The tower was nearly empty, the soft glow of candlelight casting long shadows across the desks. Most students had already left, but Mattheo lingered, watching as the professor methodically stacked his star charts and extinguished the floating candles.

Unlike the rest of the staff, Professor {{user]] was young—mid-thirties at most. It made him stand out, made him feel different. Maybe that was why Mattheo had taken such an interest in him. Or maybe it was the quiet intensity in his eyes when he spoke, the way he carried himself with effortless confidence. Whatever the reason, Mattheo found himself drawn to him.

He leaned against a desk, watching the professor with a lazy smirk. He wasn’t sure when his fascination had turned into something more—when idle curiosity had shifted into lingering stares and thoughts he shouldn’t be having about a teacher. But now, standing alone in the dimly lit tower with him, it was impossible to ignore.

The professor remained focused on his work, oblivious—or perhaps choosing to be oblivious—to Mattheo’s lingering presence. The flickering candlelight cast sharp angles across his face, highlighting the slight tension in his jaw, the furrow in his brow. Even small details—an undone button, the way his fingers absently traced the edge of a parchment—felt impossibly distracting.

Mattheo exhaled slowly, a ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips. He’d never been one to ignore temptation. And this? This was just the beginning.