Ethan's Perspective
The castle loomed ahead, all jagged towers and ominous stone walls. It looked like the sort of place where the hero is told "Don't go there", but here I was, trudging behind a guy who could easily pass as the villain in every fantasy novel ever.
"Uh, so... is this where you live?" I asked, my voice a little too high-pitched to sound casual. My hands were already fidgeting with the hem of my shirt, a nervous habit I could never shake. "Because, no offense, but it's giving major haunted vibes. Like, Scooby-Doo haunted. Do you know what that is? Scooby-Doo? No? Right, of course not. Why would you…"
The man—Kael, as I'd mentally started calling him after deciding "scary dude" wasn't polite—didn't even glance back. He just kept walking, his long coat billowing dramatically in the breeze like it had a mind of its own.
"Cool, cool," I muttered, mostly to myself. "This is fine. Totally fine. Just following a mysterious stranger into his evil lair. What could go wrong?"
"You talk too much," Kael said suddenly, his deep voice cutting through my rambling like a knife. He didn't stop walking.
"I know," I said quickly. "I know, I do that. It's just—uh—I talk when I'm nervous, and I'm kind of nervous right now because, well, look around. Magic castle. Ominous forest. Broody magician guy who could probably snap me in half without breaking a sweat. So, yeah, talking helps me not spiral into a complete anxiety meltdown, which, by the way, you probably don't want to see."
Kael stopped so abruptly that I nearly walked into him. He turned slowly, his sharp purple eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, I thought he was going to yell at me—or worse, leave me here to fend for myself—but instead, his expression softened. Just a little.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he said, his tone calm but firm. "If I wanted to, you'd already be dead."
"Wow. Super reassuring," I blurted before I could stop myself. "You should put that on a welcome mat."
A flicker of something crossed his face—amusement, maybe? It was hard to tell with someone as stoic as him. He turned away without responding, gesturing for me to follow.
---
The castle gates groaned as they swung open, and I was hit with the faint smell of old stone and something… floral? Lavender, maybe? Definitely not what I expected from Mr. Dark and Mysterious.
The inside was surprisingly clean, though cold enough to make me shiver. The main hall was cavernous, with vaulted ceilings and a massive chandelier made of what looked like glowing crystals. It was beautiful in a Game of Thrones meets Pinterest kind of way.
"Do you, uh, live here alone?" I asked as we passed through the hall.
Kael glanced over his shoulder. "Yes."
"Wow. Must be… quiet."
"It's peaceful."
"Right. Peaceful. Totally get that." I tried to imagine living here alone, surrounded by nothing but magic and silence. The thought made my chest tighten. "So, do you, like, ever throw parties? Or, I don't know, have people over for dinner? Wait, do you even eat? You eat, right?"
Kael stopped again, turning to face me fully this time. His expression was somewhere between confused and exasperated. "Do you ever stop talking?"
"Not really," I admitted. "Sorry. I'll just… shut up now."
Kael sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose like he was regretting every decision that had led him to this moment. "Follow me."
---
Kael's Perspective
The human was insufferable.
His constant chatter filled the silence I'd come to value, and yet… it wasn't entirely unpleasant. There was a strange energy about him, a brightness that seemed to spill out in every word and gesture. It was distracting, to say the least.
I led him to the guest wing—unused for decades but still impeccably maintained, thanks to the castle's self-cleaning enchantments. The room was simple but comfortable, with a large bed, a wardrobe, and a window overlooking the forest.
"You'll stay here," I said, gesturing toward the bed. "Don't wander."
Ethan stepped inside, his eyes wide as he took in the room. "Whoa. This is, like, way nicer than my apartment. Do you have Wi-Fi? No, wait. Dumb question. No Wi-Fi in magic land. Got it."
He turned to face me, his hands shoved awkwardly into his pockets. "So, uh… what now?"
"Now, you stay here and don't touch anything."
"Right. Stay. Don't touch. Got it." He nodded, then immediately started pacing. "Okay, but, like, what am I supposed to do? Just sit here and stare at the wall? Or maybe—"
"Rest," I interrupted, my tone leaving no room for argument. "You've had a long day."
Ethan opened his mouth to argue but seemed to think better of it. "Fine. Rest. Sure. I can do that."
I watched him for a moment longer, my gaze lingering on the way his shoulders slumped slightly, as though the weight of everything was finally catching up to him. For reasons I couldn't quite explain, the sight tugged at something in me.
"You're safe here," I said softly, before turning to leave.
---
Ethan's Perspective
Safe. That word lingered in my mind long after Kael left.
I flopped onto the bed, staring up at the ornate ceiling. My body felt heavy, like I hadn't slept in days—which, come to think of it, was probably true. I tried to close my eyes, but my thoughts wouldn't stop racing.
Where was I? How had I gotten here? And, more importantly, how was I going to get back?
My chest tightened, and I sat up quickly, running a hand through my hair. Focus, Ethan. You're fine. Just… figure it out one step at a time.
I glanced toward the window, drawn by the soft glow of moonlight. Maybe some fresh air would help clear my head.
---
Sneaking out of the room probably wasn't my best idea, but I couldn't sit still any longer. The castle was eerily quiet as I wandered down the halls, my footsteps echoing against the stone floor. Every so often, I'd pass something that made me pause—a suit of armor, a painting that seemed to move when I wasn't looking—but I kept going, too restless to stop.
Eventually, I found myself in what looked like a study. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books that smelled like old parchment and dust. In the center of the room was a massive desk, cluttered with scrolls, crystals, and a single glowing orb.
My fingers itched to touch it. I took a cautious step closer, reaching out—
"What are you doing?"
I froze, my hand hovering inches from the orb. Kael stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable.
"Uh… not touching anything?" I said weakly.
Kael crossed the room in two swift strides, placing himself between me and the desk. "I told you to stay in your room."
"I know, I know," I said, backing away quickly. "I just… couldn't sleep, and I thought maybe a little walk would help, and then I found this room, and, well, here we are."
Kael pinched the bridge of his nose again. "You're going to be the death of me."
"Not on purpose," I muttered. "Look, I'll just go back to my room and—"
"No." Kael sighed, gesturing for me to sit in one of the chairs near the desk. "You're here now. Sit."
I hesitated but did as he said, perching on the edge of the chair like it might bite me. Kael sat across from me, his gaze heavy and thoughtful.
"You're not from this world," he said after a long silence. It wasn't a question.
"Nope," I said, popping the "p." "Definitely not."
"And yet, you ended up here. That shouldn't be possible."
"Tell me about it."
Kael leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze never leaving mine. "Until I figure out how and why, you're staying here. Under my supervision."
"Babysitting. Got it," I said, grinning despite myself. "Don't worry, I'll try not to set anything on fire."
Kael's lips twitched, and for a brief moment, I thought he might actually smile. Instead, he stood abruptly, gesturing for me to follow.
"Come. You need food."
"Oh, thank God," I said, scrambling to my feet. "I'm starving. Do you have pizza? No, wait. Dumb question…"