Peter was getting strong. Every day he was less her equal, more and more she was the hunter and he the hunted prey. If it was difficult for him to take her down before, now it was nearly impossible. Their fights were rare, she being focused on her training with the elves, and he was kinda missing her untamable side.

He had spent most of his days training with the others, and the elves had got used to his presence by then. They mostly left him alone, but sometimes they let him practise with them too, probably because they were bored and needed something to laugh about. Their mocking whispers only gave him the drive to become better.

Little by little, their strikes were growing rarer. Matthew moved faster, his mind was often a step ahead, foreseeing his opponents' spells. Little by little, the elves saw his perseverance and acknowledged his undeniable strength and skills. He won them over with his determination on the field, which proved to the elves that he was someone they didn't want to mess with.

Matthew's mind emptied when he fought and for a time, he was freed from the buzzing thoughts in his head, until the training was over, and he was left alone with an empty space inside his chest. The truth was that each day he was always looking forward to the moment Peter would return from her lesson, nervously glancing at the bridge to see if she was coming.

During those weeks he had realised that by then it was too difficult for him to be apart from her. At the beginning he had dismissed the feeling of loneliness that followed him around like a ghost, but after sensing the smile that spread on his lips whenever he saw her, he was convinced that she was the source of those weird emotions.

Matthew couldn't deny that they had been through so much together and the hardships they had faced had drown them closer than ever. She had gone from being a prickle in his ass to being the friend he had never had in the past. She was the person who made him forget his worries and lifted his spirits when he needed it the most. He knew he couldn't bare losing her.

'Pull yourself together!' he moaned in frustration, polishing his sword by a tree.

His thoughts were constantly trailing back to her, her beautiful eyes, the delicate curve of her neck, her golden hair that glowed in the sun. He could hardly endure the intensity of his emotions whenever she spoke up for him or her gaze captivated his own in a mesmerizing daze. It turned out that she didn't just have that puzzled look, she had another, deeper and mystifying, and he was catching it all the time.

Matthew sighed in defeat, knowing that she wouldn't get out his head, so he quietly kept polishing his weapon immersed in his thoughts. The branches of the tree above him became dancing silhouettes in the evening sky. Night would soon spread its wings over the city, creating a blanket of starlight and dark shadows.

Like every other day he patiently waited for Peter to come back from the woods. He stole glances from his right, where the bridge was located, and was disappointed whenever he made a mistake and falsely thought he had seen her in the distance. After what felt like centuries, he finally spotted her walking towards his direction, but then he noticed Landos next to her and knitted his brows in annoyance.

He hadn't forgotten their fight a couple of days ago, or rather the bruises he carried didn't let him. Matthew watched them talk, their lips moving fervently, as if they were having a heated conversation. He didn't like how the elf's hand kept touching her shoulder, or the way she stood so close to him. It caused a heartburn to burble up his chest, and he didn't know how to cope with that sudden pang of jealousy.

He glared at Landos, wishing he could tear him away from her and punch the smirk out of his face. When his mouth reached the side of her face and whispered something to her, Matthew completely lost it. With clenched fists and gritted teeth, he tore down the path like a charging bull, ignoring the people gasping around him.

He had covered half of the distance and was ready to hurl curses at the elf, but before he could introduce him to his fist, he saw Peter roll her eyes at him and silently walk away. Matthew stared after her retreating figure in confusion. He had already forgotten his jealous feelings. 'Is something wrong?' he asked the elf.

'Nah, don't worry. He is a little tired, that's all.' Landos patted his shoulder, chuckling loudly, and Matthew looked at him with narrowed eyes. 'Before you kill me,' the elf raised his hands in defeat, 'I apologise for our fight the other day.'

'Why do I feel like we have been through this again and again?'

'Come on, man,' he threw his arm over his shoulders and pulled him along towards the city square. 'You know you can't stay mad at me.'

'You are really testing my limits, Landos.'

'I will bare that in mind.'

The two men walked around the city that was slowly falling asleep. The chilling wind made Matthew shiver under his thick clothing and look forward to cocooning himself in his warm blankets back at the infirmary.

'He did better today,' Landos spoke, obviously referring to Peter. 'He managed to defeat me, and that is nearly impossible to achieve.'

'I'm sure. Thanks for telling me, by the way. I hardly have time to see him.'

'No worries.'

'Well, I am worried. He has so much on his plate, it must be really difficult for him to adapt to his new powers.'

'He has you to keep him sane, right?'

Matthew silently nodded in agreement and looked down at his feet. No matter the circumstances he had promised himself to be the shield she needed when in danger, and nothing would keep him from that promise.

'I think in a month or two he will be ready. Just put up with it for a little longer,' Landos gave him an encouraging smile.

'So soon?' Matthew raised his brows in question.

'Yeah, he has to figure out the rest on his own. There isn't much more we can do for him.'

'Perfect. Can't wait to be freed from your presence.'

'Is that so?' Landos laughed happily and gently slapped him arm.

'Seriously now, I can't move because of the bruises you gave me.'

'You are not the only one!'

They sat on a bench and gazed at the big waterfall in the distance. The fresh snow had covered the ground and clothed the trees in whites and blues. He could never get tired of the amazing sight before him, those brilliant rays showing the uniqueness of every snowflake, the swirling perfect whiteness, the great mountains all around them.

'Do you have people waiting for you back in the city?' Landos said, his voice flying in the wind.

'No. No, I don't.'

'No family? No nothing?'

'Nope.'

'That's sad.'

'It's alright,' Matthew reassured him. 'My parents died many years ago. I don't really remember them. You?'

'My grandpa raised me, after my mother died at childbirth. I never met my father.'

'At least you had someone to care for you.'

'Yeah. I miss his laugh and his scolding,' the elf had a dreamy look on his face. 'He used to make the best apple pie when I was a kid. He knows I love it and he bakes one every time I go visit him. He lives an hour away from here, in a small village.'

'Nice.'

Matthew felt a pang of envy of him. He was lucky to have a family, even a small one. He glanced at Landos, observing his calm expression, his relaxed posture, and realised that that was the longest conversation they had had so far. It would go down in history.

'What was all that strange behaviour earlier?'

Matthew's eyes snapped at him, his lips parted in surprise. 'It was nothing.'

'I could swear you were about to smother me with your glare.'

Matthew sighed but didn't say anything. Her absence was taking a toll on him, rousing emotions he had never experienced in the past, and he doubted they were just coming from a friendly place. It was terrifying.

'Spit it out, Matt,' Landos probed him.

Matthew winced upon hearing the elf call him like that. 'Drop it,' he seethed at him in annoyance.

'I might know more than you think...'

'What is that supposed to mean?'

'Just saying,' Landos shrugged his shoulders. 'I don't know if you're aware of it or not, but your face changes every time you look at Peter. It's like you have never seen him before.'

'It does?'

'Yeah. It's alright, man. We have all been through this. I only hope you won't fall that easily.'

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A/N: Thank you oh great reader for reading this chapter. If you liked it, vote. comment. share. Take care and stay safe. 

Phrase of chapter:  ut conclave sine libris ita corpus sine anima / a room without books is like a body without a soul  - Cicero