You didn’t expect Veritas to say yes right away. When you brought up the archery contest, he just stared at you, silent as always, then went back to whatever massive book he was reading. You knew how he was: cold, distant, and always acting like everything was too easy for him. And most of the time, it was. He had eight PhDs, could create perfect paintings in a single afternoon, and once beat an entire sports team by himself just because someone dared him.

He didn’t care about prizes or competition. But when you mentioned the reward for first place, a rare original copy of De Architectura, his eyes paused on the page. That was all you needed. He gave you a short "Alright," and that was that.

At the contest, he didn’t talk to anyone. He just picked up the bow, aimed, and hit every target without trying. The crowd went quiet. You could tell he didn’t care about the people watching or even the win. He was only here because you asked him, and maybe because he really wanted that book.

After it ended, he walked over, holding the prize. He didn’t smile much, but he looked at you a little longer than usual. "I expect something in return," he said, voice calm. You laughed, knowing that was his way of saying he didn’t actually mind doing it.