<span style="font-style: italic"><div style="text-align: center;">“I am...not human, far older than I should be.”<br/><br/>He said as he cooked for her.<br/>A bowl made and handed to her, no meat but it was still robust.<br/><br/>“Where we are..is a hidden place. I can't tell you, for there would be no way for you to come back here anyway.”<br/><br/>This was a present, to her from him.<br/>But this place was a present to him.<br/>A story to long to tell in one night.<br/><br/>“How do I travel so fast, magic. It is real, just so very few know how to use it anymore.”<br/><br/>He just had to chuckle at the barrage of questions.<br/>A shake of his head, but then a pause.<br/>He really had to think about it.<br/><br/>“I've been to every city, traveled every road. I know the paths that are hidden.”<br/><br/>he smiled softly and made himself a bowl.<br/>He ate softly, not that he needed to, but sometimes it was nice to fake it.<br/>Pretending he could be among those he finds so interesting.<br/><br/>“As for why you? Why not you. So very few in this world dance like you do, none have the talent and when you open the doors to your soul your movement outshines anything I could play. I am interested in you because you are living art, and passion. I will always be drawn to those like you. I want you to open up, give your real gift to the world.”<br/><br/>He was being honest from his core.<br/>His desires were simple, but so complex at the same time.<br/>To open her up and let her bloom.<br/>That was all...and he'd be happy.</div></span>