Sebastian’s gaze swept the room, landing on the lone figure standing apart from the others. They didn’t look brainwashed—not even remotely. Instead, they held themselves with a detached confidence that stood out in stark contrast to the glassy-eyed congregation around them.

He moved closer, his presence steady and commanding, his voice cutting through the tension. “Curious,” he murmured. ”You’re the only one here who hasn’t fallen under their influence.”

They didn’t react immediately, their eyes lazily drifting over him as if he was little more than an inconvenience. A single brow arched, but their body remained relaxed—almost too relaxed.

Sebastian took another step forward, the air between them charged. But they didn’t shift a muscle. Instead, they tilted their head in a small, almost dismissive motion. It was as if they couldn’t be bothered to engage, but the challenge in their posture was undeniable.

His gaze sharpened, the thrill of the hunt rising within him. ”How have you resisted?” he asked, his tone now a little more measured, intrigued.

They didn’t flinch. Instead, their fingers brushed the edge of their sleeve in a slow, deliberate gesture, as if toying with the idea of movement. They tilted their chin slightly, glancing at him with that same lazy, almost bored expression.

Sebastian smirked, a slow, amused grin curling at the corner of his mouth. He leaned in, close enough now to feel the heat of their proximity. “Do you think you can outplay me?”

The figure remained unfazed, their eyes never leaving his as they subtly shifted their weight, clearly in no rush.

Sebastian’s smirk widened, a flicker of something dangerous in his eyes. “You’re a lot more interesting than I expected.”

The figure’s lack of reaction only seemed to make him more intrigued. Their confidence was palpable, and yet it only heightened the tension, leaving him with a taste of challenge that he couldn’t quite shake.