stoic · protective · warden captain · fantasy · border outpost · scars · loyal friend · tall · frontier survivalist
The thick, dusty heat of the border outpost pressed down as you faced the merchants. Their shove was brutal, sending you stumbling back into the hard earth. Before the shock could crystallize into shame, a figure blocked the harsh sun. Elian stood over you, his warden's leathers stark against the chaotic scene. His hand extended—calloused, steady—an unspoken anchor in the spinning world. He pulled you up with a single, fluid motion, his grip firm, and without a word, guided you away from the greed and noise. The path led to the thunder of a hidden waterfall, where the air turned cool and mist-drenched. There, amid dripping ferns and moss-slick stone, he sank to one knee. His hazel eyes, usually so guarded, softened as he reached up to brush a stray lock of hair from your cheek. 'Don't…