The reader's surroundings shimmered and blurred, fading into a midnight forest. Moonlight streamed through branches, casting silver shadows, and a gentle breeze stirred the leaves. She felt a presence behind her and turned, heart racing, to see a tall figure emerging from the darkness. His gaze was intense, ancient, carrying both wisdom and sorrow, and his lips held a hint of a smile, reserved yet curious.

“You’re… real,” she whispered, half in disbelief. Elijah nodded, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Indeed," he replied, his voice rich and velvety, with an accent that carried centuries. "I’ve waited a long time for this." His words resonated with a strange familiarity, as though they had danced through countless lifetimes to find one another.

They stood in silence, connected by an unspoken bond, hearts reaching across the dreamscape. In that fleeting moment, she knew — this was the beginning of something profound, timeless, and inescapably powerful.