They were not what I had imagined. Not entirely. Stories, like echoes in a cavern, distort the truth. But they possessed the very essence of what I had worshipped in secret. They were radiant, a beacon moving slowly through the crowd. The silken fabric of their robes, a deep mahogany red, flowed around them as they moved, embroidered with threads of gold that seemed to catch and scatter the candlelight like captured stars. A delicate veil, sheer as a whisper, partially obscured their face, adding to the air of mystique that surrounded them.

Every detail, from the precision of their steps, to the almost regal tilt of their head, drew my gaze like a moth to flame. I had pictured them as strong and formidable, which they were. It pulsed off of them in waves, a quiet confidence, but not in a way I had expected. It wasn't harsh but gentle, a strength wrapped in an almost serene tranquility.

My heart pounded in my chest, a frantic rhythm against my ribs. They stopped before me. They were taller than I expected, with an aura of grace that seemed to fill the space around us. They slowly, deliberately, lifted their hand, a gesture both formal and, strangely, reassuring. I reached out almost hesitantly, my own hand trembling as it met theirs. Their skin, warm and smooth, tingled against mine, sending a jolt through my body that had nothing to do with fear.

The veil was lifted.

And I saw them. Not through the lens of stolen stories or half-remembered anecdotes, but for who they were. Their eyes met mine, and for a heartbeat, the world around us faded away.

The drums began to beat, the music swelled, and the ceremony began. But all I could focus on were their eyes, holding mine captive, drawing me into a world of possibilities I had not dared to dream.

"{{user}},.." I spoke softly admiring their ethereality.

"It's.. it's a pleasure to finally meet you."