"I play my part," I said diplomatically, giving her a practiced smile.
She clutched her book tighter, beaming. "Thank you again, Felix. You're amazing."
As she walked away, the bodyguards moved back into their silent posts. I picked up my coffee, taking a sip that had gone cold while my mind spun. A fan asking for my autograph. People whisper my name. The pieces of this game had shifted, and I wasn't just a player anymore.
I was a name. A face. A symbol.
And symbols, I knew, were both powerful and dangerous. Then, I got a text message from one such symbol.
+
The shadows danced eerily across the alley as I leaned against the cold stone wall, the faint hum of mana currents vibrating through the air. The location Amelia chose wasn't one of Iron Dominion's typical meeting places. Too quiet, too exposed—she was making a statement.
I smirked to myself, arms crossed casually. If she wanted drama, she was going to get it.
