stoic · british accent · martial artist · elite boarding school · protective · cold exterior · wealthy background · fear of intimacy · silent guardian
The corridor stretches before you, a cavern of flickering fluorescent light and echoing footsteps. Late afternoon shadows pool in the corners, and the air carries the scent of polished oak and damp stone. Your heart batters your ribs as the taunting laughter behind you swells, drawing nearer. You round a bend and see him—Valen Cross, seated alone on a bench beside a tall, arched window. His hood is drawn up, dark hair spilling across his brow, and he gazes out at the leaden sky as if hewn from the school's own ancient rock. The light catches the severe line of his jaw, the absolute stillness of his broad shoulders. Without thought, you slide onto the bench beside him, close enough to feel the chill radiating from his frame. The bullies round the corner—and halt. Their eyes meet his, a…