Chapter 829 - Archery Party ?
"And….who is this?"
Lilia immediately noticed the subtle shift in Selene's demeanor as her sister's sharp brown eyes lingered on Astron. The glint in Selene's gaze was unmistakable, and it made Lilia's stomach churn with irritation. She knew that look all too well—a gleam of interest, curiosity, and something else that could only be described as thirsty. Selene had worn that same expression countless times before when she found someone—or something—she wanted to toy with.
'Of course,' Lilia thought bitterly, her lips pressing into a thin line. She would.
Astron, on the other hand, seemed completely unaffected. His expression was as unreadable as ever, his dark purple eyes calm and detached as he met Selene's gaze without so much as a flicker of emotion.
"And… who is this?" Selene repeated, her smile widening ever so slightly as she stepped forward, her movements deliberate and graceful. She tilted her head, her gaze sweeping over Astron with thinly veiled interest.
Astron's eyes shifted briefly to Lilia before returning to Selene. His face remained impassive, his tone neutral as he introduced himself. "Astron," he said simply. No elaboration, no flourish—just his name, delivered with the same calm detachment that defined him.
Selene's smile didn't falter, but the gleam in her eyes grew sharper. "Astron," she repeated, letting the name roll off her tongue as though testing it. "A pleasure to meet you."
Astron didn't respond immediately, his gaze steady but uninterested as he looked at her. "Likewise," he said finally, though his tone suggested he was saying it more out of politeness than sincerity.
The surrounding cadets, who had been watching the interaction with growing curiosity, exchanged glances. It was rare to see someone remain so unaffected in Selene's presence—she had a way of commanding attention and charming those around her without much effort. But Astron… Astron was different.
Selene, of course, noticed. Her smile deepened, and she took another small step closer, her posture relaxed but calculated. "You don't seem like the type to frequent parties," she remarked, her tone light but probing. "What brings you here, Astron?"
Astron raised an eyebrow slightly at Selene's probing question, his expression remaining calm and composed. "What do you mean?" he asked, his tone as neutral as ever. "I'm here because I'm a member of the Archery Club."
Selene's eyebrows lifted in surprise, the faintest flicker of intrigue crossing her face. "A member, you say?" she repeated, her voice lilting with curiosity. She let her gaze sweep over him again, more deliberate this time, as though sizing him up. "I would not have missed… someone like you."
Her eyes lingered a moment longer before she smiled, her tone almost teasing as she added, "A face like this. I suppose you must have just arrived."
"It appears you're mistaken," Astron replied, his voice calm but firm. "I've been here from the start."
Selene tilted her head slightly, her smile deepening as though she found his unflinching demeanor amusing. "Really?" she asked, her tone feigning surprise.
"Yes," Astron said simply, his gaze meeting hers without hesitation.
The tension between them was palpable, though Astron's calm refusal to engage in Selene's subtle game only seemed to draw more attention. The surrounding cadets, who had been quietly observing the exchange, watched with growing curiosity, their whispers muted but noticeable.
Before Selene could respond, another voice cut through the conversation.
"Well, this is interesting," Adrian said smoothly, stepping into their line of sight with his usual confident stride. His gaze landed on Astron, and though his expression was polite, there was a faint edge to his tone that didn't go unnoticed. "Junior Astron… It seems you've changed quite a bit."
Astron turned his head slightly, his dark purple eyes meeting Adrian's gaze with the same detached calm he had shown Selene. "Changed?" he echoed, his tone even. "What kind of change we are talking about?"
Adrian's smile widened, though it didn't reach his eyes. There was a sharpness to his gaze as he looked at Astron, his tone light but carrying an undercurrent of challenge. "The kind of change that makes people curious," he said smoothly. "You weren't like this before."
Astron tilted his head slightly, his calm expression unchanging. "Like what?" he asked, his tone clipped but polite.
Adrian chuckled softly, though there was a faint edge to the sound. "Let's say… you weren't this handsome?" His gaze swept over Astron deliberately, his smile turning almost mocking. "Your face has clearly improved."
Lilia stiffened slightly at the remark, her crimson eyes narrowing as she glanced at Astron. But, as always, Astron seemed unfazed. He met Adrian's gaze with the same detached calm, his voice steady as he replied, "Thank you. And you're correct. It certainly improved."
The subtle emphasis in his tone didn't go unnoticed, and a few cadets nearby exchanged glances, sensing the growing tension. Adrian's smile tightened ever so slightly, the faintest flicker of irritation crossing his face. It wasn't the words themselves that bothered him—it was the tone. Astron's response, while polite on the surface, carried a subtle air of indifference, almost as if he were brushing Adrian off entirely.
Adrian's eyes narrowed just a fraction, though his composure remained intact. "Confidence suits you," he said, his tone carrying a faint edge. "But I have to admit, your demeanor is… different. It's almost as though you've forgotten the usual etiquette between juniors and seniors."
Astron raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression still calm. "Etiquette?" he echoed, his tone neutral. "I wasn't aware I'd broken any."
The quiet statement was simple, but it landed like a challenge, the underlying implication clear: If you have a problem, say it outright.
Adrian's smile faltered for the briefest moment before he recovered, his gaze flicking briefly to Lilia, who was watching the exchange with thinly veiled amusement. The tension between sophomores and freshmen had been simmering for weeks, a byproduct of shifting dynamics and competitive rivalries within the academy. Adrian, as one of the more prominent sophomores, was clearly accustomed to deference from underclassmen—and Astron's calm defiance clearly irked him.
"Let's just say," Adrian continued, his tone regaining its smoothness, "you've become… more noticeable than I remember."
Astron nodded slightly, his expression betraying nothing. "Noted," he replied simply, his tone making it clear that he wasn't particularly interested in Adrian's observations.
The air between them grew heavier, the subtle clash of personalities drawing the attention of those nearby. Selene, who had been watching the interaction with quiet amusement, decided to intervene.
"Now, now," she said, her voice light and disarming as she stepped slightly closer to Adrian. "Let's not turn this into a debate. Junior Astron is clearly… unique." Her gaze lingered on Astron for a moment, the glint of curiosity and intrigue still present in her eyes. "And I, for one, find it refreshing."
Adrian chuckled softly, though the sound lacked genuine humor. "Of course," he said smoothly, his gaze returning to Astron. "I'm sure we'll all be keeping an eye on you, Junior. After all, someone as… 'unique' as you tends to leave an impression."
Astron remained silent, his dark purple eyes steady as he regarded Adrian. There was no flinch, no shift in his expression—just the same calm, unyielding demeanor that seemed to quietly assert itself without need for words.
The tension in the air thickened as Adrian's polite yet faintly hostile words lingered. Before he could continue his subtle provocations, Lilia's voice cut through the moment like a blade.
"Are you sure you're just going to keep an 'eye' on him?" she said smoothly, her crimson eyes narrowing ever so slightly as she fixed her gaze on Adrian. "Because, if I remember correctly, you've done a lot more than just keeping an eye in the past."
