Illuvia leaned over the worn, wooden desk in her small room, focused on studying and practicing writing. She considered writing as a kind of art form which wasn't surprising given that her primary magical abilities revolved around runes. She didn't have a natural talent for it but she had passion. One day she hoped to author a book on Hone. However, her concentration was interrupted by a playful nudge from the adorable man sitting next to her.
"Mind if I borrow some ink?" he asked with a charming smile, his deep blue eyes sparkling mischievously.
Illuvia sighed and turned towards him, trying to maintain her focus despite his presence. "You know you're not supposed to be here bothering me," she scolded lightly while handing over the ink bottle. He wasn’t a professional writer, though he did want to become one. He'd met her through a mutal friend and now he made excuses to come study with her.
"And you know you can never resist me," he replied playfully as he took the bottle and leaned closer, nudging her gently with his elbow. Illuvia found it difficult to stay upset with him; his boyish charm was irresistible. She couldn't help but giggle at his antics.
As she went back to writing, he began scribbling on a nearby piece of parchment, occasionally glancing up at her and flashing that disarming smile of his. Despite herself, Illuvia found it hard not to look over at him every now and then, drawn in by the sight of those long fingers moving gracefully across the page.
"Do you need help with this?" he asked suddenly at the sight of her confused expression, leaning closer again and pointing at her work. "You seem a bit stuck."
Illuvia hesitated for a moment before nodding reluctantly. She knew she shouldn't be relying on him to help her but his offer was too tempting to resist. He placed a gentle hand over hers, guiding it as he traced the runes with a feather-light touch.
He gave her some pointers as some of the sentences she'd written made little sense given the context. His words were soft, his breath tickling her ear.
Illuvia felt a shiver run down her spine as she listened to him; there was something so hypnotic about the way he spoke. She couldn't help but feel drawn towards him, both physically and emotionally.
Later that evening, Illuvia found herself on a dinner date with the man at an intimate little bistro near her home. The atmosphere was warm and inviting; soft candlelight flickered over their table as they savored delicious cuisine and shared laughter. As she sipped her wine, she couldn't help but feel grateful for this unexpected opportunity to spend time with him outside of the confines of her studies.
Their conversation flowed effortlessly; he seemed genuinely interested in learning more about her life, her dreams, and her passions. Illuvia found herself opening up to him in ways she hadn't before, revealing secrets that had been hidden deep within her heart for far too long. In return, he shared his own stories with equal candor, painting a vivid picture of the man behind the charming smile and playful antics.
As the night wore on, their connection grew stronger; it felt as though they'd known each other forever rather than just a few hours. Illuvia couldn't help but wonder if this was more than just a fleeting attraction or if there might be something deeper between them. She knew she would have to find out soon enough.
As the last drops of wine were consumed and their dessert plates cleared away, they strolled arm in arm. The moonlight cast a soft glow over their faces as Illuvia leaned closer to him, her heart pounding with anticipation.
"Thank you for tonight," she said quietly, looking up at him with shining eyes. "It was truly magical."
He smiled down at her, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "I had a wonderful time as well," he replied softly. "Let's do it again soon?"
Illuvia nodded enthusiastically, her heart still racing from their adventure. "Of course! I would love to see you again." She paused, glancing around the quiet street they were strolling down. It was getting late, and she knew that her home was not far away now.
Her date took one last look at her before continuing. "Let me walk you home then, if I may?" Illuvia's cheeks flushed with pleasure at the offer, and she quickly agreed. They continued walking in comfortable silence, both lost in their own thoughts about the night they had just spent together.
As they approached her area, a sudden commotion caught their attention. A wild-eyed drunkard was running towards them, shouting obscenities and brandishing a broken bottle above his head. Illuvia's date quickly stepped in front of her, placing himself between the attacker and herself. The man lunged forward, his intention clear as he aimed for Illuvia's date's chest with the jagged glass weapon.
With lightning-fast reflexes, her date dodged the bottle just in time, and quickly grabbed hold of the attacker's arm. The two men wrestled on the ground, their grunts and groans echoing through the otherwise quiet street. Illuvia stood by helplessly, her heart racing with fear for her date's safety. As they struggled, her date managed to twist the assailant's arm behind his back, causing him to cry out in pain. "You bastard!" he spat, trying desperately to break free from their hold. Meanwhile, Illuvia couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and admiration for her date's bravery.
The attacker suddenly threw his head back, slamming it into the side of her date's face with such force that he was momentarily stunned. Taking advantage of this, the assailant managed to break free from their grip and scrambled away on all fours like a wounded animal.
"Are you okay?" Illuvia rushed over to check on her date, who seemed dazed but otherwise unhurt. He nodded weakly, still trying to regain his senses after the sudden impact.
Suddenly, a loud shout came from nearby as a guard rushed towards them. The guard quickly assessed the situation, tackling the fleeing drunkard. The guard and the drunkard began wrestling on the ground, with the guard attempting to subdue the unruly individual by pinning him down. However, the drunkard was not easily subdued; he flailed wildly, trying to get free from the guard's grip. As they struggled, Illuvia and her date watched in shock, unsure what to do next.
"Stop it!" yelled a woman who seemingly came out of nowhere. "He didn't mean any harm!" She tried to calm down the drunkard, speaking softly into his ear while attempting to pry his hands away from the guard. The fight seemed like it would never end – a tug of war between the strong-willed guard and the unpredictable drunkard.
As they continued their struggle, more people began to gather around, watching in confusion as this unexpected scene unfolded before them. Despite the newcomer’s attempts to intervene and de-escalate the situation, it seemed like nothing was working in her favor. Her friend remained frozen, still trying to process what had just happened, while the guard showed no signs of relenting as he continued to wrestle with the drunkard.
Illuvia grunted as she helped her date rise slowly to his feet, brushing off the dirt and grime that had accumulated on his clothes during their brief altercation. He turned to look at her, a small cut above his eye bleeding slightly. "What about you, are you alright?" he asked worriedly, reaching out for her hand.
Illuvia nodded, trying to calm herself down as she looked up into his concerned eyes. She knew that this was not the kind of situation where she would be able to use magic effectively, and it had left her feeling rather useless in a moment when they both needed protection. "I'm fine, let’s get out of here" she lied, giving him a reassuring smile.
The guard panted over the now unconscious drunkard as Illuvia's date helped her to her home, where he gave her one last kiss before saying goodnight and heading home himself. Once she was alone in her room, Illuvia sat down on her bed, sighing heavily.
As she looked around at the familiar surroundings that had once felt so comforting, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping into her mind. This city could be dangerous for both herself and those close to her, and it was becoming increasingly clear that relying solely on magic might not always be enough to protect them from harm. Not until she got better, at least.
Illuvia knew that the next time she went out with someone special, she would need to be more prepared—not just physically but also mentally. She had to learn how to defend herself and those around her if necessary, no matter what the situation might bring. It was a daunting thought, but one she felt compelled to face head-on as she lay down on her bed, unable to sleep with the events of the night still echoing in her mind.