Alaric looked at Clarissa for a second — expressionless. Then gave a small nod.
"Be careful next time," he said flatly.
He didn't add anything else. He didn't dig deeper. He didn't ask why Edward had changed. He didn't ask for an explanation. Alaric chose silence, like someone who had been disappointed too often to keep offering space.
Then, without another word, he turned. His steps light, yet steady and full of control as always. He didn't look back. He just kept walking along the stony path, under the shadows of trees that were beginning to dim into evening.
Clarissa remained where she stood.
Her eyes followed the back of Alaric as he walked away.
There was something growing slowly in her chest. Not quite clear, but sharp enough to sting. She lowered her head for a moment, then looked up again.
And there — that figure was still walking without hesitation, moving away, without leaving even a single word behind.
There was regret swelling quietly inside her. Not just because she finally realized how kind Alaric had always been, but because she knew that once upon a time, she was the one who let go of someone who didn't even need to be asked to care.
And now, that person didn't even look back
..
That day, Alaric had just finished reviewing the reports from the development division on the third floor of his office when a notification popped up on his phone.
It wasn't from the system, nor from a general email, but from a personal number that rarely contacted him. Raka Wicaksana, his business partner and the owner of one of the leading business incubators in Southeast Asia.
"Ric, I've just signed you up for the Corporate Elite Class, an exclusive program for young executives handpicked directly. Are you interested? It starts next week. There's only one slot left."
Alaric stared at his phone screen longer than he should have. The words kept spinning in his head. Sometimes, opportunities like this only come once in a lifetime. But, was he truly ready for it? What would he have to leave behind if he chose this path?
Alaric read the message twice. His hand paused over the mousepad. Corporate Elite Class. That name sounded familiar.
He remembered hearing it several times in high end business circles, a semi-secret class only open to the future leaders and young entrepreneurs who were expected to make a significant impact in the next 3–5 years.
No open registrations. No public promotions. Everything was based on recommendations and personal invitations from insiders.
For a moment, Alaric just sat still. His gaze drifted to the wide glass window in his office. The morning in Jakarta was clear, but his mind was cloudy.
Two sides of him were battling. The part of him that felt unworthy, and the part that knew opportunities like this only come once in a lifetime, and could change the course of anyone's life, if they dared to try if they succeeded.
Finally, he typed within seconds. His mind had already made the decision. He was drawn in from the moment he first read the offer.
"I'm interested, Pak. Thank you for the trust."
Soon, a reply came back.
"Good. Don't worry if you don't know anyone there. Just come, learn, and be yourself. The rest will follow as they get to know you."
Four days later, an exclusive invitation kit arrived at his home. It was neatly packaged in a black box with a silver seal depicting an infinity logo fused with the silhouette of a globe.
Inside was an access card, a luxurious booklet, and a welcoming letter signed personally by Tuanita Darrel, the program's mentor, who was also the former head of strategy for an international consortium.
She was known as a woman with little tolerance for drama.
Alaric read the final paragraph of the letter with a furrowed brow.
"We are not looking for perfection. We are looking for those who know how to stand up when forced to fall."
There was something about that line that ignited his spirit. But at the same time, it made him nervous.
That night, he sat at the edge of his bed, silently wondering, Why me?
But when he opened his email before going to bed, a file came in from Pak Raka. Titled "Why I Recommended You."
It was very simple. Just five sentences. But the most striking one was...
"Because among so many young people who just want to look powerful, you're one of the few who actually works and builds something for the long term. And that's rare."
Alaric felt his heart racing. Raka's words echoed in his mind, adding weight to something that already felt heavier. 'I'm not just representing myself.
He thought, I'm carrying the weight of everyone who has supported meand now... everyone who believes in me. A sense of inadequacy, tangled with a responsibility greater than ever before.
Alaric didn't reply to the email. He stared at the screen for a long time, then put the laptop aside and lay down, staring at the ceiling.
