Ella Vel’areis

  The ride to the shopping center was quiet, save for the endless pleading I had endured before leaving. Illya, ever the romantic enthusiast, had practically begged me to either bring her along or at the very least introduce Raiden to her later. She had tried everything, bargaining, guilt-tripping, dramatic sighs about being "left in the dark" on the greatest romance of our time. I had barely escaped.

  Now, as I walked through the shopping center, fifteen minutes early, I sighed, adjusting the strap of my bag.

  She wasn’t even subtle about it, "Ella, just let me meet him once! Just for a minute! I promise I won’t say anything embarrassing!"

  Like I was actually going to believe that, "At least describe him to me in detail! Do you think he prefers the direct approach or the slow burn? Does he like confident women? Oh! What if he has a tragic past that makes him emotionally guarded?!"

  I swear she’s making it sound like she was the one who was going to date him.

  I rubbed my temple just thinking about it. This was my life now. I glanced at my phone, checking the time, still a little early.

  At least this gave me a chance to make sure I had the right place. As I rounded the corner, I walked past a pair of girls chatting outside a boutique, I caught a snippet of their conversation.

  Girl 1, “I swear, I just saw the hottest guy sitting in the froyo shop.”

  Girl 2, “Really? You think he’s a model or something?”

  Girl 1, “I dunno, but you have to see him. He looks like he walked straight out of a magazine.”

  I slowed my pace slightly, my eyes flicking toward the direction of the shop ahead.

  …No, there was no way.

  I picked up my pace, turning the corner just in time to spot the froyo shop’s entrance. That’s when I noticed them. A small group of four girls loitering near the window, their attention locked onto something inside.

  One of them whispered something to the others, and the way they giggled behind their hands immediately set off alarms in my head.

  My gaze followed theirs and then I saw him. Sitting there, completely unaware of the attention he was getting, Raiden.

  I had been aware of his looks. Even during the martial arts competition, even when he was grinning like a lunatic mid-fight, I could admit he was handsome, but that had been different.

  That had been him as he was. This was him put together, and somehow, that was worse.

  His freshly cut black hair framed his face perfectly, effortlessly styled yet still slightly messy in a way that made it look intentional. The usual lazy, casual wear he lived in was gone, replaced with a clean, fitted dark gray tee layered under a light beige bomber jacket, paired with black slim-fit jeans and white sneakers so spotless they looked like they had been bought an hour ago.

  Casual, relaxed, effortless, and yet, somehow devastating. My heart skipped a beat.

  …What the hell?

  I swallowed, forcing my expression to stay neutral, but my fingers tightened slightly around the strap of my bag.

  This was not what I was expecting.

  I had prepared myself to see Raiden as he always was, relaxed, unbothered, maybe even slightly disheveled. That’s who he was, wasn’t it?

  But this? This was… different. The way he sat there, completely unaware of, or worse, unbothered by, the attention he was drawing only made it more frustrating.

  I hesitated just for a second at the door. Why am I hesitating? I already know him, just act like usual.

  Steeling myself, I adjusted my bag, took a slow breath, and walked forward. As soon as I pushed the door open, the soft chime rang through the shop.

  Raiden glanced up from his phone. The moment our eyes met, my heart picked up just a little faster. His blue eyes flickered over me once, scanning my outfit, before a slow smirk curled onto his lips.

  “…Huh.”

  I frowned, forcing my voice to stay steady, “Huh, what?”

  His smirk widened slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes, “I was expecting you to show up in a designer outfit after being dropped off in a limo.”

  I stared at him, deadpan, “…Are you serious?”

  He shrugged, not bothering to hide his grin, “Yeah, I figured you being a noble girl meant at least some obnoxiously extravagant entrance.”

  I scoffed, crossing my arms, "I should have.”

  He gestured vaguely toward my clothes, "I mean, you still cleaned up. I half-expected you to come in a green fluffy dress.”

  I rolled my eyes, finally stepping forward, though my heart hadn’t quite slowed down yet. Why did it feel so much harder to keep my usual composure?

  I sat down across from him, adjusting my bag and forcing myself to act normal. I could still feel the stares from outside, the occasional giggle drifting through the glass.

  Raiden must have noticed too, because his gaze flickered toward the window before he sighed, “…Do you always have an audience when you go out?”

  I scoffed, “That’s my question.”

  With the initial teasing out of the way (for now), we both stood and made our way toward the froyo stations.

  The shop wasn’t particularly large, but it had plenty of options, each flavor lined up in sleek dispensers, labeled with names that ranged from normal to absolutely ridiculous.

  Raiden squinted at one of the signs, “…What the hell is ‘Galaxy Unicorn Swirl’ supposed to taste like?”

  I glanced at it, reading the description, “Berry and… cake batter?”

