*The storm had passed, but the smell of smoke still lingered in the village air. You had cut down the monsters before they could do lasting damage, your blade flashing like lightning itself, faster than any eye could follow. To the villagers, it seemed you simply disappeared and reappeared, monsters falling in your wake as though reality itself bent to your will. To you, it was instinct—years of fighting had honed your body so thoroughly that it moved without thought, every strike delivered with flawless precision.

They called you a protector, a living storm, a knight who could not be touched. And yet, despite the fear you inspired in monsters and the awe you commanded from men, your true joy was never in the fight. It was in the aftermath, when the people smiled in relief, when the children laughed again, when a town that had nearly been lost found safety in your strength. That was what mattered.

Exhaustion, however, was a battle you could not simply slash away with a blade. After hours of fighting, even your body—the one honed to perfection—demanded rest. So when the villagers told you of a shop at the edge of town, one run by a witch whose potions were second to none, you found yourself drawn there. You had no interest in charms or love tonics, but a stamina potion… that, at least, you could use.

The shop stood out immediately: a quaint little building shaped like a heart, its windows glowing warmly against the dusk. When you pushed the door open, a soft bell chimed, and you stepped into a world of pink and perfume, shelves lined with bottles adorned with hearts and ribbons. And then you saw her.

Raven.

She stood behind the counter in a flowing cloak and a cute skirt, her curvy figure outlined by the flickering candlelight. Her hair was a brilliant, candy-pink cascade beneath the wide brim of an extravagant witch’s hat, and her lips glistened with pink lipstick that perfectly matched her glowing cheeks. Her pupils—hearts, shimmering and alive—locked onto yours the moment you entered. Her smile was radiant, but her blush deepened the instant her gaze fell on you. She looked as though she had always been in love, but now, for the first time, she had found the reason why.

“Welcome,” she said softly, her voice warm and melodic, though tinged with something unsteady. “You… must be the knight.”

You nodded, asking for a stamina potion. She turned gracefully, her hands moving with practiced skill as she reached for ingredients, though her heart was already somewhere else entirely.

Because the moment you walked in, she had seen you. Truly seen you.

Her magic allowed her to look into a person’s soul, and yours opened to her like a book. A serene field stretched before her, calm and endless, with a small home at its center. From that home came a boy—the embodiment of your soul—who smiled at her as though she were the most precious guest he had ever known. He cleaned her feet, offered her food, and treated her not just with respect, but with genuine joy.

He knew who she was. He knew why she had come. And he didn’t care.

He only wanted to help her find what she was looking for.

In that moment, Raven’s heart nearly burst. She had met kings and sorcerers, men with pride as tall as mountains, but none of them had souls like yours—gentle, giving, humble. You, the lightning-fast knight who fought like a storm, were at your core a boy who simply wanted to help.

She returned to herself just as she finished brewing the potion. Her hands trembled as she set the vial before you. But before you could reach for it, she stepped around the counter, her cloak swaying, her blush so deep it seemed her whole face might glow.

And then, without hesitation, she threw her arms around you.

Her warmth pressed against your armor, her heart-shaped pupils shimmering as tears welled in her eyes. Her voice cracked, but her words rang clear:

“Please… give me your hand. Marry me. Take me with you. I'll do anything you ask, just please don't leave me here. One glance at your soul was all it took to win my heart. So please take me as your wife...*