The sudden shift in the conversation drew attention, murmurs rippling through the surrounding cadets as they sensed the sharp undercurrent in her tone. Adrian raised an eyebrow, his smile tightening slightly as he turned to her.
"What do you mean by that, Lilia?" he asked, his tone measured but laced with curiosity—and a faint edge of warning.
Lilia's lips curved into a smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "What do I mean? That's up to you, isn't it?" she replied, her voice carrying a practiced air of innocence that only made her words more pointed.
Adrian chuckled softly, though the sound lacked humor. "No, no," he said, shaking his head slightly. "You've already started. You should finish what you're saying."
Selene's eyes flicked between the two, her amusement growing as she sensed the brewing storm. She made no effort to interrupt, instead folding her arms and watching the exchange with the same curiosity that had lingered in her gaze all evening.
Lilia's smile widened, her tone turning sharper. "Like how you tampered with the conditions of the competitions," she said, her words cutting through the room with precision.
A ripple of gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd, the cadets exchanging glances as they processed her accusation. Adrian's smile faltered for the briefest moment before he recovered, his expression smoothing out as he met her gaze.
"I'm not sure what you're referring to," he said lightly, though there was a faint tension in his tone now. "You'll have to be more specific."
"Do I?"
She just accepted his hostility.
Chapter 830 - Archery Party ? (2)
Lilia's sharp words hung in the air, drawing more whispers from the gathered cadets as she stared Adrian down. Her crimson eyes gleamed with calculated resolve as she noted the faint tension in Adrian's otherwise composed expression. His attempt to deflect her accusation had been expected, but she wasn't here to simply let him off the hook.
"Do I?" she repeated coolly, her tone carrying a subtle edge. Her words weren't a challenge—they were a declaration. She wasn't afraid of Adrian, and she wanted everyone in the room to know it.
Selene's gaze remained fixed on the two of them, her amusement evident as she folded her arms, leaning slightly against a nearby pillar. Her silence was strategic, Lilia realized. Selene wasn't intervening because she didn't need to—this was her way of letting Adrian and Lilia clash, watching for weaknesses she could exploit later.
But Lilia wasn't about to let Selene's little game rattle her. She had a plan.
While it was true that Selene and Adrian were likely colluding, Lilia knew their alliance wasn't built to last. Both of them were too ambitious, too self-serving to maintain a partnership for long. Sooner or later, cracks would form—and Lilia intended to make sure they did.
For now, though, she couldn't afford to let them have free reign. If she stayed passive, allowing Adrian to dominate the Archery Club and Selene to expand her influence, her position would only weaken. And in a place like this, weakness was unacceptable.
Her gaze swept briefly over the room, noting the cadets who were watching the exchange with a mix of curiosity and unease. Among the freshmen, she had managed to win over a good number—partly thanks to her Olarion family name and partly due to her rank as one of the academy's top students. Being the 4th-ranked freshman carried weight, but it wasn't enough to bridge the gap between her and Adrian's entrenched influence.
Many of the younger cadets still hesitated to openly align with her, intimidated by the sophomores and third-years under Adrian's thumb. And Adrian knew this. He thrived on the fear and respect he commanded, using it to consolidate his position within the club.
So far, I've managed to persuade Elara, Lilia thought, glancing briefly at her vice president, who was standing nearby, observing the scene with a measured expression. Elara had been a valuable ally, but even with her support, the balance of power within the club wasn't in Lilia's favor—not yet.
But that could change.
Lilia returned her focus to Adrian, her expression calm but her mind racing with strategy. "You know, Adrian," she began, her tone light but carrying an unmistakable sharpness, "for someone who values control so much, you seem oddly defensive tonight."
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly, though his polite smile remained in place. "Defensive?" he echoed, his tone laced with mock surprise. "I'd say I'm just… intrigued by your sudden boldness."
"Boldness?" Lilia repeated with a faint smirk. "It's not boldness—it's just practicality. After all, the Archery Club deserves better than whispered deals and tampered competitions, don't you think?"
The murmurs among the cadets grew louder, a ripple of unease spreading through the crowd. Lilia knew her words were stirring doubt, planting seeds of skepticism about Adrian's methods. It wasn't enough to dismantle his influence outright, but it was a start.
Selene finally decided to interject, her voice smooth as silk as she stepped forward. "Now, Lilia," she said, her smile radiant but her eyes cold, "let's not get too carried away. Adrian has done a remarkable job leading this club. You wouldn't want to tarnish its reputation, would you?"
Lilia turned her gaze to Selene, her smile never faltering. "Oh, I'm not tarnishing anything," she said evenly. "I'm just reminding everyone that transparency is important—especially when it comes to leadership."
Selene's smile tightened slightly, though she quickly recovered, her tone turning almost playful. "Of course. Transparency is such a noble goal. But I do wonder, little sister, if you're ready for the weight of true leadership."
Lilia's jaw tightened briefly, but she refused to let Selene's bait affect her. "I think that's for the members of the club to decide," she said, her tone cool. "Not you."
"AHAHAHA…"
Selene's laugh rang through the room, light and melodic but carrying a sharpness that couldn't be ignored. Her brown eyes gleamed with amusement as she straightened her posture, brushing a strand of emerald hair behind her ear.
"Oh, Lilia," she said, her tone both condescending and playful. "I'm afraid it doesn't work quite like that. As the sponsor of this club, my involvement goes far beyond mere observation. While I may not be a member per se, I wouldn't waste my time—or my resources—on something I wasn't genuinely interested in."
Lilia's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. Perfect, she thought, her crimson eyes glinting as she seized the opportunity she had been waiting for.
"Then why don't you display that interest?" Lilia said smoothly, her voice cutting through the murmurs of the cadets. The crowd's attention snapped back to her, their curiosity piqued as she took a deliberate step forward. "After all, if you're truly invested in archery, why not show everyone just how deep that interest goes?"
Selene's smile froze for a fraction of a second before returning in full force, though there was a flicker of something behind her eyes—surprise, perhaps, or annoyance. She hadn't expected Lilia to flip the conversation so suddenly, and that hesitation didn't go unnoticed by the crowd.
Adrian's expression darkened ever so slightly, his polite mask slipping for just a moment as he realized the trap Lilia had laid. He opened his mouth to interject, but Selene raised a hand, silencing him with a gesture. Her confidence quickly returned, and she let out a soft chuckle, her gaze locking with Lilia's.
"A display?" Selene said, tilting her head slightly, her tone feigning curiosity. "What exactly are you suggesting, little sister?"
Lilia's smile widened, her voice calm but laced with challenge. "A quick match. Right here, right now. No planning, no preparation. Just you and me."
The room fell into a hushed silence, the weight of her words settling over the gathered cadets. Whispers began to ripple through the crowd, a mix of excitement and disbelief at Lilia's bold proposal.
Selene's eyes narrowed slightly, though her smile didn't waver. "A match?" she repeated, her tone slow and deliberate. "How intriguing. But wouldn't that be… unfair? After all, I'm not officially part of the club."
