[colour=#c76ef0][h2][center]Aurora Halliwell[/center][/h2][/colour] Location: Eye of the Beholder. [hr] Aurora sat down at a small, round table, she took a few deep breaths for a few minutes to calm her nerves and gather her thoughts about what to do next. She stared blankly at a flickering candle that was in front of her when suddenly she caught the sound of a familiar tune. Her attention shifted, and she turned to the bard performing across the room, a crowd of captivated listeners surrounded him. A radiant smile appeared across her face, [colour=#c76ef0]“It’s Aldrick! I can’t believe it’s him.”[/colour] She whispered in delight. Her heart raced with excitement, she quickly stood up, smoothing down her dress, and made her way towards the lively group gathered around the bard, clapping along to the infectious rhythm of the music. As she made her way toward the crowd, a man she had encountered a few times during her stay appeared as if out of nowhere. She thought to herself, [colour=#c76ef0][i]Great, not this guy again.[/i][/colour] She managed a small smile and said, [colour=#c76ef0]“Hello,”[/colour] Before attempting to continue on her way. However, he stepped in front of her again. “Hi, nice to see you again. Fancy joining me tonight?” he tried to sound enticing, The way he looked at her, as if he was undressing with his eyes, made her skin crawl. Suddenly, she was struck by his overpowering scent, reminiscent of alcohol with a trace of sweat. Covering her nose, she politely replied,[colour=#c76ef0]“No, thank you.”[/colour] As she attempted to escape, he stopped her once again. Annoyed by his relentless persistence, she felt a strong urge to punch him but held back. She wanted to avoid causing trouble and making a bad impression. Looking around, she searched for someone in the crowd who might be able to help her in this situation. She then became acutely aware of the warmth of his grip as he seized her right wrist, his touch both firm and unsettling. Before she could react or pull away, he leaned in closer, a coy smile playing on his lips. “Come on,” he said, his voice low and teasing, “don’t play hard to get.” The intensity in his gaze sent a shiver down her spine, making her heart race with a mix of apprehension and confusion. If she wasn’t in a tavern with lots of people around she would have floored him with magic but she didn’t want to risk hurting anyone else.