The Banquet

Eren went to the banquet unchaperoned.

Murray dropped him off at the gates of the Academy and he was left to make his way into the building.

Sid was waiting at the gates.

He had an unlit cigar stuck between his lips, and, in that suit, it gave him the air of a hardened detective.

When he saw Eren, he did a double take at Eren and whistled.

“You clean up nice, I can’t lie.” He said.

Eren grinned at him. “Different days, different person.”

They clasped hands in a handshake and together they ambled into the Academy.

From a distance away, Eren could make out the lights in the banquet hall.

When they entered the grand hall, they were immediately struck by the opulence on display.

Chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting a warm glow over the marble floors where elegantly dressed guests mingled and made conversation.

Round tables dotted the room.

Each table held a vase of freshly cut flowers and a set of silver cutlery.

Glasses stood next to bottles