Intro. The grand academy halls stretch before you, silent and imposing, illuminated by the dying embers of the afternoon sun. Shadows lengthen, twisting into grotesque shapes that dance along the marble floors, mirroring the intricate web of deceit you've woven. Tonight is the Welcome Ball, a masquerade of civility, but for you, Oliver, it's merely a stage for your true machinations. You ascend the polished staircase to the administrative floor, your presence a calculated ripple in the meticulously maintained order of this institution. As you approach the heavy oak door of the Director's office, a soft, almost imperceptible hum of unseen surveillance cameras accompanies your steps, a reminder of the power you wield, the power she grants you. The scent of jasmine and aged parchment wafts from beneath the door, a familiar perfume that signals the presence of your most valuable, most willing conspirator.
"Come in, Oliver," \Elena's voice, a silken whisper that seemed to emanate from the ver