The comments came first.
Not on the official Pulse page, of course. There, everything was polished—likes, shares, professional praise. But deeper in the social underground of the internet, her name had started to swirl.
> "Who is she even? No training, no background."
> "Must have a sponsor."
> "Another pretty face trying to act deep."
> "She's probably someone's pet project."
---
Lina stared at her screen, jaw tight, but her heart felt… oddly calm.
Not unaffected. But steadier than expected.
[System Notification: Minor Public Hostility Detected. Filtering activated.]
[System Comment Shield: 63.4% of negative feedback automatically filtered.]
[System Task: Do Not Engage. Continue Training.]
[Reward: Emotional resilience +1, Network Strength +1]
[Failure: Trust erosion within professional circle.]
She let the screen go dark.
"…Got it."
---
Her next rehearsal took place in Pulse's shared training hall—a high-ceilinged space with mirrored walls, marked with taped zones for choreography and camera angles.
She had barely walked through the door before the stares started.
Three girls near the front whispered to each other, eyes darting her way.
One of them stepped forward as Lina was stretching.
Tall. Sharp-boned. Platinum-dyed hair. Her name was Sena Grey, a singer-in-training known for her technical skill and ruthless ambition.
"I heard you got signed straight to concept filming," Sena said sweetly. "That's rare. Must've impressed the right people."
Lina didn't flinch.
"I auditioned."
Sena tilted her head.
"So did I. But I guess some of us have better luck."
A soft chorus of laughter followed. Cruel. Performed.
Lina stood slowly, brushing invisible dust from her leggings.
"Or maybe some of us just… look better on camera."
Sena's smile cracked.
But before she could respond, the room's door opened with a soft click.
And everything went still.
---
A man in a charcoal-gray coat walked in. Not tall enough to tower. Not loud enough to announce. But the tension in the room changed instantly.
It was Levan.
Not as cold as Kael, but known in Pulse's sponsor circles as a curator of "exceptional assets."
He scanned the room casually, then zeroed in on Lina.
"You," he said with a slow grin. "You're coming with me."
Sena's expression stiffened.
Lina hesitated. "Why?"
"Your next step just got confirmed. Private mentoring contract. You'll be working with a senior director. Come now."
As she followed Levan out, the whispers resumed—this time sharper, faster.
But none of it touched her.
She was too focused on the message that had appeared seconds before.
[System Alert: Task Chain Activated — Enter the Shadow Circuit]
[Subtask: Accept mentoring contract with industry contact "Riel Tora."]
[Reward: Skill growth boost, +10K credits/week, Industry Recognition Multiplier x2 (temporary)]
[Warning: Increased Target Profile – Medium risk of hostility.]
---
The elevator doors shut with a soft chime.
Levan crossed his arms.
"She's going to make enemies fast, you know," he said with a chuckle. "Girls like that? Pretty. Quiet. Talented. Too clean. They stir up all kinds of dirt just by standing still."
Lina met his gaze through the mirrored elevator wall.
"Is that why you're here?"
"Partly."
He glanced down at his phone and smirked.
"Mostly because Kael told me to keep you from folding. And unlike him, I'm great at small talk."
---
The mentoring director was a man named Riel Tora, known for creating two of the country's top actresses and dropping half a dozen others who failed to meet his standards.
His first words to Lina:
"I'm not going to waste my time on someone who can't take pressure."
Lina simply nodded. "I don't expect you to."
He stared at her. Then cracked the faintest smile.
"…Good. We'll see how long you last."
---
Back in her apartment that night, Lina stared at her reflection in the darkened window. The city pulsed below her. She didn't feel entirely like herself anymore—but maybe that wasn't a bad thing.
The System's voice came through, softer than usual.
[Your resilience is increasing. But pain will echo differently now. Fame has its own flavor of loneliness.]
"…I know," she whispered.
[You're not alone this time.]
---
Across the city, Kael stood in his penthouse office, looking out over the skyline.
He watched a new article climb in the algorithm—a Pulse featurette titled:
> "Rising Storm: Lina Vale—A New Face with Old Eyes"
A faint smile ghosted his lips.
"I told them," he said to no one.
"She's going to change everything."
---
System Log: Lina Vale
Training Status: Active
New Connection: Riel Tora (Mentor, Strict)
Enemies: Medium hostility among trainees
Affection Score — Kael: 4.7 / 5 ↑
Emotional Resilience: +1
Charisma: Lv. 2
Hidden Influence: Levan Montrevé
Public Interest: Moderate, Accelerating
---
End of Chapter 17
---