Elandor shimmered under the warm glow of Essence lanterns, casting soft hues of gold and violet across the cobbled streets. The city was quieter tonight. Not because it was empty, but because it breathed. Like a warrior at peace—for now.
Kael stood outside the tavern Leiya had chosen, its wooden sign swaying lightly in the breeze: "The Emberpot" — cozy, unassuming, and tucked between a potion shop and a smithy whose forge still flickered.
When Leiya arrived, it wasn't with the blinding confidence she wore in battle. No armor. No daggers. Just a simple white tunic, a soft blue sash around her waist, and her hair tied loosely to one side. The faint scar across her jaw, once hidden by her smile or movement, was clearly visible in the warm light.
"You're early," she said, her grin only slightly teasing. "Nervous?"
Kael gave a small shrug. "I like quiet."
She nudged him with her shoulder. "Then I guess I'll try not to ruin that."
Inside, the Emberpot was lit with enchanted candles that flickered like fireflies. A gentle aroma of grilled meat and spiced rice filled the air. They took a booth by the window, overlooking a slow-moving Essence stream that shimmered just beyond the tavern's edge.
Leiya ordered something light — roasted herb fowl and a citrus soup. Kael went for meat and root vegetables, fire-grilled and simple.
Conversation flowed surprisingly easily.
"Did you always want to fight Varnok?" she asked after a while, swirling her drink. "Or were you one of those kids who dreamed of flying and becoming an Origin-ranked hero?"
Kael exhaled a breath of a laugh. "Neither. I just wanted to survive."
She tilted her head. "That's… kind of sad."
He met her gaze. "It's also honest."
She didn't push. Instead, she leaned in slightly. "Well, if you ever get bored of surviving, I hear dating a woman with light and ice affinities has its perks. Cool-headed in fights, radiant in low lighting—"
Kael raised an eyebrow.
She snorted. "Okay, terrible at flirting. Got it."
The moment lingered—comfortable, charged with something softer than tension. When their food arrived, they ate slowly. Between bites, Kael found himself watching her, not in awe, but in curiosity. In how easily she laughed. How she found joy in the small things.
After they finished, they wandered through the lantern-lit streets of Elandor. Market stalls had mostly closed, but musicians still played, and small groups of students practiced Essence flares near the academy steps.
Leiya walked beside him with her hands behind her back, occasionally kicking a loose stone. "You don't talk much."
"I don't speak unless I mean it."
"That's rare," she said, glancing at him. "Most people hide behind a thousand words. You? Just ten."
Kael gave a slight smile. "I trust those ten to land."
She laughed softly, the sound brushing against the night like a bell. "I'm glad you came out with me."
"I'm glad you asked."
She stopped walking, turning to face him beneath the gentle sway of a street lantern. Her eyes, deep and glinting with starlight, met his.
"You know what comes next, right?"
Kael narrowed his gaze slightly. "Ambush?"
"Close." She smirked. "Spar."
They moved to the edge of a training circle near the central gardens — a public space, mostly empty at this hour. The grass was slightly damp, the air cool. The stones underfoot hummed faintly with residual Essence.
Kael shifted into stance, the embers of his Flame sparking beneath his skin.
Leiya's daggers glimmered into existence, thin trails of Ice and Light flickering along their edges.
"No techniques?" she asked.
Kael let the storm crackle along his forearms. "Holding back?"
She grinned. "Not a chance."
They clashed.
Leiya danced in, quick and precise, testing him with angled slashes. Kael weaved through her strikes, movements minimal but potent. Lightning sparked with each of his steps. When her blade grazed his shoulder, he responded with a pulse of Flame and forced her to spin back.
Their footwork moved in rhythm — clash, retreat, charge, deflect. Then Kael pushed forward.
Maelstorm Overburn flared — controlled, balanced. Not a full technique now, but a state. Lightning coiled along his arms, his core pulsing with storm and heat. His movements became faster, more fluid.
He didn't strike with brute force, but with sharp, clean motions. He aimed for pressure points, letting the surge of Essence guide him.
Leiya's eyes lit with surprise.
Kael smiled faintly.
She countered with a burst of blinding light, freezing the grass beneath his feet—but he blinked through it in a dash of wind and thunder, appearing behind her.
She whirled, blades crossed at her chest. He stopped just short of her throat.
The world paused.
Their breathing echoed in the quiet. Then Kael stepped back, offering a hand.
"You win?" she asked, taking it.
"No," he said. "We're even."
As she rose, her hand lingered in his. Their eyes met again — no teasing now, no pretense. Just quiet, lingering sparks between them.
"I think I like seeing this side of you," she murmured.
Kael didn't look away. "I think you've always seen him."