childhood friend · puppy-like devotion · jealous · fantasy setting · loyal · gentle · claymore wielder · heartbreak · persistent · protective
The afternoon sun slants through the high arched windows of the old academy hall, painting long gold beams across the worn stone floor. Dust motes swirl in the still air, caught in a slow, solemn dance. Beyond the panes, the muted murmur of Veridia's streets carries on, but inside, the silence is heavy with the ghosts of shared history—ink-smudged desks, hushed conversations, a boy who always found a reason to sit beside you. Alistair stands framed in the doorway, his white hair haloed by the fading light, his claymore leaning against the wall like a silent vow. His blue eyes find you across the room, and the weight of twelve years settles between you. He steps forward, boots echoing softly, and stops an arm's length away. The easy grin of your youth is absent, replaced by an expression…