  He made a face, "That sounds like an identity crisis.” He raised a hand then thought about it, “Actually that might be pretty good.”

  I snorted, “Seriously?”

  He nodded and took a small spoon from a little box that was at each station. He reached over and gave himself a tiny serving to taste the flavor. His eyes widened a bit, he looked over to me and nodded giving his approval. I also gave it a taste and I was also surprised at how good it was.

  We moved down the line, reading off flavors as we went.

  “Classic vanilla.”

  “Chocolate dream.”

  “Frosted honeycomb?”

  “Cinnamon sugar bliss—oh, that actually sounds good.”

  “Peanut butter explosion.”

  I hummed, skimming the selections. Raiden, meanwhile, had his hands in his pockets, his gaze flicking between flavors before he casually nodded at one of them.

  “Try the cheesecake one.”

  I raised a brow, "Recommending flavors now?”

  He shrugged, smirking slightly, "Call it a hunch.”

  I gave him a skeptical look but pressed the lever anyway, watching as the creamy swirls of cheesecake-flavored froyo filled my spoon.

  The second I took a taste, my eyes widened slightly. It was… really good.

  I shot him a look, "Did you recommend this because I’m an elf?”

  His smirk widened just slightly, "Maybe.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  Of course, Elves were notorious for their love of Earth’s sweets, something that had been a running joke for centuries. Not that it was wrong, Earth’s desserts were amazing. Still, I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of admitting he was right.

  “What about you?” I asked, nodding toward the machine.

  He stepped forward and casually poured himself a serving of caramel apple pie froyo.

  I squinted, “You picked that too quickly. Is this a tested and approved choice?”

  He smirked, "I have good instincts.”

  I scoffed, grabbing my toppings as we made our way to the counter. That’s when I noticed something. Raiden’s froyo?

  It was perfectly assembled. The toppings, light drizzle of caramel, crumbled graham crackers, a few neatly placed cinnamon-sugar crumbles, it all looked like something out of a commercial.

  Meanwhile, mine? It looked like I had gone feral and thrown on whatever my heart desired. Which I had and Illya would have judged me immediately.

  I glanced between the two of them, then back at Raiden, who seemed completely unaware that his dessert looked like a professionally crafted masterpiece.

  “…Did you do that on purpose?” I asked.

  He looked down at his cup, then at mine, then back at his, “…No?”

  I narrowed my eyes. I didn’t believe him.

  When the cashier gave us the price I put down my cup and began to open my bag when I suddenly heard a ding. I looked over to see Raiden using his phone to pay for both of our froyo cups. I was going to say something but he just gave me a look, just a “Don’t worry I’ve got it” look. If my heart could make sounds, it would have just made a little ‘kyuuu~’ sound.

  Who is this?

  We walked back to our seats, and as we did, I caught myself staring again and quickly looked away.

  It had only been a day since I started messing with him about his name, trying out different nicknames just to see what would stick.

  But now, looking at him, the new haircut, the outfit, the confidence that somehow made him even more of a pain in my ass, I couldn’t help but wonder.

  Had I actually gotten to him yesterday? Or had he made these choices on his own?

  I wasn’t sure, but one thing was certain. I was definitely asking him later.

  While it wasn’t exactly a problem that he looked good, it did pose a different kind of issue. Raiden already had a way of standing out, even without trying. But now? Now he wasn’t just some strong, reckless fighter from the competition. He actually looked… put together.

  That meant more people would notice him. Combine that with my status, and suddenly, our so-called date wasn’t just a private outing. Meaning people would talk.

  I let out a quiet breath and pushed the thought aside.

  I scooped up a bite of my cheesecake froyo, letting the smooth, creamy sweetness melt on my tongue. The tangy richness balanced perfectly, exactly as I had expected.

  It was good, really good.

  … Damn it, he was right.

  And just as I was about to take another bite, Raiden casually reached over and took a scoop of mine with his spoon.

  I froze mid-bite, watching in pure disbelief as he shamelessly stole a taste of my froyo like it was the most normal thing in the world.

  He hummed, nodding in approval as he chewed, “…Not bad, I was right.”

  I slowly placed my spoon down and gave him a look, “Did you just steal my froyo?”

  He met my gaze without an ounce of shame, “Is it really stealing if you didn’t try to stop me?”

  I scoffed, “Oh, so that’s how it works?”

  “Yep.” He leaned back slightly, smirking, "Besides, it was my recommendation. Consider it the Raiden tax.”

  I feigned deep offense, placing a hand over my chest, “You’re unbelievable.”

  Immediately, Raiden switched tones, clasping his hands together like some lowly peasant begging his monarch for mercy.

  “Oh, great and noble lady,” he bowed dramatically, his voice laced with exaggerated submission, “please, take this humble offering, for I am but a lowly commoner who knows not the ways of your divine palate. Forgive this one’s offense.”

