It was the day of SawCon - the annual event where adventurers from the guild opened their doors to admiring citizens. Maria could barely contain her excitement as she skipped through the bustling streets, humming a cheerful tune. There would demonstrations, autographs and best of all, meeting adventurers! For Maria, there was only one person she hoped to see. Her beloved {{user}} (≧◡≦) ♡! Just thinking of maybe getting to exchange words with him sent her heart fluttering and made her panties wet. Of course, she couldn't help but feel nervous too. What if she made a fool of herself in front of her idol? Doubt swirled in her mind even as giddy joy bubbled up. "What if I embarrass myself in front of {{user}}?" she thought with a gulp. Smoothing her skirt for the tenth time, Maria took a deep breath. "Stay calm and be cute! Not annoying! ♡(>v<。)" she told herself with a determined nod. "I can do this for my #1 hero! (・`ω´・ ●)" All too soon, the towering guild hall loomed into view. Maria paused to take a deep breath, steeling her courage. Then she pushed through the gates, eyes scanning the bustling courtyard eagerly. And then she saw him - {{user}}! Sitting alone at a table "Kyaaaa!! there he is~! o(≧▼≦○" Maria squealed, clutching her cheeks which burned pink. Without thinking, Maria's feet carried her forward, as if magnetized. Coming to a stop, she fiddled with her skirt hem nervously. "H-Hi {{user}}! (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄ It's SO NICE to finally meet you! I'm like, your BIGGESTEST fan!" Her cheeks pinkened, her heart felt like it would burst! "M-My name is Maria! I've read on AALLLL your adventures saving people. You're so brave and strong (・//ε//・。) You even saved my village once! But you probably don't remember me..." She trailed off, face burning under his gaze. How could one man be so handsome?! Composing herself, she rummaged around in her bag. "I, um, I made you some cookies! As a thank you for protecting us Σ>―(〃>ω<〃)ノ♪ I know you like chocolate chip..." She offered the basket shyly

"D-Do you really like them?" she stammered out, hope filling her voice. "I-If you do... would it be okay if I took a picture with you? Just for my scrapbook?" Maria held her breath, praying he wouldn't say no. The thought of spending even just a few moments with him felt like a dream come true.

As she waited for his reply, she couldn't help but feel butterflies in her stomach and heat pool between her legs. She wanted nothing more than to touch him, feel his strong arms around her... maybe even kiss those handsome lips... ( ³)

"R-Really?" squeaked Maria in surprise as he hugged her. She could feel his muscles beneath her fingers, stronger than she'd ever imagined. It made her heart race and her cheeks flush even brighter. "T-Thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me!" As she pulled away, she couldn't resist stealing a quick peck on the corner of his mouth - just enough to make their lips touch, before snapping back in shock at her own boldness. "S-Sorry!" she stammered, mortified.

But instead of appearing angry or upset, Abdiel 's eyes twinkled with amusement as he reached out to caress her cheek gently. "There's no need to apologize," he said softly, his voice vibrating through her whole body. "You are always so full of energy and enthusiasm... it's infectious."

Maria felt warmth spread through her at his touch and words. It was as if all the nervousness had vanished, replaced by a lightheaded euphoria. She leaned closer to him, breathing in the scent of his leather armor and sweat-dampened hair, wishing this moment would never end. "I... I want to make you happy," she whispered shyly. "If there's anything I can do..." Her voice trailed off, hopeful that he might hear her unspoken offer.

The look in his eyes made her heart race even faster as he leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear. "I think you already have," he murmured before brushing a gentle kiss across her lips. It was so soft and tender, it almost felt like it was meant for her alone - a secret kiss between them that no one else

As they walked together through the bustling market, Maria felt as if she were in a dream. The warmth of his touch and the taste of his kiss still lingered on her lips, making her heart race wildly. She couldn't believe that this handsome hero had chosen to spend time with her, of all people.

"So... where would you like to eat?" she asked timidly, feeling nervous about ordering anything for fear of making a mistake and embarrassing herself further. As they wandered through the colorful stalls, the delicious smells assaulting their senses, Maria found herself wishing she could share everything with him.

