#belothal

This is a little Voren'thal/Belo'vir thing, idk, don't @ me I'm just very soft about them

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Voren'thal despised the other apprentice's face the second he first saw him. So full of himself, proud and careless... With that ever present annoying smirk.

During their practicals, where Voren was truly putting his all into every incantation and every single little detail, Belo'vir got the same grade. Putting in zero effort. He could've been blind and armless and he would still get the same grade as him.

It was driving Voren'thal up the wall, making him tug at his own hair and scream his frustrations into a pillow.

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One day, as he sat with his father, eating dinner at the manor, the older elf spoke up. They wouldn't normally speak during dining, this must've been important.

"Word got to me about that... Salonar boy." His father sounded displeased, but that was just his natural tone, nothing to worry about.

Voren gripped his spoon so hard his knuckles started turning white. "Mhm..." He nodded, as calmly as possible.

"The grand magister is very pleased with his progress..." He took a bite and swallowed it before speaking again. "It would be highly disappointing if he got chosen instead of you..." He sounded almost nonchalant this time, which put an even stronger strain on Voren's nerves.

"I understand, father..." He nodded, looking up from his plate. "I am trying my hardest-"

"Well then maybe you were not made for the position after all..." This sentence came in biting. "Perhaps you haven't inherited the talent I thought you had... Maybe you really are weak like you say..."

He was thankful he hadn't taken another bite, he might've choked otherwise. "Father-"

The older elf waved his hand in the air. "How are those dreams of yours? Still a problem?"

He nodded, looking away, his eyes landing on one of the expensive paintings on the dining room wall.

"Hm... Do you drink the... Tea I got you?"

"Of course... It doesn't help a bit..."

"Curious..."

And that was that, not another word.

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Yet another day, yet another time keeping up with Belo'vir.

The darker haired boy was waving his hand infront of his face. "Voren? I need to talk to youuu..."

He slapped his hand away and looked into his eyes. "What is it?"

"I think I forgot..." Once again, that frustrating grin.

"Good, you can leave me alone then-"

"Hm... Can you see well? I have wondered ever since I first saw you... Your eyes are like... Hm... Cloudy..."

"Are you trying to make fun of me? Because if so, I have heard worse, Salonar..."

"Huh? No, I wouldn't dare, you would incinerate me..." He chuckled. "I am just curious... I apologize if it made you uncomfortable..."

"Forgive my manners but I do not wish to tell a rival all my weaknesses..."

"So you really cannot see well, can you?"

"I am not telling you!"

"Interesting..."

Belo'vir continued on speaking but Voren paid more attention to his notes.

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Voren'thal spent the week before this year's finals hidden away in his room, studying, practicing and not sleeping one bit. His usually sun-kissed tone seemed incredibly pale, the dark circles under his eyes came in way more pronounced then ever. But he kept himself awake with magic and tea.

Of course the first elf he sees on his way is Belo'vir.

"Voren!" He ran up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"What do you want?" He gripped the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes for a second, before opening them and looking at the brunette.

"Wow, you look tired-" He gave him an awkward chuckle. "I just wanted to ask you... A few other apprentices and I are going to a pub after the exams... Would you like to come with us?"

"I don't have time for such childish past-times, Salonar..."

Belo'vir's expression changed into a sadder one, it took a bit of time for Voren to realize. "I... I understand." He took his hand off of the light haired elf's shoulder.

Voren rolled his eyes. "And next time you approach me- don't touch me like that..."

"Oh! Sorry, I just didn't know how to get your attention otherwise... I'll keep it in mind you're not a fan of physical touch."

"I am just not a fan of yours, Salonar..." His eyebrows knit together and he walked away through the hallway before Belo'vir could say another word to him.

That day, he didn't ace his exam.

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He´s been frustrated because of the other apprentice before but this time he was furious with him. It must've been because of the distraction before class, not because he hasn't properly rested in a week, not because he's barely eaten. It must have been because of Salonar. That elf was a bad omen.

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After a long talk with his father, Voren decided to go outside for a calming midnight stroll around central Silvermoon. He walked slowly, quietly, looking around the street which was charmingly lit up with magical lanterns.

Just as he walked around an inn, a familiar, yet fairly drunken, voice drew him in.

"Look! I am terribly sorry, m'lady, but my heart has been claimed by another!" Fairly theatrical in nature, the brunette was standing on the table in seconds, talking to an equally drunken barmaid. Oddly enough, the possibility of knowing just who his rival's love is was surprisingly thrilling. "Their hair shines not like the light of the sun, but the moon, that our ancestors have rightfully followed! Their eyes just like the sea, mysterious and captivating! I just so wish I could sail on them! AND THAT GAZE! The way they look at me as if I were an enemy! Their features so delicate-"

Most of what he said was vague and, frankly, non-sensical, but something in Voren moved. He wondered just who this special lady could be. Light hair, blue eyes... Maybe turqoise, he did mention the sea after all. Who of their peers glares at Belo'vir in such a way-.

He wondered about the mystery girl for the rest of his way home, partially forgetting about the exam earlier that day. For some unknown reason, he just needed to know.

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From that day onward, he made it his mission to find out who this mysterious elf Belo'vir is crushing on might be. He would sit in class and watch the people around him, watch Belo and the way he looked at others.

He started noticing little things. Like the freckles on his nose, little dots drawn by Belore herself... Voren had this urge to... He couldn't describe it, he just wanted to squeeze something, bite it and just scream as loud as possible. It must have been hate, a strong negative emotion aimed at the brunette, and those freckles just reminded him of it... Or... You know, something like that.

