Ren stood in front of the full-length mirror in his garage, the morning light catching the sharp, defined edges of his core. It seemed like the System was carving his muscles into something out of a classical sculpture. He flexed, watching the way his lats spread.
I should probably join the campus gym, he thought, pulling on a fresh black tee that hugged his chest. I've got the size, but I need to learn how to move this weight. Plus, it's the best place to scout the rest of the student body.
He felt a surge of energy, the 24 points in [Endurance] making him feel like he was vibrating with power. He grabbed his bag and headed for Hall 104.
When he pushed open the lecture hall doors, his eyes immediately found the front row. Bella was already there, but as soon as their eyes met, her expression faltered. A look of pure, wide-eyed realization hit her face.
She hadn't sent the file.
Ren stared at her for five long seconds. He waited for her to mouth an apology or gesture to him, but she quickly looked away, her knuckles whitening as she gripped her pen.
So that's how it is, Ren thought, a cold streak of annoyance cutting through him. She was serious about the 'distance' thing. She's icing me out.
Instead of taking the seat next to her, Ren turned and climbed the stairs to the very back of the hall. From the podium, Professor Mitchel watched the move with a look of visible delight. The "Titan" was retreating, or so he thought.
"And that concludes today's session," Mitchel announced an hour later, his voice smug. "Please submit your Social Mapping assignments to the front desk as you exit. No submission, no grade."
Ren watched the line form. He saw Bella drop a professional folder onto the pile without looking back. He stood up, planning to slip out the back and figure out a way to get the file later, but Mitchel was faster.
"Mr. Camry! I don't see your assignment here."
Ren stopped, his jaw tightening. He walked down the steps as the room emptied. "I don't have it on me, Professor. There was a... communication issue with my partner."
Mitchel leaned back against his desk, a predatory grin on his face. "A communication issue? How unfortunate. That's an automatic zero, Ren. And for a scholarship student, a zero is a death sentence."
"Actually, Professor," a soft, steady voice interrupted.
Standing beside them was a girl Ren had barely noticed before. She was 5'3", wearing thick, black-rimmed glasses and a heavy, shapeless grey dress. She looked like a classic bookworm, her straight, black hair tucked neatly behind her ears.
"I have Ren's draft right here," she said, holding out a few stapled pages. She looked at Ren, a small, shy smile playing on her lips. "Thank you for the notes yesterday, Ren." "Your perspective on the athlete-scholar divide was really helpful for my own research."
Ren caught on instantly. He didn't know her, but he knew a lifesaver when he saw one. He reached out, his large hand brushing hers as he took the papers. "Glad it helped. Sorry it's not in a proper file, Professor. I was more focused on the content than the presentation."
Mitchel's eyes flickered between them, his suspicion warring with the fact that he now had a physical paper in his hand. "Very well. But come to my office in five minutes, Mr. Camry."
Mitchel turned to pack his bags. Ren turned to the girl, who was now adjusting the strap of her heavy bookbag.
"Thank you so much," Ren said, leaning down slightly to meet her eyes. "I seriously don't know how I'm going to repay you for that."
Karin blushed, but she didn't look away. "It's okay. I'm Karin. I noticed you didn't have a folder when you walked in, and I... well, I had a spare draft that covered a similar topic. I figured you could use the cover."
"You're a genius, Karin," Ren said, flashing her a genuine, cocky grin. "And you've got perfect timing."
"It's just observation," she murmured, her voice becoming a bit more confident. "By the way, I saw you looking at the posters for the campus gym on the way in. If you're actually interested in joining, I know the front desk receptionist. I can get you the student-athlete discount."
Ren blinked. It was a perfect coincidence. "You're kidding. I was literally thinking about joining this morning. Tell you what, give me your number. If I'm going to be a regular, I'd rather have a friend behind the desk."
Karin's hands were steady as she pulled out her phone, though her cheeks were still pink. They exchanged numbers quickly.
