His hands adjusted his tie, looking in the mirror, and his red eyes flashed. This is going to be a big one. Stay sharp.
Despite not having been to many parties, Wilheim was well equipped with the art of getting ready. It was such a good routine, even a ritual before something important. Carefully buttoning up the crisp white shirt, freshly delivered. Delicately pulling on the black, smart dress trousers. The tailcoat, reaching down to the back of his thighs, and the red silk tie, impossibly smooth. And the one of the single splashes of colour on his outfit- a blue and cyan handkerchief, surely not representing anyone…? He picked up his hat from where it lay on the bed, and fit it on his head, as perfect as the day he was given it. The magic inside it shimmered, from the wide brim to the tip of the feather, and it sent shivers through him.
Wilheim headed outside, and blinked at the light, seeing Teivel and Eri on the parkour he’d recently made outside his house. Eri seemed to be struggling with it, while Teivel managed it with ease. His heart went out to the young one, just a bit. She had SUCH a work ethic, and was really trying hard for it, and he felt bad that she struggled. Teivel looked gorgeous though. She was wearing an open shoulder, low back, above-the-knee dark dress, and they all made their way to Andor’s house before the official invitation was sent out. SO many people turned up, like Elpi, Matern, obviously the Gossip Girls, Éden, Emissary, even Gale, who didn’t eat! Both Emissary’s dress and Matern’s suit took Wilheim’s breath away. He felt like the world got quieter when he saw them both, becoming lost in gazing at them, finding a limitless void of aquamarine ocean in the soft tones of the green and pink of Emissary’s eyes. He found fields of endless flowing grass, easy, warm sunlight, and a coniferous forest gently swaying in a calm breeze, all while being lost in Matern’s.
Shaking himself out of his distraction, Wilheim repeated Andor’s words and warnings to the assembled parties. “Everyone must be on their guard. This dinner is hosted by, for all intents and purposes- a lunatic, so we need to keep our eyes up.” Wilheim was unsure about bringing kids, like Esme, Eri and one of Elpi’s newborns, Alphie, and Andor was also apprehensive of this, but ultimately the kids came along too.
They all got to the waiting room where the puzzles started. Teivel immediately found a lodestone compass, whereas someone else managed to find a key, which opened a safe upstairs, that opened the door to the warp plate that led to the hall. Inside, the hall was one of the grandest rooms that Wilheim had been in for a LONG time, with impressive windows, gothic decor, and even voids behind the main arches. The sheer amount of different reds in use was somewhat amazing to him. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Elpi stealing one of the Spirit Dividers that were placed decorationally around the hall, and quickly approached them about it. “Why are you stealing those?” He asked quietly. “Because I dont want anyone to use them against us.” Elpi hissed back. “Elpi- if we can’t beat people using Spirit dividers against us, then we are the problem.” Wilheim replied, before taking his seat beside Matern, who was between him and Emissary. His heartbeat quickened. He couldn't tell if it was because he was next to BOTH of them or because of the uncertainty of what was about to happen.
Salvius announced that he would be running late, but encouraged all “participants” to dig into the food on the table. Somewhat apprehensively, everyone started eating, but Wilheim wasn’t worried about the food. If they wanted to kill us, it wouldn’t be through poison. The meal ended up growing more light hearted, with jokes being thrown around, and soon enough, an invisible horned character appeared on the table, holding a glass of wine. After some exchanged words, and questions asked from the gathered party (and a concerned question from Elpi, regarding whether Salvius was responsible for terrorising him and the kids, to which he had “no idea”.) Wilheim remained calm and relaxed, but was constantly checking what he could hear around him, no tell-tale clanking of bones, no banging of armour and weapons, no soft toeing of Nightmare Stalkers, or heavy footfalls of a Warped Mosco. It was just them. For now.
Wilheim and Andor passed notes frequently, debating about whether helping It with the soul experiments, and both agreed that an eye on the inside would be good, but still dangerous. Overall, they didn’t reach a conclusion, since Andor offered themselves as a partner, without any questions. Wilheim was shocked briefly, not expecting them to be so game for it, but it was when Andor disappeared that the sense of dread grew exponentially. The hairs on the back of his neck pricked up as his instincts kicked in, and leapt on the table. “When I say “backs to the wall”, you put your backs to the wall.” He spoke up, adrenaline already pumping. They all crowded on the table, keeping an eye on the kids, and as It continued speaking, it asked if they wanted some fun.
Wilheim sighed. “Sure, why not.” There were several moments of tense silence, and it was then that he said it. “Backs to the wall!” It wasn’t a moment too soon. Blindness clouded the vision of everyone, and the amount of mobs that appeared from thin air was monumental. Wilheim found his milk immediately and downed it, and leapt into battle with his axe. To and fro he slashed, before seeing Matern get downed, although Emissary was able to get to her in time. Wilheim splashed healing on them both, and jumped back in, where a second wave of darkness overcame them all. He got some milk again, and switched to his original two swords. Other weapons with diverse powers were useful, but they couldn’t beat the comfort in the handles of the two Soulbanes in his hands, tearing through bone and metal like paper. Wardens, Moscos, Bonescaller, Thrasher… none escaped the Death of Duty. Until Emissary was downed as well. He could get there in time. Jumping through the air, his swords clattered to the ground as he helped revive Emissary with Matern. Helping him to his feet, Emissary wobbled a bit, but stood strong. Wilheim grabbed both of their shoulders. “Are you both ok?” He panted. “Drink some of this coffee. It’ll help.” Both of them nodded, and for good measure, Wilheim splashed healing on them, and jumped away. Dozens more mobs fell, before the fog finally cleared and the final skeleton was slain. And as they all accounted for each other, one person did not meet Wilheim’s eyes. His heart sinking, he instinctively grabbed the hand of the closest person, which happened to be Matern, as the realisation set in.
“Emissary…” He whispered. Matern shot a concerned look at him, and her sharp gaze shot around the room. “Emissary…” Her voice trembled, and they raised a cry, calling his name, everyone joining in, but there was no response, no nothing.
He was gone.