"I wasn't—" Milan started, then gave up.
"Okay, yes. Exactly that. But in my defense, I had no idea she'd grown into such a beautiful, capable, amazing—"
He stopped himself.
"See? I'm doing it again. This isn't like me. I'm usually composed."
"You've never had a real crush before?" Jolthar asked, genuinely curious.
"Not here," Milan admitted.
"In my previous life, sure. But here, I've always kept emotional distance. Told myself these were just characters, or at best, people who couldn't understand where I really came from. It was easier that way."
He looked at Jolthar seriously.
"But Nora... she's real. And smart. And strong. And apparently completely oblivious to the fact that I can barely string sentences together around her."
Jolthar grinned.
"You know what the really funny part is?"
"What?"
"She's a reincarnator too."
Milan's eyes went wide.
"What?"
"Nora, she's also from our world."
