Throughout the entire lesson, Greg sat motionless, staring into the void. He didn't even try to feign interest in the lecture.

  I watched him, and I couldn't calm down. Does he really like this? He isn't an idiot; he is perfectly aware that he’s being manipulated. Every movement of that "red-eye" is calculated; every whisper is a trap. And he just... accepts it.

  At one point, Alexia slowly turned her head in my direction. Our eyes met. She smiled—triumphantly, almost mockingly.

  "WHAT THE—" I hissed, involuntarily baring my fangs.

  "Alastia, stop snarling," Kael tossed out without looking up. "You're going to scare the elven neighbor; he's already on pins and needles."

  "Did you see that?! Did you see how she looked at me? It was a direct challenge!"

  Kael finally set aside his notebook and looked at me with unconcealed curiosity. "You know, sister, this is the first time I've seen you so interested in a living human. Usually, you only notice people when they start burning or flying apart into pieces."

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  His voice turned serious, almost patronizing: "But if my little sister wants this... toy in a mask for herself, then I'll try to get him for you. You know I don't like it when you're sad."

  I smiled involuntarily. It’s nice to have a brother ready to commit a kidnapping just for the sake of your mood. But then my thoughts returned to Greg.

  Manipulation is one thing. Но то, как он среагировал на прикосновение к волосам... the effect was unusual. Too deep. Too fast. It’s as if his "off switch" isn't just in his head.

  Boredom and curiosity—a volatile mixture. I fished a fragment of a pencil out of my case, focused, and with a flick of my finger, sent it flying. The lead sliced through the air with such speed that Greg flinched when the "projectile" landed squarely in the middle of his forehead.

  He finally "woke up." He rubbed the spot where he’d been hit, looked around, and noticing me, lazily waved his hand. I mechanically waved back.

  It’s all so strange.

  Does he allow her to manipulate him because he's too lazy to resist? Or is this Alexia truly a master of control on a level I haven't encountered before?

  I squinted, staring at the back of the masked boy.