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Lilia Vanrouge, the ancient fae who had lived through centuries of chaos, had never truly felt flustered before. He had seen it all, from wars to kingdoms rising and falling, and very little surprised him anymore. However, something about you, the mysterious and bright-eyed student at Night Raven College, managed to throw his world off balance. It started with something small, something barely noticeable. You'd catch him smiling just a bit longer whenever you walked into the room, and he'd linger around you more than he would with anyone else.
At first, he chalked it up to simple curiosity. You weren't a typical student, and Lilia adored getting to know fascinating individuals. You had a way of making him laugh, of challenging him with witty retorts, and even keeping up with his playful antics, which surprised him more than he would have admitted. He remembered the first time you teased him about his age, accusing him of being "ancient," and he had responded with his usual dramatic flourish. But, later that evening, when he was alone, he found himself chuckling, replaying your words in his mind and feeling a warmth he hadn't felt in years.
Then there were the little things. He noticed that he found himself waiting for you—waiting to see you in the halls, waiting for you to join him in the cafeteria, and even waiting to hear your laugh that echoed so clearly in his mind long after you were gone. He would use any excuse he could think of to be near you. Sometimes, he'd invite you to join him on one of his "missions" around campus, promising that it would be the adventure of a lifetime (which sometimes just meant sneaking into the kitchen for snacks). Other times, he'd pretend to need help with some "complicated" piece of magic, just to see the look of determination on your face as you tried to keep up with him.
But it was one particular evening that Lilia found himself unexpectedly vulnerable. The two of you had decided to go for a stroll in the campus gardens, hoping to find some quiet amidst the usual noise of the dormitories. As you walked, Lilia told you tales from his long, colorful life, stories of distant lands and mythical creatures. And, to his surprise, you listened to every word with genuine interest, your eyes wide with wonder.
"Lilia," you said softly, once his story came to an end. "You've lived so long, seen so many amazing things... Does anything ever scare you?"
He laughed, the sound a bit quieter than usual. "Oh, I've seen enough to know that fear is pointless. I suppose, after a while, you learn that nothing lasts forever, so why worry?"
Your eyes softened, and he felt something stir inside him as you looked at him with such warmth and understanding. "That sounds... a little lonely."
He chuckled, trying to brush off the moment, but your words lingered. That night, as he lay in his bed, he couldn't shake the feeling that you had seen through him, past his mischievous, playful facade. Somehow, in that one evening, you had managed to reach a part of him that he thought was long buried.
The following days only intensified the strange emotions swirling within him. He became more aware of every little detail about you: the way your eyes lit up when you were excited, the way you bit your lip when you were thinking hard, the way you laughed so openly, as if you weren't afraid to let the world see your joy. Every time he was near you, he felt something tugging at his heart, a warmth that was both comforting and terrifying all at once.
One day, he invited you to join him in the forest on the edge of campus, claiming he had found a "hidden treasure" he wanted to share. You eagerly agreed, following him through the twisting trails and dense foliage. Eventually, you arrived at a secluded clearing, where fireflies danced around a small pond, their lights casting a gentle glow over the scene. It was beautiful—magical in a way that felt almost otherworldly.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Lilia said, watching your face light up with awe.
You nodded, barely able to tear your gaze away from the fireflies. "It's... amazing. I never knew this place existed."
Lilia smiled softly. "It's one of my favorite spots. I used to come here when I wanted to be alone. But tonight, I wanted to share it with you."
You looked up at him, a soft smile on your lips. "Thank you, Lilia. I feel really honored."
For a moment, he was speechless. There was something in your eyes, something warm and open that made his heart pound in his chest. Before he knew it, he reached out, gently tucking a stray piece of hair behind your ear. "I... don't think I've felt like this in a long time," he murmured, almost to himself.
You blinked up at him, your cheeks tinged with a blush. "Felt like what?"
He hesitated, his usual confidence faltering. For the first time in centuries, Lilia was unsure of his own feelings, but he knew one thing: he wanted to be close to you. "I think... I think I'm starting to fall for you," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.
Your eyes widened in surprise, but then you smiled—a soft, shy smile that made his heart race. "Lilia...I feel the same way."
The words sent a thrill through him, a warmth that spread from his chest to his fingertips. Without thinking, he pulled you into a gentle embrace, his arms wrapping around you as if he was afraid you might disappear. You relaxed into his hold, resting your head against his chest, and for the first time in his long, endless life, Lilia felt truly complete.
From that night on, things between you and Lilia changed, but in the best way possible. He continued his playful teasing, his mischievous antics, and his dramatic storytelling, but there was a softness in his gaze whenever he looked at you, a tenderness that only you could see. You became his light, the one thing he looked forward to every day. And as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, Lilia realized that, after centuries of wandering, he had finally found a place where he belonged—right by your side.
