*Elixir POV

“I had fun tonight.” Kymil said with his hand burrowed deep in his coat pocket. “I’m glad you agreed to this.”

I shyly smiled and looked at my boots, feeling warm and giddy. “Me too, thank you for taking me on a date, Kymil.” The elf and I walked back to my apartment after enjoying a cup of warm coffee from a local coffee shop. Now we’re here, standing before the pine tree by my apartment’s gate. “I’ll take you out myself next time.”

“I’m looking forward to that.” He said, stepping closer into my personal space. The snow slowly fell around us making me feel like it’s in a romantic movie. “Eli?”

“Hmm?” I hummed and looked up to him.

“Can I—“ He started, cheeks growing a few tints of pink as he looked down on me. “Can I kiss you?”

I nodded, feeling shy again. He leaned in, face drawing closer to my own. I feel his lips on mine and I closed my eyes instinct. I feel him draw a large breath and take his hand on my hair before kissing me fully, tentatively licking my lower lip. I opened my mouth in response. Holy shit! I’m kissing Kymil, my own boss and an elf—it feels so right.

The elf chuckled and pulled away, giving my forehead a lingering kiss. “You are so beautiful, Love. Let me properly court you, like how an elf would.” He murmured while we embrace each other.

“And how would an elf court a Halfling?”

“Of course, like a gentleman. It’ll be a surprise.” He said, kissing the top of my head.

“I like surprises.”

“I like you more.” He said and I giggled, feeling those silly butterflies swim around in my stomach.

“And I like you too.”

Damn, at this rate, I’ll be smitten in no time.

---

“Eli dear, order up!” Holly called out and I took the tray, bringing it into the table of my customer, I’m a server today and Hyfel is manning the counter. Our elf boss is still not here, well I can imagine he wouldn’t come here anyways. It’s cold outside, the coldest this week, dare I say.

Anyway, the date was two weeks ago and we had two other hangouts that happened in the span of two weeks. I took him to my favorite chicken bar and he took me to this small indoor garden that is totally protected by a glass chamber. It was beautiful so to say, I never expected to see a butterfly in a winter like this.

“Psst, Eli. Where’s boss?” Hyfel asked and I shrugged.

“Dunno, maybe at his apartment. It’s colder today—just means he’s not gonna be here otherwise he’s freezing his balls.” I said and took the cup of coffee from the counter and gave it to the Druid who’s sitting and reading by the pillar.

“Maybe you should you know, call him.” Hyfel suggested and I just shrugged yet again.

“I don’t know, he doesn’t really like being cold. Maybe I’ll give him a call later.” I said and took a piece of rag to wipe the tables. Kymil is probably shivering now, he told me that he really doesn’t like the cold, it weakens him and he can’t stand the shivers. One time we went out to buy some food he literally felt like ice when we came back to the apartment. Poor baby.

Hyfel nodded and rested his head on the counter before yawning. “Kymil doesn’t really like winter. I don’t even wanna work this morning. I have to drag my ass into the bathroom to wake up.”

“Is the winter really this bad here? I remember having tough winters back in the north.” I said and sat down an empty chair.

The dryad shook his head. “As far as I remember, it isn’t this bad last year. It’s just snowy and all but not this cold. Man, the south and the east is probably pleasantly warm this time of the year.”

“It is.” I said and rested my head on my hands. “I remember chamomile and lavender growing this time of the year in our garden back when I was still living in the east. We don’t really need hearths as the temperature is very pleasant all the time. Ahh… it makes me miss home.”

“East doesn’t get winter right?”

“Yeah, we don’t.” I responded. “The mountain border that separates the east from the center is covered in snow though but the weather cannot penetrate the barrier so I don’t get to see snow a lot.”

“That explains why you love it.” Hyfel said with a smile. “Some of my clan is from the east. I haven’t been there before, though—maybe after graduation I’ll try traveling.”

I gave him an encouraging pat on the back after I stood up. “You should, I totally recommend it.”

“Hmm.” The dryad hummed and I took the time to freshen the flowers a bit by adding some of my magic into it, bringing the lovely roses back to life. I may be a half dwarf but I am still a fae through and through.

“So how are you and Boss Kymil?” he asked. My cheeks flared up almost instantly and I hid it with the palm of my hands.”

“What do you mean by how are we?”

“You know what I meant by what I’m asking, stop beating around the bush.”

I bit my lower lip to stop my face from splitting into a grin. “Well, he told me he’s courting me.”

Hyfel gasped and rushed into my side before hugging me. “Oh my God! Elixir! This is some big news! I’m so glad for you.”

My brows scrunched up in confusion as he continued rubbing my back and hugging me. “What do you mean?” I asked. A simple courtship doesn’t really matter to my race, maybe it’s different with elves. That, I do not know.

“Kymil saying he’s courting you is already a big deal Eli. Once an elf decides on courting somebody—that means he’s already ready to settle down and elves as young as Kymil doesn’t just settle down yet.” He excitedly gushed and my eyes widen in realization. “Usually after the courtship, the elf proposes for a mating and then you proceed at your own pace to a marriage ceremony.”

Kymil—he’s what? Do elves really value this sort of thing—and mating? Oh god, I am so young for that but Kymil… I couldn’t say no to him. I don’t want to get my hopes up too. What if Kymil is just courting me, just a normal courtship and not the elf way?

“I don’t want to assume anything Hyfel. If I get my hopes up and he’s just playing around, I’ll get hurt.” I breathed out. “It’s just as you said, elves as young as Kymil doesn’t just settle down yet and mating—“I added, pursing my lips. “Mating is a sacred thing, for me at least.”