He noticed that Belo'vir's nose was not entirely straight, in fact, it appeared to might have been broken sometime in his youth. Maybe... Maybe this feeling was just Voren wanting to break it again.

His lips were heart shaped and Voren'thal wanted to... Huh. This was weird. Something in him might have- no, he would never even touch Belo'vir, let alone kiss him! This must've been just... One of those missplaced thoughts that prolonged insomnia brought onto him.

Somehow, even as he watched the brunette during every lecture, he felt as if he didn't find out anything. There was no person in their class with silver hair... Nor was there anyone with eyes close to the color of the sea, with most being more akin to the sky... Maybe the mystery girl was from somewhere else. The club or his old place of study. Yes, that must have been it.

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This... Research... Might have escalated into something greater.

Belo'vir noticed him one day and flashed a smile so bright it could rival that of a Sunstrider. And Voren'thal might have melted a little, he could not tear his eyes away from him.

The brunette approached him. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, of course..." He shook his head a little and tried to correct his own face's grimace. But it was just involuntarily smiling back at the other elf, as if he were under a spell of some sort.... Has Belo'vir put a spell on him? Of course he would do that, right? Asshole.

"Alright... If you say so... But- a smile suits you better than a frown..." He said and left him again.

It left Voren'thal wondering... Those hot flashes that came and went as he was watching the brunette... The tickles in his stomach whenever he saw him smile... Was this some kind of joke? To get back at him for being rude? Yes, that would be reasonable but... Casting some kind of... Love spell on him? That's a little far.

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There came a dream. Unusually not a nightmarish prophetic one, just a... Just a dream.

Belo'vir approached him in it, he spoke but Voren'thal could not listen when all he could do was taking in the sight of the man before him. He was like an anchor holding him in the ground, making the time stop with just a gaze and an ever present, annoying, needlessly dashing smirk. Locking eyes and losing a hand within Voren'thal's locks... Kissing him.

It was a simple one, more of a long peck, not a proper thalassian kiss.

But there was blood rushing into Voren'thal's cheeks and he did not want to make it stop. He pulled the brunette closer to him and kissed him more passionatelly, biting into his lower lip and savouring every little bit of it. Belo'vir's lips tasted like honey. Sweet and floral, feeling almost like velvet.

When Belo'vir took over, he could tell he had much more experience with kissing than him. Or he was merely naturally talented, like with everything else he did.

But just when the slightly shorter brunette started taking off his shirt, a knock on the door woke the blonde up.

He sat up on his bed, his sleeping robe sweaty, his face flushed. "Y-Yes?!" He called out, a bit breathlessly for it to sound mad.

"Breakfast will be ready shortly, sir!" The voice of a servant claimed before walking away and leaving Voren to question his sanity.

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After their last class together that day, Voren'thal decisively walked across the hall to Belo'vir and this time, it was him placing a hand on the brunette's shoulder. "I need to talk to you..." He was trying HARD to sound intimidating but it was so Belore darn difficult when he couldn't stop smiling like an idiot.

"Oh? Sure..." The other elf smiled back at him as they walked into the gardens and sat down on a bench.

"You think it's okay for you to just cast a spell on me like that, Salonar?" He spat.

"I did what now?"

"Stop pretending you have no idea what this is about! I have never heard of a love spell to work this good, I will give you that, but using it on me just because I don't like you is-"

Belo'vir's smile softened, he chuckled. "A love spell?"

Voren'thal nodded. "Of course?"

"I have never casted such a spell... And I'm sure you would notice the feeling of a stab in the heart or something... Because... If you actually read something about the spell, it's pretty painful at first... Most people hit by it think they might be dying- just for the caster to help them, of course..."

Voren'thal stopped dead in his tracks, his face as pale as the wall behind him. "What do you mean?"

"That... If you think you're in love... It's definitelly not because of a spell..."

"That's impossible!" He stood up. "You're a man! And the most annoying one I have ever seen in my life at that! Even just now you DARE to lecture me about how LOVE SPELLS WORK?"

"I- I like you too, Voren'thal... I thought you would never feel the same way..." He stood up just as well. "I just want you to know that it's alright... Everything you're feeling right now is alright, darling..."

Voren'thal froze again. Something within him really wanted him to call him darling again... And something else wanted to kiss him... And something wholy different wanted to hit him in the face. "I am not in love with you I... I don't think I could be-..."

"And if that's what it is then that's alright too! You don't have to know immediately, just... Just let your heart decide and... Know it was not a spell..."

"I-" One of those little somethings took over when he grabbed the brunette by the shoulders and kissed him.

It was a lot more... Wet and gross than in his dream... But also ways more thrilling.

And that face of pure surprise on Belo's features when he finally pulled back to take a breath.

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"Do you remember our first kiss?" Belo'vir asked him, while carrying him to the bed. Little smile lines deepening near his eyes. "Back then you would never let me help you like this..."

"Oh shush, back then I had no difficulties with my limbs acting against me..."

"Oh you did, don't you remember?" He chuckled as he placed him on the bed. There were grey streaks in his hair showing all the years they have spent together. Voren, grey haired since birth, would often make fun of him for it, always light-heartedly, but he would. He loved every single bit of his hair however.

"That was way later, Bel, you're beginning to remember things wrong, old fool!" He chuckled back before a short cough.

Belo'vir shook his head. "Still think I have bewitched ya?"