Chancellor Veal's office was quiet. It was too quiet for the pile of documents she was reviewing at the moment.

Her fingers moved lightly against the edge of her desk as her sharp eyes scanned over the reports.

A report that had one name repeated more than any other names.

"Ryker Case"

She sighed and leaned back in her chair as she looked across the room.

Ryker was sitting silently, his hands on his lap, his posture calm but his eyes, his eyes were different. Too focused for someone his age. He was looking at her like he was waiting for a checkmate, not a conversation.

She narrowed her eyes.

"…Why are you here, Ryker?" she asked. Her voice was smooth but edged with suspicion.

Ryker gave her a small smile, "Just wanted to talk"

Chancellor Veal narrowed her brow, "That's not why people come here. Not to me at least."

There was a pause for a moment.

Ryker shrugged gently, as if brushing away dust then said, "Then think of it as an update. We haven't talked since the midterm"

"Hm…" She leaned forward, her fingers steepled together, "How is your class holding up?"

"Still adjusting," Ryker said. "Lots of trauma. Some are recovering. Some are pretending"

"And you?"

Ryker hesitated, "Still breathing"

There was something about how he said it that made her look at him twice.

Chancellor Veal studied him a moment longer then asked, "So what is this really about?"

Ryker leaned forward and said, "The Mentor and Squire program."

Her brows lifted, "That?"

He nodded. "I want in."

She blinked hearing him, "Now?"

Ryker smiled. "There is no rule saying I can't. Is there?"

Chancellor Veal let out a quiet laugh, "Most students choose their mentors after their first year. It is a tradition."

"Tradition isn't law," Ryker replied easily. "Besides… I have already made my choice"

Chancellor Veal folded her arms, "And who is it?"

"Eleanor Nightingale"

The silence in the room dropped like a blade.

Chancellor Veal didn't move.

"…Repeat that"

"Eleanor," Ryker said clearly, "Eleanor Nightingale"

For a second, she just stared. Then her eyes narrowed, it became ice cold, "Do you even know what that child is?"

"I do," Ryker said calmly. "And she is important. To me. To the future. I need her."

Veal's lips parted in surprise at the honesty in his tone.

"I need you to trust me," Ryker added quietly but firmly, "I haven't disappointed you yet. Have I?"

She let out a slow exhale. "No… you haven't. Yet."

Ryker leaned in slightly. "Then I need a favor."

"Why would I give you a favor?" Chancellor Veal asked again as she leaned back, "You know how many students begged me to get them out of that girl's path?"

Ryker didn't blink hearing her, "Because this favor helps both of us"

Chancellor Veal gave him a long, tired look, "What is it?"

"I need you to order her to accept me as her squire. Officially."

Chancellor Veal's head tilted slightly, "You think a letter from me will change her mind?"

"She won't disobey you," Ryker said. "At least not directly."

She stared at him for a moment then sighed and brought up the holoscreen on her desk.

As her fingers moved across the glowing interface, Ryker's gaze lingered on her.

She hit the final command and the message was sent.

"Done," Veal said. "Now get out."

Ryker stood and gave a courteous bow. "Thank you, Chancellor."

As he left the office as the faintest smirk touched the edge of his lips.

******

The Serene Mountain Library loomed like a sacred temple under the pale sun. Its silence wasn't ordinary silence. It was the kind that carried weight. Like every breath had to be earned.

Ryker stood once again in front of that familiar chamber door. The one guarded by no soldiers… and yet far more dangerous.

He knocked gently.

Then entered.

And just like before… she was there.

Eleanor Nightingale

Sitting in the same spot. Book in hand. Eyes unreadable. Her hair was like freshly fallen snow. And her eyes. Those eyes, red like blood blooming in clear water.

When Ryker saw her again he forgot to breathe for a moment.

There was a kind of unreal beauty about her. Not the kind that came from looks alone but from presence. From aura.

She didn't look human. She looked sculpted. Like the idea of a woman painted by a god obsessed with symmetry and sorrow.

He understood now. Why readers in his world were obsessed with her. She wasn't just a character. They felt her, even in silence.

She wasn't loved for what she said.

She was loved for what she could be.

A weapon. A mystery. A goddess waiting to be unchained.

Ryker opened his mouth.

"Miss Eleanor"

She slowly lowered her book and looked up at him.

Her eyes met his and something in his chest twisted. It felt like staring into a well with no bottom. Deep, dark… and strangely warm.

He didn't even notice the alert from his system.

[Alert!!!!]

[User's mental stability compromised]

[Skill: Mental Resilience Activated]

Her gaze alone could break weaker minds.

Eleanor tilted her head. Her voice came out soft and smooth but cold enough to make the temperature drop.

"Leave"

Then she went back to reading.

Her voice. It was something different. Heavenly and wicked. Like a lullaby sung by someone who had watched the world burn.

Ryker let out a small chuckle, "Miss Eleanor. I apologize for the interruption. I am not here to bother you. I just came to inform you about something important"

Before he could finish, the world spun and the next thing he knew, his back slammed into the floor outside the chamber.

The door shut quietly behind him.

Ryker sighed.

He dusted himself off, walked back, knocked again and entered.

Only to be thrown out again. So Ryker kept trying.

He tried again and then he was thrown out.

He tried again and then he was thrown out.

He tried.

Again.

Again.

Again.

By the fifth time, Eleanor was visibly annoyed.

She glared at him, "What do you want from me?"

Ryker held his hands up peacefully. "Just check your messages. Please. There is one from Chancellor Veal.."

"Come up with better lies," she snapped.

Bam!!

Ryker was back outside again.

Ryker groaned and sat up. "This is getting personal…"

He stood again and returned.

This time, he didn't speak. He simply bowed.

"…Please," he said, "Just check it."

Something in his voice made her pause.

After a few seconds, Eleanor summoned her holoscreen. Her ruby eyes scanned the message.

Her expression turned to stone reading it.

She slowly looked back at him. Her stare was piercing. Cold. Knowing.

[Alert!!!]

[Psychic presence entering user's mind]

[Skill: Mental Resilience Had Been Activated]

"...What is your relationship with Chancellor Veal?" she asked,

Ryker met her eyes and said, "We have spoken one or two times. Nothing more."

He didn't lie but he didn't tell the whole truth either.

Eleanor sighed.

And this time, she didn't throw him out.

She simply turned her head and spoke without looking at him.

"…Come back tomorrow."

The door closed again.

But this time… Ryker smiled.

It was a progress..

He turned around and made his way back down the spiral stairs of the library, each step was light as air.

"Eleanor Nightingale… your strings are tangled. And soon, they will be mine to pull"

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