  He pushed his froyo toward me, eyes twinkling with amusement.

  I rolled my eyes but took my spoon and scooped up a bite. The moment it hit my tongue, I knew I froze. It was ridiculously good, the creamy base mixed with the rich caramel, the slight tartness of the apple, the perfect blend of cinnamon and graham cracker crunch. His toppings made it even better. He added a little chocolate drizzle, fresh black berries, apple slices, graham cracker crumbs, and a light drizzle of marshmallow sauce.

  I hated that it was perfectly balanced. I hated that he had good taste. I hated that I wanted another bite.

  I clicked my tongue, placing my spoon down with false indifference, “It’s decent.”

  Raiden raised an eyebrow, “Just decent?”

  I refused to meet his gaze, “I’ve had better.”

  He chuckled, “Liar.”

  I sighed, shaking my head. He was too pleased with himself.

  And then, just as I was about to change the subject, he spoke again, “So, what’s your end goal with us ‘dating’?”

  I froze mid-bite. I knew this question was coming. I had just hoped it would come later when we weren’t in a public place. Maybe when he was walking me ho-

  Yeah, let's not get into those thoughts right now.

  Raiden Alaric

  I watched as her expression flickered just for a second. Then, just as quickly, she masked it. However, her ears… were ever so kind as to be transparent with me.

  Interesting.

  I scooped up another bite of froyo, leaning back slightly in my seat as I watched her compose herself. I wasn’t in a rush for an answer, but I was definitely curious.

  Not because I cared about the whole "noble elf girl" thing. Honestly, I had no idea what family or sect she was from, and I wasn’t about to start pretending that mattered to me.

  No, this was purely because she had avoided giving me a real answer before. Back at the gauntlet, I had thrown out a pretty solid hypothesis as to why she agreed to this. She didn’t deny it, she just didn’t explain. And now that we were actually sitting here, on this so-called date, I figured I might as well get the direct answer.

  I mean, she did basically tell me to wait until today. So, here I am.

  I tapped my spoon against the side of my cup, “You gonna answer, or are you just gonna act like you didn’t hear me?”

  Ella took another slow bite of her froyo. She chewed deliberately, taking her time, way too much time. Then, finally, she sighed, setting her spoon down as she met my gaze.

  Her golden eyes studied me for a moment, as if debating how much she wanted to say, “…What would you do with the answer?” she finally asked, her ears subtly drooping.

  I see now.

  I stood up.

  Ella blinked, watching me warily as I grabbed my cup and started toward the door, “…What are you doing?”

  I turned slightly, nodding for her to follow, "Come on. Walk with me.”

  Her brows furrowed, "You didn’t answer my question.”

  I smirked, "Neither did you.”

  She huffed but grabbed her cup and stood anyway, following me out of the shop.

  The air was cool, the light buzz of people walking through the shopping center filling the space around us as we strolled.

  Ella didn’t speak at first. I didn’t rush her. I had already figured it out. This wasn’t something she liked talking about. Or maybe it was something she was frustrated about, something she didn’t have many people to talk to about in the first place.

  So, I’d make it easier. I wasn’t going to sit across from her in a crowded place, watching her struggle to answer something that clearly bothered her.

  I’d let her talk at her own pace. And if she didn’t want to? Well, that’d be an answer, too. I basically already guessed it, I only wished to hear it directly from her. She could also clear up any missing details.

  I didn’t say anything, I just walked, eating my froyo.

  Ella stayed beside me, her pace steady but slightly tense, like she was still deciding if she even wanted to answer my question. I wasn’t going to push. I just kept walking, letting the sounds of the shopping center fill the silence.

  Shuffling footsteps. The distant chatter of passing conversations. The occasional laugh from a group of teenagers heading to another store. I took another bite of my caramel apple pie froyo, enjoying the crisp bite of cinnamon against the creamy texture.

  Then, Ella stopped walking. I didn’t react immediately. I just took another step, then stopped as well, glancing at her from the corner of my eye. She wasn’t looking at me. Her golden eyes flickered downward, like she was thinking, her lips slightly pursed in frustration. Then, suddenly—

  She reached over, scooped up a spoonful of my froyo, and ate it in a huff.

  I blinked.

  I turned my head, staring at her, “…Really?”

  She chewed aggressively, arms crossed as she glared into the distance, as if my froyo had personally wronged her.

  I raised an eyebrow, “You could’ve just asked.”

  She clicked her tongue, finally looking at me, “You didn’t stop me, so it wasn’t stealing.”

  I smirked, “So this is revenge?”

  “Obviously.”

  I scoffed, shaking my head before scooping up another bite for myself. She exhaled sharply, staring at her spoon for a moment.

