📖 The Vault of Special Storie
Ong felt particularly proud of himself as he set the small table for two. A crisp linen cloth, a candle flickering in the center, and beside each plate, a delicate arrangement of chocolates wrapped in fine golden foil. He had even gone so far as to procure a bouquet—lush red orchids, their petals velvety and rich, a symbol of human romance as classic as it was timeless.
He took a step back, surveying his work with satisfaction. He had remembered Valentine’s Day. Not only had he remembered, but he had prepared, putting together a thoughtful, romantic evening for his wife. The chocolates were imported, the flowers fresh and vibrant, and the dinner—well, he had put in effort. That counted, right?
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Keisha would be pleased. No, more than pleased—impressed.
Considering how often their lives veered into the chaotic, this was a moment of peace, a simple yet meaningful way to celebrate their love without magical mishaps or unexpected dangers. Ong had taken great care to ensure everything was perfect. He’d even brushed up on poetry, just in case a romantic verse was required.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, filling their home with a warm golden glow, he settled into his chair, waiting for Keisha’s arrival.
Tonight, he had done everything right.
Keisha stepped through the door, shaking off the evening chill as she took in the scene before her. Her green eyes widened in delight, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Ong, you remembered!" she said, her tone filled with both joy and genuine surprise. "I was sure you’d forget again this year."
She crossed the room quickly, pressing a kiss to his cheek before stepping back to admire the effort he had put into the evening. "This is wonderful," she said, reaching out to trace the edge of an orchid petal with her fingertips. "Thank you."
Ong exhaled, pleased with himself. "I wanted to make tonight special," he said, his voice laced with confidence.
Keisha chuckled softly and met his gaze, mischief twinkling in her eyes. "Oh, love, this is just the beginning."
Ong blinked. "What do you mean—just the beginning?"
She grinned, her expression filled with anticipation. "Did you really think a few flowers and chocolates would be enough? Tonight, we celebrate properly—the Eladrin way."
Ong sighed, shoulders slumping as he nodded in reluctant acceptance. "Fine... but if this involves any enchanted mazes, I'm making you do the dishes for a month."
Keisha just laughed, shaking her head in amusement. "Come on," she said, motioning for him to follow her. "We're going somewhere special."
Ong smirked knowingly. "Purplefire Woods again?"
She nodded, her green eyes twinkling. "Of course. Where else would we go for something as important as this?"
They arrived at Purplefire Woods, the glowing flora casting a mystical ambiance around them. The air carried a hint of magic, and the soft hum of the enchanted trees filled the silence between them. Keisha led Ong toward a familiar waterfall, its cascading waters shimmering with an ethereal light.
Ong smiled as they approached. "I remember meeting you here."
Keisha nodded, a fond expression crossing her face. "Of course you do. This place is special to us." She turned to him with a playful glint in her eyes. "And tonight, I have a trial for you."
Ong groaned, shaking his head. "Please, nothing hard."
Keisha laughed, her voice light and full of amusement. "Oh, don’t worry, love. This will be fun—for me, at least."
Ong groaned again, rubbing his temples. "Of course it will be fun for you. For some reason, I think I’ll be doing all the work."
Keisha only laughed harder before tilting her head with a knowing smile. "The trial is very simple—but it could be difficult. You have to find a special flower. But first, you have to figure out what my favorite flower is."
Ong glanced around and spotted a vibrant purple rose, pointing to it with a hopeful expression. "That one?"
Keisha giggled, shaking her head. "Yes, that is pretty, but not my favorite."
Ong scratched his head, a look of concentration crossing his face as he tried to recall what her favorite flower could be.
"Can't you just tell me?" he asked, exasperated.
Keisha smirked, shaking her head. "Now why would I do that? You need to think back and remember what I like."
Ong groaned. "But I have a bad memory."
Keisha laughed, her voice full of amusement. "Then this will be a great exercise for you!"
Ong looked around and spotted a patch of purple wildflowers. He pointed toward them with renewed confidence. "What about those?"
Keisha chuckled, shaking her head. "No, those are ordinary. Do you think anything ordinary would work for me?"
Even Ong had to laugh at that. "No, you are unique."
