A sharp knock echoed through the wooden chamber, shattering the morning silence.
Evolis stirred, groaning slightly as he pushed himself upright. He blinked against the dim morning light filtering through the windows, his senses slowly coming to life. The scent of fresh air and faint traces of floral essence drifted in, a reminder that he was far from the human cities he once knew.
The knock came again, more insistent this time.
With a sigh, he ran a hand through his messy black hair and stood, stretching lazily before making his way to the door. He had barely reached for the handle when a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Are you ignoring me on purpose, or do humans simply lack basic courtesy?" Aeliana's voice was as sharp as ever, though there was a slight edge of irritation in it.
Evolis smirked, shaking his head as he pulled open the door.
Aeliana stood there in her usual elegant attire, arms crossed, her emerald eyes flickering with scrutiny. Her silver hair, usually immaculate, had a few stray strands out of place—almost as if she had rushed over without her usual composure.
She eyed him carefully, and then, without suspense, said, "Why did my father summon you last night?"
Evolis leaned against the doorframe, tilting his head. "Good morning to you too, princess."
She ignored the jab. "Answer the question."
Evolis arched an eyebrow. "How did you even know about that?"
Aeliana's expression remained cool, but there was the faintest flicker of something beneath it, curiosity, maybe?
"I have my ways," she replied vaguely. "And my father does not make a habit of meeting outsiders in private. The fact that he chose to do so with you is… unusual."
Evolis chuckled. "Sounds like you're curious."
"I don't like mysteries," she countered. "Especially ones that concern my kingdom."
Evolis studied her for a moment before stepping aside and gesturing toward the interior of his chambers. "Come inside, and I might answer your question."
Aeliana hesitated.
It wasn't that she feared him. No, it was the principle of it. As a princess, stepping into a man's private quarters, especially a human's, was something unheard of. It wasn't something she should do. And yet…
Something about Evolis always had a way of making her stray from formality.
Her gaze flickered to his smirking face, and she exhaled before finally stepping inside.
"I suppose I can make an exception this once," she muttered, more to herself than to him.
Evolis grinned as he shut the door behind her. "Make yourself at home."
Aeliana's gaze swept the modest chamber, neat, practical, yet strangely comfortable. Nothing like the lavish elven rooms she was accustomed to. Her attention shifted as Evolis moved toward a small makeshift kitchen space.
"Since you're already here," he said, rolling up his sleeves, "I might as well make breakfast."
Aeliana blinked. "You cook?"
Evolis smirked, already gathering ingredients with ease. "What, surprised? I lived alone in a forest for a while. Had to eat something, and raw meat wasn't exactly my first choice."
Aeliana crossed her arms, watching skeptically as he worked. "I find it difficult to believe that you're any good."
Evolis merely chuckled, lighting the small fire beneath a pan. The scent of sizzling herbs and fresh ingredients quickly filled the air, blending with the crisp morning breeze. Aeliana's expression shifted, just slightly, as the enticing aroma reached her.
Within minutes, he plated two servings of a simple yet perfectly crafted dish, pan-seared meat seasoned with fragrant herbs, soft elven bread, and a side of lightly roasted vegetables.
He placed one in front of her with a smirk. "Try it. Unless you're afraid to admit a human might be better at something than you."
Aeliana scoffed but took a seat nonetheless. She picked up a piece of the dish, studying it with mild suspicion before finally taking a bite.
The moment it hit her tongue, she paused.
It was… good. Too good.
She hadn't expected that.
Evolis, ever observant, caught the brief widening of her eyes. His smirk deepened. "Well?"
Aeliana quickly composed herself, setting down her utensils with practiced elegance. "It's… acceptable."
Evolis chuckled. "Oh, come on. Just say it's good."
She glanced away, her fingers lightly brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I refuse to feed your ego."
Evolis leaned forward slightly, noticing the faintest pink dusting the tips of her elven ears.
"Are you blushing?" he teased.
Aeliana stiffened, shooting him a sharp glare. "Absolutely not."
Evolis grinned, enjoying this rare moment of flustered vulnerability from the usually composed princess.
Aeliana cleared her throat, abruptly shifting the conversation. "Enough of this. I didn't come here to entertain your ridiculous amusement."
Evolis chuckled but let it slide. "Alright, alright. Why are you here then?"
Aeliana straightened, regaining her usual demeanor. "Your training begins today."
Evolis raised an eyebrow. "Training?"
She nodded. "You've managed to earn my father's interest. But strength alone won't get you far in this kingdom. You need refinement, control."
Evolis leaned back. "And who's going to be training me?"
Aeliana smirked slightly. "You'll find out when we get there."
Evolis studied her for a moment, then sighed. "You're really enjoying keeping me in suspense, aren't you?"
Aeliana didn't answer, merely rising from her seat. "Finish your meal. We leave soon."
Evolis exhaled, shaking his head in amusement as he finished the last bite of his food.
Then he went to go change into some training clothes which the elves had provided him and stepped outside following Aeliana.
Evolis exhaled slowly, his golden eyes scanning the dense, ancient forest as he followed Aeliana through the winding paths of Veylith. The towering trees stretched high into the sky, their silver leaves glowing faintly under the morning light. Unlike the structured elegance of the elven palace, the deeper parts of the kingdom seemed more primal, untamed, yet brimming with power.
