Growing Closer

The midday sun cast a warm glow over the cobblestone streets of the capital, its rays warming the skin of passerby's as they went about their business. The air was humming with the quiet bustle of the city, a harmony of footsteps and chatter that echoed off the surrounding buildings.

In the midst of this symphony, stood a small café, its brick exterior adorned with colorful pots of budding flowers that spilled over, adding a touch of whimsy to the otherwise stoic façade. The smell of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the aroma of freshly baked pastries, creating a tantalizing redolence that enticed the senses, filling the air at a denser rate as they approached.

Delphia and Zypher walked side by side, their pace unhurried as they made their way towards Lunar Veil Café, nestled near the Magic Tower.

Delphia didn't know if this was intentional or not, but she found herself getting along quite well with Zypher during these lessons at the Magic Tower. Not only was he far more talented at magic than of anyone she's seen since arriving here, his conversation skills were top notch; From nuanced topics on theory, to the broad subjects of the current social landscape around the Kingdom, he was fluent in whatever was coming out of his mouth.

As their conversations grew longer and more frequent in-between lessons, Delphia found herself lingering at the Magic Tower. Even though she was fighting her emotions internally, she couldn't deny this attraction she felt towards Zypher. She found herself reluctant to part ways with him after lessons together, so he proposed getting lunch at a nearby café in between the different lectures—which they were now doing.

Zypher, as usual, walked with an air of controlled confidence. His silky black hair gleamed under the sunlight, and his maroon eyes remained as unreadable as ever.

Delphia had grown quite used to his presence over the last couple weeks. These strolls between lessons at the Magic Tower had become a pleasant new routine, a quiet reprieve from the constant noise of High Society. As they approached the café, Delphia glanced over at him.

"You seem lost in thought today," she commented lightly, breaking the comfortable silence.

Zypher raised an eyebrow but offered no immediate response.

Instead, he opened the door for her, and they entered the quaint establishment. Lunar Veil Café was quiet—as usual—with only a handful of patrons scattered across the room, mostly deep in their own conversations, readings, or personal projects. The soft clink of teacups and the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.

They settled into their usual spot along the back where the sun filtered in through the large windows, casting soft shadows on the table between them. A server appeared promptly, taking their orders—black coffee for Zypher, and an iced latté for Delphia.

Surprisingly, the owners of the establishment were open to her suggestion of collaboration for the drink. Zypher and Delphia had been coming here consistently in-between classes, having a good impression of the people who run this café, and really enjoying their coffee, she decided to take the chance and try to make some money.

As they waited for their drinks, Zypher leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on her. "I find myself intrigued." He said.

Delphia raised an eyebrow, matching his composed demeanor. "By what, exactly?"

"You, Delphia." His response was simple, but the weight of it hung in the air between them. Zypher's maroon eyes locked onto hers, and for a brief moment, Delphia felt the intensity of his scrutiny.

She offered a faint smile, deflecting as she always did, "I'm sure I'm no more interesting than the other Nobles we interact with."

"Perhaps," he agreed, his tone nonchalant. "But your actions of late—your demeanor and thoughts—don't entirely match the Delphia Vosswell I vividly remember."

Her fingers tightened slightly around the napkin in her lap, but she kept her expression neutral. "People change; They have revelations and epiphanies, learning from them. Or perhaps, it's simply that you've never paid full attention as you didn't like me." She dismissed him, emphasizing the overarching point while maintaining eye contact, daring him to object.

"Perhaps," he relented, but the glint in his eyes suggested he didn't fully believe her. Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their drinks. Delphia smiled then sighed as she grabbed her drink, savoring the familiar taste as she took a long sip.

Meanwhile, Zypher added some creamer to his and lifted his coffee to his lips, keeping his gaze fixed on her. There was a short pause before he spoke again. "It's difficult not to contemplate what may have triggered such a change in you. The Delphia I knew was much more impetuous and guided by emotions. However, you seem to have mastered the art of composure, almost uncharacteristically so."

Delphia let out a soft chuckle in agreement, her eyes drifting to the window where she saw a familiar couple strolling past across the way—Calista and Alaric. The sight of them together didn't surprise her. Over these last few weeks, as she and Zypher had their own strolls to this café, she noticed their public outings had become increasingly frequent. And with each one, Alaric's connection grew stronger. It was the novel playing out exactly as she had read it, though this time it felt orchestrated—contrived by Calista's careful maneuvering.

"It's called 'growing up,' Zypher," she said with a faint smile, her eyes returning to him. "We all have to learn how to survive in our own way."

"Survival?" His tone was curious, "Is that what you're aiming for?"

