The main planning hall of Alex's quarters was a mess, and not the kind that sorted itself out with a tidy little spell.
Scrolls hovered midair, two chairs were broken, and a half-eaten sandwich sat dangerously close to a glowing runic chart. A low argument about seating had already entered its third round.
Alex stood in the middle of it all, hands in his pockets, watching the chaos like it was mildly interesting weather.
"We're hosting a dinner," he said again, louder this time. "Tomorrow evening. Here. Informal. No royal robes. No guild banners. Just dinner."
Marell looked up from his notes, eyes narrowed. "You just... decided this?"
"Technically, it decided itself. I just said it out loud."
Jenkins made a noise that could only be described as verbal despair. "Do we even know who's coming?"
Davor raised a hand without looking up from a notepad. "Elsha, Riven, Vinya, Brix... probably a few others who said maybe but might show up out of curiosity or hunger."
"That's not a guest list," Orin snapped. "That's an attendance gamble."
"Then treat it like one," Alex said. "Prep for fifty. Adjust down if people ghost us."
"And food?" Marell asked. "We need something decent. Not experimental. Not haunted."
"Right. Just make sure it doesn't hum, move, or judge anyone."
"Selena is going to throttle you," Pallen muttered.
Almost on cue, the door opened and Selena walked in. Not stormed. Walked. Which was worse.
She scanned the room in five seconds, then zeroed in on Alex.
"Thirty-six hours," she said. "Do you want chaos with tablecloths, or something people will actually sit through without starting a rumor war?"
Alex didn't blink. "Surprise me."
Selena turned sharply and started issuing commands to two staffers who had been pretending to reorganize coasters. The air temperature dropped two degrees.
"Alright," Alex said, clapping his hands once. "Invitations. I want direct confirmation from everyone. No notes. No vague messenger pings. We need eyes-on, or it's not real."
Rahul gave him a look. "You mean the ones who aren't already under surveillance?"
"All of them," Alex replied. "If someone's watching them, we want to know before the sabotage starts."
Aera walked in, flipping a small roster in her hand. "We've got twenty names in the maybe pile. Rahul, Orin, Marell—you each take a batch. Confirm softly, avoid names, and don't let anyone know more than they have to."
Jenkins looked up. "And the trio? Marin, Fenna, and Lyria?"
Alex shook his head. "Not yet. The wrong kind of attention will ruin this before it starts. We wait. Let word spread. If it works, we will have more bargaining chips on our hands."
"So... dinner, but also bait," Davor said.
"Exactly."
Everyone started moving again—some muttering, some scribbling, others already halfway to the doors.
"Someone remind me again why we're letting him run the show?" Orin asked.
Selena passed him, stone-faced. "Because we haven't figured out how to stop him. Yet."
The main doors opened again, letting in Riven and Kael, side by side but clearly sizing each other up. Riven's arms were crossed, and Kael's expression was unreadable.
"You two look like you're about to duel over who blinks first," Alex said as they entered.
Riven spoke first. "Not a duel. Just... verifying each other's usefulness."
"Efficient," Kael said flatly.
Alex nodded like that was perfectly normal. "Great. Now that you're both done with the staring contest, pick something to help with."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Is this an official assignment or another royal whim?"
"Yes," Alex said, and tossed him a folded list. "Leftover names. People we haven't tracked down yet. I need info fast—who's available, who's hiding, and who might be sabotaged before we reach them. Keep it quiet."
Kael scanned the list and tucked it away. "I'll start immediately."
Riven sighed. "Do I get the list of people who aren't hiding or just stand around looking decorative?"
"Honestly, you judging the curtains might help morale. But pick a lane—you're poster boy for recruitment, remember?"
"You say that like it's a compliment."
"It's a job title now," Alex smirked. "Welcome to management."
—✦—
The next morning arrived with clear skies and a small stack of half-read reports on Alex's desk. Somehow, everything had moved while he slept—and yet, everything still needed his stamp of chaos.
Alex strolled out of his chambers, hair slightly ruffled, mug in hand. For someone hosting an impromptu recruitment dinner with potential political backlash, he looked far too relaxed.
Davor met him in the hallway, dark circles under his eyes and a slight limp that was either from exhaustion or tripping over a floating candle tray the night before.
"You're way too calm for someone who pulled half the city into dinner prep," Davor muttered.
"Sleep helps. You should try it."
"I did. For maybe forty minutes. While upright. In a chair."
"Sounds productive. You ready? We've still got a few candidates to eyeball before things get too... staged."
Davor groaned but nodded. "Lead the way, Your Chaoticness."
Alex grinned. "That's High Chaoticness to you."
As they stepped out into the crisp morning air, Davor flipped open his notes. "So who's left?"
Alex pulled a folded list from his coat. "Lorrin Seft, nature elementalist with a thing for growth arrays. She's been in the conservatory towers most days. Doesn't talk much, but her work's been noticed."
"We'll need to approach slow on that one. Probably not a fan of large groups."
"Tavi too," Alex added. "Shadow and ice user. Quirky. Disappears into air ducts when people ask her to be on time."
Davor gave him a flat look. "So a flight risk."
"With flair."
"Who else?"
"Narek Zin. Spirit master. Elemental resonance is scary good. And ancient whisper mastery—that's not a field most people even study anymore."
Davor raised a brow. "That guy? I thought he vanished from the last exam halfway through."
"He did. Reappeared four hours later with a scroll that glowed and a blank expression."
"Weirdly impressive."
"And then there's Seena Vey. Rural background. She works with rhythmic magical resonance—sonic stuff. Basically sings her spells into form."
"A musical mage. Lovely. I bet half the instructors still don't know what to do with her."
Alex chuckled. "Exactly. And then there's Yamato. The gravity guy."
Davor groaned. "You mean the one who melted half of Gravity Room?"
"The same. Real name's still under review, but Kael tracked down the truth—half-yokai, orphan background, shows up to dueling rings uninvited, usually leaves them broken."
"And you want him at a dinner party?"
"I want him not against us. That's a start."
Davor shook his head. "You're stacking this guest list like a powder keg."
"Which is why you're coming with me. You're great at smiling while sweating."
"This is starting to feel less like recruitment and more like controlled chaos."
Alex clapped him on the back. "Exactly the kind of chaos that needs a touch of diplomacy. Let's get moving."