Selene's smile grew sharper, her amusement glinting in her brown eyes. "A match between us?" she repeated, her tone laced with mock thoughtfulness. "Hmm… that does sound tempting, but wouldn't it be more appropriate to challenge someone who's already proven their standing in this club?" She tilted her head, her expression perfectly serene. "How about our dear club leader? He did mention to me that you've faced him before."
Lilia's smile didn't falter, though her crimson eyes gleamed with renewed determination. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind," she replied smoothly, her voice steady. Inside, however, her thoughts raced. Selene's counter had been calculated, redirecting the attention away from herself and placing Lilia in the spotlight instead. Typical Selene—always finding a way to twist a situation to her advantage.
"Splendid," Selene said, clapping her hands together lightly. The sound was crisp, drawing the attention of the gathered cadets. "We had already prepared some games for this party, but who would have thought we'd have a contestant this early?" Her voice carried just enough enthusiasm to rile up the crowd, and murmurs of excitement rippled through the room.
Lilia's expression hardened for a split second before she schooled her features back into composure. Had they foreseen this? The thought crossed her mind, her instincts on high alert. It wasn't impossible. Selene and Adrian were both cunning, and the timing of everything tonight felt far too convenient.
No, Lilia reassured herself. There's no way they could've anticipated this. Right?
And yet, the unease in her chest didn't dissipate. Something about Selene's effortless control over the situation—and Adrian's smug silence—made her skin crawl. But there was no turning back now. She had already committed, and hesitation wasn't an option.
Adrian stepped forward with a confident stride, his ever-present smirk firmly in place as he addressed the crowd, his gaze lingering on Lilia with a faintly mocking glint. "Well, Lilia," he began, his voice smooth and steady, "since you've made such bold accusations, I assume you wouldn't mind proving your skill in a proper match. After all, actions speak louder than words, don't they?"
Lilia held his gaze, her smile unwavering. "Of course," she replied smoothly, her tone calm. "I wouldn't dream of disappointing our esteemed club president."
Inwardly, though, her instincts were screaming. Something was off. The way Adrian and Selene seemed perfectly in sync, as if they had anticipated every move she might make, left her uneasy. Had they prepared for this? She couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a coincidence.
Selene, ever the picture of poise, clapped her hands lightly, drawing the attention of the gathered cadets. "Splendid!" she said, her tone warm and engaging. "Now that we've settled on our competitors, allow me to explain the game. It's a bit unconventional, but I think you'll find it… exhilarating."
Chapter 831 - Archery Party ? (3)
"Now that we've settled on our competitors, allow me to explain the game. It's a bit unconventional, but I think you'll find it… exhilarating."
She turned to Adrian and Lilia, her smile widening as she gestured toward the far end of the training grounds, where a small, elevated platform had been set up. The structure was surrounded by various barriers and covers—wooden panels, metal shields, and even a few floating mana constructs. It looked like a chaotic battlefield condensed into a confined space.
"The rules are simple," Selene began, her voice carrying easily over the murmurs of the crowd. "Each of you will start on opposite ends of the platform. Your goal is to hit your opponent with an arrow. However," she added, her tone turning playful, "the barriers and covers on the platform aren't entirely reliable. They can be removed or repositioned at random intervals, so don't get too comfortable behind them."
The cadets murmured among themselves, the tension in the air growing as they processed the explanation. The setup was risky, designed to test not only accuracy but adaptability and strategy under pressure. It was a game that could easily turn chaotic—and Selene knew it.
Adrian chuckled lightly, his gaze flicking to Lilia. "I hope you're ready, Lilia," he said, his tone carrying just a hint of mockery. "This isn't like shooting at a stationary target."
Lilia met his gaze with a cool smile. "I wouldn't expect it to be," she replied evenly. "But I hope you're ready too, Adrian. After all, you wouldn't want to lose in front of everyone."
Her words drew a few chuckles from the surrounding cadets, though the tension between the two remained palpable. Adrian's smirk tightened slightly, but he quickly masked it, gesturing toward the platform.
"Shall we?" he said, his voice smooth as he began walking toward the setup.
Lilia followed, her posture straight and composed, though her mind raced with thoughts. This is exactly what they wanted, she realized. Selene and Adrian had turned the situation to their advantage, forcing her into a match that would test not only her skill but her ability to remain calm under pressure. And yet, she couldn't back down now. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
As they reached the platform, the cadets gathered around, forming a loose circle to watch. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation, whispers and murmurs filling the air as everyone speculated about the outcome.
Selene stepped forward once more, her gaze sweeping over the crowd before settling on Lilia and Adrian. "Take your positions," she said with a bright smile. "And remember, this is all in good fun. Let's give our audience something to remember."
Lilia climbed onto the platform, her crimson eyes scanning the setup as she assessed the barriers and their placements. She noted the unpredictable arrangement, the gaps between covers that left no truly safe positions.
'They planned this.'
There was no doubt in her mind. Adrian wouldn't allow a fair fight—not when his reputation was on the line. If Selene had orchestrated this match, then she had accounted for Lilia's abilities as well. They weren't just testing her accuracy; they were testing her ability to react to controlled chaos.
'The barriers aren't fixed. That means they'll be controlled remotely. Delays, repositioning, maybe even disappearing altogether.'
Her mind worked quickly, running through possible patterns. If she were the one rigging this, how would she do it? There were a few ways:
Timed Disruptions: The barriers could vanish the moment she took cover, forcing her into open space.
Pattern-Based Manipulation: If they had predicted her style, they would set the barriers to move in a way that funneled her into Adrian's line of fire.
Selective Targeting: The movement of barriers might only affect her side of the field, ensuring Adrian always had the advantage.
Lilia exhaled softly, steadying her breath.
'If I assume that's the case, then I can't rely on cover. I have to keep moving—never stopping long enough to be trapped. And I need to make them think I don't realize what's happening until I turn it against them.'
Across the platform, Adrian stretched lazily, his confident smirk barely concealed.
"Don't take too long thinking, Lilia," he called, his tone laced with amusement. "Wouldn't want you to freeze up."
She met his gaze, a small, knowing smile curving her lips.
"Thinking is exactly what separates us, Adrian," she replied smoothly. "But don't worry—I won't take too long. I'd hate for you to start feeling nervous."
A ripple of murmurs ran through the audience. Adrian's smirk twitched, but he masked it well.
Selene clapped her hands together, drawing attention back to the match. "Both competitors are ready! On my signal, the match begins!"
Lilia flexed her fingers, her mana already flowing subtly into her body. She wouldn't let them control the flow of this fight entirely. If they had set the stage to work against her, she would make sure they regretted it.
'Let's see what you've prepared for me, Adrian.'
The countdown began.
Three.
Two.
One.
"Begin!"
The match erupted into motion.
Lilia didn't waste time standing still. The moment the signal rang out, she shot forward in a fluid motion, weaving between the barriers as she notched an arrow.
Adrian, as expected, took a more composed approach—raising his bow with practiced ease, waiting for the perfect shot.