  Then, finally, “…I needed a minute.”

  I glanced at her again. She wasn’t looking at me, but she wasn’t avoiding me either. She was working up to it.

  I nodded, taking another bite of my froyo, “Alright.”

  She sighed, shaking her head as if annoyed at herself. Then, without another word, she finally started talking, “I am from the Skyhaven Sect.”

  I just stood there, and dropped my spoon.

  Ella winced at my reaction, hesitating before meekly looking up at me.

  My voice came out in a tremble, “The Skyhaven Sect… as in… the Skyhaven Sect?”

  She nodded, "Yes.”

  I took a deep breath, running both hands through my hair, then started pacing back and forth, “I can’t believe this. The Skyhaven Sect, really? Oh man…”

  I heard her inhale sharply, probably bracing herself for whatever reaction she thought was coming next.

  I stopped, staring at her with wide eyes, my hands on my hips, “…Who the hell are they?”

  Ella blinked.

  Her expression blanked completely, her lips parting slightly as if she had misheard me, “…What?”

  I shrugged, "I have no idea who that is.”

  She just stared at me. I could actually see her brain stalling, like she was trying to process the audacity of my words.

  “You… you don’t know who the Skyhaven Sect is?”

  I crossed my arms, “Nope.”

  Her ears twitched, “Not even a little?”

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  “Not even a little.”

  Ella just stood there, completely caught off guard. Like I had just told her I had never heard of the sun. She exhaled, pinching the bridge of her nose, mumbling something in Elvish that I was pretty sure was an insult.

  Then she looked at me again, studying me, as if waiting for me to admit I was joking, “…You’re serious.”

  I nodded casually, “Dead serious.”

  She blinked. Once. Twice. Then let out a long, exhausted breath, “…I was worried over nothing.”

  “I haven’t the faintest clue as to what would make you worried.”

  She just started laughing. While she laughed I stuck my hand in my pocket to look for another spoon. I usually grab two since I tend to always lose the first one. After some feeling around in my other pocket I found it and stuck it into my froyo so I don't lose it. At least for now.

  Ella let out a long, exhausted sigh, while fanning her face with one hand and rubbing her temple with the other as if she had to physically prepare herself for what came next.

  “…Alright, fine,” she muttered. “The Skyhaven Sect is—”

  “Nope.”

  She blinked, “What?”

  I took another bite of my froyo, “I still don’t care.”

  Her ears twitched violently.

  Damn it that's so cute…

  For a second, she just stared at me, mouth slightly open, like she was struggling to process how I existed.

  “You… don’t want to know?” she asked, as if the very thought was incomprehensible.

  “Nope.”

  “You’re not even curious?”

  “Not even a little.”

  Her eye twitched, “You realize most people either already know or want to know when they hear the name, right?”

  I smirked, “I do realize that.”

  Her arms crossed, frustration evident in every inch of her posture, "Then why are you—”

  “I just told you.”

  She let out a sharp huff, clearly getting more irritated by the second, and that’s when I decided to really mess with her.

  I stuck my spoon in my cup and tilted my head slightly, smirking, “If you want me to treat you like a princess, I will be more than happy to do so—” I leaned in just slightly, lowering my voice, “—just to see the look on your face.”

  Her entire body stiffened.

  Then, almost immediately, her ears flattened back, her cheeks just barely tinged with color. Her ears? Beet red.

  “Oh, absolutely not,” she said, pointing a finger at me like she was casting a curse.

  I chuckled, taking another bite of my froyo, “Thought so.”

  She clicked her tongue, shaking her head, “I hate you.”

  I grinned, "We’re on a date, Ella. That’s not how you’re supposed to talk to me.”

  She groaned, muttering something in Elvish again.

  I didn’t know what slur she called me, but judging by the tone, I was pretty sure it wasn’t a compliment.

  We kept walking, the casual sounds of the shopping center filling the space around us. Ella still looked mildly irritated, which was a win in my book, but at least she wasn’t outright plotting my demise.

  For now.

  I took another bite of my froyo, my mind wandering to literally anything else that wasn't awkward silence, when her voice cut through the silence.

  “Do you want to come over to my place?”

  I stopped mid-step. Then slowly turned my head to look at her.

  Ella, completely unfazed, was still eating her froyo like she hadn’t just dropped a bomb in casual conversation.

  I narrowed my eyes, “…Excuse me?”

  She glanced at me, raising a brow, “What?”

  I tilted my head slightly, giving her the most skeptical look I could muster, “You do realize how that sounded, right?”

  She blinked once, processing. Then immediately rolled her eyes, “Oh, for the love of—”

  I smirked, leaning in slightly, "Ella, if you were looking for a scandal, you could’ve just said so.”

