Ambrose noticed Elias's unsettled expression, realizing that his calculating gaze had likely unsettled the young prodigy. Quickly straightening his posture, he cleared his throat to dispel the awkward atmosphere.
"Ahem, I'm new here," Ambrose offered with a disarming smile. "Can you recommend some books?"
This approach seemed wiser than immediate recruitment. Building rapport first would serve his purposes better—they were both junior students, after all, which provided common ground. If they shared intellectual interests, perhaps Elias would lower his guard and see their potential compatibility as collaborators.
Elias hesitated momentarily, suspicion still evident in his posture, but the request appealed directly to his scholarly pride. Few things pleased a genius more than the opportunity to demonstrate expertise in their domain.