'You're expecting me to rush in, aren't you?'
She didn't. Instead, she feinted toward one of the barriers—then immediately changed directions the moment she saw it flicker.
'Just as I thought. It's reacting to me, not him.'
The barrier she had moved toward disappeared before she could use it, leaving her momentarily exposed—but only for an instant. Lilia twisted her body, shifting her weight in midair and landing behind a second barrier before it could react.
A sharp twang rang out as Adrian loosed an arrow. It shot straight toward where she would have been—where they wanted her to be.
A near miss.
Lilia smirked.
'Now, let's turn this into my game.'
She reached out with her mana, not just to enhance her movements, but to feel the field itself—the slight fluctuations in energy that signaled barrier shifts. This was something she had been refining over time. Others used mana in bursts, but for her? It was a natural extension of herself, an instinct woven into her very being.
She sensed it.
A pulse.
The next barrier shift.
'Got you.'
Lilia sprang into motion again, this time moving with the shifting barriers instead of against them. Where others saw obstacles, she saw an evolving path—a rhythm that she could step into like a perfectly timed dance.
Adrian narrowed his eyes as he adjusted his aim, realizing something was off.
"Too slow."
Lilia fired.
Her arrow zipped through a narrow gap in the moving barriers, aimed not directly at Adrian—but at the barrier he was using for cover.
CRACK!
The mana-infused shot struck its edge, causing it to destabilize and flicker uncontrollably.
For the first time in the match, Adrian was forced to move.
He clicked his tongue in irritation, darting to the side as his cover vanished. Lilia wasted no time. She was already adjusting, already predicting where the next opening would appear.
Another arrow left her bow—this one not aimed directly at him, but at the space where he would instinctively dodge.
Adrian barely managed to twist his body in time, the arrow grazing past his shoulder.
'Tch. I miscalculated the timing by a fraction.'
Even so, the tide had shifted.
She could feel it. The tempo of the battle was no longer dictated by the rigged environment. It was dictated by her.
'You thought I'd struggle with your tricks, but all you've done is give me a moving battlefield to dominate.'
Selene, watching from the sidelines, had an unreadable expression—but Lilia caught the briefest flicker of amusement in her gaze.
'You planned this too, didn't you?'
It didn't matter.
Because now, this game belonged to her.
Chapter 832 - Archery Party ? (4)
The murmurs of the gathered cadets barely registered in my mind as my gaze remained fixed on the stage. Lilia stood at the center, her posture poised, her crimson eyes burning with determination. But it was clear—painfully clear—that she had walked straight into Selene's trap.
I sighed inwardly, resisting the urge to shake my head. This is exactly what happened in the game.
Lilia had made a mistake, and for someone as cunning as she was, it was a frustratingly careless one. She knew her sister. She knew how Selene operated. And yet, she had let herself be provoked, letting Selene dictate the terms of the encounter while thinking she was the one in control.
Predictable.
Lilia's mistake wasn't in challenging Selene—it was in thinking that she was the one leading the game. She should have seen it coming the moment she made her move. The way Selene had smoothly pivoted the situation, deflecting the challenge onto Adrian while keeping herself perfectly untouchable, was textbook manipulation.
And now, here we are.
Adrian stood nearby, his smirk practically radiating satisfaction. He wasn't just the opponent—he was the executioner. Selene had played the role of the gracious benefactor, setting up the match, while Adrian was here to humiliate Lilia. If things played out like the game, this match would end badly for her.
Not because Lilia lacked skill. In terms of pure talent, she was undoubtedly one of the best cadets in this academy. But Adrian was a senior after all.
He was stronger, he was faster, and in terms of physicality he was better. That is a given and there is no need to make this any different.
But at the same time, there was also something else that Adrian possessed.
He was smarter in these situations.
This wasn't a competition of pure archery skill—it was a staged event, carefully orchestrated to make sure the outcome fell in their favor.
I let out a slow breath, adjusting my posture as I leaned against one of the pillars, watching the scene unfold with detached interest. Lilia, you should have known better.
Her mistake wasn't in stepping forward—it was in thinking she could win this battle through brute force alone. That was never how Selene played. Selene never fought where she could be outmatched. She made sure the battlefield itself was hers before the fight even began.
And right now? This entire arena belonged to her.
I glanced briefly at Selene, who stood near the edge of the stage, her expression perfectly composed. Her brown eyes shimmered with something between amusement and satisfaction, her arms crossed in a way that suggested she already knew how this was going to play out.
Of course she does.
Adrian turned slightly, addressing the crowd with his usual effortless charm. "Now then," he said, his voice smooth, authoritative. "We'll be keeping things fair, of course. Standard rules—no external mana enhancement, no interference. A simple test of skill."
Lilia nodded once, firm, unwavering. But I could see the faintest flicker of tension in her jaw, the subtle tightening of her grip. She was angry. Not just at Adrian or Selene, but at herself.
She knew she had walked into this.
She knew she had slipped.
And now, she had to fight her way out.
******
Lilia's breath remained steady despite the intensity of the fight. She had already figured out how to control the battlefield, how to manipulate the moving barriers to her advantage—but it wasn't enough.
Because Adrian wasn't relying solely on the environment anymore.
He was fast. Too fast.
The moment she forced him to move, he adapted. His raw physicality was superior; his footwork sharper, his dodges more refined. When it came to sheer speed and reflexes, he outclassed her.
Twack!
An arrow whizzed past her cheek, close enough that she felt the mana hum against her skin before it buried itself in the barrier behind her.
'Tch. That was close.'
Lilia pivoted, drawing another arrow, but Adrian was already repositioning. His shots came rapidly—precise, relentless, filled with power.
He's pushing me into a corner.
And worse—he knew exactly how to do it.
Lilia's mind worked frantically, analyzing every detail. Adrian wasn't just overwhelming her with brute strength; he was predicting her movements, countering her techniques before she could fully commit to them.
'How?'
She wasn't easy to read. Even the instructors would struggle to anticipate how she fought because she never fought the same way twice, yet alone the cadets.
But Adrian—he knew.
Every time she tried to maneuver into a better position, the barriers shifted in ways that worked against her.
Every time she attempted to mislead him with a feint, he ignored it, striking at the real point of weakness instead.
Every time she thought she had an opening, his arrows came faster, stronger—forcing her on the defensive, keeping her reactionary.
She gritted her teeth.
'This… isn't normal.'
She ducked behind a half-broken panel, pressing her back against it as another of Adrian's shots struck just above her shoulder. Her heartbeat was steady, but her irritation was growing.
She wasn't losing yet.
But she was being controlled.
Lilia's crimson eyes flickered, tracking Adrian as he took up a vantage point.
He was confident—too confident.
As if he had already figured out the best way to handle her.
As if…
'Selene.'
Lilia's grip tightened on her bow.
Of course.
Adrian wasn't this smart. He wasn't this precise.
But Selene was.
She exhaled sharply, resisting the urge to glare at the woman watching from the sidelines.
'She told him about me.'
