After Aeliana left, the room felt suddenly empty. The lingering warmth where we'd been cuddling still clung to the sheets, but now there was only me and the cold realization that I had to get on with the day.
"Ugh, work," I muttered, dragging myself out of bed. My muscles were sore from the night before emotional tension, maybe? Or the awkward angles from sleeping entangled like that. Either way, my body felt heavy as hell.
I groaned again, louder this time, hoping the universe might take pity on me. Spoiler: it didn't.
Stumbling into the bathroom, I turned on the shower, watching the steam rise as the hot water hit the tiles. I peeled off my clothes and stepped inside, letting the heat wash away the remnants of sleep and, with any luck, some of the confusion from my thoughts. Aeliana. Her smile.
The way she'd held me last night. The way she made me feel like maybe just maybe I wasn't such a screw-up.
"Fuck," I whispered, leaning my forehead against the cool tile. It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was the heartbreaker, the untouchable one. How did I end up here, thinking about someone like this?
After a few minutes, I shut off the water and grabbed a towel, drying myself off with lazy swipes. There was a mission today. I could focus on that. Something simple, something to take my mind off the way Aeliana had looked at me before she left. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself into gear.
"Get your shit together, Ciara," I muttered as I pulled on my black tactical gear, lacing up my boots.
I could always rely on my missions to clear my head.
---
The mission wasn't hard, at least not by my standards. A rogue demon had been spotted near the outskirts of the city. Some low-level creature trying to stir up trouble. My purple fire magic flared to life easily, the familiar heat running through my veins as I teleported to the location.
The place was a mess broken windows, overturned carts, typical chaos for these kinds of creatures. But I'd seen worse.
"Alright, let's get this over with," I said, scanning the area for the demon. It wasn't long before I found it skulking in the shadows of an alley, thinking it could hide. Poor bastard didn't know what was coming.
With a flick of my wrist, I sent a wave of purple flames toward it. The demon screeched, lunging at me with wild eyes and sharp claws, but it was no match.
I dodged effortlessly, rolling to the side before sending another blast of magic straight at its chest. It crumpled to the ground, the flames snuffing out its life in an instant.
"Too easy," I muttered, brushing off my hands. I didn't even break a sweat. With the demon taken care of, I teleported back to my castle, hoping that getting my hands dirty might've shaken off some of the tension from this morning. But as I stood in the grand hall of my home, I realized it hadn't. My mind was still stuck on Aeliana.
I let out a long sigh. "Fuck it, if I'm gonna be distracted, I might as well make it worth it."
---
The idea hit me like a lightning bolt as I paced through the castle. A date. A real one. Something simple but romantic.
Something that would make Aeliana smile like she had that night when we sparred in front of the soldiers. That smile that had sent a jolt of electricity through me like nothing else.
I headed to the kitchen and rummaged through the cupboards, gathering supplies for a picnic. Fresh bread, soft cheese, cured meats, a bottle of wine yeah, this was gonna be perfect. I stuffed it all into a woven basket, adding a few pastries I'd bought from a bakery in town the day before.
Next, I grabbed a soft blanket from my room, rolling it up and tossing it over my shoulder. The picnic was shaping up nicely. The only thing left was to choose the perfect spot.
Teleporting myself to the hill just outside the city, I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of wildflowers and fresh grass. The view was incredible, stretching out for miles, with the sun beginning to dip toward the horizon, casting the sky in shades of orange and pink.
I spread the blanket out on the ground, arranging the food neatly in the middle. Candles.
I needed candles. With a snap of my fingers, a few small, flickering flames appeared around the edges of the blanket, casting a warm glow over the scene. I stepped back, admiring my work.
"Not bad, Ciara," I muttered to myself, satisfied with the setup. The air was warm, with just enough of a breeze to keep things comfortable. It was peaceful here, quiet, a perfect contrast to the chaos that usually filled my life.
Aeliana was going to love it.
But as I stood there, staring at the spread I'd created, I couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety. What if she didn't show? What if this was too much? Or worse what if I wasn't enough?
I shook my head, trying to banish the thoughts. "Stop overthinking it. She said yes to a date, didn't she? Just… don't screw it up."
I took one last look at the picnic, making sure everything was in place. The food looked good, the wine was chilled, and the candles were casting just the right amount of light. It was perfect.
Now all I had to do was go get Aeliana.
I smiled to myself, feeling a surge of confidence as I prepared to teleport back to her. Tonight was going to be special. I'd make sure of it.
"Now, I have to go take Aeliana," I said with a grin, my heart pounding with anticipation.
As I stood there, admiring the picnic spread, my mind wandered. This was new for me being this invested in someone, caring about what they thought, what they wanted.
I'd always kept things at arm's length, and yet here I was, planning a romantic evening on a hilltop like some lovesick teenager.
It wasn't like me to be this vulnerable, to open up to someone, but something about Aeliana had broken down those walls.
I paced for a moment, biting my lip. Was I really ready for this? For the possibility of something deeper?
A part of me wanted to retreat, to keep things light and playful, but the thought of pulling back now made my chest tighten. I liked her. More than I cared to admit. And maybe that was okay.
Shaking off my thoughts, I realized I was still in my mission gear definitely not the most comfortable or romantic choice for a date. I needed to change, to look... better. Not that Aeliana would care, but I wanted to make an effort. She deserved that.
I teleported back to my room, the familiar scent of lavender from the flowers on my windowsill greeting me as I appeared.
I walked over to my wardrobe and rifled through the clothes, eventually pulling out a black shirt and matching black pants. Simple but comfortable. I pulled the shirt over my head, smoothing out the fabric before slipping into the pants.
Standing in front of the mirror, I ran a hand through my hair. It was a mess, so I quickly brushed it out, getting rid of the tangles from earlier.
My eyes caught the small bottle of perfume sitting on the vanity. I never usually bothered with perfume, but tonight... well, why not? I spritzed a bit on my neck, the light floral scent mixing with the natural musk of the room.
"There," I said to my reflection, taking a step back. "Good enough."
My heart pounded in my chest as I prepared to teleport to Leora's castle. The thought of seeing Aeliana again, of sharing this moment with her, made my pulse quicken. I couldn't help but smile, excitement bubbling up inside me.
With a flick of my hand, the familiar rush of teleportation magic engulfed me, and in an instant, I was standing inside Leora's castle. The grand stone walls loomed around me, the soft murmur of voices echoing through the halls.
I made my way down the familiar corridors, weaving through the castle like I had so many times before. It felt strange, being here now, not for work or some urgent mission, but for something... personal.
I walked with purpose, my footsteps light but deliberate. My eyes scanned the halls for any sign of her, anticipation building with every step. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I spotted her. Aeliana.
She was standing near a window, bathed in the soft, golden light of the setting sun. The sight of her took my breath away for a moment she looked so peaceful, so effortlessly beautiful.
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I approached her, my heart racing. As I reached her, she turned, her eyes meeting mine with that same mischievous glint that always made my stomach flip.
"So," I said, a grin spreading across my face, "let's go."