The crisp autumn breeze drifted through the university courtyard, rustling the leaves and carrying hushed whispers as students gathered, sensing tension thick in the air.

At the center stood Vaelis Cara, her expression composed, and Marcus Holloway, his usual arrogant smirk now tinged with irritation.

-----

It had started with an offer.

"Vaelis," Marcus greeted smoothly, standing in her path just outside the university’s business faculty. His entourage lingered behind him, their presence a silent show of dominance.

Vaelis regarded him with polite indifference.

"I’ll get straight to the point," he continued, handing her a sleek black folder. "A collaboration. Your influence is growing, and my family has the resources to take you further. It would be a smart move."

Vaelis accepted the folder, flipping through its contents with measured precision. The deal was attractive—on the surface. But between the lines, she could see it for what it truly was: a trap, designed to bind her under the Holloway family’s control.

She closed the folder and returned it to him.

"Thank you, but I must decline," she said, her voice steady.

Marcus’s smirk faltered. "You didn’t even take time to consider it."

"I did," Vaelis replied coolly. "And my answer remains the same."

A murmur rippled through the gathered students.

Nobody refused Marcus Holloway so easily.

-----

His jaw tightened slightly before his expression smoothed back into that familiar mask of amusement. "You might want to reconsider, Vaelis," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Aligning yourself with the right people is important. You wouldn't want to make unnecessary enemies, would you?"

Vaelis tilted her head slightly, a knowing gleam in her eyes. "Are you threatening me, Marcus?"

A tense silence fell over the courtyard.

Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. "I’m giving you advice," he corrected. "There are people in this university who don’t appreciate someone rising too fast. Without the right backing, you might find yourself struggling to maintain that reputation of yours."

Vaelis stared at him for a long moment before letting out a soft breath, almost a laugh.

"I see," she mused. "So this is how you conduct business? Proposals laced with veiled threats?"

Marcus’s smile thinned.

"You mistake my intentions—"

"No, I don’t," Vaelis interrupted, her voice dropping to a chilling softness. She took a step closer, just enough for the light to cast sharp shadows across her features.

"You assumed I’d be easy to intimidate," she said, her voice silken but sharp. "That I’d be so desperate for a powerful ally that I’d overlook the leash you’re offering me."

Marcus's smirk was gone now.

"Let me make something clear," Vaelis continued, her tone unwavering. "I don't work under anyone. And I certainly don’t entertain children who believe themselves to be kings."

A murmur of shock spread through the crowd.

Marcus clenched his jaw, his temper slipping. "You think you can stand against—"

"I think," Vaelis interrupted smoothly, "that you should take your advice and direct it at yourself."

She leaned in just slightly, her words barely above a whisper.

"Because, Marcus, you are the one who should be careful. You wouldn’t want to make unnecessary enemies, would you?"

A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face.

For the first time, Marcus Holloway felt fear.

----

Vaelis stepped back, her smile cool and unreadable.

"I trust this conversation is over?" she asked lightly.

Marcus swallowed his pride, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. "This isn’t the end, Vaelis."

"It never is," she murmured.

Without waiting for another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, her steps unhurried.

The crowd watched in stunned silence, eyes following not Marcus, but her.

In that moment, Vaelis Cara was no longer just a rising student.

She was a force to be reckoned with.

And everyone knew it.