Shield of Destiny

The university campus was alive with the hustle and bustle of students rushing between classes, but for Elara, the world felt quieter, as if everything had slowed to a near halt. She walked through the campus, her eyes distracted by the countless thoughts swirling in her mind. It had been weeks since the attack on the Seven Families' estate. The world around her had shifted, but she hadn't fully grasped the enormity of it all yet.

She felt a strange pull—something intangible—whenever Lysander was nearby. It wasn't just the way he looked at her, or how his presence seemed to fill the space around them. It was deeper. Almost like an invisible thread connecting them. A bond that she couldn't explain, but which had been growing stronger every day.

Elara had always considered herself an average girl, someone whose life consisted of mundane tasks: working part-time jobs at the bookstore, studying for exams, and trying to carve out a future for herself despite the shadows of her past. But Lysander… Lysander was different. He was charming, confident, and effortlessly attractive, yet there was something behind his eyes—something broken—that made him feel more real to her than anyone else.

Today, the sky was overcast, and the threat of rain loomed overhead. Elara stood by the window of the library, her arms folded across her chest, trying to focus on the textbook before her. But the words danced on the page, refusing to settle into her mind. Every time she tried to concentrate, her thoughts drifted back to Lysander.

Why did he seem so distant? Why did his eyes cloud over every time they shared a moment of closeness, as if he was holding something back? Was it just her imagination, or did he really feel the pull between them?

As if on cue, the door to the library creaked open. Elara looked up and saw Lysander standing in the doorway, a slight frown etched on his face. His usual confident stride seemed more cautious today, almost like he wasn't entirely sure what to do.

"Hey," he greeted her softly, his voice warm but laced with an undercurrent of something unspoken.

"Hey," Elara replied, forcing a smile despite the tight knot in her stomach. Her heart picked up pace at the sight of him, and she quickly turned back to the book in front of her, hoping the action would mask her sudden nervousness.

Lysander stepped closer, lingering for a moment at the edge of her table. He hesitated before speaking again. "I… I know we haven't talked much lately, but I thought maybe we could grab lunch together? I mean… it's been a while since we really spent any time together."

Elara blinked, startled. She hadn't expected that. She had noticed how he'd been pulling away in recent days, always busy with his group of friends, always deep in conversation with Dorian or the others. And though she hated to admit it, it hurt. She'd grown used to their banter, their shared moments. But lately, she felt him slipping away.

"Sure," she said, trying to sound casual, despite the wariness that gripped her. "Lunch sounds nice."

Lysander smiled, though it was faint, as if he, too, was trying to mask something. Without another word, he pulled a chair out and sat across from her, his gaze falling on the book she had been staring at without really reading.

"Anything interesting in that book?" he asked, leaning forward slightly, his curiosity apparent.

Elara shook her head, chuckling softly. "I'm just trying to catch up. It's the most boring thing ever."

Lysander laughed, and the sound of it felt like a breath of fresh air in the otherwise stifling silence. But Elara couldn't help but notice the subtle tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes kept darting around the room as if searching for something.

They fell into an easy conversation about classes, trivial things that were far removed from the complexities of their lives. But beneath the surface, a current of unspoken words lingered between them. Elara couldn't help but wonder if he was still hiding something from her—something important. The way he acted around her… It wasn't just normal friendship, not anymore. It felt like there was something deeper, something hidden beneath his guarded exterior.

"What's been going on with you, Lysander?" Elara asked, her tone softer now, more vulnerable. "I know you're distracted. I can tell."

Lysander's smile faltered for a moment. He hesitated, glancing away as though considering his words carefully. "I... I don't know how to explain it, Elara. There's been a lot happening in my life recently. It feels like everything is changing, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do with all of it."

She could see the conflict in his eyes, the uncertainty that he couldn't quite hide. It was rare for Lysander to show any sign of weakness, so seeing this side of him was both unsettling and strangely comforting. It reminded her that, despite his perfect facade, he was still human, still trying to navigate the same struggles she faced.

"I get it," Elara said softly. "Things have been… strange for me too. I feel like I'm living in some kind of dream, but it's not a good one. I don't know who I am anymore, Lysander. All I know is that I don't belong in this world. I'm just... trying to get by, you know?"

Lysander's gaze softened, his lips curling into a faint, sympathetic smile. He reached out, his hand briefly brushing hers on the table. "You belong. You might not see it now, but you belong. You're stronger than you think, Elara."

The warmth of his touch lingered, and Elara's breath caught in her throat. She wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that there was more to her life than just surviving. But everything felt so uncertain. She felt like she was teetering on the edge of a cliff, not knowing what would happen next.

Lysander didn't say anything more after that. Instead, he simply stayed by her side as they ate their lunch in companionable silence. Despite the questions that swirled in her mind—about the magic, about her past, about what was happening between them—Elara allowed herself to bask in the simple comfort of his presence. She needed this. She needed him.

As the conversation drifted away from heavy topics, Lysander's hand brushed against hers again, and this time, Elara didn't pull away. The connection between them, no longer a faint pull, but something more real, more tangible, seemed to deepen with each passing moment. She didn't know what it meant, or where it was headed, but for the first time in a long while, Elara felt like she wasn't alone.

But even as she savored this rare moment of peace, something gnawed at her. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing for certain: whatever it was, Lysander would be at the heart of it. And so would she.

---

The bond between Elara and Lysander had begun to grow—slowly, cautiously, yet undeniably. They were linked by forces neither of them understood, both pulled toward a destiny they were still too young to fully grasp. And as they spent more time together, they began to sense the shift in the air, a storm approaching on the horizon.

Neither of them could have known that their lives were about to change forever, and that their growing bond would soon be tested in ways they never imagined.