave her a questioning look.

"Yes." I said. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Kaylee studied me for a moment, before she let out a light laugh.

"Nevermind." She said. "It appeared that I was worried for nothing."

The answer came to me a moment later.

"Are you referring to earlier, when everyone ignored me?" I asked.

Kaylee nodded. I chuckled. So that's what she meant. In my first life, during the few times I attended high society events with my family, I always turned sullen whenever people ignored me in favor of the rest of my family.

"I'm not the same person I used to be." I said.

Kaylee and I separated for the next part of the dance, so she didn't respond right away.

"So I've noticed." My sister said when we came together again. "I like the new you." She grimaced. "In the past, you were… Unpleasant to be around."

"I know." I said. "However, I had good reason to be."

Kaylee's lips became flat.

"I suppose so," she said, "given the way everyone treated you, myself included." She shook her head. "I wasn't the best person back then either, now that I think about it. To be honest, I looked down on you. How arrogant and conceited of me. It wasn't until after the Incident that I realized how much I loved you, and how much I regretted my actions."

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"Why don't we agree that we weren't the best siblings to each other and leave it at that?" I asked. "We have the opportunity to start over and try again. Let's do a better job this time around. What do you say?"

Kaylee gave me a smile.

"Sounds like a plan." She said.

My sister and I spent the rest of the dance in silence. After it ended, the two of us left the dance floor. When the other young men in attendance realized that Kaylee was available, they swarmed her, hoping for a chance to dance with her.

I gave my sister a questioning look, asking her what she wanted to do. With my strength and status, I was more than capable of fending off this crowd. To be honest, I was tempted. Who did these assholes think they were? Did they think they were worthy of my sister? However, Kaylee was more than capable of handling herself, so I left the decision up to her.

Kaylee shook her head at me.

"I'll be fine." She mouthed.

I shrugged, and took a step back. Soon, the young men formed an impenetrable wall around my sister. I resisted the urge to start kicking between legs and grabbed a glass of wine from the refreshment table. Afterwards, I went upstairs to the balcony and claimed a quiet corner all to myself.

I wasn't interested in dancing with anyone but my family members, so I saw no reason to remain on the first floor. If Anna or Cally were here, I'd dance with them. However, the young ladies attending this ball held no appeal for me. Besides, the only young ladies who wanted to dance with me were the ones who wanted to use me as a stepping stone to the rest of my family.

So, for the sake of my sanity, I decided to become an antisocial wallflower. At least, that was the plan. However, a few minutes after I settled down in my corner, a young man and a young woman came up to me. A couple, I assumed. I wasn't familiar with the young man, but I knew the young woman.

"Lady Daisy," I said, giving her an annoyed look, "what an unexpected and unwelcome surprise. I expected to never see you again."

Lady Daisy glared at me, but didn't say a word. She wore a yellow dress which looked good on her, I had to admit. I disliked Lady Daisy, but I wasn't blind. Still, she had nothing on Annabelle. This led me to wonder what Annabelle looked like wearing a dress. Now that was something I looked forward to seeing.

"So, you're the one who assaulted my fiancée." The man said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I took a closer look at him. The man had a slight tan, short dark hair, and brown eyes. I guessed he was the same age as me, a little older at most. He wore a black and green outfit, which looked decent on him. As for his features, they were passable. However, he would look much better without that sneer on his face.

"And you are?" I asked him.

"I am Lord Ashton Simms of House Simms." The young man said, drawing himself up to his full height. However, since he was shorter than me, it failed to have the intended effect. "And I know exactly who you are, Lord Gabriel Sturm." His sneer deepened. "A pathetic weakling lacking in magic, an embarrassment to House Sturm."

I raised an eyebrow at him. His insults confused rather than offended me. If he was Lady Daisy's fiancé, then he was likely also from a lesser House. Despite my (in)famy in high society, there was no way someone like him would dare insult me to my face like this. So, what gave him his courage?

I looked around. Almost right away, a young woman sitting a short distance away caught my eye. She was fair-skinned, with wavy brown hair and gorgeous amber eyes. Her purple dress shimmered due to the diamonds sewn into it. She looked a few years older than me. I sensed that she just recently reached Third Circle. An impressive feat for someone her age.

The young woman sat alone, lounging in her seat, watching the three of us with an amused smirk on her face. That was what drew my attention in the first place. My intuition told me that she was the reason behind Lord Ashton's bravery.

The young woman seemed familiar, though it took me a moment to remember her. What was her name again? Oh, right. It all came back to me in an instant.

Lady Emmaline Montgomery of House Montgomery. She came from another great House, one on bad terms with House Sturm. Not quite enemies, but definitely not friends either.

I encountered Lady Emmaline once before, during my first life, before the Incident. She was one of the reasons why I disliked attending high society events. It happened at a garden party held in Sunheart. I don't remember what exactly happened, but Lady Emmaline humiliated me in front of a large crowd. What did she do again? Oh, right. She used magic to douse me with wine.

Afterwards, her House paid House Sturm compensation for the insult. However, by that point, the damage had already been done. I holed up in my room for weeks after that incident. It spurred me towards becoming a better wizard, no matter the cost.

