Adrian's body ached as he trudged toward the dormitory, his encounter with Sophia leaving him sore in more ways than one. He replayed the scene in the gym, analyzing every detail. He had survived the first test, but the road ahead was anything but smooth. Sophia was a fortress—one with barbed wire and electrified walls.
"Slow progress," Adrian muttered.
[Slow is an understatement. You're crawling. At this rate, Alexander will marry her before you manage to get her to call you a friend.]
Adrian clenched his fists. "That golden boy won't always have the upper hand. Everyone has weaknesses—even heroines."
[Big talk for someone who just got their ass handed to them in the ring.]
"Shut up," Adrian shot back, finally arriving at the dorm.
The university's living quarters were luxurious compared to what he was used to. Each dorm had its own spacious layout, complete with a study area and private bathroom. He collapsed onto the bed, his mind still buzzing.
But rest wasn't on the agenda.
[Heads up, genius. Your next heroine is on the move.]
"What? Already?" Adrian groaned, sitting up.
[Did you think this would be easy? Check the campus library. You'll find Iris Vale there. Kuudere type. Ice-cold, detached, and impossible to approach unless you have a solid strategy. Which you don't.]
Adrian smirked. "Watch me."
---
The library was a stark contrast to the gym—a haven of silence and serenity. Towering bookshelves lined the walls, and the scent of old paper filled the air. Students sat scattered across the tables, engrossed in their studies.
Adrian's eyes scanned the room until he found her.
Iris Vale was perched by the window, her platinum-blonde hair gleaming in the sunlight. She wore a tailored blazer over a crisp white shirt, her posture perfect and her expression unreadable. A stack of thick textbooks surrounded her, but her focus remained on the tablet in her hand.
"Alright," Adrian muttered to himself. "Time to improvise."
He approached cautiously, keeping his movements deliberate. Iris didn't even glance up as he stopped in front of her table.
"Mind if I sit here?" he asked.
She finally looked at him, her ice-blue eyes scanning him as if he were a mildly interesting insect.
"Suit yourself," she said coolly, returning to her tablet.
Adrian sat, his mind racing. Starting a conversation with Iris was like trying to light a fire in a blizzard. Direct approaches wouldn't work; he needed subtlety.
He glanced at the book on top of her stack—Advanced Theories in Quantum Economics.
"You're into theoretical economics?" he asked casually.
Iris paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Yes. Why?"
"Just curious," Adrian replied. "It's not a subject you see many people tackling for fun."
"It's not for fun," Iris said, her tone sharp. "It's for necessity. Understanding complex systems is essential if you want to survive in this world."
Adrian leaned back, feigning interest. "Fair point. But doesn't the unpredictability of human behavior throw a wrench in all those theories?"
For the first time, Iris looked genuinely intrigued. She tilted her head slightly, studying him.
"You're not entirely wrong," she admitted. "But the goal isn't perfect prediction. It's about minimizing uncertainty as much as possible."
Adrian smiled faintly. "Sounds like a challenge."
"It is," Iris said simply, her gaze returning to her tablet.
[Not bad, Adrian. You managed to keep her attention for longer than five seconds. Now don't blow it.]
---
Adrian knew he couldn't push too hard. Iris was the type to retreat at the first sign of intrusion. Instead, he opted to let the silence linger, pulling out his own tablet and pretending to study.
Minutes passed. Then, unexpectedly, Iris spoke.
"You're new here."
Adrian looked up, masking his surprise. "Yeah. Adrian Blake. Just transferred."
She nodded slightly. "You've been around Alexander Reid."
Adrian's jaw tightened. Of course she'd notice. "We're in the same class."
Iris's expression didn't change, but her tone grew colder. "Stay away from him."
"What?" Adrian frowned.
"Alexander Reid has a way of pulling people into his orbit. It's better to keep your distance."
Adrian smirked. "Sounds like you're not a fan."
"I'm not," she said bluntly. "He's reckless and overly idealistic. People like that are dangerous."
Adrian leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued. "You've thought about this a lot."
Iris shrugged. "It's common sense."
[She's got baggage with Alexander. Use that, but tread carefully.]
Adrian nodded, deciding to probe further. "What about Damian Crowe?"
Her gaze sharpened. "Why are you asking about him?"
"Just trying to understand the key players here," Adrian said smoothly.
"Damian is worse," Iris said, her voice laced with disdain. "He's manipulative, calculating, and entirely self-serving. He'll destroy anyone who gets in his way."
Adrian noted the way her expression hardened. Clearly, Damian had already made an impression—though not a positive one.
[Good. If she hates Damian, you've got a potential ally.]
Adrian suppressed a grin. "Thanks for the warning. I'll keep it in mind."
Iris didn't respond, returning to her studies. But Adrian could tell she was paying attention, even if only slightly.
---
As Adrian left the library, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him. He glanced around, his instincts on high alert.
[Careful, Adrian. You're not the only one playing this game.]
"Damian?" Adrian whispered.
[Maybe. Or it could be Alexander. Either way, keep your guard up. The heroines aren't the only ones being targeted.]
Adrian's lips curled into a smirk. "Let them come. I'm just getting started."
---