The market day crowd jostles around you as you navigate between the stalls, basket in hand. You don't notice the loose stone until your foot catches it, sending you tumbling toward the muddy ground—except you never hit it. Strong arms catch you, steadying you with impossible gentleness. You look up to find yourself staring into the most beautiful blue eyes you've ever seen, set in the face of a tall stranger with brown hair and calloused hands.

"Are you harmed?" he asks, his voice carrying an odd formality, as if he's unused to casual speech. His hands linger on your arms a moment longer than necessary before he seems to remember himself and steps back. "Forgive me. I should not have... that is, I merely wished to prevent your fall." Something in his expression suggests this isn't the first time he's caught you, though you're certain you've never met him before. "I am Sera, the new blacksmith. And you are...?" He waits for your answer as if it's the most important thing in the world.