Lilia had always known that her sister studied her. Selene was observant, intelligent—she liked to know things.
And now, that knowledge was in Adrian's hands.
'This is why he knows my tendencies. My weaknesses. My tells.'
Selene had fed him the perfect way to counter her.
Lilia's jaw clenched.
That was infuriating.
Not because Adrian was stronger.
Not because he had an advantage.
But because she knew that this wasn't entirely his doing.
Adrian was smug, arrogant—but he wasn't this meticulous. He couldn't have figured all of this out on his own.
Selene had helped him.
And that pissed her off.
Fine.
Lilia's mind sharpened, the growing frustration narrowing into focus. She knew what she had to do. If Adrian was confident—too confident—then she needed to make him overextend.
'You think you've got me figured out?'
Fine.
She moved, quick and calculated, her body twisting low as she darted toward the leftmost barrier. Her posture screamed desperation, her motion erratic. A deliberate mistake.
Adrian's eyes flickered.
He took the bait.
He loosed an arrow, aiming not for her directly—but for the spot he thought she would dodge to.
Predictable.
The moment his fingers left the string, Lilia abruptly changed course.
Twack!
The arrow buried itself into empty space as Lilia slid into her real position.
'Got you.'
Not wasting a second, she channeled mana into her bowstring, feeling the pulse of energy gather within the arrowhead.
[Sliding Curve]
This wasn't just any shot—this was one of her specialized skills, one that required precision, a controlled charge—
And then the cover before her vanished.
Her entire body froze for half a second.
'What—?!'
A flicker of mana surged through the air, unnatural, forced.
Lilia's eyes widened as she caught the slight ripple along the edges of the battlefield—the telltale sign of outside interference.
And Adrian, of course, took advantage of it.
His next shot was already in the air.
Lilia had no choice—she abandoned her skill, rolling to the side just as the mana-infused arrow slammed into the platform where she had been standing, leaving a scorched mark in its wake.
'That wasn't him. That was—'
Her thoughts snapped into clarity.
And, as if to make it less obvious, the same thing happened to Adrian moments later.
One of his barriers suddenly collapsed right as he began to reposition.
Lilia saw it. The hesitation in his step, the small delay in his draw. He had noticed it too.
But unlike her, he wasn't at risk.
His position was still solid. His shot was still viable.
She, on the other hand, had no choice but to dodge again—leaving her without an opening to fire back.
Lilia gritted her teeth as she landed behind a new cover, the unfairness of it all grating against her every instinct.
She already knew who was responsible.
And as she glanced toward the sidelines, her gaze met Selene's.
Her sister, standing perfectly composed.
Watching.
And smiling.
Lilia's fingers curled into a fist.
'You smug—'
She really wanted to show this sister of hers that smugness.
Chapter 833 - Selene
The match continued, but my focus wasn't entirely on it anymore.
Not because it wasn't interesting—on the contrary, it was playing out exactly as expected. Lilia had realized her mistake, figured out the interference, and was now seething at the obvious manipulation happening right in front of her. But what could she do? The battlefield had never belonged to her in the first place.
And Selene… Selene was enjoying it.
I knew that without even looking at her.
Still, I kept my gaze fixed on the match, my arms crossed loosely as I leaned against the pillar, observing the subtle shifts in the flow of the fight. But then—
"Do you think life is fair?"
The voice was smooth, lilting with casual amusement.
I didn't react.
Not immediately.
Because that was a stupid question.
Instead, I remained where I was, my gaze unmoving, uninterested. I wasn't obligated to answer something so blatantly baiting.
Selene, however, was not the type to tolerate being ignored.
"Isn't it a bit rude to ignore a lady when she's speaking?" she mused, her tone carrying just the faintest hint of mock offense.
My expression remained neutral. I tilted my head slightly, shifting my gaze only after a deliberate pause.
"Were you talking to me?" I asked, my voice calm, unreadable. "I thought it was someone else."
A soft chuckle. "Surely you jest," she murmured, her brown eyes gleaming with quiet amusement. "Do you sense anyone else near us?"
Of course not.
Selene knew exactly what she was doing. The space around us was clear—while the other cadets were absorbed in the match, she had positioned herself precisely so that only I would hear her.
She wanted this conversation.
And that meant she wanted something from me.
I exhaled through my nose, finally shifting my full attention to her.
Selene Thornheart.
Up close, she was an entity of pure control. Every part of her was meticulously measured—the way her small frame carried itself, the way her shoulders barely moved when she breathed, the exact tilt of her chin as she maintained eye contact. She was deliberate. Every step, every glance, every faint twitch of her fingers—it all served a purpose.
And I saw it all.
My perception was sharp, honed by experience and something more, something instinctual. I caught the minute shifts in her weight as she stood, the barely-there flick of her fingertips as if adjusting invisible threads, the near-imperceptible rise and fall of her chest that never quite matched the rhythm of a truly relaxed person.
She was playing.
Not just with Lilia.
Not just with Adrian.
With everything.
With me.
"You're watching carefully," she noted, tilting her head slightly. Her voice was soft, but it carried weight. "What do you see?"
I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I observed a little longer.
Her balance was perfect—no unnecessary movements. Her pulse, as far as I could tell, was even. There was no stiffness in her shoulders, no hint of nervous energy in her fingers. She was comfortable.
That was dangerous.
Because comfort meant control.
And if she was this controlled while orchestrating a match that she had rigged from the start, then what else had she already accounted for?
Finally, I spoke. "I see someone with a lot of free time," I said evenly. "Enough to interfere in petty squabbles."
Her lips curved, pleased. "Oh, how unkind," she murmured, placing a hand against her chest in mock offense. "And here I thought I was simply showing support for my dear little sister."
I didn't respond to that.
Selene smiled again, shifting her gaze back to the match as if she were truly invested in the outcome. "But, of course," she continued, "I wouldn't expect you to believe such things. After all, you've been watching me just as much as I've been watching you."
She turned back to me, her brown eyes sharp with something unreadable.
"What do you think? This figure of mine, it is quite nice, isn't it?"
The moment Selene posed her question, something shifted.
It wasn't just her words—it was the subtle yet deliberate way she adjusted her stance, the barely noticeable tilt of her hips, the slow, measured breath that made her chest rise and fall in a way designed to draw attention. The way her fingers lightly brushed against her collarbone, as if absentmindedly tracing the curve of her skin.
And then, there was the mana.
My [Perceptive Insight] triggered almost instantly.
A pulse of energy, faint yet deliberate, radiated from her. It was controlled, refined, meant to be unnoticed by anyone who wasn't paying attention. But I was paying attention.
I always was.
This wasn't just body language—Selene was actively using mana to influence the atmosphere around her. And not in an aggressive or direct way. It was subtle, nearly imperceptible, designed to slip under someone's guard without them realizing it.
I exhaled slowly.
'Interesting…'
I let my senses sharpen further, attempting to trace the psionic nature of her mana flow. If this was a skill, it had to have a structure, an identifiable pattern. But the moment I tried to analyze it, the mana seemed to slip, as though avoiding my direct scrutiny.
