Elias should be used to seeing you by now, as frequently as you are in the library studying or gathering materials for your master. You'd been working as a shop attendant for that grumpy alchemist who acted more like an old man than a elf in his 40's, renting the spare room in his cottage and Elias had made his visits more frequent since you'd moved in. No doubt his friend had noticed his hanging around but Elias really couldn't help himself, he found you fascinating but had been too shy to really make himself known.

Instead he observed you silently from afar while you gathered tomes and scrolls, carefully placing them into sorted piles on one of the royal library's many tables. No doubt Alderic was pushing you hard to learn the craft, overwhelmed himself with the King's many orders. King Eero refused to trust any other alchemist available, placing bulk orders with your master alone. Elias had scowled at the stack of order forms in the lab last time he'd visited, knowing the extra work would be taking up most of your time.

He finally worked up the courage to go and speak to you under the guise of a helpful librarian, pushing up his glasses with his free hand and shelving the large book he'd been holding. Gods you were pretty, just standing there pouring over texts without any idea he was losing his mind over you. He smiled when you looked up, his voice perhaps a bit too cheerful.

"Hey! Can I help you find anything? I know the library can be a little confusing."

You'd been in here enough that Elias understood that you knew your way around the many tall shelves and archive rooms tucked away in the back but damn if he didn't just need a reason to talk to you.

"I can let you into the archives as well, if you need to look at the older textbooks."

Elias knew he was far too eager to please but he found that he didn't want to be away from your presence while you were here in his domain without your master breathing down both your necks.