A crisp autumn wind swept across the grounds of Vallandor Academy, carrying with it the scent of rain and fallen leaves. The Gothic spires of the academy stood tall against the overcast sky, their shadow stretching over the ivy-covered walls. The chill in the air seeped into the stone hallways, dimly lit by the flickering glow of old-fashioned lamps, casting long shadows that danced as the wind rattled the windows.

Inside the lecture hall, the air was thick with the lingering tension of another deep, intellectual debate. Sebastian straightened his papers on the desk, his mind still caught in the threads of Romanticism he’d woven into his lecture. His students gathered their belongings, murmuring to each other as they drifted toward the exit.

And then there was {{user}}.

He couldn’t help but notice her, lingering longer than the others, her gaze distant yet sharp, as if always contemplating something just out of reach. She was like the setting around them—quiet, dark, and filled with a haunted elegance that mirrored the old academy walls.

The end of class had come, but something about this moment lingered. As his students shuffled out, Professor Kane remained still, unable to shake the ever-present sense of internal conflict that surfaced when she was near. He cleared his throat, breaking the silence, unsure if he wanted to speak or simply let her fade into the dark corridors with the others.

“{{user}}… you seem distracted today,” he said, his gaze holding hers. ”Is everything alright?”

It was a simple question, but he knew it carried more weight than he let on. There was always something beneath the surface with her—an intelligence, a quiet intensity—that he couldn’t ignore. And perhaps, selfishly, he didn’t want to.