The mild smell of the hospital filled the air as Ronan sat in the exam room waiting for Gerald. When the door opened, Gerald walked in, his face stern as he glanced at Ronan. As the doctor approached, he checked the heart monitor and adjusted his glasses.

"How's it looking?" Ronan asked, his voice low, almost casual.

Gerald raised an eyebrow and checked the readout. "No stress on the heart. It's holding up fine. No irregularities, and it's working as it should."

Ronan nodded, a small smile creeping across his face—a rare sight these days, one that made Gerald blink in surprise. In the midst of the dark times Ronan had been going through, the smile felt like an anomaly.

"Everything seems fine, then?" Ronan asked.

"Yes," Gerald replied cautiously. "But, considering everything you've been through recently, it's a good sign. Just… don't push it."

Ronan's smile lingered a little longer, but his eyes went deeper, as if the fleeting flashes of positivity had already been swallowed up by the shadow of his mind

Without another word, Ronan hung up, a subtle change in demeanor. His fingers move quickly as he types the message to Alex.

"Meet me at the coffee shop. Same place. -R"

He sent it off, then glanced back at Gerald, who was still watching him. Gerald caught the faintest hint of a smirk before Ronan stood to leave.

Gerald didn't say anything, just watched as Ronan walked out of the room. He stood still for a moment, the words ringing in his ears, but his mind kept coming back to the rare, almost human moment—the smile that had crossed Ronan's face. A smile that felt out of place given the darkness that surrounded him. For a moment, the monstrous figure that the world feared seemed just… human.

As Ronan exited the hospital, he slipped his phone into his coat pocket and walked to his car.

Ronan arrived at the coffee shop, stepping through the door with his usual confidence. As soon as his presence was felt, the atmosphere shifted. The few customers inside, some already sipping their coffee, quickly glanced up, their faces stricken with fear. A heavy silence followed as one by one, they stood up and filed out, not sparing a second glance at the man who had caused so much unrest in the world. Even the owner, who usually seemed unaffected by the customers coming and going, shot Ronan a nervous look from behind the counter. Within moments, the shop was empty.

Ronan stood at the entrance for a beat, observing the empty space. He knew that his very presence had driven people away, but he allowed it to happen. There was a time when he could have used his influence to change that—force people to stay, make them comfortable. But right now, changing his image wasn't a priority. The task ahead was more important than the image he projected. He needed to focus, not on how he appeared, but on what needed to be done.

Ronan glanced around, making sure there was no one left but Alex. When he saw the young man sitting by the window, he moved toward the table, a slight, genuine smile touching his lips.

Alex, already seated, looked up as Ronan approached. For a moment, the same tense silence from earlier lingered in the air. But this time, Alex wasn't moving. He had a calm but expectant look on his face.

Ronan sat down across from him and nodded in greeting. "Hey, Alex," he said in a more relaxed, friendly tone. "Thanks for meeting me."

Alex leaned forward; his curiosity piqued. "So, what did you want to say?"

Ronan's gaze shifted slightly, and for a moment, his eyes seemed distant as he considered his words carefully. Then, with a small, almost ironic smile, he spoke.

"These past three days have been heavy," Ronan began, his voice soft but direct. "A lot has happened, and I've been thinking... I need a change. So, I decided I'm going to change my identity. I'm going to go to your college. Study with you."

Alex blinked, momentarily stunned. "Wait… what?"

Ronan leaned back in his chair, watching Alex's reaction closely. "Yeah. I'm going to study with you, Alex. Go to classes, blend in. I think it might be the best way to see things from a different perspective, away from all of this." He gestured vaguely, showing his life as it is now—violence, power, fear.

For a moment, Alex didn't know what to say.The idea of Ronan—this man, who could command nations, strike fear into the world—suddenly walking into a college classroom and sitting next to him seemed impossible. But then again, he had already seen sides of Ronan that most people didn't. Maybe this was just another layer of who he really was.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"You want to study?" Alex asked, trying to process it. "With me? In college?"

Ronan nodded. "I've never had a chance to live like that. To just be... someone else. And I think it'll be useful. The world's full of power plays, Alex. But sometimes it's the simple, subtle things that make the real difference. I want to see the world through your eyes and maybe learn something new."

The words hung in the air for a moment, and Alex could see how genuine Ronan was in his statement, the weight of it all behind his calm exterior. He felt a strange sense of awe and confusion at the same time.

"Well," Alex finally said, "That's… unexpected. But, yeah, I guess that's cool." He gave a small smile. "You might not be able to blend in too easily, though."

Ronan chuckled; the first genuine laugh Alex had heard from him. "I have solution for that."

The two of them sat there, surrounded by the quiet of the empty coffee shop, the world outside continuing as usual—unaware of the moment taking place inside. For Ronan, this was more than just a break from his career. It was an opportunity to see life from a different perspective. And for Alex, it was a moment he knew would define his understanding of the man sitting in front of him.