"I have to go deal with Mitchel," Ren said, tapping her shoulder lightly. "I'll text you about that gym pass, Karin. Seriously, thanks again."
As he headed toward the professor's office, he felt a strange buzz. Bella had let him down, but the world was already offering him new doors to open.
Ren stepped into the office. It smelled of stale coffee and overpriced cologne. Professor Mitchel sat behind his desk, leaning back with a forced air of casual power as he flipped through the stapled pages Karin had provided.
"So, Mr. Camry," Mitchel began, his eyes flicking up with a sharp, suspicious glint. "Did you actually write this? It's surprisingly... competent."
"I told you, Professor. I have a unique perspective," Ren replied, his voice steady.
[Ding!]
[Skill Active: Sovereign's Presence (Rank F)]
[Effect: Subconsciously heightens the target's insecurity.]
Mitchel shifted in his chair, suddenly feeling smaller than the eighteen-year-old standing before him. "I'll be honest, I took you for just another pretty boy. But if you want to keep that scholarship, stay focused. Keep your head in the books and keep a distance from... distractions. This Academy is full of them."
Ren didn't miss the subtext. Mitchel wasn't worried about Ren's grades.He wanted Ren away from Bella. He recognized that desperate, gatekeeping energy because he had lived it for eighteen years.
A sharp knock at the door shattered the tension. Before Mitchel could answer, the door swung open, and Mrs. Lorenzo stepped in. She was the picture of professional elegance in a tailored grey suit.
[WARNING!]
[Target Detected: Mrs. Lorenzo]
[Lust Levels Rising: 85%]
[The System is sensing the 'Residual Mark' from the Garage. You are vibrating on her frequency.]
Ren felt a jolt in his chest. As she walked past him, a wave of her perfume along with that expensive floral scent. His blood surged, a heavy, rhythmic thrumming beginning in his groin.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Am I disturbing you, Professor?" she asked.
"No! No, no!" Mitchel practically scrambled to his feet, his spine straightening and a sycophant's grin plastered on his face. "Please, come in. My student was just leaving."
Mitchel didn't even look at Ren anymore. He had become invisible. Ren stood up slowly, but as he passed Mrs. Lorenzo, his hand "accidentally" brushed against the silk of her sleeve.
—(Whispers of Desire: Mrs Lorenzo)—
(My skin is crawling where he touched me. I shouldn't have come. I can't even look at him or I'll give it all away.)
Ren stepped out and closed the door, but he stood in the shadows of the hallway, his enhanced senses tuning into the conversation through the thin wood.
"What can I do for you?" Mitchel's voice was now thick with an oily familiarity.
"I wanted to check on the progress of the first-year projects," she said.
"Funny you should ask. Your daughter, Bella... she actually submitted a half-finished assignment today. I'm worried. I paired her with that scholarship kid, and now she's distracted. You might want to tell her to stay away from certain... influences."
Ren's jaw tightened. The coward was throwing Bella under the bus to flirt.
[System Notification]
[New Sin Trigger: Jealousy]
[Objective: Punish the pretender. Mitchel is attempting to court your 'Tithe'.]
"I will look into the matter," Mrs. Lorenzo replied, her tone icy. "Thank you, Professor."
"Of course. And, hey? I was thinking... dinner this Friday?"
Ren could hear Mitchel's heart thumping through the door.
"That's very kind," she declined, her voice smooth and final. "But my schedule is full. Good day."
Ren headed down the hallway, his smirk returning. Mitchel was begging for a dinner date with a woman who was already paying for Ren's bed. But the fact that Bella had submitted a half-baked paper bothered him. She was letting her "Ice Queen" mask slip, and it was getting them both in trouble.
He pulled out his phone and looked at the new number Karin had given him, then at Bella's contact.
[Current Status: The Hunter has two leads.]
[Will you discipline the Princess or reward the Nerd?]