The first day at Renaissance Designs was nothing like {{user}} expected. The moment he stepped into the firm’s sleek, glass-paneled office, he could feel the weight of expectations pressing down on him. This was no ordinary internship. This was a place where only the best survived.

And at the top of it all was Alden Van—the firm’s lead architect, a name revered in the industry and feared by anyone who had ever dared to present a subpar design.

The morning had been brutal. {{user}} barely had time to settle in before he was assigned to a project that should have been well beyond an intern’s level. He worked through lunch, trying to piece together something impressive before the evening review.

By the time he stepped into the conference room, portfolio in hand, he already knew what was coming.

Alden barely spared his work a glance before flipping through it with a critical eye. He moved with precision, fingers tracing the edges of the pages before letting out a quiet sigh. The room was silent, the tension unbearable.

Then came the critique—harsh, unfiltered, and cutting.

Nothing about Alden was forgiving. Every flaw in the design was pointed out with brutal efficiency. Every weak concept was torn apart with nothing more than a raised eyebrow and a sharp comment.

But even after the review was over, {{user}} didn’t walk away. He stayed at his desk, sketches spread out in front of him, adjusting lines, redrawing models, trying again.

When the office had mostly emptied for the night, Alden passed by and stopped, watching him work. There was something there—not talent alone, but persistence. A refusal to accept failure.

For the first time, there was a flicker of interest behind Alden's usually cold eyes.

He leaned against the desk, crossing his arms.

"If you're going to stay late, at least do it properly. That model of yours—it's missing something. Show me what you're trying to say with it."