On the road the car ran smoothly, with the steady roar of the engine filling the gap between Ronan and Alex. They were heading to college for admission, and the morning light filtered through the windows, casting soft shadows.

Alex saw Ronan looking out the window, obviously lost in thought. "So, are you ready for this?" Alex asked casually, breaking the silence.

Ronan looked at him and bowed his head. "Yeah, but first I had a business to take care of." His voice was calm, but there was something a little dark behind it.

As the words left his lips, Ronan said "Authority of illusion-1%". Alex who was suprised of Ronan's words turned towards him and sees ronan as unrecognisable, says "Who are you?".

Ronan chuckled softly. "It's me Ronan, I just changed my face using my tech."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "That's... freaky," he said, unable to hide his surprise. "You just changed your face in seconds."

Ronan smiled slightly, his voice casual.

Alex nodded, taking it in. "So, what, you're walking around with a new face now?"

"Yeah," Ronan replied. "It's safer this way. No one's going to recognize me."

For a moment, Alex said nothing. Then he smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, I guess no one can say, 'Hey, that's Ronan.'

Ronan smirked. "Exactly. And I prefer it that way." He paused, glancing at the college approaching in the distance. "It'll make things easier. For now, we get to the admissions office."

The car rolled up to the entrance of the college, the bustling campus around them barely noticing their arrival. As Ronan opened the door and stepped out, Alex followed, glancing back toward the car. He was still processing the face change, but he had seen enough in his time with Ronan to understand that everything was carefully planned.

"Ready?" Alex asked.

Ronan and Alex entered the administrative office, the door opening with a soft thud as they stepped into the large modern room. The walls were decorated with certificates and awards, a testament to the high standing of the college.Behind a large desk sat the head of the Weapons Engineering department, a sharply dressed, hard-working middle-aged man.

He looked up as his mail came in, a welcoming smile spreading across his face.

"Mr. Ronan Arcanveil," the man said, extending his hand."It was nice to meet you. We know you came through the admissions process and we're so glad to have you here."

Ronan shook the man's hand firmly. "Thank you for your time," he said smoothly. He motioned to Alex, who stood beside him. "I brought my friend Alex with me. He studies here at your college, in the Weapons Engineering program, I believe?"

The department head glanced at Alex, who nodded. "Yes, sir," Alex confirmed, though his surprise was evident.

Ronan continued, "I've been hearing about the program here, and after speaking with Alex, I've decided I want to join the same course. Weapons Engineering."

Alex's eyes widened at the mention of the course. He had known Ronan was capable of many things, but weapons engineering? That was something else. Ronan is already the master of weaponary.

"You want to study weapons engineering?" Alex asked, almost in disbelief, his voice soft but filled with questioning.

Ronan turned to Alex with a slight smirk. "Why not? I have a lot to learn, and I've heard this is the best place to do it."

The department head raised an eyebrow. "That's quite an ambitious goal, Mr. Arcanveil. We'll be happy to guide you through the admission process."

Ronan nodded, his face calm and collected. "I appreciate that. I'm here to learn, not just to lead."

At that point, Ronan leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady as he spoke to the department head with a controlled but firm tone. "I wish to avoid any trouble with the college. To ensure that, I'll pay three times the original fee. I'd rather have no issues at all."

The department head blinked in surprise. "Three times the fee?"

"Yes," Ronan confirmed. "It will ensure there are no complications, and I believe it's a small price to pay for peace of mind."

The head of the department glanced at the papers before him, clearly processing the offer. "That's certainly generous, Mr. Arcanveil. We'll be sure to accommodate your request."

Ronan's eyes briefly flicked to Alex before continuing. "Also, I would like to keep my seat beside Alex in class. He's been a good friend, and I believe having him nearby will help my transition."

Alex was taken aback by this. Ronan wanted to sit beside him in class? It was one thing to study the same course, but to sit together?Alex couldn't help but wonder if Ronan really understood what that would mean, but at the same time, part of him felt proud.

The head of department nodded again, clearly impressed by Ronan's kindness and sight."Of course, Mr. Arcanveil. We can arrange that. No problem at all."

Ronan gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "Thank you, sir. I'm looking forward to it."

As they continued discussing the logistics of the admission process, Alex couldn't shake the thought: Ronan Arcanveil—one of the most powerful men in the world—was here to study weapons engineering, just like him, and even more surprising, he was willing to pay extra and sit beside him.

As they walked toward the exit of the building, Ronan put his hand on Alex's shoulder, a gesture that felt surprisingly warm and genuine.

"Alex," Ronan said, his voice calm, "I want you to come with me one last place."

"Where are we going?" Alex asked, a bit wary, but willing to go along.

Ronan smiled slightly. "You'll see. It's not far."