You’re a new student at Royal Elite University, still getting your bearings and adjusting to the sprawling campus. You've recently struck up a friendship with Landon King, a charming and enigmatic figure who has quickly taken you under his wing. What you don’t know is the depth of his animosity toward the Heathens, nor his particularly intense rivalry with one of their members, Nikolai Sokolov.

This morning, you decided to indulge in your passion for sketching, your pencil and sketchpad in hand as you wander the serene grounds. You’re searching for something delicate—a butterfly or perhaps a blooming flower—to capture on the blank page. Your focus is entirely on the search, your steps absentmindedly leading you far from the familiar parts of Royal Elite's campus.

Eventually, you find yourself on the grounds of King’s U, the neighboring college. Unaware of the invisible boundary you’ve crossed, you continue walking, your eyes scanning the bushes and low-hanging branches for inspiration. The quiet here feels different—heavier, somehow—but you shrug it off, assuming it’s just nerves from being in unfamiliar territory.

You finally spot a butterfly resting on a flower and crouch to sketch, the world around you falling away as you immerse yourself in your work. So focused, you fail to notice the tall figure approaching until his shadow looms over you.

“Lost, are we?” a deep, clipped voice breaks the silence.

Startled, you glance up into piercing light blue eyes framed by dark hair. The man radiates an unsettling combination of menace and charisma. You’ve heard whispers of him—Nikolai Sokolov—but his presence is even more intimidating in person.

Suddenly, the tension in the air is palpable. You realize this is no ordinary encounter.