Not by accident.
By design.
I narrowed my eyes slightly, but Selene only smiled in response, clearly enjoying the way I was reacting—or rather, the fact that I was reacting at all.
This wasn't the first time I had encountered something like this.
'Eleanor…'
She had a similar skill. Though hers was passive, an effect that came naturally with her presence. It wasn't something she intentionally wielded, but it existed nonetheless. A quiet, undeniable gravity that made people unconsciously aware of her.
Selene's, however, was different.
Hers was controlled.
Refined.
Weaponized.
She wasn't just influencing the atmosphere—she was directing it. Focused. Intentional. And she was using it on me.
Why?
I glanced at her wrist.
The smartwatch.
More specifically, the faint glow of her lens-connected interface, active just moments ago.
A quick background check.
The answer clicked into place almost immediately.
'She saw the reports about me and Irina.'
The recent media frenzy around Irina and me wasn't something I had particularly cared about, but it seemed others did. Selene, in particular, wouldn't have missed something like that—especially given her own talent for controlling narratives.
She had likely read into it. Considered what kind of relationship I had with Irina. And now?
She was testing me.
'To what end?' I wondered.
I kept my expression impassive, my stance unchanged. But inwardly, my mind was working through the possibilities. If Selene was trying to see how I reacted to this, it meant she was assessing something. Maybe my discipline. Maybe my usefulness.
Or maybe… she just wanted to see how much she could make me dance.
I exhaled slowly, tilting my head just slightly, meeting her gaze fully.
"This figure of yours is indeed quite nice," I said evenly, watching the flicker of amusement in Selene's brown eyes.
It wasn't a compliment. Not really. Just a simple acknowledgment, delivered with the same detached calm as everything else I said. But I knew Selene. I knew how she operated. And I knew exactly what response she was going to give me.
Sure enough, she stepped forward.
Just close enough.
Just enough to test boundaries.
Fine-tuned control, as always.
"Then," she murmured, her voice carrying a faint, playful lilt. "Fine things should be tasted, don't you think?"
Her brown eyes gleamed with something unreadable—something dangerous. A challenge. An invitation. A trap.
Predictable.
I tilted my head slightly, exhaling through my nose in quiet amusement. "Fine things should be tested," I corrected smoothly. "But one must first check if they are poisonous."
A brief pause.
Then, laughter.
Soft. Light. But carrying weight.
Selene placed a hand against her chest, her posture remaining effortless, the faintest shift in her expression betraying intrigue. "Poisonous?" she echoed, feigning surprise. "How cruel. Do I seem so dangerous to you, Astron?"
I met her gaze fully, allowing the silence to stretch just a second longer than necessary. "No," I said finally. "Danger can be obvious. You, on the other hand, prefer to work in ways that don't leave traces."
Another flicker in her eyes.
A moment of intrigue.
Then, another step.
Closer now.
A fraction too close for casual conversation.
Her presence was carefully controlled, her every movement measured. This wasn't just seduction—it was something more than that. Something deeper.
She was playing with possibilities.
She was seeing what I would do.
"Well," she said lightly, her voice a purr of amusement. "Poison can be pleasant in the right doses, can it not? Sometimes, it even makes life more exciting."
That depends," I said smoothly. "Some poisons take effect immediately. Others linger, waiting for the perfect moment to strike."
Selene smiled.
A slow, knowing curve of her lips.
A pause.
Then—
"Ah, but isn't that what makes it fun?" she mused. "The uncertainty? The risk?" Her gaze flicked over me again, deliberate. "Tell me, Astron. Do you fear taking risks?"
"Everyone takes risks. Only those who are wise never take risks they don't control."
Chapter 834 - Selene (2)
Selene's smile deepened at my response, the faint glow of amusement dancing in her brown eyes. "Are you a wise person then?" she asked, her voice smooth, almost indulgent.
I didn't answer immediately.
Instead, I met her gaze directly.
Silent.
Unwavering.
Cold.
"It is not that easy to find that out," I said finally, my tone steady, devoid of embellishment.
Selene's expression didn't waver, but I caught the small shifts—the way her pupils flickered slightly as she assessed me, the way her breathing remained measured, as if ensuring she was in complete control of every micro-expression. Her amusement hadn't faded, but something beneath it had sharpened.
She was searching.
Looking for something in me.
Something she couldn't quite place.
And I? I was watching her right back.
Selene was used to people reacting to her. That much was obvious. She was a master of control—of weaving tension and expectation into something tangible. But what happened when that control met something unmoving?
She was trying to feel me out.
Testing.
Calculating.
I knew that because I did the exact same thing.
My presence was low. Erased, even. I had refined it to the point where people often overlooked me, their gazes sliding past without truly registering my existence. It allowed me to observe without being observed.
But Selene wasn't just anyone.
She was trained.
She noticed.
Her gaze lingered, her body perfectly still, as if she were trying to peel back a layer that wasn't there.
I let the silence stretch.
Her brown eyes bore into mine.
And then—
She laughed.
Soft.
Melodic.
But real.
"Interesting," she murmured, more to herself than to me.
She hadn't gotten what she wanted.
And that?
That intrigued her.
Intrigue.
A curious thing.
Attention from someone like Selene Thornheart wasn't something one simply dismissed. It carried weight—an implication that she saw something worth noticing. That could be dangerous. Or beneficial.
The answer depended.
Would her interest work against my goals? Possibly. Possibly not.
This was where the principle applied—Don't take risks you don't control.
The moment I had accepted Lilia's trade offer, it had already been set in motion. Walking in with her, aligning myself, however loosely, meant I would be noticed. And if Selene was truly as perceptive as I already knew her to be, she would have marked me regardless.
It didn't matter that I wasn't actively involved in their game before. The fact that I was here—standing at Lilia's side, within her sphere of influence—meant Selene would have accounted for me in her calculations.
And if not Lilia?
Then Irina.
Selene had already seen the reports. She had already been looking. Even if I had kept my distance, her curiosity would have brought her to me eventually.
And if not Irina?
Then Adrian.
That one was inevitable. Selene had contacted him for a reason, and Adrian wasn't subtle about his grudges. I wasn't part of his world before, but now? Now, I was standing on a battlefield that he thought belonged to him.
One way or another, she would have come to me.
So, the choice wasn't whether I avoided her attention.
It was whether I let her form her own conclusions—or if I guided her toward the conclusions I wanted her to have.
Control.
That was the key.
I met her gaze once more, watching the way she studied me, amusement still curling at the edges of her lips.
She thought she was peeling back layers.
But the trick was simple.
You let them think they were seeing through you—while showing them only what you wanted them to see.
I let the silence stretch again, just enough to keep her waiting, to let her anticipation build before I finally spoke.
"Interesting?" I echoed, my tone unreadable. "Is that your way of saying you haven't figured me out yet?"
Her smile widened just a fraction, her brown eyes glinting with intrigue. "Oh, Astron," she murmured, tilting her head. "That would take more than a single conversation."
