In the heart of Lumina City, where towering skyscrapers coexisted with ancient relics of magic, Silas Calder was an anomaly. By day, he worked as a bartender at *The Alchemical Flask*, an underground speakeasy catering to magical beings and humans alike. By night, he practiced forbidden enchantments in his small apartment, longing for a purpose greater than mixing cocktails and dodging mundane prejudices.
Silas had learned early on that love was as treacherous as the magic he wielded. He had sworn off relationships after a devastating heartbreak with a fellow mage. But the universe, as unpredictable as a rogue spell, had other plans.
One rainy evening, the door of *The Alchemical Flask* burst open, letting in a gust of wind and a man who seemed forged from the city's shadows. Tall, with a sharp jawline and storm-gray eyes that glimmered with unspoken secrets, the man surveyed the room with a predator's gaze before settling on a corner booth.
Silas approached cautiously, his usual charm faltering under the man's intense stare. "What's your poison?" he asked, forcing his voice to remain steady.
The man's lips quirked into a half-smile. "Surprise me."
As Silas prepared the drink, he felt a spark—literal and metaphorical. His hands tingled as if the man's presence had activated some dormant magic within him. When he returned with the cocktail, their fingers brushed, and for a split second, Silas saw a vision: a burning city, the man standing at the center of the chaos, and a golden thread connecting them.
"What's your name?" Silas asked, his voice quieter now.
"Kael," the man replied, his voice low and gravelly. "And you, bartender?"
"Silas."
Kael nodded, his expression unreadable. "Interesting."