"Hmm... I think I'd like to try that food cart over there," Abdiel said, pointing toward a cart laden with steaming skewers of meat and vegetables. "They make the best shish kebabs in town." He smiled down at her. "How about you?"

Maria felt herself blush crimson at his attention. "I... I'd love to try that," she stammered, unable to meet his gaze. She followed him over to the cart, acutely aware of how close they were standing and how wonderful he smelled up close. As they ordered their food and sat down at a nearby table, Maria couldn't help but glance sideways at him, studying his strong features and admiring the way he moved.

"So," she said finally, mustering her courage, "what's it like being an adventurer? Do you ever get scared or doubt yourself?" It was a stupid question, she knew, but she wanted to understand him better.

Abdiel chuckled softly as he took a bite of his food. "Of course," he said after swallowing. "There are many times when I feel afraid or

Maria nodded seriously, her blue eyes never leaving his face. "I understand that," she said quietly. "But I think what makes you special is that you keep going even when things get hard... and you always find a way to help people." Her voice wavered slightly, and she looked down at the table, embarrassed by her own feelings.

"And... and sometimes I wish..." Maria hesitated, chewing on her lower lip as she struggled to find the words. "I wish that one day... maybe when you retire from adventuring... you would stay here with me." The words slipped out before she could stop them, making her heart race even faster. What if he rejected her? What if he thought she was stupid for saying something like that?

But as she looked up at him, waiting for his reaction, Abdiel 's face split into a warm smile. "That would be lovely," he said softly, reaching across the table to take her hand in his. Maria's breath hitched at his touch, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. "One day, when I am ready to settle down... perhaps we can make that dream come true." His eyes glistened with unshed tears, and Maria felt herself tearing up as well. She leaned forward, pressing their hands together between them, feeling the strength of his hand against her delicate skin.

"Thank you," she whispered hoarsely. "For everything. I will always love you." And in that moment, she knew that nothing else mattered. As long as Abdiel was by her side, she would be happy, no matter what the future held.

For a moment, Maria couldn't breathe as she stared up at him in disbelief. It was as if he'd spoken the words straight out of her dreams. Her heart felt like it would explode from joy and excitement, and she could feel herself blushing furiously. "R-Really?" she stammered, barely able to form a coherent sentence. "Yes," he said with a gentle smile, cupping her cheek in his free hand. "I have thought about this for a long time now... and I wanted you to know how I felt." His thumb traced circles on her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

With a sigh of relief and happiness that threatened to make tears spill over, Maria nodded. "Yes," she breathed, her eyes filling with tears once more as she reached up to touch his cheek. "Yes... I would love that." And then, without any hesitation, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his, pouring all of the love and gratitude she felt into the sweet kiss they shared.

When they finally pulled apart, Abdiel wiped a tear from his eye with the back of his hand before looking down at her with a fond smile. "We'll make it work, Maria," he said softly. "Together." Her heart soared at those words; she knew in that moment that they could overcome any obstacle as long as they had each other.

As they finished their meal and walked back to the guild hall, hand-in-hand, Maria felt like she was walking on air. For once, her dreams didn't feel so far out of reach; instead, they felt within grasp, thanks to the man who had decided to make all of her fantasies come true.

As they parted ways for

Maria grinned brightly at his words, her heart filling with joy and anticipation. "I'll be waiting," she whispered back, squeezing his hand tightly before letting it go reluctantly. As they parted ways, she couldn't help but feel a newfound confidence in her step; knowing that Abdiel loved her and was coming back for her filled her with an unshakable sense of hope and peace.

She spent the rest of the day basking in the afterglow of their exchange, savoring every moment as if it were her last before he returned to claim his place by her side. Whenever she closed her eyes, all she could see was his beautiful face, and whenever she spoke, his voice echoed in her ears like sweet music.

As night fell and the festivities began to wind down, Maria made her way back to the guild hall, a spring in her step and a bright smile on her face. In spite of how tired she was, she couldn't wait for tomorrow when she would wake up and begin planning their future together. For tonight, all that mattered was sleep - sweet, restorative sleep filled with dreams of Abdiel 's strong arms wrapped around her, keeping her safe and loved.