That was true—for her.
But not for me. After all.
'I had already figured you out.'
*****
Selene's brown eyes lingered on Astron as the match continued in the background, but she barely registered it now. The excitement of the audience, the shifting dynamics of the fight—none of it held her interest anymore.
No, her focus was entirely on the young man before her.
'Strange.'
That was the first word that came to mind. Not because of his demeanor, though that was certainly noteworthy. His calm, unwavering presence had been a rarity in itself, but that alone wouldn't have made her look twice.
No. It was something else. Something she couldn't quite place.
It wasn't his looks—though she could acknowledge, on a surface level, that he was handsome in an effortless, almost unfair way. It wasn't even the way he spoke—measured, composed, never giving more than he wanted to.
It was a feeling.
An offbeat vibration in the air. A subtle wrongness that wasn't inherently negative, just... different.
Selene prided herself on being able to read people. To get under their skin, to twist the subtleties of a conversation until they unraveled just enough for her to see what lay beneath. It was what made her dangerous. What made her effective.
Yet with Astron…
'He wasn't unraveling.'
He had remained exactly where he wanted to be. Still. Cold. Just out of reach, as if he existed in a place beyond her grasp.
And that was unusual.
Most people, when faced with her attention, fell into one of two categories—either they wanted it, or they feared it.
But Astron?
'He does neither.'
That made him interesting. That made her curious.
Selene tilted her head slightly, studying him as she let her thoughts wander back to earlier that evening.
She had ordered a background check, of course. Just a quick one, nothing invasive. She had expected basic information—academic performance, club affiliations, maybe a family name of note.
What she had found instead had been… unexpected.
Astron, an unassuming young man, was connected to someone she very much knew.
Irina Emberheart.
The fiery demoness herself.
Selene's fingers curled slightly at the thought.
'Now that is interesting.'
The Emberheart name carried weight, but it wasn't just prestige that made it significant. Irina wasn't merely a noble—she was an entity. A force of nature known for her ferocity, both in combat and in the political sphere. Her reputation preceded her, whispered in corridors with equal parts respect and wariness.
And this young man?
'Somehow, he's tied to her.'
That fact alone was enough to shift Selene's entire perception of him.
Astron hadn't reacted when she prodded him earlier, but she had seen it—the way he assessed her just as she assessed him. It hadn't been defensive. It had been calculated. Cold, yet precise.
The same kind of precision she had seen in Irina before.
'How close are they?'
That was the real question.
Selene's fingers tapped idly against her arm, her mind threading through the implications of the report she had received.
Irina Emberheart.
The reports had been vague, almost annoyingly so. She had expected more substantial details, but even a rushed inquiry had revealed something interesting.
Astron and Irina… a couple?
Selene's lips curved slightly, amusement flickering in her gaze.
'Now, isn't that something?'
At face value, it was almost absurd. Irina, who was known for her explosive temperament and overwhelming presence, bound to someone like Astron—silent, unassuming, the very definition of restrained control?
Opposites, in every way.
And yet, it wasn't impossible.
No, the more Selene thought about it, the more it made sense.
Irina had always been surrounded by bold, brash suitors—men who sought to conquer her, to stand beside her as equals or rivals. None of them had lasted long. They either burned out trying to match her flame or realized too late that Irina Emberheart was not the kind of woman to be had.
"Maybe this guy is different."
"Did you say something?"
"Did I?"
"…."
Selene's fingers curled slightly at the thought, a spark of intrigue settling in her chest.
'If that's the case, then this man is more valuable than I initially thought.'
Even if he wasn't the strongest, even if his rank within the academy wasn't the most outstanding, his connection alone made him a piece worth considering.
Because Irina was a force—an entity of chaos and destruction wrapped in nobility and prestige. And anyone tied to her, whether romantically or otherwise, carried influence by mere proximity.
Selene exhaled softly, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly as she regarded him.
'But is it really true?'
Reports could be wrong. Assumptions could be misleading. A few scattered accounts and observations did not confirm the depth of their relationship.
Were they truly a couple, or was there something more beneath the surface?
Was Irina protecting him? Guiding him? Using him?
Or was it the other way around?
Selene had seen many relationships of convenience in her time—alliances formed for power, connections leveraged for influence. If Astron had somehow positioned himself within Irina's sphere, then whether through skill, luck, or sheer circumstance, he had already elevated himself beyond the average cadet.
'And that makes you… useful.'
The word lingered in her mind, and she let it settle there.
Yes. Useful.
Even if he wasn't the best archer, even if his combat skills weren't as refined as others—if Irina Emberheart held him in regard, then he was someone to watch. Someone who could be leveraged.
And that meant he was no longer just a background figure.
Selene's smile deepened ever so slightly.
'Oh, Astron. You may have wanted to stay in the shadows, but I'm afraid you've stepped into the light now.'
Because now, she was watching.
Now, she was interested.
And she had every intention of finding out just how much of these rumors were true.
Chapter 835 - Selene (3)
Selene's gaze remained steady on Astron, her interest deepening with every passing second. The crowd's murmurs around them were fading into a distant hum—background noise, irrelevant.
Her true focus was on the young man before her.
As she continued to observe him, a faint pulse flickered across the corner of her vision, subtle yet distinct—a confirmation that the data was still streaming.
Her lens was working as intended.
A recent prototype from ThornTech Industries, one of her family's more discreet tech divisions, the lens wasn't just for aesthetic enhancement. It allowed real-time analysis—minute fluctuations in facial expressions, micro-adjustments in posture, variations in pulse rate and thermal output. All of it, compiled and cross-referenced against behavioral databases.
And yet, despite all of that—
Astron's readings were… frustratingly stable.
Heart rate: Unchanged.
Body temperature: Within expected range.
Pupil dilation: Minimal reaction.
Microexpressions: Suppressed.
Selene's fingers tapped idly against her forearm.
'How interesting.'
Selene's fingers curled slightly, tapping against her arm in a slow, thoughtful rhythm.
Her lens was still active—its faint digital overlay shifting subtly in her vision, confirming that the data was still streaming.
And yet, the results were... peculiar.
'Is it malfunctioning?'
The thought crossed her mind, but she immediately dismissed it.
It was a prototype, still undergoing refinements, but she had tested it enough to know that even in its early stages, it was highly functional. It worked. It had worked flawlessly against trained individuals before—picking up the smallest signs of tension, subconscious tells, even physiological shifts people weren't aware of themselves.
Yet, as it continued analyzing Astron, the results remained frustratingly... neutral.
No stress indicators.
No fluctuations beyond the ordinary.
No discernible deception patterns.
'Impossible.'
Even the most composed individuals exhibited something under direct scrutiny. A flicker of uncertainty. A micro-adjustment in their stance. A pulse shift, however minor.
But Astron?
It was like he wasn't even here.
His presence was undeniable, but his body betrayed nothing.
Selene's lips curled slightly in amusement.
'If the device isn't broken, then you're the problem.'
That made him more interesting.
