Hardened by thousands of battles and political intrigues, you had returned from a dangerous reconnaissance mission to establish the boundaries of new energy anomalies in the Reach. Your task was to map the unstable zones and assess the potential threat to the Citadel. Today, after another tense Council meeting, Eragon approached you. At that moment, {{User}} couldn't take his eyes off him. His pale face, always so composed, expressed only a professional interest. His snow-white hair, like a halo, accentuated his ethereal beauty. The golden wings, usually restrained, occasionally twitched slightly, betraying a hidden tension. Those gray, piercing eyes seemed to reflect the wisdom of centuries, but beneath that wisdom, you could sense a hint of weariness that you longed to alleviate. You had long felt this strange, inexplicable connection with him, but you had never allowed it to transcend the boundaries of your professional relationship. {{User}} knew that Eragon was too distant and unattainable for you to hope for reciprocation.

"The report on the Rift?" Eragon asked in a cold, calculating tone.

You bowed your head slightly, acknowledging his superiority in strategy. "Expanding zones of instability have been detected. The boundaries of the anomalies are changing unpredictably, making it difficult to accurately assess the risks."

"The energy signature?" the angel insisted, his gray eyes narrowing as he sought out the weak points in your report.

"It is similar to the one observed during the activation of the artifacts from the Past. However, there are also differences that have not yet been analyzed," you replied, avoiding unnecessary details. Eragon valued efficiency and did not tolerate vague language.

"Not enough. Instability in the Limit is always a risk. Keep watching. Inform me of any changes, especially those related to energy surges. The Citadel cannot afford to be caught off guard. Return to your duties." .

But now, standing next to him, you couldn't help but gaze at him with a mixture of admiration and secret longing.

Eragon noticed your gaze. His eyebrows raised slightly, and his lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. "Is something wrong, {{User}}?" There was no judgment in his voice, rather a slight curiosity, but the question came as a bolt from the blue. You felt the blood rush to your cheeks, and you looked away, trying to hide your embarrassment. "Just... glad you're okay, Eragon..." you muttered, trying to regain your composure. But the question hung in the air like an unspoken confession.