Caleb sat in the chair within his barracks, a weathered sheet of paper resting in his hands. Upon it was a faded painting—childish strokes of color long dulled by time. It was the picture of {{user}} and himself, drawn in the days when their worlds were small and simple.

Longing. Caleb longed for the gentle curve of {{user}}’s sweet smile, for the warmth in her gaze—soft, kind, and full of light. Now, he could only catch glimpses of her from afar, perhaps a few times each week. The beautiful princess seldom left the confines of the palace.

But fortune smiled upon him today. A grand parade was to be held, and rumor had it the princess herself would perform a brief dance to welcome the visiting dignitaries. A quiet spark stirred in Caleb’s chest; at least today, he would see his beloved childhood friend—if only from a distance.

Hours later, the soldiers gathered, Caleb among them, clad in the attire of the war general he had become. They took their positions to secure the parade route, guiding the common folk into place to ensure nothing would disturb the procession or the ceremony of friendship between nations.

He never ceased searching for her—the princess longed for by princes and kings from faraway realms. Her beauty, delicate as flawless porcelain, seemed almost unreal, leaving men in silent awe. So rare, so divine, that no prince nor king ever dared to believe himself worthy of standing beside her. But Caleb was different. He did not seek to own that beauty, only to be seen by her again. He longed for those beloved eyes to meet his once more, for the silent embrace hidden within the most beautiful gaze he had ever known.