Today was just another normal workday for Eina Tulle.
As a receptionist for the Guild, she was used to helping adventurers with a variety of issues—a simple job, but often exhausting. Her routine always followed the same rhythm, until something unexpected happened.
But the biggest problem wasn't the job itself. The real challenge came from the adventurers.
Arrogant, greedy men—many of them walked around like they were the center of the world. Eina had grown used to that kind of behavior. They always showed up with some complaint, and when things didn't go their way, they'd throw a tantrum.
She'd lost count of how many times adventurers had accused the Guild of providing false information about a Dungeon floor and demanded compensation for damages. It was exhausting.
But the most unbearable type was a different one: the perverts.
As a woman, Eina was particularly sensitive to unwanted stares. Ever since she started working at the Guild—or honestly, since arriving in the city—she couldn't remember a single day when she wasn't the target of lewd, invasive gazes.
Every step she took was followed by unwanted attention, and even with her professional, welcoming smile, she couldn't help but feel violated—disgusted by it all. But what could she do?
She was just a receptionist. A woman alone in a place where her work was downplayed, where her worth seemed reduced to her appearance.
...Sigh. Here comes another one.
The sound of firm, hurried footsteps pulled her back to reality. From the rhythm alone, Eina knew another adventurer was approaching her desk.
—(Excuse me, can you help me, please?)
The voice belonged to a young man, but there was something oddly muffled in his words—something she couldn't immediately place.
Eina lifted her eyes from the pile of papers and looked at him, trying to assess the situation. And when she saw him, something made her freeze for a moment. The man approaching was an elf. And not just any elf.
His short golden hair shimmered like it was made of pure gold, catching the light of the room with such intensity that her own hair seemed dull in comparison.
His emerald-green eyes glowed intensely—hypnotic, like they carried a wild, uncontrollable energy.
His expression was youthful, but in his gaze, there was a faint trace of uncertainty, as if he were trying to fit into something he didn't yet understand.
Eina felt slightly off-balance. She wasn't used to dealing with elves—even though she was half one herself—and certainly not with someone so attractive.
His skin looked as smooth as silk, pale and flawless—something Eina could never hope to achieve. His frame was well-toned, as if his fine clothes barely managed to conceal the elegance and power radiating from him.
'He's beautiful…' Eina thought, unsure of how to react. A blush rose to her cheeks, but she quickly pushed aside any distraction. She was here to work, and an adventurer's appearance couldn't be allowed to affect her focus. Deep breath. Stay sharp.
With effort, she composed herself and, with a professional smile, asked:
—How can I help you?
However, upon hearing her words, the boy's expression shifted into obvious confusion. His eyes shimmered with uncertainty, and his mouth opened slightly.
—(Sorry… what?) — He seemed even more lost than before.
Eina frowned, trying to process what she had just heard. He was clearly speaking a language she didn't understand. She wasn't sure if her confusion stemmed from the fact that he was an elf—or from not understanding what he was saying.
—Sorry, I didn't catch that… — she said, trying to keep calm, though a hint of frustration crept into her voice. She tried again, more patiently. —How can I help you?
The boy now looked even more bewildered. His eyes widened for a moment, as if he were desperately trying to make sense of her words. Eina watched closely, a growing feeling of unease building inside her. The elf looked utterly distressed, his hands trembling slightly.
It was then that she finally understood.
'He doesn't speak our language?' Eina thought, her heart beating faster as the problem became clearer. 'Is he speaking… Elvish? But I don't recognize anything he's saying.'
The thought caught her off guard. It wasn't common for adventurers to come to the Guild speaking an entirely different language. But maybe this wasn't a common case. Could it be that… he really didn't understand their language at all?
Eina's anxiety spiked, but she did her best to stay composed. 'Maybe he can read?' she thought quickly. Writing was a universal form of communication, right? She had nothing to lose.
With swift movements, she grabbed a piece of paper and a quill. Carefully, she wrote the words as clearly as possible: "Who are you?"
She extended the paper toward him, closely watching his reaction, hoping for any sign of understanding. The elf took the paper with trembling hands, and Eina watched his hopeful face. But as he looked at the words, his expression only grew more confused.
He looked back at her, as if trying to process what was going on. His eyes returned to the paper, as if expecting the words to magically rearrange themselves. Nothing. No recognition.
A lump formed in Eina's throat. She had no idea how to handle this. The despair in his expression was almost painful to watch, and she couldn't think of how to help him.
She would need to be more creative—but time wasn't on her side. Every second without communication dragged on, like they were trapped in a room with no exits, each glance or movement adding to the mounting frustration. What now?
'Wait… why am I getting so worked up over someone I don't even know? This isn't my job. If he doesn't understand me, that's not my problem.'
That's when Eina realized she was getting far too involved in a stranger's struggle.
She was just a Guild receptionist. Helping people with language barriers wasn't in her contract.
'I'm not responsible for this,' she thought, trying to convince herself that pulling away was the right thing to do.
But as the silence stretched between them, an uncomfortable feeling grew inside her.
'Why is this bothering me so much?' The idea of just ignoring him and moving on left a bitter taste in her mouth, like she was making a mistake.
'But… it's not like he's causing trouble, right? He just… doesn't know our language.'
Her hesitation gave way to a sense of compassion. She found herself reflecting on how lost and desperate the boy seemed. It didn't matter who he was or where he came from—she just couldn't turn her back on him.
'You know what… it won't hurt to help him, right?'
That's when she focused on the boy again, noticing that he seemed a little calmer now—the tension in his body slightly eased.
He looked at her with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. It wasn't desperation this time, but something else—something she couldn't quite place.
It made her blush a little. After all, what girl wouldn't feel flustered when a handsome man looked at her like that?
He spoke again, and Eina noticed he was trying to communicate once more.
—(Luki Bryan). — He said, pointing at himself with a firm, decisive look.
Eina stayed silent for a moment, staring at him in confusion. At first, the gesture didn't make sense. But then, something clicked.
'Is he… saying his name?' she thought, and the realization hit like a key turning in a lock.
'Ah! He is. He's trying to tell me who he is.'
A soft, genuine smile formed on Eina's lips. It felt like a small victory—like she had finally found a way, even if just a faint one, to connect with this strange and beautiful boy standing before her.
—Eina Tulle. — She said, pointing to herself, her smile widening with pride at having taken the first step.
The boy looked at her for a moment and then gave a shy smile, nodding, as if he finally felt seen. Eina, in turn, felt the barrier between them beginning to melt, and with it, a warm sensation filled her chest.