He wasn't sure if he would fit in at the program. But one thing was certain, he wasn't going there to look big or become famous. He was going to learn how to be wiser in becoming truly big.
And so, the following week, he stepped into the closed-off meeting floor in SCBD, where the class was held. Dressed in a clean navy shirt, wearing the watch his father had given him, his mind was a mix of excitement and anxiety.
He didn't know what awaited him.
But he knew one thing for sure. He wouldn't be the same person after this.
The room fell silent when a soft tap echoed from the table at the front.
"Alright, next I'd like to hear from... Alaric," said a middle aged man in a dark gray suit, sitting as a mentor.
His face gave little away, but his tone carried a cool enthusiasm. This was Mr. Gerald Myles, the lead consultant known for being ruthless but fair in his assessments.
Alaric paused for a split second. All eyes were on him. A thin sheen of sweat formed on his temples, not from fear, but from anticipation.
This wasn't his first time speaking in front of a crowd, but in this room... he was the youngest, and almost the only one without a skyrocketing career.
He slowly rose from his seat, adjusting his simple dark blue suit, and walked to the whiteboard. His eyes scanned the room. It was quiet, orderly, and patient, waiting. He took a small breath before starting.
"Alright. Regarding the funding restructuring scenario presented earlier, I think a cross-divisional approach could be maximized. Beyond relying on the main investors, the company could focus on building an ecosystem that has independent selling power. For example—"
He was interrupted by another man from the right.
"Hold on, what if that cross-divisional access is blocked? Let's say the internal relationships are tense?"
Alaric smiled politely, keeping calm. "In that case, we could pursue an open portfolio approach. Building value that attracts external partners, like vendors or distribution partners, to—"
"And what if all the vendors already have exclusive contracts with competitors?" the man interrupted again, his tone now testing, with a subtly challenging expression.
Some of the participants began to turn their heads, intrigued by the back and forth. Alaric slowly started to feel surrounded.
"In that case, we have to start with a user community approach, from the end-user side. Creating demand large enough that partners will start coming to offer themselves with—"
"What if that requires a massive campaign budget?" Mr. Gerald asked this time. His tone was soft, yet lethal.
Alaric paused. His right hand still held the marker, which hadn't made it to the whiteboard yet. He realized this wasn't about being right or wrong. It was about how far he could think beyond the boundaries that had been set.
And about how he would answer questions that had already been cornered from all angles.
His tongue felt heavy. His breath was short. His eyes moved from the judges table to the other participants. Everyone was waiting for him.
His mouth felt dry, and the beat of his heart thudded loudly in his ears. The anxiety weighed on his chest like a stone, choking his breath. In the midst of all the judging gazes, Alaric wondered if he'd be able to hold his ground or if he'd be thrown out in an instant.
And that's when...
[System Activated]
[Trial Skill Unlocked: Strategic Persuasive Voice (Public Speaking – High Impact)]
[Level: Trial / Duration: 3 Minutes / Use: Once Only]
[This ability will help you structure ideas under pressure and present solutions with calmness and high confidence.]
[Countdown Started]
Alaric's eyes widened slightly, then he refocused on the panel. He took a deep breath. Slowly, he lifted his head and began speaking.
"If all paths are blocked, all partners turn their backs, all vendors are exclusive, and funds are low, then I only have one choice..."
His feet moved slowly beside the whiteboard, his rhythm began to flow like water.
"Change the market's perception. Use a commodity that can't be bought—emotion. I will craft a narrative. Build a loyal community with a story. And I will be honest that the company is on the brink, and invite people to be part of the revival."
Some participants sat up straighter. There were movements of writing notes.
"I will create micro-funding from loyal users, not just a campaign, but a story about how they could be the saviors of the company they love. And when that succeeds—just once, with one viral video, and one emotional response... that will change everything."
Alaric twirled the marker in his fingers and looked at Mr. Gerald.