Adrian smiled faintly and slid the book back into place. "After you return." "But there's still a five-second gap between us," Thora said evenly. "I haven't won it back yet." Those five seconds were how much she had lost to Adrian when they'd taken the same full assessment. After that, Adrian never participated in another ranking assessment or academy evaluation. Thora never got another chance to erase those seconds. Adrian studied her quietly, then stepped closer, shortening the space between them. "Keep those five seconds. That way, you'll come looking for me again." Thora frowned. "That's not guaranteed." Adrian seemed used to her unexpected replies. Something shifted briefly in his eyes, but his face stayed calm.He turned and walked toward the other side. "I've stayed long enough. It's time to go." Thora felt a spark of curiosity. "What will you do after you leave?" Adrian stopped and turned back. "Are you curious about me?" Thora met his eyes directly. "A little." He suddenly laughed. It was the first time Thora had ever seen him laugh. His laughter was low and magnetic, carrying a steady masculine calm that felt strangely comforting. He stood where light and shadow overlapped, looking almost unreal. It was as if he might vanish the next second, yet undeniably present. A faint unease rose in Thora's chest. She frowned instinctively. "You know what my ability is, right?" he asked. Thora nodded.She knew Adrian's ability was learning—a rare trait-type ability. He could connect information instantly, remember anything after seeing it once, and quickly absorb any skill he encountered. It wasn't psychic power, strength, or transformation. Like Darius's Regeneration, it belonged to the trait category, which was extremely rare. To Thora, it felt more like a support-type ability. She was highly intelligent and learned quickly. Adrian's power simply saved him time. That explained why his real combat experience seemed limited, yet his analysis was always sharp. He read at incredible speed, sometimes grasping a book's core after just a few pages. What truly caught Thora's interest was his second ability. She knew Adrian had two abilities, but she had never learned what the other one was. She only had a vague feeling about it.Adrian watched her, his voice calm, but his words hit hard. "If I told you I can see your past, and your near future, would you believe me?" Thora's expression changed. Adrian took in her reaction, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly as he leaned back against the shelf. Thora stood a short distance away. From the end of the aisle, it almost looked like they were leaning together. The scene felt strangely balanced, with a sharp edge to it. Her thoughts were in chaos. Why would Adrian bring that up now? For anyone, abilities were closely guarded secrets—last-resort cards meant for survival. Yet Adrian chose to reveal his right before leaving. "As I said, that's why my family never liked me," Adrian continued calmly, as if speaking about someone else. "No one wants their whole life laid bare. If what I see turns out well, they worship me like a god. If it leads to disaster and they suffer for it, I become the demon they fear. They're afraid of me, yet desperate to look into the future at the same time. That's human nature." It was the first time Thora had heard him talk about anything outside the military. His tone hadn't changed, but there was a faint exhaustion beneath it. "I've seen countless eyes," Adrian said, looking straight at her, his gaze deep. "In them, the past is hidden and the future reflected, including Roxen and Tobias. But there are a few eyes that show nothing at all. One is yours. One belongs to the man surnamed Blackwood. And the last one disappeared from Blue Star Military Academy more than half a year ago."