First Kiss

Adalinda felt a knot form in her stomach. She wondered what Silas wanted to talk about.

"What is it?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Silas took a deep breath. "Do you know Iliana. She invited me out to get coffee on Sunday," he said.

Adalinda felt a twinge of jealousy again, but she tried to keep it in check. She knew that Silas would have his friends, and it wasn't fair of her to be possessive.

"Okay, so what's the problem?" she asked.

"I just wanted to make sure that you're okay with it. I don't want to do anything that would make you uncomfortable," he said, his voice filled with concern.

Adalinda felt a rush of warmth for Silas. She knew that he respected her feelings and cared about her.

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Silas. And yes, I'm okay with it. I trust you," she said, smiling at him.

Silas looked relieved. "Thank you, Ada. That means a lot to me," he said, pulling her into a hug.

Adalinda wrapped her arms around him, feeling grateful for his openness and honesty.

Adalinda took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I understand," she said, trying to sound nonchalant. "You should go, have fun with your friends."

Silas looked at her, a concerned expression on his face. "Are you okay?" he asked, reaching out to touch her arm.

Adalinda nodded, trying to force a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just...I don't want to hold you back or anything. You should go out with your friend, and I don't want to be a burden."

Silas shook his head, his eyes softening. "You're not a burden, Ada. I want to spend time with you too."

Adalinda nodded, understanding his point. "I know, I know. I just...I don't want to lose you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Silas reached out and pulled her into a hug. "You're not going to lose me, Ada. I care about you too much for that. We'll both have our own lives outside of our relationship. It's healthy for us, and it'll make our time together even more special."

Adalinda felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, touched by Silas's words. She knew he was right, but it was still hard to accept.

"I know you're right," she said, her voice muffled by his shirt. "I just...I don't know how to not be jealous, Silas. It's hard for me to see you with other people, even if they're just friends."

Silas pulled back and cupped her face in his hands, looking into her eyes. "It's okay to feel jealous, Ada. It's a natural emotion. But we can't let it control us. We need to trust each other and have faith in our relationship. Do you trust me, Ada?"

Adalinda nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Yes, I trust you," she said, her voice choked with emotion.

Silas wiped away her tears with his thumbs, his expression filled with tenderness. "Then we'll be okay, Ada. I promise."

Adalinda sniffled, trying to compose herself. "Okay," she said, her voice still shaky. "Thank you for understanding, Silas. I'm sorry for being so emotional."

Silas shook his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "You don't have to apologize, Ada. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Adalinda leaned in to kiss Silas, she felt a mix of nervousness and excitement swirl within her. Her heart was pounding in her chest as their lips met, and she felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her body.

Silas's lips were soft and warm, and Adalinda found herself losing herself in the moment. It felt like they were the only two people in the world, and nothing else mattered.

As they pulled away, their foreheads touching, Adalinda looked into Silas's eyes and felt a deep sense of connection.

She could see the same feelings reflected in his gaze, and it made her heart swell with joy.

"Silas," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Thank you for being patient with me."

Silas smiled at her, his eyes filled with warmth and affection. "Always." he said, and Adalinda knew without a doubt that he meant it.

They hugged each other tightly, feeling the warmth of their bodies and the love between them.

Adalinda knew that they had a lot to work through, but she also knew that they had each other, and that was enough for now.

As they parted ways, Adalinda still couldn't help but feel a little nervous about the prospect of Silas meeting Iliana.

She wondered what they would talk about and if Iliana knew about their relationship.

...

The days at the academy seemed to drag on, and Adalinda found herself constantly thinking about Silas and Iliana's upcoming meeting. She couldn't help but feel a little nervous, even though she trusted Silas completely.

On Sunday, Adalinda woke up early, unable to sleep due to the anticipation of the day ahead. She got dressed and headed out to the academy's courtyard, hoping to clear her head.

As she walked, she saw Silas approaching from the opposite direction. He smiled when he saw her and walked over to her.