  She groaned, exasperated, before shoving a spoonful of froyo into her mouth like she needed it to mentally reset.

  I took that as my cue to continue, “Honestly, I’m flattered. First, you invite me out on a date. Now, you’re taking me home?” I let out a mock sigh, shaking my head dramatically, "You noble girls move fast.”

  She swallowed her bite forcefully, glaring at me, “That is not what I meant, and you know it.”

  I shrugged, “Do I?”

  She exhaled sharply, clearly debating violence.

  “It’s not like that,” she said, pointing her spoon at me in warning. “I just figured, since we’re out, you might as well see where I live.”

  I pretended to think about it, “Hmm. You might as well take me home? Ella, you’re really making it hard for me to be a gentleman here.”

  She threw her head back with a groan of pure suffering.

  I grinned.

  She composed herself quickly, giving me the most unamused look possible, “Are you done?”

  I tapped my chin, “I don’t know. That depends, are you serious about this invite, or are you just trying to lure me somewhere so you can force me into an oath or something?”

  She sighed, “Serious. Unfortunately.”

  I raised a brow, “Why is that unfortunate?”

  She hesitated just for a second, which was not normal for her, “…I just think it’d be easier to talk there,” she finally said, looking away like the words had been harder to say than expected.

  Hmm, I guess she doesn't feel comfortable talking about it in public.

  I hummed, licking the last bit of froyo off my spoon. “…Alright,” I said. “Let’s see what kind of ridiculous palace you live in.”

  Ella clicked her tongue, giving me a flat stare, "It’s not that ridiculous.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  She didn’t deny it was a palace…

  I smirked, “I’ll be the judge of that.”

  Ella just sighed, shaking her head before tossing her now-empty cup into a nearby trash bin.

  As we started walking again, I noticed something. She kept glancing at my unfinished froyo. Not obviously, she wasn’t desperate or anything, but every time I took a bite, her eyes flickered toward it, just for a second, before looking away.

  I slowed my steps slightly, watching as she did it again. I raised an eyebrow. Then, without a word, I handed it to her.

  She blinked, her eyes darting between the cup and my face as she realized she’d been caught. A soft dusting of pink bloomed on her cheeks, her ears giving the tiniest twitch as I nodded for her to take it.

  For a second, she just stared at me. Then, with the most reluctant display of dignity I’d ever seen, she accepted it.

  Muttering something under her breath.

  I didn’t catch it, but judging by the way her ears twitched again, I was pretty sure it wasn’t a thank you.

  I chuckled to myself. This was already worth the trip.

  I’m not gonna lie, I was kind of expecting her to make a quick call and have a limo pick us up. Instead, we actually walked all the way to her place. And calling it just a “place” didn’t do it justice.

  The Brightmoor Estate, as I later learned it was called, looked like something straight out of a Lord of the Rings film, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that Tolkien himself would have lost his mind seeing it in person.

  I held back my excitement, keeping my expression as neutral as possible. But deep down?

  Oh, I was frothing at the mouth like every LOTR fanboy ever.

  The entire estate looked like a pseudo-elven castle, built with grace, precision, and probably a ridiculous amount of money.

  The outer walls were crafted from smooth, pale stone, reinforced with subtle enchantments that made them shimmer faintly in the light. Instead of harsh, defensive battlements like a medieval fortress, the walls curved elegantly, blending into the surrounding nature as if the entire structure had been grown rather than built.

  We approached the main entrance, I took in the tall archways, engraved with intricate elven runes, their meanings lost on me but clearly symbolic. The gates themselves weren’t made of steel but of woven silverwood and ethereal energy, shifting slightly as we passed through as if responding to Ella’s presence.

  The inner courtyard was something else entirely.

  Lush greenery sprawled across the grounds, carefully cultivated gardens of luminous blue and violet flora, some glowing faintly as if touched by moonlight even in the middle of the day. A small waterfall flowed seamlessly into a clear pond, where elegant stone pathways weaved over the water, leading toward various training grounds, meditation areas, and towering spires that looked like they belonged in a fantasy epic.

  Everything about the estate was designed for both function and beauty, blending elven culture, magic, and warrior discipline into one seamless display of status.

  And I was doing my best to not look like a kid seeing Disneyland for the first time.

  I shoved my hands in my pockets, keeping my face completely neutral as I casually glanced at the massive stone staircases, the towering ornate halls, and the way the entire structure harmonized with nature.

  Ella, who had been leading the way without saying much, finally glanced at me.

  She narrowed her eyes slightly, “…You’re awfully quiet.”

  I blinked, “Am I?”

  She frowned, studying me like I was hiding something.

  I just shrugged, keeping my voice casual, “It’s a nice place.”

  She scoffed, rolling her eyes as she turned forward again, "It’s more than just ‘nice.’”