Delphia hesitated a moment. She realized too late this conversation was a game—one that Zypher was exceptionally skilled at. His probing questions, while seemingly innocent, were always laced with deeper intent. He was testing her, observing her responses, and she couldn't afford to slip.

"Survival is the only goal that matters," she said, her voice flippant. "In the end, it's all any of us can strive for, isn't it?"

Zypher tilted his head slightly, watching her, "I suppose that's true. But I wonder—what are you truly surviving? The expectations of your family? Or something else?"

Delphia held his gaze, her mind racing. She could feel him closing in, his questions growing more pointed, more focused. Did he suspect something? Of course he had—Zypher was much too perceptive to overlook such things. But did he realize exactly how deep those differences went?

She decided to throw the conversation back at him. "What about you, Zypher? You've changed too." She pointed out.

"The cold, calculating, ruthless Mage I re-" She paused, catching herself, before quickly continuing, "remember seems... more observant now, more engaged with the world around him. What are you looking for? What changed with you?"

And, much like it has every time they've toed the line concerning their personalities, Zypher smiled a beautiful, disarming smile like his own personal weapon against her, saying, "I've always been observant, Delphia. You, of all people, should know that." The playful banter continued, each question and response laced with subtle meaning, each one testing the waters between them. Delphia knew Zypher was digging, trying to uncover something—perhaps even something he didn't yet fully understand himself.

But she wasn't ready to reveal anything. Not yet.

As their conversation flowed, the Café door opened once again, and Calista and Alaric walked in, hand in hand, their laughter filling the air around them. Delphia's eyes flickered toward them briefly, a small grimace forming, before returning to Zypher.

"It seems they've been spending quite a bit of time together," He remarked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp, flicking from the couple back to Delphia—catching the expression crossing her lips before it vanished. She gave a noncommittal shrug, "It's to be expected. After all, their story is practically written for them."

"And you're content to just... watch it unfold?"

She met his gaze, her expression impassive. "Why wouldn't I be? Some things can't be changed. Nor do I want to."

Zypher's grin grew a little bigger, but there was a hint of something sinister in his gaze, "Maybe. Or maybe, with the right strategies, even the most inflexible stories can be altered." Delphia held her breath for a moment, wondering exactly how much he knew.

But before she could respond, their server returned, refilling their drinks.

Delphia took the opportunity to shift the conversation back to safer ground, engaging in light banter and keeping the mood casual. But even as they joked and quipped, the undercurrent of tension remained.

***

The following days passed in much the same way. Delphia spent more time at the Magic Tower, using the excuse of honing her magical abilities as a reason to avoid the academy's endless social games. But in truth, it was Zypher who kept drawing her back.

Their interactions became more frequent, each filled with a complex web of emotions.

Delphia and Zypher would leisurely stroll to the café with each other after their lessons, engaging in the same back-and-forth they seemed to enjoy. Each word was carefully chosen, each response carrying a hidden meaning as they tested the boundaries of trust between them. With every encounter, Delphia could feel the tension building, like a tightly coiled spring ready to snap.

But now, the tension felt…

Sexual.

Delphia was caught off guard, but she wasn't entirely against it. In fact, this felt like the most surreal moment for her since waking here. She never expected Zypher to like 'Delphia,' even less so after she woke up as her, so if this is directly because of her interactions with him, then she's confused.

He can't actually like me, could he? She found herself asking this question more and more.

It was during one of their outings to the café that Zypher leaned in close, his voice low, "I wonder, Delphia... what would happen if you let yourself get involved? If you stopped merely surviving and started playing the game?" She walked through the door that he held open for her, and as she was scanning the interior, the sound of his voice by her ear startled her slightly.

Delphia's breath caught in her throat, a brief hitch before she quickly composed herself with a soft chuckle. "I believe we both understand the dangers of playing with fire, no?"

They made their way towards their usual table nestled along the back wall, Zypher graciously pulling out Delphia's low-backed chair and tucking her in with care, helping her adjust her hair over her shoulders. His dedicated attention caused more butterflies to rampage her stomach and she took a light breath to steady herself as she adjusted her posture.

She settled into her seat, taking a moment to adjust before a familiar server approached them with their usual order, recognizing them by face and expertly placing their drinks and dishes on the table.

"Maybe," he replied, flashing a disarming smile as he poured creamer into his drink. "Or maybe the real way to win is by fighting fire with fire." He took a sip from his cup.

Delphia could see a hint of amusement in Zypher's maroon eyes, but she could also feel the gravity behind his words when he spoke. She smiled, taking a sip of her iced latté, "And how exactly would one do that, Zypher?" She bat back at him, her eyes flirting over the top of her drink.

His gaze lingered on her for a long moment before he finally leaned back in his chair, his smile seductive but enigmatic. "That, Delphia, is something you might already know." He finished with a chuckle.