Wren never admired people who flaunt their status around, especially those who act as if they own the world. The boys wanted to act but the glare in the guard's eyes at the cafeteria made them swallow their pride and move ahead but before giving Wren a hard-core glare. Wren, on the other hand, stuck out her tongue at them and moved in with the girls.
Later that evening, after dinner, Wren went to the academy supermarket to shop. The supermarket was a large, well-stocked store with rows of shelves filled with various products, from food and beverages to toiletries and household items. The sign above the entrance read "Academy Supermarket" in bold letters, and the interior was brightly lit, making it easy to navigate. She would have come with Kinrara and Ashley, but both were tight on schedule - Kinrara had a curfew, and Ashley was studying intensely for the next day.
Entering the store, her first approach was the toiletries section, where she was greeted by an array of shampoos, conditioners, soaps, and lotions. Since everything was going to be free before next week, she wasn't going to miss the chance. She loved free stuff, so she grabbed everything she could, even things she didn't need. The shelves were soon empty in front of her as she filled her baskets to the brim. When she came out of the store, she was holding five bags full, each heavier than her weight.
"Hey," she heard a voice from behind. She turned her head to see Kelvin's face, and a blush crept onto her face instantly. She didn't want anyone seeing her with such a large amount of stuff. "Hey!" she replied wryly. Kelvin's eyes darted from the bags to her face, and he raised his brow at her, wondering how a girl with such a frail figure was able to lift such heavy items. He was never going to underestimate the power of girls when it came to anything free.
"What are you doing out here?" Wren asked, clearly remembering she saw Kelvin with Kai before she left. Kelvin rubbed the back of his neck before replying, "For a stroll around the place." Wren nodded at Kelvin's words and kept walking to the dorm building. She didn't want more people giving her weird glances.
"You sure are strong," Kelvin commented, helping her with some of the bags. Wren smiled at his kindness before retorting, "I was trained by the best masters." She retorted, when she was three, she was trained by her grandfather who used to be in the military. So at age six, she was pretty strong.
Although she may look naive and weak, she was never to be reckoned with - the power she held was far greater than ten huge, body-built men. Her grandfather even gave her the title "super computer" because of the way her brain adapted quickly to different environments. On the first day, she would be reluctant to try something new, but as she familiarized herself with the place or new surroundings, it would feel like home.
The walk to the dormitory was filled with casual conversation between Kelvin and Wren. Kelvin wasn't a person who talked much, but he wasn't an introvert either. Wren had seen him interact with almost the entire boys on the block, and she noticed that he had a unique way of communicating. Kelvin was a person who kept to himself, a kind of person who assessed people with a glance and words, and if the individual he interacted with didn't take time, he might manipulate them.
Wren had noticed this side of Kelvin the first time they talked. The way he looked at her, the brief interaction - it was like he was reading her, scrutinizing her, and sizing her up. Every movement she made was noticed by him, every emotion she showed was noticed by him, and Wren was no fool not to know that Kelvin was a master of manipulation. She noticed him use some of his manipulation tricks on a few people in the campus.He used casual conversations to gather information and build rapport.Then He asked seemingly innocuous questions to gauge the students interests and weaknesses.
Then he uses body language and facial expressions to read their emotions and reactions. He wouldater tailor his words and actions to fit their personality and preferences, making them feel like he was on their side. Slowly but gradually He then uses subtle suggestions and nudges to influence their decisions and actions making them believe it was their idea, their thoughts.
Wren knew that she had to be careful around Kelvin, as his manipulation tactics could be subtle yet effective. She would need to stay alert and aware of his intentions, lest she fall into his trap. Despite this, she found herself enjoying the conversation with Kelvin, and she was curious to see where their interaction would lead.
***
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The very next morning, Wren headed to her class, the sunlight casting a warm glow on her face as she walked. On her way, she received a notification from the teacher about a mission from their group. Today, they were going hunting in the nearby forest, and they were given specific animals to hunt down. The notification had a detailed briefing about the mission, including the rules and objectives. When she arrived, her group members were already discussing among her group members, their voices hushed but excited.
"Wren is here," Diana enthusiastically said, bringing the attention onto Wren and her. Wren raised a brow at Diana's actions but made no remark, her eyes scanning the group as Diana approached. Diana's enthusiasm was infectious, and Wren couldn't help but smile slightly.
"We are voting on a leader," Diana muttered to Wren, before adding, "And the two candidates are Finn and you." Wren stiffened briskly, turning her face to Diana in surprise. "What!!" Her response had Diana taken aback, a look of concern crossing her face.
"Why don't you want to be a leader? The privileges of being a leader are high," Diana asked, her voice laced with curiosity. Wren nodded a no, she wasn't a person who liked attention that much, nor did she like doing leadership jobs. She was lazy and selfish and never the right candidate for leadership. The only reason she helped was because her points were at the line that time, but now it wasn't her business.
"I don't like leading," Wren replied, not daring to mention the rest. She didn't want to reveal her true reasons for not wanting to lead, fearing that it might make her look weak or uncooperative. Diana looked at her with a mixture of surprise and disappointment.
"That's a bummer since we have already voted and it is a tie. We only need you and Finn's vote to know who would be the ultimate leader," Diana said, her eyes pleading with Wren to reconsider. Wren's response was immediate. "Then I vote for Finn," she replied, as she walked with Diana to the rest of the group.
"Well, that was fast. How about you reconsider?" Diana asked, her voice hopeful. Wren shook her head firmly. "I am not up to the leadership business, Diana. I like to keep to myself, and handling others well isn't my business," she said, her voice firm and final. Diana looked at her with a mixture of understanding and disappointment, but Wren just smiled and patted her on the back.
As they walked to the rest of the group, Wren couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. She was glad that she didn't have to take on the leadership role, and she knew that Finn would be a good fit for the job. She was looking forward to the mission and the thrill of the hunt, it had been long since she went hunting.