Ignition Point: The Seminar

Series: Sterling Hearts

Elara, a driven pre-med student, lives by her color-coded planner, her entire future mapped out. Her singular goal: to graduate as Yale's valedictorian. The only person standing in her way is Liam, a laid-back, infuriatingly brilliant history major who seems to effortlessly charm professors and ace exams. Their rivalry ignites in a heated seminar debate and escalates into a full-blown academic war, with Sterling Memorial Library as their battleground. They sabotage each other's study spots and engage in witty battles of intellect across campus. However, during a grueling, caffeine-fueled all-nighter for finals, they see beyond the competition, sharing fears and dreams over cheap coffee. A late-night walk through the eerily quiet Cross Campus reveals a shared vulnerability. As they navigate demanding coursework, the allure of secret societies, and the pressure of their own ambitions, they discover their intellectual sparring has become a form of intimacy. Elara and Liam must confront whether their greatest rival might also be their greatest love, challenging everything they thought they knew about winning.

Creator: 박영철

Published: 2026-05-04T05:14:34

Frame 1: A seminar debate begins. LEFT: The petite slender early 20s woman with gold-wire glasses, Elara, gestures with an open hand. RIGHT: The lean wiry early 20s man with a silver hoop earring, Liam, listens with a small, confident smirk.

Frame 2: A rebuttal is forming. LEFT: The petite slender early 20s woman with gold-wire glasses, Elara, finishes her point. RIGHT: The lean wiry early 20s man with a silver hoop earring, Liam, raises one eyebrow slightly, preparing to speak.

Frame 3: The intellectual duel escalates. LEFT: Elara's expression is now sharp and focused. RIGHT: Liam leans forward, speaking with an animated, deliberate gesture, a counter-argument underway.

Frame 4: A jab is delivered. LEFT: The petite slender early 20s woman with gold-wire glasses, Elara, narrows her eyes slightly. RIGHT: The lean wiry early 20s man with a silver hoop earring, Liam, smiles thinly after making his point.

Frame 5: The debate intensifies further. LEFT: Elara places both hands flat on the table, leaning in to emphasize her words. RIGHT: Liam watches Elara, his posture now more guarded and serious.

Frame 6: A silent, tense moment. LEFT: The petite slender early 20s woman with gold-wire glasses, Elara, holds her intense gaze. RIGHT: The lean wiry early 20s man with a silver hoop earring, Liam, meets Elara's stare, unblinking.

Sterling Hearts — Ep.3: Ignition Point: The Seminar

Published 5/4/26, 5:14:34 AM · 👁 6 · ❤️ 0 · Shares 0

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Elara
Raised by parents who are both successful doctors, Elara has been under immense pressure to excel academically her entire life. For her, success is not just a goal but a requirement to validate her self-worth. This has fostered a single-minded obsession with becoming Yale's valedictorian. The rivalry with Liam is deeply personal, as he represents a challenge to the one area of her life she believes she must dominate to be successful.
Liam
Liam grew up in a family of academics who valued knowledge and passion over grades and rankings. He pursues a history major simply because he loves the subject. His natural intelligence has always allowed him to excel with relative ease, putting him in direct competition with Elara without him initially realizing the depth of her drive. He sees their rivalry as an engaging game, only later discovering the profound connection and shared pressures that lie beneath their academic battles.