Anos accepted his fate, albeit grudgingly. The system, with all its quirks and oddities, had thrown him into an utterly ridiculous situation. Here he was, tasked with impressing a fiery, pint-sized teenager who seemed to have no patience for him. He stifled a sigh, glancing at Zoey, who was looking back at him with a mixture of annoyance and distrust.
Zoey turned sharply, her twin ponytails swinging defiantly as she crossed her arms. "Not a chance! He can find his own way," she declared, her voice laced with youthful arrogance and a hint of ice.
The old man chuckled, watching the exchange with an amused glint in his eyes. "Now, now, Zoey. What did he do to upset you so much?"
Anos blinked, genuinely baffled. Upset her? How? He'd barely spoken two words since entering the room, and they hadn't even exchanged glances until now. Yet, somehow, she looked at him as if he'd committed some grave offense.