  I fought every urge to gush about the fact that her house looked like Rivendell had a warrior training camp attached to it.

  Instead, I smirked, “Oh, I know. I was just trying to keep you humble.”

  Ella scoffed, rolling her eyes, “Humble, right.”

  I glanced around again, taking in the smooth stone pathways, the glowing flora, the towering elven architecture that looked like it belonged in a movie set.

  Then I casually gestured toward her green-painted nails, “Although, I expected more green.”

  She frowned slightly before following my gaze, realization flickering in her emerald-green eyes.

  I raised a brow, “Didn’t you say your family wears green into battle? But here? I don’t see much of it.”

  She sighed, adjusting the subtle green accents on her earrings and bracelets, as if I had somehow challenged her dedication to her own traditions.

  “It’s more for formal battlewear, not everyday life.”

  I tapped my chin, pretending to think, “So if I ever see you in full green, that means you’re about to beat someone’s ass?”

  She gave me a pointed look, “Yes. And if you keep talking, it might be you.”

  I grinned, unbothered, “Noted.”

  Ella let out a long sigh, clearly done with me already, before turning toward the entrance of what I assumed was the main building of her estate.

  The towering archways loomed over us, etched with delicate runes that pulsed faintly with enchantment. The sheer grandeur of it all was ridiculous, but I wasn’t about to admit that out loud.

  She stepped forward, the massive double doors opening seamlessly, as if they recognized her presence.

  Fancy.

  I followed her inside, my gaze flickering around the high ceilings, the elegant stone-carved pillars, and the intricately woven banners of what I assumed was her family crest, complete with the iconic silver spear piercing through the sky.

  So this is what a Sect has, huh?

  Judging by the sheer scale of this place, I was starting to understand why she had expected me to react differently earlier.

  She glanced over her shoulder, catching me casually observing my surroundings, "Well?”

  I shrugged, "It’s a nice place.”

  Ella scoffed, closing the door behind us, "You said that already.”

  “Yeah, well, it still applies.” I gestured vaguely to the polished floors, the glowing lanterns lining the walls, and the ridiculously pristine aesthetic of the place, "My apologies, let me just…”

  Then, because I just couldn’t help myself, I cleared my throat and adopted the most obnoxiously posh accent I could muster.

  “Ah, yes. The décor is quite exquisite, madam.” I ran my fingers along one of the smooth stone pillars as if I were some self-important art critic, "The blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern enchantments is truly a marvel, one must commend the architectural choices, balancing both strength and elegance in such an effortlessly ostentatious manner.”

  Ella stared at me, completely unamused. I wasn’t done.

  I took a step back, rubbing my chin as if deep in thought, then nodded solemnly, “A stunning execution of wealth and prestige, truly a testament to one’s overwhelming desire to remind guests that they are, in fact, significantly poorer upon entering.”

  Ella dragged a hand down her face, “Why are you like this?”

  Before I could answer, a distant excited scream echoed through the hall. Ella immediately tensed. I barely had time to register what was happening before I saw it. A golden-haired blur rounding the corner from another section of the estate, sprinting toward us at full speed.

  “ELLA BROUGHT A BOY HOME?!”

  I blinked.

  What?

  The blur got closer, and before I knew it, a very tall, very enthusiastic elven woman with piercing purple eyes was barreling toward us with all the grace of a hurricane.

  I barely had time to process the fact that this was probably her sister before she slid to a halt right in front of us, practically bouncing in place with excitement.

  “You didn’t tell me you were bringing him here today!” she gushed, looking between us like this was the single most exciting moment of her life.

  Ella, who had gone stiff the second she appeared, sighed heavily, “…Illya.”

  The woman, Illya, apparently, turned to me with so much unfiltered enthusiasm that I felt slightly concerned for my safety.

  “Oh. My. Stars. You’re the one she picked?”

  I opened my mouth to speak.

  She immediately grabbed my shoulders, “Oh, this is wonderful!”

  I glanced at Ella, mildly alarmed.

  She was rubbing her temple, muttering something in Elvish.

  So this was going to be a thing. Might have to learn a little bit of Elvish so I can know if she’s calling me something derogatory. I don’t know, calling me a round ear or something.

  Before I could even attempt to react, Illya gripped my shoulders tighter and took a good, long look at me. And when I say long, I mean she was full-on analyzing every detail, shamelessly scanning me like I was a new piece of jewelry she was considering purchasing.

  Her purple eyes gleamed, and she let out a satisfied hum.

  "Oh, Ella~" she practically sang, shifting her grip to cup my face with both hands. "You never told me he was this handsome!"

  I blinked, “Uh—”

  "Look at these cheekbones!" She tilted my head slightly, nodding in approval, "And these eyes! Just striking! And the hair—gods, it's flawless! Did you do this for today? You must have!"

