[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/gdZhxlc.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/AldUxWF.png[/img]

[i][color=LightSteelBlue]Time: The Evening of Sola 23rd[/color] 
[color=LightSteelBlue]Location: Damien Estate Ballroom[/color] 
[color=LightSteelBlue]Mentions/Interactions:[/color][@SilverPaw] Wulfric, [@princess] Calbert[/i][/center]

Clad in the black and gold glory of his meticulously crafted masquerade ensemble, Cassius paraded and swayed through the elegant and timeless ballroom with all the smugness and swagger of a very proud man. That pride swelled with each step, fueled by the knowledge that he had left an indelible impression on Prince Wulfric. It might not have been the impression he initially intended, but the good prince would remember his name and when all is said and done that in of itself was enough for Cas to feel as though he had won the night. To be remembered is the only real victory, after all. 

Other meetings unfolded and impressions were made as Cassius wove through the crowd, the grand ballroom becoming a stage for his theatrics of picking moments to mingle and grace the beautiful nobility in attendance with his presence…wielding his special brand of charm and grandeur as his weapon of choice for the evening. Each interaction, no matter how small, became a piece of the intricate social tapestry being interlaced within the walls of the Damien Estate as Cassius continued to feign ignorance of the fact that his father was approaching from across the room. 
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[u]The Evening of Sola 23rd, Twelve Years Ago[/u]

In the dense forest a few miles outside the small Varian village of Dren, rain poured relentlessly, turning the ground into a muddy battlefield. A younger Cassius, no older than 15, clad in worn-out clothes, stood shivering in the harsh cold. Across from him stood a cruel mercenary trainer named Balen, who was known for his ruthless methods…one of the Iron Wolves [i]finest[/i].

Balen’s voice cut through the sound of raindrops hitting the leaves as he barked orders. [color=Red]"Again! You call that an attack? Pathetic!"[/color]

Cassius, struggling to maintain his balance in the slippery terrain as exhausted as he was, raised his sword weakly and attempted a strike. Balen swiftly dodged the attack, delivering a harsh blow to the young man's side. He winced in pain but did not fall. He knew what would happen if he fell. 

[color=Red]"You're weak, Vael! If you can't handle a little rain, how are you gonna make it through a real battle?"[/color] The brute’s words were laced with disdain. Despite the fatigue and pain, Cassius returned to his attack position. Mud clung to his clothes and matted his hair..his eyes, however, burned with determination. The trainer circled him, a wicked smile playing on his lips. [color=Red]"You're not worth the coin they're paying me, boy…but I'll make something out of you yet. Do it again!"[/color]

Once more Cassius lunged towards his trainer, this time with a flurry of attacks. Each one grew in desperation from the last, but again not even one of his strikes landed. Balen’s fist thrusted upwards into Cas’s ribs hard, the sound of the thud could be heard even over the thunder that rumbled in the evening sky. It was as though the gods themselves laughed at his failure. The pain was severe, but the rage building in him was worse. 

[color=Red]“It’s a pity, Vael…they send you boys to me when they think they see something in you. I’m really REALLY starting to think they were…”[/color] Before Balen could finish his words Cassius flung his head forwards with every ounce of desperate anger and vitriol within him, smashing his own skull into the bridge of Balen’s nose. The man went stumbling backwards, grabbing at his face as Cas slipped and fell hard into the mud below. As he laid there he saw stars from the impact. 

A thunderous scream of rage and pain emerged from Balen in the seconds that followed. The resonance of which may as well have shaken the very earth like the thunder that roared had moments ago. [color=Red]“You…You broke my fucking nose you worthless, good for nothing piece of shit.”[/color] The tone in Balen’s voice was more than enough to make Cassius realize the severity of what he had just done. Slowly, his rage began to turn into fear…but then, Balen’s tone shifted. [color=Red]“GOOD. YES!”[/color] The man exclaimed, almost joyously. [color=Red]“That’s the fucking spirit, Vael! Maybe the little welp can be a Wolf after all. Now, get off your ass and come at me again.”[/color] The man spit a mouthful of blood and at least one shattered tooth out onto the mud as he wiped the blood from his nose and head, using his free hand to offer Cassius help up. [color=Red]“We’re not done.”[/color]