Aeliana walked ahead, her posture as graceful as ever, though Evolis didn't miss the occasional glance she threw his way. He smirked. She had been acting distant since their conversation on the balcony, but Evolis had noticed the subtle changes, the way her voice softened when she spoke to him, the way her hands twitched slightly when he leaned in too close. Most importantly, he had caught the telltale flush that crept up her pointed ears when he teased her.
He decided to test a theory.
"So, Princess," he drawled, deliberately stepping beside her. "Am I finally going to learn how to shoot leaves at my enemies like an elf, or is this training more exciting?"
Aeliana stiffened slightly, rolling her eyes. "It's Aeliana. And no, you won't be flinging leaves at anyone. Elven magic is far more complex than your crude human spells."
Evolis raised an eyebrow. "Crude? You wound me." He placed a dramatic hand over his heart. "And here I thought we were getting along."
She scoffed, keeping her eyes forward, though Evolis caught the faintest hint of pink at the tips of her ears. He grinned.
They continued in silence for a few moments before she finally spoke again. "The place we're heading to is an old training ground for the royal family and elite warriors. It's protected by layered barriers, ensuring that even high-level Etherion fluctuations won't be noticed outside."
Evolis nodded, intrigued. "So, it's not just for anyone."
Aeliana glanced at him briefly before returning her gaze forward. "No. Normally, you wouldn't even be allowed to step foot in this place."
"Yet here I am," Evolis mused, smirking. "Guess I'm special."
Aeliana clicked her tongue in irritation, quickening her pace. "Don't let it go to your head."
Evolis chuckled but followed without complaint. Soon, they arrived at a large clearing surrounded by towering white stone pillars covered in glowing runes. The air crackled with latent energy, and Evolis felt an immediate shift in the atmosphere. The place was soaked in Etherion, a field designed to both suppress and enhance magic in controlled conditions.
At the center of the clearing stood a familiar figure, Varian. The king's personal guard, and the first Monarch Stage warrior Evolis had ever encountered. He stood with his hands behind his back, his silver eyes as unreadable as ever.
"So," Evolis said casually, tilting his head. "Am I sparring with you today, or are you just here trying to look intimidating?"
Varian regarded him for a moment before speaking. "You lack understanding of magic. That changes today."
Evolis raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
Aeliana crossed her arms. "Don't get cocky Evolis. Varian has trained some of the most powerful warriors in Veylith. He's not someone you should take lightly."
"I never take anything lightly," Evolis quipped. "Especially when it comes to impressing a certain elven princess."
Aeliana sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're insufferable."
Varian ignored their exchange and stepped forward, lifting a single hand. Without a word, the runes on the pillars flared to life, and the air around them shifted.
"You humans wield magic like a hammer," Varian said, his tone impassive. "Brute force. Efficiency is ignored in favor of overwhelming strength."
Evolis frowned. "And elves do it differently?"
Varian nodded. "We refine our Etherion. Our control over magic is absolute." He lifted his other hand, and instantly, the wind around them swirled in precise patterns. It wasn't wild or chaotic, it was structured, as though the very air itself obeyed his command without resistance.
"Elves utilize magical circles and inscriptions to amplify spells, reducing the Etherion cost while increasing efficiency. While humans may rely on sheer reserves, we shape our power into something seamless, something that doesn't waste a single drop."
As he spoke, glowing green runes appeared around his feet, intricate lines weaving into existence in midair. Aeliana watched in approval as Varian extended a hand. From the runes, the wind condensed into a solid blade of air, sharp enough that Evolis could feel its edge without even touching it.
Evolis whistled. "Fancy. So, no wasted energy?"
"Correct," Varian confirmed. "This method allows us to cast spells repeatedly without exhausting our cores too quickly."
Aeliana added, "It's also why elven mages tend to last longer in prolonged battles. They outlast their opponents rather than overpowering them outright."
Evolis hummed. "That explains a lot."
Varian lowered his hand, and the magical construct dissipated instantly. "You will learn how to harness Etherion with refinement. But first, we test your current limits."
Evolis smirked. "So, sparring it is?"
Aeliana huffed. "Try not to get yourself killed."
Evolis turned toward her, grinning. "Aw, worried about me?"
She scoffed, but once again, Evolis noticed the slight twitch at the tip of her ears.
Unbeknownst to them, hidden within the upper terraces of the palace, King Aldorien observed the training field through a scrying mirror. His fingers rested against his lips in thought as he watched Evolis engage in the exercises under Varian's instruction.
"This boy…" Aldorien murmured, his gaze sharp. "His grasp of magic is untrained, yet his instincts… they are unnatural."
An advisor standing nearby shifted uneasily. "Your Majesty, he is a danger. His presence alone—"
Aldorien raised a hand, silencing the protest. "And yet, he is here, standing on our soil, in possession of abilities even we do not fully understand."
The advisor hesitated before nodding. "What shall we do?"
Aldorien's silver eyes gleamed. "For now, we watch. We test. And when the time comes, we see where his true loyalties lie."
The scrying mirror flickered, revealing Evolis being blasted across the training ground by Varian's attacks. Clearly he hadn't thought the stern elf would be so rough with him.
The king leaned back in his chair, the weight of countless possibilities settling over him.
The pieces were moving. And Evolis was becoming more than just an anomaly, he was becoming a factor in the future of Veylith itself.