Eren spent the rest of the day in the library, quietly skimming through books on practical magic and survival techniques. The quiet hum of the library was a welcome change from the tension of earlier encounters. He had successfully completed the Survival System's mission, but his brief run-in with Cassian left him unsettled. The last thing he wanted was to attract the attention of the novel's protagonist.
As he flipped through a book on defensive wards, Eren couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He glanced around casually, his eyes scanning the rows of shelves and study tables. Most of the students were absorbed in their own work, but one figure stood out. A girl with short silver hair and piercing blue eyes sat a few tables away, her gaze fixed directly on him.
Eren's stomach sank. He recognized her immediately. Seris Ardent. She hadn't spoken to him during the lecture earlier, but now she was unmistakably watching him. Her expression was unreadable, but the intensity of her stare made it clear she had something on her mind.
He debated his options. Leaving abruptly might draw more attention, but staying meant risking an interaction he wasn't prepared for. Before he could decide, Seris stood and began walking toward him, her movements graceful and deliberate. Eren sighed inwardly, bracing himself for whatever was about to happen.
"Velcroft," she said, stopping in front of his table. Her voice was calm but carried an edge of curiosity.
"Ardent," he replied evenly, keeping his tone neutral. "Something I can help you with?"
She tilted her head slightly, studying him. "You've been keeping a low profile lately. I almost didn't recognize you."
Eren met her gaze without flinching. "I've been busy."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to read between the lines of his answer. "Busy doing what? Skulking around the forest?"
Eren's lips twitched in a faint smile. "Something like that. Why do you care?"
Seris pulled out the chair across from him and sat down, uninvited. Her presence was disarming, a mix of elegance and intensity that demanded attention. "You've changed," she said bluntly. "The Raynor Velcroft I knew was loud, arrogant, and constantly making a fool of himself. Now you're… quiet. Calculating."
"People change," Eren said simply, turning a page in his book as if her words didn't affect him.
"Not that much," she countered. "So what happened? Did getting expelled knock some sense into you?"
Eren closed the book and leaned back in his chair, meeting her gaze directly. "Think what you want, Ardent. I'm not interested in proving myself to you or anyone else."
Her lips quirked into a small, amused smile. "Fair enough. But you should know, people are starting to notice. Cassian, for one, won't let you slip by so easily. He doesn't trust you."
"The feeling's mutual," Eren said dryly.
Seris laughed softly, a sound that held no malice but wasn't entirely warm either. "You're an enigma, Velcroft. I'm curious to see how long you can keep this act up."
Eren said nothing, watching as she stood and walked away, leaving him alone once more. He exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing as the tension ebbed away. Seris's curiosity was dangerous. He needed to tread carefully to avoid becoming entangled with her or any of the other main characters.
As he gathered his things and prepared to leave, the Survival System chimed softly in his mind.
New Mission Available
Objective: Avoid direct confrontation with any main character for one week.
Reward: 70 Survival Points
Failure Penalty: Increased likelihood of scripted encounters.
Eren's lips tightened into a thin line. The system's missions were becoming more specific, almost as if it knew how precarious his situation was. Avoiding the main characters for a week would be challenging, but it was a task he was determined to complete. The less he interacted with them, the safer he'd be.
For now, he'd retreat to the forest and regroup. The academy was proving to be as treacherous as the wilderness, if not more so. And Eren knew better than to let his guard down.