Since childhood, Elena Black had always preferred rational choices.
Two people were better than one.
Creating was better than destroying.
Mutual benefit was preferable to conflict.
These principles had become the foundation of her existence long ago.
She disliked harming others.
She disliked being harmed herself.
And perhaps most importantly, she disliked inefficiency.
As a child, her naturally detached personality had caused countless misunderstandings.
Other children found her cold.
Adults found her difficult to understand.
Even her peers often became frustrated during conversations.
At first, she couldn't comprehend why.
Then she studied the problem.
Observed people.
Recorded reactions.
Analyzed outcomes.
Eventually, she reached a conclusion.
Her personality was inefficient.
So she changed it.
Not through force.
Not through deception.
Through learning.
She observed kind people.
Reliable people.
Heroes.
Friends.
She studied how they spoke.
