Tutorials? Emma blinked at the message on her screen, tilting her head a little. Is it the same kind of "tutorial" Marcus was secretly watching earlier? She hovered over the link Aria sent, but didn't dare open it. "Yeah, right. I'll check it later... when I'm home," she murmured, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. The last thing she needed was to go viral like Marcus for the wrong reason. Aria caught the hesitation and smirked. She understood immediately—this wasn't something you watched in public. ... Dinner wrapped up quietly. Aria excused herself first, claiming she needed rest. When Emma got back, Corvin and Marcus had already eaten and cleaned up the common area outside the rest pod. Marcus lounged in his crystal coffin, scrolling through his lightcore. His face stayed unreadable, though Emma couldn't help remembering what he'd been "studying" earlier. She decided to keep her distance. No need to make things awkward. No wonder the guy is so skilled—apparently, he has done plenty of "homework," she thought as she slipped into the rest pod. Corvin sat on the couch, his lightcore projecting a soft blue glow across his face. He looked like he was buried in reports. Cotton Candy, their little furball, was skulking around the corner, probably up to something mischievous again. "Hey, Emma. You're back," Corvin greeted, lifting his eyes. Emma waved him off. "Keep working, Corvin. I'm calling it a night." She'd spent the entire day trekking through the wasteland searching for rare fruits. Her legs felt like lead. Corvin nodded, leaning back on the couch. "Got it. Sleep easy, Emma. Marcus and I are pulling watch tonight. No beast's getting near you." "Mm-hmm." She smiled faintly, too tired to say more, and disappeared into her room. ... Outside, Corvin finally opened the link Silas had shared earlier. The moment the video started playing, his lightcore erupted with such noise that he nearly dropped it.What the—Silas! Are you kidding me? He fumbled to mute it, face flushing scarlet as the sound echoed in the room. One quick glance at the screen confirmed it—this was definitely not educational content. Just as the scene hit its "climactic moment," a shadow loomed over him. "Holy—" Corvin almost shifted into beast form as Marcus appeared right behind him like a ghost. "Marcus! Man, what the hell? You're creeping around this late? Trying to give me a heart attack?" He thought, How did this guy move without making a sound? Corvin slammed the screen off, trying to act normal. Marcus didn't react. Instead, he pulled a couple of insect cores from his pocket and handed them over. Corvin blinked. "Wait—what's this for? Don't tell me you already watched everything Silas sent?" He mused, Is this guy some genius or just too efficient for his own good? Marcus shook his head slowly. "No." He had opened them, sure—but they weren't what he needed. "I've got a friend," Marcus began, his tone low and serious. "He wants to know how to get his female to take the lead... You know, be affectionate first." Corvin gave him a skeptical look. "Wow. You, of all people, have friends?" Still, he took the two insect cores, turning them in his hands. "Same deal as before. I'll ask Silas. If I don't, I'll give these back. He said the insect cores are my cut." Marcus nodded. "It's not for me. It's for my friend. Tell Silas it's your buddy asking, not mine." No way was he letting Silas or Corvin find out he couldn't handle his own huntress. Corvin would never let him live it down. Corvin snorted. "Yeah, yeah. My buddy. Got it." He pocketed the insect cores and fired off a quick message to Silas. Corvin: 'Hey, Silas, got a friend asking—any tips on how to make his huntress take the lead and cuddle up first?' Silas glanced at the message and nearly laughed out loud. A "friend," huh? Nice try. That phrasing is so not Corvin.The whole thing screams Marcus. Makes sense, though. Corvin's stuck with only two people—Marcus and Edric—and Edric's been out cold for days. So who else would be dumb enough to ask something like this? Guess our big, stone-faced ice-man's finally trying to score some points with Emma. Cute. Silas grinned and tapped out his reply. 'Sure, I've got tricks. However, your buddy might not have the guts to try them.' Corvin relayed it immediately. "Silas says he's got a way—but your buddy might chicken out." Marcus frowned, weighing it over. Silas never pranked Corvin before. Probably safe. He nodded. "Tell him to go on. I'll let my friend decide if he wants to try it." Corvin texted again, 'Alright, let's hear it. My buddy will decide.' Silas replied almost instantly, 'Simple. If your buddy wants his huntress to take the lead, he's got to make sure she doesn't reject him. Step one: let her see what he's got. Step two: tease her a little and get her interested. Once curiosity kicks in, she'll make the first move.'Marcus paused. Show my goods? He glanced down, then back up, his expression dead serious. "I get it." He gave Corvin a firm nod. "Thanks. Those insect cores are yours."