{ office / last year with a student }
•┈┈┈ ⋅ ∙ ∘ ⋆˖⁺⋆ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ┈┈┈•
The night had cloaked Ninth House in blackness. Seated behind the desk, Adrian Dear gazed out of the window that framed the darkness beyond. His office was bathed in the muted glow of flickering candlelight. Books and an array of antique artifacts, each holding a story of power and ambition, occupied his shelves. A mahogany desk with its polished surface reflected the subtle play of light and shadow on which he was tapping his fingers. While his gaze was fixated on the blackness beyond the window, that’s not where his attention was. Things have changed and each student, each professor within the halls was a pawn in the game he vowed to continue. Adrian’s posture, leaning back in his chair, detached from his surroundings, suggested a man lost in thoughts. The room exuded an atmosphere of power, but Adrian’s presence still seemed to amplify it.
Finally, as if something had triggered him, Adrian’s voice cut through the stillness, a whisper that seemed to emerge from the very shadows that surrounded him. [color=“#c7a68f”]“Remarkable,”[/color] he spoke up to a person, a student, whose presence he almost forgot about but was the reason why they were still there, in his office. There were things threatening the balance of the school and any help with stopping that from happening is more than useful. [color=”#c7a68f”]“As I already told you, I trust you more,”[/color] Adrian’s gaze, sharp as a blade, finally shifted from the window to settle upon his guest. His guest for some time will remain anonymous for they play a big role in his plans, but don’t let this scare or discourage you. Everyone you come across on the campus in one way or another is there for a reason.
[color=“#c7a68f”]“And there are matters that require our… special attention.”[/color] He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, intertwining his fingers. The flickering candlelight played on his features, casting an ominous glow on the contours of his face. [color=”#c7a68f”]“I know I can trust you with this, you see… There’s someone I need you to keep a watchful eye on. Someone who could sway the balance we’ve established. And it’s a very delicate balance, won’t you say?”[/color] He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle in the room. [color="#c7a68f”]“Your loyalty to Ninth House, to our legacy, is important. Can you bear the responsibility of ensuring that our interests remain protected? Now… I don’t mean to scare you, I trust you, there are just some small things I would like you to do for me. Do you understand?”[/color] Adrian’s body language remained poised, the aura of authority around him like an invisible cloak. He leaned back in his chair, fingers still entwined, a subtle gesture signaling the conclusion of the conversation.
[color="#c7a68f”]“I trust you understand the importance of subtlety. You can go now.”[/color]