Now here she was, stirring up trouble for me again. Well, I wasn't the same Gabriel Sturm as before. Things wouldn't go her way this time.

"Oh, Ashton," Lady Daisy said in a sickeningly sweet tone, "be nice. No need to mock the less capable."

Lord Ashton barked out a laugh.

"You're right, My Dear." He said. "As long as Lord Gabriel apologizes for harming you, I'm more than willing to let bygones be bygones."

The two of them gave me expectant looks. Instead of answering them, I yawned.

"Are you two done?" I asked in a faux tired voice. "I was rather enjoying my glass of wine, and I'd rather get back to it. You bore me."

Lord Ashton's face twisted with anger. He opened his mouth. However, before he could say anything, I spoke up first.

"Take care, Lord Ashton." I said. "You might think you have Lady Emmaline's backing, but if things become too troublesome, she'll dispose of you like the pawn you are."

Lord Ashton and Lady Daisy both gave me surprised looks.

"How did-?" Lord Ashton started to say, but then shut his mouth.

I smirked at him. While I suspected that Lady Emmaline was using these two to mess with me, I hadn't known for sure. Lord Ashton's words confirmed my suspicions.

"Do you think I'm afraid of you?" Lord Ashton said, trying to recover his earlier bravado. "You're nothing more than dead weight to your House. As soon as Lady Kaylee becomes the heir, House Sturm will cut you loose. Let's see if you can still act brave then."

Right. That was enough of that.

I placed my wine glass on a nearby table, before kicking Lord Ashton in the chest.

Caught off guard, he wasn't able to muster any kind of defense. He stumbled backwards, almost taking Lady Daisy with him. However, she managed to free herself in time.

"What are you doing?" She cried out.

I ignored her and marched over to Lord Ashton. He hunched over, trying to recover his breath. However, I didn't give him the chance. I grabbed the front of his outfit with one hand and dragged him to the balcony's railing, before pushing him halfway over it.

By that point, the only thing that kept him from falling to the first floor was my grip on his outfit. Lord Ashton flailed, trying and failing to find purchase. His fate was in my hands.

"Stop!" Lady Daisy said. "Let go of him!"

I grinned at her.

"Okay."

I let go of Lord Ashton for a brief moment, let him fall for a bit, before grabbing him again.

"Don't let go!" Lord Ashton yelled. "Please, don't let go!"

By this point, we had attracted a lot of attention. The other guests stared at us with wide eyes, and regarded me as some sort of mad man. I mean, attacking another guest at a high society event just wasn't done. Despite that, no one moved to intervene.

"Now then," I said, looking at Lord Ashton, "what were you saying about me?"

"I'm sorry!" He cried out. "Forgive me! Please, just pull me up!"

I leaned in closer and cupped my ear with my free hand.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" I asked. "I didn't catch that. What are you apologizing for?" I loosened my grip on his outfit. "You'd better hurry. I'm starting to get tired."

"I'm sorry for insulting you, Lord Gabriel!"

I nodded.

"And? What else did you do?"

Lord Ashton gave me a panicked look. Clearly, he didn't understand the depths of his sins.

"You dared to make careless comments about House Sturm's succession." I said, giving him a hard look. "My House's internal workings have nothing to do with the likes of you."

Lord Ashton gave me a frantic nod.

"I apologize for that as well!" He said. "I won't do it again!"

"For your sake, I hope so." I said, before pulling Lord Ashton back from the railing and throwing him to the ground.

I considered dragging this out for longer, but decided against it. I didn't know when a member of the faculty would come and interfere. It was best to end things now, while I still held the upper hand.

"This is the second time you've annoyed me." I said to Lady Daisy. "Don't let there be a third."

Lady Daisy looked like she wanted to say something, but kept her mouth shut in the end. Instead, she nodded before rushing over to tend to her fiancé. I ignored them both, before walking back over to my glass of wine and picking it up. Afterwards, I settled in my corner again and acted as if nothing had happened.

The other guests stared at me for several moments, before they turned away and went back to their own business. However, people kept glancing at me from time to time. They regarded me the same way they would a wild animal. However, since I hadn't targeted any of them, they couldn't contain their curiosity.

A member of the faculty came by to investigate the commotion. However, no one said anything. Even Lord Ashton and Lady Daisy kept their mouths shut. After a while, the faculty member left, frustrated and annoyed.

As for Lady Emmaline, I didn't look at her at all. While I could deal with her right now, she wasn't worth the effort or attention. The only time we would interact with each other was during high society events, and I didn't plan on attending many of those. However, if she continued messing with me, I would have to change my mind.

The rest of the ball passed by without incident. I danced once more, this time with Mother, but otherwise kept to myself. Everyone else was content to leave me alone, including Lady Emmaline.

It was well after midnight by the time my family and I left the ball. When we met up again, Kaylee frowned at me. I suspected she knew about the incident involving Lord Ashton and Lady Daisy. However, she didn't say anything about it, so neither did I.

A few days later, my brief stay at the Solarian Imperial Academy ended.

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