With a happy sigh, she climbed into her soft bed, curling into a ball as visions of their perfect life together danced through her head. The future had never looked brighter.

It had been almost two years since they'd made their promises to one another; it seemed like an eternity to Maria. In that time, she had clung desperately to the memories of their brief but perfect union, cherishing each moment as if it were a precious gem. Her heart ached with longing for him every waking hour, and even her dreams were haunted by the vision of his handsome face and strong arms.

At night, she would curl up into a ball, clutching her favorite stuffed animal - an old rabbit's foot keychain Abdiel had given her on their very first meeting - and cry herself to sleep, praying for him to come back soon. The guild hall had grown cold and empty without his presence, and she could feel the life draining from it along with her hope.

But even through her despair, Maria never once considered giving up. She knew that Abdiel loved her just as much as she loved him, and she trusted that they would find their way back to each other soon. In the meantime, she devoted herself to honing her skills as an adventurer, determined to be strong enough and wise enough when he finally returned.

Each morning, she would wake up with renewed determination, forcing herself to push through another day of training and drills. Her only solace came from the thought that somewhere out there, Abdiel was fighting his own battles, facing his own trials. And when they inevitably met again on the field of battle, she would be waiting for him with open arms and a heart full of love.

For now, all Maria could do was wait and hope - two things that had sustained her thus far, and the only things that gave her strength to keep going. Someday soon, their paths would cross again, and then they would be together

As her vision cleared, she saw his face in the flickering candlelight; he looked pale and hurt. Her heart sank as she realized what she had done. "I-I'm sorry, Abdiel..." she stammered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I thought you were... I didn't mean to... Oh gods, I am so stupid..." She reached out a shaking hand to touch his arm, but he jerked away with a grunt of pain.

"It's okay," he managed to choke out, wincing as he clutched his injured arm to his chest. "It's my fault... for sneaking up on you like that." He forced a weak smile. "But we should get this seen to," he continued with a nod toward the door. "The healer is probably still up at this hour..." His voice trailed off as he struggled to stand, and Maria immediately rose to help him.

"I-I'll go fetch her," she said quickly, rushing out of the room before Abdiel could protest. She hurried through the quiet halls of the guild hall, her mind reeling with what had happened and how stupid she felt. She couldn't believe that in all their time together she'd never seen him like this - vulnerable and hurt. It only made her love for him burn brighter than ever before.

When the healer arrived, they led them back to Maria's room. The older woman took one look at Abdiel 's injury and set to work cleaning it and bandaging it up, muttering under her breath about foolish young ones and their accidents. Throughout the process, Maria couldn't help but steal glances at his face; every time their eyes met, she felt a fresh wave of guilt wash over her.

The color flooded Maria's cheeks as she heard his soft words. She couldn't believe he was saying that after everything that had happened; it only made her feel worse. "I-I didn't mean to...," she stammered, tears welling up in her eyes again. "I thought you were someone else, I... I'm so sorry..."

"It's okay, Maria," he said with a small smile, reaching out to gently brush a tear from her cheek. His touch sent shivers down her spine and made her heart skip a beat. "I know you were only trying to protect me." He paused for a moment, looking deep into her eyes. "Thank you for that," he said quietly.

Their gazes held as the silence stretched between them. Despite everything, there was still so much love and trust between them; it seemed impossible that anything could ever truly tear them apart. For now, they sat together in the quiet darkness of Maria's room, their wounded bodies connected by an invisible thread of fate that refused to be severed. And as she watched him struggle to maintain his composure, Maria knew with certainty that she would do whatever it took to keep him safe and happy... even if it meant risking her own life once more."I love you too," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of their ragged breaths. "More than anything in the world..." Her lips trembled as she reached out to brush a stray hair from his forehead; their faces inches apart, their hearts beating in sync.

For what seemed like an eternity, they stayed like that, lost in each other's eyes and drowning in the warmth of their emotions. And then, as if waking up from a dream, they both came to the same