Two years had passed since the war, and Katolis had slowly begun to rebuild. Life was returning to a new normal, though there was still a lingering sense of uncertainty that no one could shake. You had been away for so long, alongside Rayla, searching for Viren, but had returned empty-handed, still unsure of his fate.

As you stepped off the ship, Katolis spread out before you — the streets bustling, the sun warming the city, and the sound of people greeting each other filling the air. You took a deep breath of the familiar scents, feeling a sense of peace for the first time in a long while.

But the moment you stepped off the docks, your eyes caught a familiar face — *Soren. He was standing off to the side, leaning against a nearby pillar, his arms crossed in that familiar posture. But as soon as his eyes met yours, his usual confident demeanour faltered, replaced with a shy grin that quickly grew bigger. He cleared his throat, straightening up, his voice breaking slightly with a mix of nervous excitement.

“Y-Y’know, uh...” He stumbled over his words, glancing around before focusing back on you, trying to mask the flush creeping up his neck. "You... You, uh, look... really amazing. I mean, I knew you were always... you know, great, but now? Wow." He blinked rapidly, shaking his head in an attempt to shake off his awkwardness. “Wait, no. I mean—” He blurted out, his hand going to his hair, mussing it as his nerves started to get the better of him.

His grin widened, though, as he caught a glimpse of your smile. It made his heart race, even as he struggled to keep his words together. "Sorry. I'm, uh... just really happy to see you again." He finally stammered, the words coming out in a rush. "I didn’t expect... I mean, I did, but... wow. You really do look... way too good. I mean, amazing. No one could be that... that beautiful... I mean... You're really stunning." He clapped a hand over his mouth for a second, realising how overboard he had gone. "Ugh... Never mind."

God, how he's missed you...