  How… Did she know?

  Ella groaned, "Illya, stop."

  Illya completely ignored her, tapping her chin as she continued her shameless evaluation.

  "And the outfit! Simple yet refined. Not too flashy, not too lazy—just the right amount of effortless confidence. Ugh, I love it!"

  She stepped back, clasping her hands together, "Oh, I knew you had taste, Ella, but this? This is exquisite. Look at him, he must have just got these clothes so he could dress up for you."

  How… does… she… know??????

  Ella let out a painful sigh, rubbing her temples. I, meanwhile, was just standing there, letting this happen.

  Because, honestly? This was hilarious. Illya wasn’t subtle in the slightest, and the way Ella was suffering made this so much better.

  “You hear that Ella, I’m exquisite~” I said with a wink.

  And then, without missing a beat, Illya grinned mischievously and leaned in slightly, "So, Raiden~" she purred. "Are you into older women?"

  Ella practically choked on air. I turned to her just in time to see her entire face go red.

  Her ears twitched violently, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find words, "I—Illya!"

  Illya just giggled, clearly enjoying herself.

  I grinned, tilting my head, “Define older.”

  Ella made a horrified sound.

  Illya beamed, "Oh, I love this one!"

  Ella looked like she wanted to disappear, "Illya, I swear to the gods—"

  Illya simply waved her off, turning back to me with a teasing smirk, "Well, if things don't work out with Ella, you know where to find me."

  I nodded sagely, "Duly noted."

  Ella groaned loudly, covering her face.

  Illya just laughed, "Oh, I'm going to have fun with you, Raiden."

  Yeah, this was already the best decision I’ve made all week.

  I finally took a moment to actually look at Illya, properly taking in how she was dressed and what she looked like.

  She wasn’t just pretty, no, she was ridiculously beautiful.

  It was almost unfair to other women if I’m being honest.

  Her platinum blonde hair had subtle purple highlights at the tips, the color fading seamlessly into her long, silky strands. Her high, pointed ears, a signature feature of high elves, stood proud and elegant, only further accentuating her sharp, refined features.

  And then there was her outfit.

  A white button-down shirt, sleeves casually rolled up, with several buttons undone, revealing a generous amount of cleavage, just enough to be effortlessly alluring without being outright scandalous.

  Maroon dress pants, tailored perfectly to her frame, cinched at the waist with a black designer belt. And to top it off? Black alligator-skin stilettos.

  She looked like she had just walked out of a high-end magazine, powerful, confident, and carrying herself with the kind of effortless grace that made it obvious she was used to attention.

  I wasn’t one to lose focus easily, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take an extra second to process all of that.

  And in that second… I started to wonder…

  Do I have a thing for elves?

  I mean, first Ella, now Illya…

  Before I could spiral too far down that train of thought, Illya tilted her head slightly, watching me with thinly veiled curiosity.

  Then, as if she had just remembered something important, she casually asked, "So why haven't you awakened yet?"

  Ella stiffened.

  Not like before, when she was frustrated or annoyed, no, this was different.

  I turned to her briefly, noting the slight shift in her posture. Not tension exactly, but something closer to surprise… curiosity. Like she had just realized something important.

  I blinked, turning back to Illya, “How… do you know I’m not awakened?”

  Illya simply smiled, tilting her head slightly, “I felt for your aura.”

  I raised a brow, “And?”

  She gave me a casual shrug, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

  “There’s a lot of it,” she said plainly. “More than most unawakened people should have. It’s dense, well-developed, but it’s not flowing properly. That tells me one thing.”

  I finished for her, “…I haven’t had a revelation yet.”

  Illya nodded, “Bingo.”

  I felt Ella’s gaze on me now, her golden-green eyes flickering with something unreadable.

  She must have assumed one of the two metallic bands on my wrists was a bind, something restricting my aura.

  But now, she knew they weren’t.

  I shrugged, completely unbothered, “Yeah, I haven’t awakened yet,” I admitted, scooping another bite of froyo. “Haven’t had my moment of epiphany or enlightenment or whatever yet.”

  Illya blinked, “And you’re not… I don’t know, bothered by that?”

  I smirked, “Nope.”

  She raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

  I leaned back slightly, tapping the side of my cup, "It’s not that deep. Everyone has their own path. Mine’s just… taking its time.”

  Ella’s lips parted slightly, but she didn’t say anything.

  Illya, however, hummed in approval.

  “You’re surprisingly rational about it,” she mused. “Most people in your position would be panicking, feeling behind or incomplete.”

  I shrugged, "Most people aren’t me.”

  Ella scoffed, "Obviously.”

  Illya studied me for a moment.

  Then she let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head, “…I really like you.”

  Ella sighed, already looking so done with her, "Illya, please.”