"Hey, Ada. You're up early," he said, his voice soft and warm.

Adalinda smiled back, feeling a little relieved to see him. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep. I've just been thinking a lot about today," she admitted.

Silas reached out and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "It'll be okay, Ada. I promise."

Adalinda nodded, feeling a little better. "I know, I trust you. It's just hard for me," she said, her voice trailing off.

Silas pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly. "I know, Ada."

Adalinda couldn't help but feel a little nervous. She knew that Silas cared about her and wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt her, but she couldn't help the twinge of jealousy that gnawed at her insides.

As Silas headed towards the academy gates, he was met with Iliana, who was waiting for him. Adalinda followed closely behind, trying to keep out of sight.

"Hey, Silas!" Iliana greeted him warmly, a smile on her face.

"Iliana." Silas replied, returning the smile. "Thanks for meeting me."

Adalinda watched from a distance, feeling a twinge of nervousness. She had never met Iliana before, and she wasn't sure how she would react to seeing her with Silas.

"I'm so glad you could make it," Iliana replied, a grin spreading across her face.

Adalinda watched as the two of them hugged each other, feeling a pang of jealousy shoot through her.

As the three of them walked towards the coffee shop, Adalinda stayed behind, trying to keep out of sight. She couldn't help but feel like a spy, but she was determined to see how Silas and Iliana interacted with each other.

Inside the coffee shop, Adalinda found a table near the back, where she could watch the two of them without being seen. She ordered a drink and tried to appear engrossed in her book while keeping an eye on Silas and Iliana.

As Silas and Iliana talked, Adalinda watched. They seemed to be having a good time, and Adalinda couldn't help but feel a little envious..

But as she continued to watch them, she noticed that Silas kept looking over his shoulder towards the back of the shop. Adalinda realized that he must have sensed her presence.

She stood up and as she walked past their table, Silas looked up and saw her. He smiled warmly, and gestured for her to come over.

"Hey, Ada! Come join us," he said, patting the seat next to him.

Adalinda hesitated for a moment, then walked over and sat down. She felt a little awkward.

"Hi, I'm Iliana," Iliana introduced herself, holding out her hand.

Adalinda shook it, feeling a little intimidated. "I'm Adalinda" she said, forcing a smile.

Iliana smiled back. "It's nice to finally meet you, princess. Silas has told me a lot about you."

Adalinda felt a flush of embarrassment. "Oh, really?" she asked, looking at Silas.

Silas nodded. "Of course. I can't stop talking about you," he said, grinning.

Adalinda felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Oh, really? What has he said?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Silas chuckled, giving Adalinda a knowing look. "Only good things, Ada. I promise," he said, grinning at her.

Adalinda felt a small smile tug at the corners of her lips. She was touched by Silas's words, and she felt a little more at ease.

"So, tell me about yourself, Princess. How long have you been at the academy?" Iliana inquired.

Adalinda shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious. "About two years now."

Iliana nodded. "That's great. What classes are you taking?" she asked, genuinely interested.

Adalinda smiled, feeling a little more comfortable. "Mainly combat classes. It's been challenging, but I love it," she said, a sense of pride in her voice.

Silas smiled, proud of Adalinda's progress. "She's one of the best in the academy," he said, looking at Adalinda with admiration.

Adalinda smiled mischievously. "Well, let's not forget that Silas is probably the best in the school out of those who haven't unlocked an ability," she said, teasing Silas.

Silas laughed, shaking his head. "Hey now, don't sell yourself short. You're a force to be reckoned with," he said.

Iliana raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Interesting. Though, Silas is also one of the smartest first years in the whole academy."

Adalinda and Iliana shared a look and burst out laughing. "Silas has always been one to push himself to the limit," Adalinda said, a hint of admiration in her voice.

As they finished their coffee, Adalinda found herself feeling more at ease with Iliana's presence. She could see why Silas liked her so much- she was kind, funny, and easy to talk to.