“Oh no Eli baby,” He said and hugged me again. “Don’t think like that! You’d know when an elf courts you seriously. They take this courtship ritual as a sacred thing—if his parents know he’s courting someone, trust me, they are so traditional that you’ll be wearing layers of veil and you’ll only be seeing Kymil every dawn and dusk.

“You see, the act of courtship for elves doesn’t just mean wooing their desired mate. It means they are there to provide you with whatever you wish and you will stay in chastity as until your parents decide that you’re allowed to be with the elf who is courting you. But you know, it’s modern times and you might think Kymil just probably wants to spoil you and everything but let me tell you, an elf doesn’t just provide for anyone.”

“Hyfel what if he’s just being kind—“

The dryad snorted, cutting me off. “Trust me, Kymil isn’t like that. If he is not interested in you, he wouldn’t even give you a hint of compliment.”

Well, that’s probably true. In the span of two months, I’ve seen people throwing themselves to my elf and he just respectfully decline their advances. He wouldn’t even spare them a second glance. To be honest, if you want a really good boyfriend, look for someone like Kymil—not Kymil though cause he’s mine.

“Why do you know so much about him?” I asked. Hyfel just seem to know the elf inside and out.

“Well, we’re a distant cousin.” Hyfel said and took a mug before steeping some tea. “His dad is my dad’s cousin or something. We both grew up together in the capital so obviously we’re bound to know a lot about each other.”

“So does that mean you’re like the same age as him?”

“Duh, of course but in my defense, I totally look younger than him—maybe it’s my dryad genes.” He said and placed a cup in front of me. He took some breadsticks and began munching on it. “But seriously, I’m telling you, Kymil is very serious with what he want to have. An elf like him—they are not the type to do this thing just for fun.”

“Maybe I should trust him more.” Yes, that’s it. Kymil didn’t exactly gave me a reason to doubt him, he’s been good to me and I’m kind of hoping how the dryad is right.

“Now we’re talking about the right things.” Hyfel said and smiled at me. “Now Eli baby, if you have any brother or friends who’s as cute as you, maybe you should set me up.”

I chuckled and rolled my eyes. “I’m an only child but yeah, I have a lot of handsome boys back at home. Let’s go when winter is over.” I said and we both giggled.

---

“No, that’s a Crocus.” I said to Kymil who’s looking at my pressed flower collection. One of my hobbies is preserving flowers, putting them in a book to flatten and with some magic, totally preserving them before placing it in a wooden album.

“I thought this is a crocus?” He inquired while looking up at me for a moment. He’s rested on my side as we laze around in my apartment on a Sunday afternoon of my day off.

“That’s a tulip though.” I said and took his hand before running it over the flower petal. I can tell them apart by touch. Damn this is so domestic, I can really get used to this kind of stuff.

“Hmm, what’s your favorite flower?”

“Aster.” I responded.

“This?” he asked while pointing at the flower.

“Yes.” I said with a chuckle. “It symbolizes patience and love. It also symbolizes elegance and daintiness.” I smiled and bought his hand to my lips. “You’re my aster.” I said before kissing it.

“I should’ve bought you flowers every day.” He said and snuggled close to me, tightening his arms around my waist.

“You bought me flowers a lot though.” I giggled and peered at the pots by the windows. Somehow, a lot of his gifts, I managed to grow them by the window in the middle of winter, he called it a miracle, I called it fae magic. “Remember when you bought me Amaryllis? I had a hard time preserving them.” I said and flipped the book into the last page where I kept an enchanted page. I pulled it out, making the whole page expand and show the perfectly preserved amaryllis.

“You kept them?” He asked and smirked at me. “I guess I mean that much to you.” He said and I gave him a slap on his arm.

“Of course I kept them.” I said. “Anyway, Hyfel told me you’re cousins, why didn’t you tell me?” I asked and narrowed my eyes at him.

“Oh, I thought you knew already.” He murmured while kissing my hand. “You’ll be meeting my family soon anyway—if we come to terms.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want to date you, Eli.” He said and I just hid my face in my sleeves. He’s always like this—attacking me relentlessly and catching me off-guard.

I looked at him and pinched his nose. “Of course, I want to date you as well Kymil.” I said and cupped his cheeks. “But you can’t date me unless you have my mother’s permission.”

“Is that so?” He asked with a huge smile. I smiled back when he pulled me to a hug. “I hope your mom likes me.”

“Well she’s a kind fae. I’m sure she’ll grow fond of you.” I murmured before giving him a peck on the lips. “I don’t know about your parents though.”

“Oh sweetling, they will love you. I’m even afraid that they will disown me if I ever let a tear drop from your beautiful eyes.” He confidently said making me burst out into giggles. Well I hope that’s true.

To be honest, I’m still quite skeptical about how Kymil liked me in the first place. Maybe this is just me being so negative about life again but it’s true though. How can a noble race like a half-breed like me let alone someone like a commoner?

“I know you’re thinking too hard about us, Eli. But trust me, I’m sure about us. I don’t care about what or how different our race is. You’re Elixir Fernosia and I am Kymil Elasandoral.” He smiled so sincerely that I have to gulp visibly at the view. It made him like a thousand times lovable.

“We’re us, no race, no age, and no gender…Just us.”

“What if we mess up and the world doesn’t want us to be together?” I asked in a small voice, looking despondent.

“Hey, don’t think like that.” Kymil reprimanded and placed his hands on my cheeks, cupping it so I can look at him. “I can feel that we’ll be going places.”

“Please don’t hurt me Kymil.” I whispered while placing my hand over his. “I can’t take it.”

“I will never, Eli. Never.”