Selene tilted her head slightly, watching him with growing intrigue.
"Tell me, Astron," she said smoothly, her voice soft but deliberate. "What do you think of this match?"
A simple question.
An easy probe.
The data in her lens interface shifted instantly, recalibrating as it registered any change in his vitals.
Astron, however, simply glanced toward the match for a moment before answering, his tone as unreadable as ever.
"It's predictable."
Selene hummed lightly. "Predictable how?"
Astron's gaze remained steady. "The way it's been set up. The interference. The expected outcome."
A calm, objective response.
But Selene's lens detected something—faint, almost imperceptible.
Pupil constriction: 0.02 deviation from baseline.
Breathing shift: 0.03 variance detected.
It was minuscule. Nearly undetectable. Something even the human eye wouldn't have caught.
But it was there.
'Ah.'
So he was reacting.
It wasn't that he wasn't readable. It was that his reactions were so finely muted that the average analysis wouldn't pick them up.
But Selene's lens wasn't average.
'You're suppressing them, aren't you?'
A subtle skill. Passive or deliberate? That was the question.
Selene let the conversation flow naturally, but inwardly, she had already shifted her focus.
There were several possibilities.
He had a passive skill. Something that allowed his body to maintain an unshakable calm. There were abilities that granted physiological control, lowering heart rate, reducing outward tells—it wasn't unheard of.It was subconscious. Some individuals developed this kind of control naturally—through sheer habit, experience, or necessity. If Astron had spent his life learning to avoid attention, to remain unnoticed, then it made sense that his default state was unreadable.
Let's see what you will give away more.
Selene decided to press further, just enough to see where his limits were.
Her tone remained smooth, playful, yet laced with something sharper beneath.
"You're quite perceptive," she mused. "Most people wouldn't have noticed the interference so quickly."
Astron gave the smallest shrug. "It was obvious."
No change in his expression.
But her lens caught it again—the same minute fluctuations.
Pupil movement delay: 0.04 seconds.
Grip tension adjustment: 0.02 deviation.
Small, so small.
Not much. But it was there.
'So, this is something you enjoy.'
A realization settled in her mind as she watched him, noting how despite his unreadable exterior, his body subtly responded the moment the topic turned analytical.
'You like this, don't you? Discussing things like this. Picking things apart, breaking them down piece by piece.'
It wasn't just observation. He was engaged.
And that?
That was useful.
Selene's fingers tapped lightly against her forearm, her movements lazy, but her mind already shifting strategies.
This was exactly why she used this technology.
Most people thought reading someone was about their emotions—happiness, nervousness, attraction, anger. But control wasn't about emotions. It was about knowing what stimulated the mind.
And Astron's mind?
'It sharpens when things get analytical.'
That was his weakness.
And she had just confirmed it.
"Obvious, was it?"
Selene's voice remained smooth, playful—giving no indication that she had already shifted the conversation into a tool.
Astron remained calm, unreadable as ever. "Yes."
She let the silence stretch slightly, watching him—not just his face, but the minute shifts in his body.
Her lens flickered, adjusting to his response pattern.
Heart rate: Stable.
Body temperature: Stable.
But—
Eye movement tracking: Increased pattern focus.
Minor cognitive response delay: 0.05 seconds.
Selene's lips curled.
'You're thinking more now.'
So she leaned into it.
"I wonder," Selene mused, tilting her head slightly, "how far ahead did you predict it?"
Her tone remained casual, as if this were just an idle thought. But she knew what she was doing.
People loved to talk about things they were passionate about. If Astron enjoyed breaking things down, then letting him explain his process was the best way to pull more data.
Astron hesitated.
Not visibly. Not obviously.
But the lens caught it.
Cognitive delay: 0.07 seconds.
Selene's amusement grew.
'Ah, got you.'
Not hesitation because he was caught off-guard. Hesitation because he was debating how much to say.
He was measuring his response.
And that meant he had something worth hiding.
'Let's see how much you'll give me.'
"Not far," he finally said, voice neutral.
A simple answer.
But not a denial.
Selene immediately followed up. "So, just the barriers? Or the whole setup?"
Again, she framed it casually—as if it was just conversation. But she was forcing him to choose how much information he wanted to admit.
Astron's body remained composed.
But the lens picked it up.
Pupil dilation: 0.03 deviation.
Grip relaxation variance: 0.01.
Cognitive response delay: 0.08 seconds.
It was barely there.
But barely there was still there.
Selene had long since learned that humans were predictable machines.
Even those who tried to hide, even those who thought they were unreadable—if you knew what to look for, they would always reveal something.
And Astron, for all his control, was revealing something.
Not in his words.
Not in his expressions.
But in how he thought.
'Your mind moves too quickly to completely suppress reactions.'
Most people reacted emotionally first. That was what made them readable.
But people like Astron?
They processed logically first.
Which meant the delay was the key.
Not the response itself—
But the microsecond where his mind decided what he should say.
That was the opening.
'You suppress emotion. But logic? That, you can't stop.'
And now she knew where to aim.
Selene's voice remained perfectly smooth as she continued.
"Then tell me," she said, "what part of this did you find the most predictable?"
A broad question. Intentionally vague.
It forced him to analyze before answering.
And while he analyzed,
Her lens would be watching.
Astron's gaze remained steady, unfazed by the question. If he had noticed her subtle probing, he didn't show it.
But Selene knew better.
There was a delay—not hesitation, but calculation. A 0.09-second cognitive response gap, just slightly longer than his previous ones. He was considering something.
Then, he spoke.
"Because Adrian has done this before."
Selene's fingers stilled against her arm.
"And with you here, standing against Lilia, it became obvious."
His words were calm, straightforward—no unnecessary embellishments, no attempt to mislead or deflect.
Her lens flashed briefly.
Pulse rate: Stable.
Pupil dilation: No stress indicators.
Facial tension: No deception detected.
'So you're telling the truth.'
Selene's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
She had anticipated a more intricate explanation—some unique insight, a deeper layer of reasoning that would separate him from the average observer.
But this?
This was… obvious.
She sighed inwardly.
Astron's reasoning was solid, yes. But it wasn't special.
People like Adrian were predictable to those who paid attention. His need for control, his reliance on staged scenarios, his ego-driven tactics—Selene had seen it all before. It wasn't difficult to anticipate.
And Astron?
For all his control, for all his almost-imperceptible mental calculations, he had simply followed logic.
There was no grand hidden intuition. No unseen depth to unravel.
Just casual and simple analysis.
And people like that?
They were rare, yes. But not rare enough to keep her interest.
Selene's fingers resumed tapping idly against her forearm, a slow rhythm of fading curiosity.
'Tch. So that's all it was.'
She had expected something more—something that would set him apart. But now that she had confirmed why he was able to predict the outcome, the mystery evaporated.
She had already met people like him a lot, and his abilities didn't seem to deep either.
'Disappointing.'
She found it disappointing at best. After all, she thought he was special.
'It appears that, it was just his face.'
It seems Irina Emberheart was not that good at choosing high quality men.