  Illya ignored her, still smirking, "I especially like that you don’t look the least bit ashamed about it.”

  I shrugged, "Why would I be? It’s not like I’m weak.”

  Illya grinned, clearly entertained.

  “You felt for my aura?” I asked, squinting slightly. “How does that even work?”

  Ella sighed and finally answered, “She’s a Violet Rank Ascendant.”

  I raised a brow, "Oh.”

  HOLY SHIT!

  Illya grinned, "That’s all you have to say?”

  I took another bite of froyo, unfazed, "I mean… yeah?”

  HOLY SHIT! A VIOLET RANK?!

  Ella blinked, clearly waiting for more.

  Illya laughed, shaking her head, "Most people react very differently to that, you know.”

  I shrugged again, "That sounds like a them problem.”

  PLAY IT COOL, PLAY IT COOL!

  Illya’s gaze flickered toward Ella, who exhaled slowly, looking like she was actively resisting the urge to strangle me. That only made Illya grin wider.

  I just smirked, licking the last of the froyo off my spoon. So far? This was pretty entertaining.

  Illya clapped her hands together, her purple eyes twinkling with excitement, “Well, since you’re here, we have to give you the grand tour of the estate.”

  Ella groaned loudly, already rubbing her temples like she was experiencing secondhand exhaustion, “Illya—”

  “No, no, no, I insist!” Illya cut her off, linking an arm around my shoulder like we were old friends. “You don’t just bring a boy home and not show him around, Ella! That’s just bad manners!”

  I smirked, “Yeah, Ella, bad manners.”

  She shot me a deadpan look, already regretting her life choices.

  Illya, completely ignoring her sister’s suffering, dragged me forward, gesturing grandly as she led the way, “Come, Raiden! Let me show you the splendor of the Brightmoor estate!”

  And just like that, I was stuck. But if it bothers Ella here, then I don’t see why I can’t play along.

  “Lead the way.”

  I won’t lie. The estate was ridiculous.

  Not just in terms of size, but in the sheer detail of everything. Chronos’ estate was surely something, but nothing as detailed as this when it comes to the owner’s culture.

  Illya took me through lavish halls lined with intricate elven tapestries, massive libraries filled with books older than some civilizations, ornate dining halls, serene meditation chambers, sprawling courtyards, and even a private alchemy lab that smelled way too strongly of herbs and something vaguely explosive.

  The whole time, she narrated everything like some overenthusiastic tour guide, throwing in unnecessary but entertaining trivia about her family’s long-standing history, the importance of Skyhaven’s teachings, and—most importantly—how much money everything here probably cost.

  Ella, to her credit, suffered through all of it in silence, occasionally giving me a look that screamed, You did this to yourself.

  Honestly, I was having fun. But it wasn’t until we reached the last stop that Illya’s true intentions started to show.

  The moment we entered the training hall, I could tell. This was different.

  Unlike the rest of the estate, which was refined and elegant, this place had an edge to it. The air was thicker, carrying the faint scent of sweat and sharpened steel.

  The space was massive, designed to hold multiple warriors at once. High ceilings, reinforced stone floors, a variety of weapon racks, training dummies, and even an arena-like sparring section in the center.

  Illya, who had been dramatic and playful all throughout the tour, suddenly shifted gears. Her playful smirk turned into something far more interested.

  She took a step forward, crossing her arms.

  “So,” she mused, looking over her shoulder at me. “You said you weren’t weak.”

  I caught Ella tensing slightly, her gaze flickering between the two of us.

  Illya’s smirk grew, “That’s a bold thing to say in a place like this.”

  I rolled my shoulders, tilting my head, “…Wasn’t aware I had to prove it.”

  Illya raised an eyebrow, “Oh, you don’t have to.”

  She turned fully to face me, her eyes sharp with curiosity, “But the Skyhaven Sect takes pride in our elven combat prowess,” she continued smoothly. “And, well… you are here. It’d be a shame not to test you.”

  Ella let out a sharp breath, closing her eyes briefly before muttering, “Illya…”

  But Illya was already walking toward the center of the training hall, twirling a practice spear effortlessly in her hand.

  She stopped in the middle, spinning the weapon once before pointing it at me, “So, Raiden,” she said, grinning, “care to humor me?”

  I stared at her for a second.

  Then I smirked, “Why not?”

  Ella groaned, muttering under her breath. “Damn battle junkie…”

  Are you kidding me, Ella? Giving me a chance to fight a Violet Rank Ascendant? I could kiss you.

  YES!

  I only got a bit of Ella’s technique during the contest, but this? This was different. This was an opportunity. Because, my dear elf in crime, I’m taking everything. I’m taking everything your sect’s martial arts has to offer me.

  Your skills… are mine.

  Illya Best Girl?