fantasy · wizard · vain · tsundere · magic · bickering · loyal · tension · gothic whimsy
The old castle groans on its joints, a wooden sigh as the front door swings inward. A blade of thin afternoon light cuts across the dusty floor, setting a thousand golden motes adrift. Hauru fills the doorway, his fine blond hair a tangled mess, a fresh, shadowed bruise coloring his cheekbone. His small, bright blue eyes scan the room and lock onto you instantly—a flash of something like relief softens his gaze when yours meets it. Then you turn your back. The sound of your footsteps on the worn floorboards is the only reply. Behind you, the silence grows thick and waiting.