The gate groans as it opens, spooking a flock of blue tits that flies out of the front yard.

"Now," I say, facing him. "Before we go inside you need to know I've said that you're a friend. An exchange student who recently moved here from the States."
"What do I study?" he asks, his expression similar to a little kid taking part in some great scheme.
"I didn't say. But if they ask, we tell them you're studying computer science."
"All right. What else?"
"Err... just let me do the talking, okay?"

I turn the key and unlock the door. Granny's the first to welcome us home, her grey hair tucked in a bun behind her ears.
"Hi dear," she says, hugging me. "And you must be Galen."
"Indeed. It's an honour to meet you."
"An honour? Goodness me, I do believe it's the first time I've heard anyone say that. You're not trying to flirt with me, young man? Because you're gonna have to try a lot harder to charm this old bird."
"Flirt?"
"Granny don't embarrass me. I beg you."
"Calm down, dear. I was only teasing. You can head on in. Dinner's almost ready."

Mum and Dad wait for us in the dining room. Both of them smiling a little as we come in.

"Galen, this is my dad and my mum."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," he smiles at Mum. "And you too, sir."
"Sir? There's no need for formalities. Call me David," Dad says, shaking his hand.
"And you may call me Susan. Do you want a drink? We just uncorked the Chardonnay."
"I'm good. Thank you," says Galen.
"Susie? Could you come help me in the kitchen?"

Mum excuses herself and leaves the room, the smell of salmon tickling the senses as they return and place the pan on the table. Melted asparagus lies on the top and a puff of moist air rises like a cloud as the lid's removed off the rice pot.

"Could you pass me the salad?"
Dad passes me the bowl. "So how long have the two of you been dating?"
"Dating? What's that?"
Dad stares at Galen as if he's an alien.
"Ahhhaha - He's from a conservative family. A very conservative family. They don't allow things like that," I blurt out.
"Are you from one of those Christian sects? Like the Amish?"
"No, Dad. His family's just very strict about that sort of thing."
"So it seems..."
"Tell us about yourself Galen," says Mum. "Auri mentioned you were an exchange student from the US."
"Yes. That's right. I came to study computer science."
"Do you have any siblings?"
"No. Only child." I kick his leg. "Biologically speaking. But I've got three adopted siblings back home."
"Which state do they live in?"
"Up north."
"In Michigan," I interject. "All his family's from there."
"Was it a good place growing up?" asks Granny.
"It was all right. But living here has been a much more rewarding experience."
"Do you have any plans for when you graduate? Any occupation? Work?" asks Dad.
"I'm not sure. But whatever opportunities comes my way, I hope it'll let me stay close to your daughter."

The silence practically kills me as his answer settles in the room. Dad sighs and leans back in his chair.

"Is that so. Well that might get a tad difficult since we're moving soon."
I gape at Dad, floored by the rug that's been pulled from under my feet.
"David, we don't need to go over this right now," Mum murmurs.
"What are you talking about?" I ask. "I'm not moving. This is my home. I live here."
"This is your grandmother's home. One she generously opened for you on the count of my stupidity. But we're past that. Now we can go back to Surrey."
"You can go back to Surrey. I'm staying here."
"No. You're not."
"Yes. I am. I'm twenty-one. You can't legally force me to go with you."
"I don't mind if she stays," says Granny. "My home is always open to you."
"Thanks, Granny."
Dad scowls at me, and we both find ourselves locked in a stalemate neither of us is willing to give in.
"We'll discuss this later," he grunts, shoving the last piece of salmon into his mouth.

Galen remains quiet the rest of the evening, murmuring yes or no at the inquiries on his opinion about this or that subject. At 10:00 p.m. he gets ready to leave.

"So... did you enjoy yourself?" I ask, my voice wavering at his lack of an expression.
"Is this it?" he asks. "Are you really going away?"
"What? No! Definitely not. Don't listen to my dad. If he wants to leave he can leave. Mum too, if she wishes. But I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
Galen takes one of my locks between his fingers. "My Miirinthaessis," he whispers as the door closes. "Ahvren ma harot'mel."
His words lingers like a fading melody, and I rip open the door and run after him.
"Galen!"
I catch up to him outside on the street, enfolding him in a dizzying whirl. He envelops me in turn and we stay intertwined for... I honestly have no idea how long. The night air chills when he lets go, but the scent of the sea brings me comfort, and I follow his silhouette until it disappears out of view.

"See you," I whisper to the darkness.

As I turn, a dark figure across the street halts my steps, his black gaze as menacing as a shark's. Simon? How? Why? How did he - But he turns and leaves. The moment keeps me in a chokehold as I go back inside and lock the door.

