The next morning, the sun barely cut through the mist around Crownspire Academy as Adrian stepped out of the white Rolls-Royce that had brought him from home. The car gleamed under the weak sunlight, a silent announcement of his presence. He strode toward the gates, each step measured and confident, until a familiar shadow caught his eye.
Aria Giovanni.
Adrian felt an almost imperceptible tightening in his chest, though he quickly masked it with irritation. Why is she here again? he thought. He had convinced himself that their encounter yesterday had been enough—that he would never have to deal with her meddling presence again. But there she was, standing with a calm smile, her eyes betraying nothing yet promising far too much. Adrian narrowed his eyes. But one thing was clear to Adrian yesterday and it was that she had a bigger motive than this
Ignoring her, he continued toward the academy. He didn't need to confront her to know that she was already calculating, planning, observing. Adrian's own lips twisted into a faint smirk. If she wants to play games, I'll make sure she doesn't even see my moves coming.
The academy gates opened with a resonant clang, welcoming the students inside. Adrian's steps were steady, almost bored, until the hallway in front of his classroom erupted in a commotion. Two students were locked in combat, fists and elbows flashing as if the air itself could catch fire.
Adrian raised an eyebrow. Amateur theatrics, he thought, letting his eyes wander casually. But then… the other student's face came into view. His expression darkened, not with fear, but with recognition.
It was him—the boy who had confronted him yesterday. Malakai Giovanni.
A whisper floated to him from the crowd: "That's Malakai Giovanni, Aria's brother."
Adrian's lips curled into a sharp, sinister grin. So that's the connection. That explains a lot… He turned to glance at Aria, who was watching from a distance. Her expression was neutral, but the subtle way her eyes glimmered suggested she enjoyed the discomfort she was about to cause.
"So he's your brother," Adrian said casually, loud enough for her to hear, his grin widening. "No wonder you stopped me yesterday, even without knowing me. You thought he might crush the competition for you, so you thought I'm easy fish?"
Aria's lips curved ever so slightly, her gaze locking with his, dangerous and playful at the same time. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said, but her voice had an edge that promised more than denial. Adrian didn't need her words to confirm his suspicion; the look in her eyes said it all.
Before the fight could escalate further, the teacher entered the room. The tension in the air evaporated immediately as the students instinctively straightened, their attention turning to the instructor.
"Welcome, students," the teacher began, voice calm but firm. "This academy is unlike any other. You will face challenges that will test not just your knowledge, but your wit, your strategy, and your ability to manipulate both allies and enemies alike. Today, you will begin with a Special Exam."
A murmur spread across the room. Students exchanged wary glances, excitement and apprehension mingling.
The teacher continued. "You will be divided into groups of four. Each group will be given a scenario—a challenge that requires critical thinking, observation, and deception. Success will depend not only on your abilities but on your skill at reading people, predicting moves, and controlling the flow of information."
Adrian's interest piqued immediately. So it's like a battlefield of minds, he thought. Exactly how I like it.
Groups were assigned. Adrian noticed with a spark of satisfaction that he was placed in a group separate from Aria. Perfect, he mused. I can play my own game without interference.
As the groups filed into their designated rooms, Adrian's mind began to churn. The Special Exam was a perfect opportunity—not just to show skill, but to extract information from his peers. He could subtly influence their decisions, lead them to underestimate him, and watch as they revealed their strengths, weaknesses, and personal secrets.
He recalled techniques he had read about in old game theories and psychological studies. Techniques like:
The Anchoring Trick: Planting small but suggestive statements to make others reveal more than they intend.
Mirroring: Reflecting a person's body language or phrasing to build subconscious trust.
False Consensus: Pretending to agree with someone to lower their guard, then steering the conversation toward revealing sensitive information.
Controlled Contradiction: Offering subtle contradictions to test reactions, revealing character traits.
Adrian smirked, already devising how to deploy these methods without drawing attention. He wouldn't just gather intelligence; he would manipulate the flow of the exam, shaping the decisions of his group while keeping himself above suspicion.
Meanwhile, as the students settled, whispers began. Adrian noted who seemed confident, who was visibly tense, and who tried to hide their unease. Every subtle movement, every twitch of an eyebrow, every pause in speech became a data point he filed away.
Adrian leaned back in his chair, outwardly calm but inwardly calculating. Information is power. Influence is control. And I will make sure that, by the time this exam ends, I will know everything about these fools—and they won't even realize I'm holding the strings.
As the exam instructions were handed out, adrenaline prickled at the edges of Adrian's awareness. This wasn't just a test—it was a stage, and he was about to perform a show of deception, manipulation, and strategy unlike anything Crownspire Academy had seen.
Outside, the sun climbed higher, shining through the towering spires of the academy. Inside, minds were already being tested, and Adrian's game had only just begun.