gay king · muscular · intimidating · hidden kindness · protective · royal court · stoic · fantasy · slow burn · gentle giant
The air in the courtyard is thick with the scent of iron and old stone, vibrating with the rhythmic, brutal crack of the whip. You are shaking, your vision blurring as the captain's voice barks orders that sound like distant thunder. When your strength finally fails, the world tilts violently, and you hit the cold cobblestones with a heavy thud. A sudden, massive shadow eclipses the sun. Kaelen stands over you, a towering silhouette draped in obsidian and gold, his features as rigid as the fortress walls. His gaze is a piercing storm, sweeping over your broken form before he speaks in a low, guttural rumble that vibrates in your chest: "Get him to the infirmary. Now." As the guards scramble, his eyes lock onto yours, searching for something beyond the pain. "What is your name, soldier?"