"Have you said goodbye to your - Auri? What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Mum... I think I have a stalker."
"A stalker?"
"Yeah. He's been following me for weeks now. Sometimes he shows up at the store. Or on the street on my way home. And now even here."
"Do you know who it is?" Dad asks at the threshold. "Did you notice any identifiable markers? Clothes? Shoes? Tattoos?"
"I know who he is. I've met him before. He's Maya's cousin. Simon."
"Do you know his last name?"
"No. Only Maya's."
"Which is?"
"Raincroft."
Dad whisks out his phone and vanishes into the kitchen, ignoring Granny as she comes up to us.
"Is something the matter?"
"It's nothing," I say. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

Their hushed voices follows me into my dreams. With this new information Dad grows even more determined about moving. But I refuse. Each and every time it's brought up. I also refuse to file for a restraining order, a decision infuriating him and my mum. What use would it do? Simon hasn't sent any graphic pictures or hurtful text messages nor made intrusive moves towards me. All he does is watch from a distance. Still, the sighting keeps me on my toes. Before leaving work, I check both sides of the street, glancing over my shoulder at every stop and crossing. My neck turns stiff with how often I do it. But I can't afford to let my guard down. Especially when I go to the lake. Galen doesn't know about this madness. And if I have my way, he never will. What would he do if he knew I had a stalker? Would he expose himself? Track Simon down and turn him into a toad? He's never used his magic to hurt any living creature I've seen.
Perhaps he doesn't need to. Or perhaps it's a long-standing rule among Asrai not to use their magic to do harm. He said the humans his people taught used their gift to destroy one another. Maybe seeing their powers turned into a weapon of war fundamentally changed the Asrai's perspective?
The response to my question is as unexpected as it's intriguing.

"No. Asrai aren't forbidden to use our magic to fight. We simply preferred using other methods to resolve disputes."
"So you could, for instance, use your magic to conjure fireballs and lightning strikes?"
"Well it's difficult to summon fire in water. But I can do this," he raises his fingers. A blast of mana hits the wall, creating the image of a snowflake. "And this." He shoots a cascade of icicles at the sanctum's ceiling. The icicles shatter and begin swirling around us like a blizzard, the frozen winds whistling in my ears.
"Now you're just showing off."
"You did ask what I could do." The storm subsides into nothingness. "But more than that, I prefer to do this."
From the centre of his palm emerges a delicate ice flower. "Here."
I take the flower, the shape of the petals resembling a rose.
"It's very pretty."
"Keep it."
"Won't it melt when I take it to the surface?"
"No. It'll remain as it is. Beautiful and unyielding. Like you."

The burn on my cheeks could probably turn it into water. If only I could do the same for him. I poise my fingers and focus but no magic comes out of my fingertips.
"There's something I'd like to know as well," he says.
"Ask," I insist, placing the flower on the table.
"When we went to your grandmother's cottage your father asked how long we'd been dating. Is it a custom among humans?"
"Yes. When two people develop feelings for each other, they begin dating. Ehh... spending time together."
"So, they start seeing one another regularly?"
"Yes. But it's more than just hanging out. They test the waters, so to speak. By inviting each other out to dinner, a movie or a picnic they can assess whether they share similar interests and values. Whether they're compatible or not."
"Or not?"
"Well, if they're not compatible or the relationship doesn't work out, they move on to someone else."
"Someone else? They don't remain with the one they bonded with?"
"Some do. But many don't. Breakup and divorce are very common among my people."
Galen shakes his head, as if he can't comprehend such a thing.
"Do Asrai not have such customs?"
"No."
"Then how do you decide which one you want to be with?"
"Asrai never made such decisions lightly. We took great care when choosing our life-love."
"Life-love? Do you mean you only bond with one person? For life?"
"Yes, many moons we spend on this earth. Our choice must be the right one."
"How do you choose your life-love? Is there some great ceremony or ritual?"
"No. When Asrai choose their love they seal their bond through a kiss."
"A kiss?"

The memory of him saving me that night returns like a beam of light. A kiss.

"Then you and I are..."
"Aurora?" Galen leans closer.
"I have to go," I pull back, swimming towards the entrance of the sanctum. Each stroke turning more aggressive. Urgent.
"Aurora!"
The cold currents hound me to the surface, but seeing the starry canvas offers no solace.
"Aurora!" Galen grabs my wrist at the edge of the water. "I'm sorry. I tried freeing you with my magic. But your hand - it would've been destroyed. There was no other way to save you."
"Galen, you should've told me."
"I know. I should've explained to you when I first learned your words. I just... didn't know how. The bond... it doesn't bind you to me. You're free to choose. To leave and never come back."
"I don't want to leave you. I just need time to process what you-!"

A dozen armed soldiers emerge like devils from the shadows, plunging me straight into a deep, bottomless pit.