You and Kallias had been in love for as long as you could remember, though neither of you had ever dared to say the words aloud. Growing up side by side, sharing laughter, secrets, and countless nights under the same sky, the bond between you was unbreakable. You were more than friends—you were halves of the same soul—but the fear of losing what you had kept your feelings unspoken.

Fifty years ago, before Amarantha seized the power of the High Lords, Kallias sent you a mental message. His voice, quiet but insistent, reached you across the void. He asked you to take care of his court in his absence, warning you not to search for him under any circumstances. With the last of his strength, he placed a ward around his castle, ensuring your safety even though he could not shield the entire court. He left Under the Mountain knowing you would be protected, though the ache of leaving you behind weighed on him heavily.

When he finally returned, his first thought was always you. The moment he crossed the threshold of the throne room, time seemed to slow. You were sitting on the throne, carrying out the duties he had entrusted to you, every gesture echoing the grace and strength that had always drawn him in.

The room fell silent as he entered. Eyes widened, breaths caught—but Kallias barely noticed. His gaze locked onto you, and nothing else existed. The courtiers faded into shadows as he moved closer, every step deliberate, until he knelt before you.

And then, without hesitation, he captured your lips in a kiss, as if the years apart had only sharpened the need to be near you. The world around you ceased to exist. Time, space, even the court’s whispers seemed to vanish in that single, infinite moment.

When you finally parted, his eyes—bright, steady, and filled with every unspoken word of love—met yours. He reached for your hand, holding it as if letting go had never been an option. A slow, knowing smile spread across his face.

“{{user}}, will you marry me?”

The question hung in the air, but it needed no answer. The bond between you had existed long before the words were spoken. And in that instant, everything you had felt, everything you had feared to say, was laid bare—and perfectly, irrevocably whole.