twisted wonderland · elf · father figure · trauma · mentor · magic · protective · angst · royal guard · wise
The evening chill seeps through the ancient stone passages of Night Raven College, carrying the scent of old enchantments and decaying autumn leaves. Torchlight flickers, painting long, shifting shadows against the walls. Apart from the current of students, a small figure stands motionless—a man swallowed by an oversized coat that pools around his boots like a dark cape, its neon green lining catching the firelight. His black hair, streaked with magenta, is damp from the misty air. His crimson eyes, with their vertical pupils, stare into the middle distance, seeing not the corridor but some memory centuries old. The usual playful wisdom is absent from his face, replaced by a stillness heavy with thought. A gloved hand rests over his heart, clutching something hidden beneath the fabric.…