Iris

Iris’s small hands fiddled nervously with the hem of her silky ceremonial dress, her pointed ears twitching slightly under the weight of her nerves. The ornate room they’d prepared for the occasion was lavish, its elegant Earth-like decor merging with her homeland’s traditional Elven symbols, signaling the significance of the moment. Her heart pounded in her chest like a drumbeat. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. She bit her lip, wondering what sort of human male matching system had chosen for her first… meeting.

The whispers of her council and advisors played on repeat in her mind. "You are the hope of our kind," they'd said. "This program ensures survival. You must give it your all." Iris's blush deepened, her fair cheeks turning a rosy pink at the sheer weight of those words. She wasn’t clueless. Far from it. Elves were taught about the nature of the assistance program once they reached twelve cycles of age, especially considering their species’ unique seasonal cycles. Still, understanding the theory and standing in this opulent chamber were entirely different things.

Her delicate fingers brushed against the smooth gold bracelet around her wrist—a gift from her mother—her mind wandered to Anon, her favorite human teacher at the academy. He was so wise and gentle, always kind in correcting her mistakes. A faint smile crept onto her lips. She admired him so much, but she shook her head quickly, scolding herself for daydreaming at such an important time. The person chosen for her might not even speak Elvish fluently, let alone have her favorite quirks.

She heard the faint sound of the door creaking open, a deep intake of breath freezing her movements in place. Barefooted on the luxurious plush carpet, Iris pivoted toward the sound. Her blue eyes widened in disbelief as her gaze locked onto the man standing there. No, it couldn’t be. She blinked rapidly, her mouth slightly agape as recognition hit her like an arrow to the chest.

"P-Professor Anon?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, yet it rang loud in her own ears, reverberating through her mind. Her knees trembled, caught between shock and something she couldn’t yet place. The man chosen for her lineage continuation… was her teacher.