He continued looking around, scanning the glowing flora for any clue. After a few minutes of searching, Keisha smirked and said, "You're not going to see it just like that. Part of the trial is finding it."
Ong sighed. "But what flower..."
Then a memory surfaced—one where he had once given Keisha an orchid, and she had been so moved that she cried. His eyes widened as realization struck him. "Oh! An Everdusk Orchid!"
Keisha beamed and kissed him. "Yes! Now, you just have to find one."
Ong sighed, looking around the glowing forest. "But where do I even look?"
Keisha smirked. "All over Purplefire Woods."
Ong's eyes narrowed as realization dawned on him. "Wait… you brought me here because it has to be an Everdusk purple orchid, didn't you?"
She nodded, mischief twinkling in her green eyes.
Ong groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Great. I have to search all over these woods just to find the special purple orchid."
Keisha simply nodded again, grinning. "Exactly."
Ong squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. "Well, I better start looking."
He wandered deeper into the woods, eyes scanning every glowing bloom. His heart leapt when he spotted what looked like a vibrant purple orchid nestled among the undergrowth. He reached out, fingers grazing its delicate petals—only for the flower to shimmer and vanish into thin air.
Keisha chuckled behind him. "Remember, this is a trial. You can't just take it. You have to earn it."
Ong frowned, crossing his arms. "Earn it? How do I earn a flower? It's a flower, for dragon's sake."
Keisha laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, love, you have so much to learn. Keep going."
Ong continued his search, determined to succeed. His eyes lit up when he spotted another orchid nestled against the roots of a towering tree. He bent down, carefully reaching toward it, and whispered, "Please don't disappear."
Keisha burst into laughter behind him just as a sudden gust of wind swept through the forest, sending the orchid's petals flying into the air like tiny, glowing butterflies. Ong watched in dismay, his shoulders slumping. "Seriously?" he pouted.
He walked on, mumbling to himself. "If I didn't love her as much as I do, I wouldn't be doing this."
Keisha heard him and smiled, amusement flickering in her eyes. Ong kept searching until he spotted another orchid in the moonlit clearing. Determined, he strode over and reached down to snatch it up—only for the flower to suddenly wilt in his grasp.
He turned to Keisha, suspicion written all over his face. "Did you do that?"
Keisha shook her head, her expression innocent. "Nope. That one did it all on its own."
Ong sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Of course it did."
He turned to look at Keisha, exasperation evident on his face. "What kind of trial is this?"
Keisha smiled knowingly. "An Eladrin trial. The flowers will respond when they perceive your intentions."
Ong stared at her, bewildered. "What?"
Keisha laughed and placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Stop thinking like a human and think about the culture you've lived in since our marriage."
Ong paused, her words sinking in. He frowned in thought, then his eyes widened slightly as realization dawned. "Oh."
He spotted another orchid a few steps ahead and approached it carefully. Instead of rushing to grab it, he sat down beside it, brushing away the dirt gently. He studied its delicate petals and spoke softly, "You are beautiful, and you would be perfect for my beloved wife. Would you allow me to give you to her?"
The orchid swayed slightly, as if acknowledging his words. With careful hands, Ong reached out and plucked it from the earth. As he did, the flower began to glow faintly, its light shimmering in the cool night air.
He walked softly over to Keisha, handling the orchid with great care. Bending down, he presented the orchid to her, his expression filled with warmth and admiration. Keisha smiled, her green eyes shining as she accepted it. With a gentle touch, she used her magic to preserve the orchid forever, its glow becoming a permanent, enchanted radiance.
She looked back at Ong, gratitude and love filling her gaze, and kissed him softly. "You did it," she whispered.
Ong stood up, pulling her into his arms and deepening the kiss. "I love you," he murmured against her lips.
Keisha smiled warmly as they turned to make their way home, the enchanted orchid glowing softly in her hands.
As they walked, Ong whispered with a playful sigh, "I will prepare better next year."
Keisha grinned, squeezing his hand. "We will see."
They both exchanged a warm glance and said in unison, "Happy Valentine's Day."
As the sun sank in E'vanaho, painting the sky with hues of purple and gold, they finished their Valentine's celebration, the glow of the enchanted orchid illuminating their path home.
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