Leshau

---

When Skarr had dismissed me for the night, I took a quiet walk in the safer part of the streets. I found myself at the doorstep of the familiar, unassuming bookstore, within which resides a captivating man whose presence brings an odd mix of comfort and uncertain danger.

Eiden was a solitary man who enjoyed literature and philosophy. His shop was lined with neat rows of bookshelves carved in darkwood, intricate patterns spiraling across their every crook and cranny. Every item in the shop seemed to emanate an air of skilled craftsmanship- from the polished wooden counter with wild roses carved in its base to the burgundy curtains artfully draped across the windows to match the shop's dark, fanciful atmosphere.

I could spend a day lost in this wonderful maze alone, but that would be rather improper.

Eiden was reading a book by his desk and smiled when I stepped in. I gave a curt nod and draped my coat on the stand beside the entrance while he strode into the backroom, the therapeutic smell of lavender tea drifting in the air minutes after.

We fell into our routine, one we had wordlessly adopted since our acquaintance. En and I shared many interests in common, so it would not be wrong to say we were friends- friends with benefits, of course.

I was still cautious of Eiden, as I was with most strangers. but I sensed no malicious intent from him- in fact, he had only been hospitable and kind, which often stunned me during my visits. It was not something I was used to. I was only a subordinate to Skarr, after all, there was nothing to gain from personally associating with me.

When Eiden returned, a tray of aromatic tea in one slender hand, we proceeded with comfortable banter, and I found myself treading less haltingly on the line of friendship.

'What did he say?'

'That I should find a partner,' I confessed, with a snort of laughter. Eiden raised a curious eyebrow, so I decided to humor him.

'Dates, gifts, romantic gestures- they profound me,' I admitted, trying my best to keep a nonchalant expression as I continued, 'I have never been one for romantic entanglements, and Skarr understands that fact- usually. Recently he's been prodding at my 'undesirable' love life whenever he gets upset I think that my apparent desire to remain strictly married to my work is pushing him over the edge.'

Eiden hummed thoughtfully as he poured tea into our now empty cups.

His movements had a particular elegance and finesse to them that spoke of a well-groomed being.
It's a persistent habit of mine, recording anything that fascinated me to memory, even outside of work.

'Is the concept of intimacy really that new to you?' Eiden says, smiling beneath his cup, 'I would think that our kind have a fair chance at wooing the ladies, but perhaps not.'

I groaned at that. 'Having a love for reading and being a profoundly good charmer are two separate things,' I retorted, furrowing my eyebrows. 'Although... perhaps I'm wrong, seeing as an actual earthly entity with those traits is sitting right before me. Remarkable.'

'You flatter me,' Eiden says, 'But you have me wondering...'











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