As Artorious was declared the winner of the duel, the crowd erupted into loud cheers. Katherine, Leo, Aric, and I watched in astonishment at the intensity of the battle. My eyes sparkled with admiration, and Leo giggled uncontrollably at the sight of Henry leaving the arena in defeat.
Katherine leaned over to me and whispered, "I bet he's full of himself right now."
Artorious lifted his practice sword and the crowd's cheers echoed throughout the arena.
"Show off" I sighted with a smile.
His gaze swept over the stands, and he shot us a satisfied smile before grinning at Aric.
"Hmph, took him too long to finish the fight," Aric snorted, unimpressed.
Artorious himself was beaming with pride and joy, his chest heaving with each deep breath he took. The sweat on his forehead reflected the bright light of the arena, and the muscles in his arms bulged with the effort he had put into the duel. As the cheering slowly died down, he lowered his sword, looking at it with a sense of accomplishment. He then sheathed his sword and made his way out of the arena. The crowd continued to applaud him, some even following him out to congratulate him on his victory.
**********************************************************************
"Wow Artorious, you were so cool during the duel"
"I've never seen someone handle a sword like that before!
As we got closer to Artorious, we noticed that the crowd around him was predominantly composed of girls, all eagerly vying for his attention.
They were giggling and blushing, some even trying to touch his arm
"You're so strong and handsome!"
"What is this?" I said with an irritated face.
I couldn't help but feel a twitch in her eye as she heard the last one.
I couldn't understand why all the girls were shamelessly fawning over Artorious, it was just a duel after all. I was annoyed but when I saw Katherine who seemed more amused than anything, grinning at the spectacle before us. I quickly forced a smile to avoid her teasing, but my irritation at the girls' behavior continued to simmer beneath the surface.
Aric also seemed irritated but for another reason.
"Ah, miss Serena" it was Leo who spoke up.
Our eyes landed on Serena Whitmore who was sighting in exhaustion
"ah you guys are here" Serena exclaimed then she looked at Artorious, she was met with the scene of him surrounded by a crowd of girls, she then sighted with smile.
"Well, he is quite the popular guy" Serena added.
"Yeah, looks like the competition got harder" Katherine said looking at me with a grin.
I choked when her teasing became clear, and Aric also seemed taken aback by her declaration.
"Huh, why are you looking at me" I said flustered.
Serena seemed to pick up on the tension and quickly changed the subject. "So, have you guys decided which clubs you're going to join?" she asked.
Leo spoke up, "I'm joining the archery club."
Aric and I exchanged a glance. We had talked about joining a club but hadn't made any decisions yet. Instead, we were planning on using our spare time to train with the swords.
"Well, I'm still considering," I said with a shrug.
Aric nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we're not really sure yet."
Katherine and Leo seemed content with our answer, while Serena just smiled and nodded.
Katherine, who was not known for being particularly talkative, spoke up. "I'm joining the alchemy and magic club crafting as planned."
Anastasia, intrigued by Katherine's choice, asked, "But aren't you interested in joining the magic club?"
"Well, the magic club is mainly focused on learning magic spells, and it isn't as advanced as I am," Katherine explained. "I want to increase my knowledge in other fields of magic, and that's why aunt Serena recommended me to join."
"Well, I guess I'm the the same"
As we talked about clubs, my mind drifted to the sword club. It's not that there weren't any available, but I had the privilege of being trained by Arthur, the vice leader of the imperial knights, who taught me most of the techniques I use. Meanwhile, Aric's father hired an ex A-rank adventurer to teach his son, who specialized in using a large sword. As for Artorious, we knew that he wouldn't join any sword club because his father, Roland Blackwood, the head of the imperial knights, was his mentor. Why would he need to join a club when he had the best teacher already.
"Well, that's enough action for today. You should all head to building D where the dorms are," Serena announced.
"You're right," Aric agreed.
After today's classes and the duel drama, we were all exhausted. I took one last glance at Artorious, who was still surrounded by girls, looking at us with a pathetic expression.
Ignoring his plea for help, I let out a small "Hmph" and we left the scene.
*********************************************************************************
"Oh" Artorious said .
"Oh" Henry while looking at Artorious.
"Tsk" he clicked his tongue and kept walking away.
We were on our way coming from Building J to Building C .
Building J - Cafeteria and Dining Hall: This building was designed to provide nourishment and sustenance to students. It includes a large dining hall and a variety of food options that was made by skilled chefs.
Building C is a large building on the academy grounds that houses various clubs and training areas. The building has multiple floors and is designed to accommodate a variety of activities. Each club has its own dedicated space, with some clubs having multiple rooms depending on their requirements. The building is well-maintained, with ample space and equipment for all the clubs.
And we were met with Henry on the way. It has been four days since the duel ended and since then Henry never approached us.
"If I knew this would happen I would have asked you to have a duel with him" It was Leo who spoke up talking to Artorious.
Artorious only scratched the back of his head at the declaration.
Despite being a scum, he had some pride.
As we arrived at the training ground, I announced, "This is our stop. We will continue our sword training here."
Aric and Artorious often spent their time sparring with each other, both having awakened aura and being well-matched in terms of their ranks and ages.
I, on the other hand, spent most of my time meditating, trying to awaken my own aura. It was a difficult and elusive skill, but I was determined to master it. When I finished training, I would ask one of them to spar with me without using aura, even though I gave them a handicap, I never was able to win against them.
" Okay, I'm going to the shooting range too" Leo stated.
Possessing an immense talent with both a bow and a pair of daggers. It is rare to see such proficiency with multiple weapons, but Leo effortlessly wields both with great skill and precision. Even without the aid of his aura, Leo has established himself as one of the top melee fighters within his first year at the academy.
His archery skills, in particular, are a sight to behold. He has an innate sense of timing and aim, allowing him to strike his targets with ease from great distances. What's more impressive is that he has also found a way to incorporate his ice element into his archery, His arrows freeze upon impact, leaving his enemies immobilized.
Leo's greatest strengths is his adaptability on the battlefield which granted him the fourth rank within the academy.
" Then we will meet in the next class" Artorious said.
The shooting range was a short walk away from the training grounds, Leo headed there and Katherine went towards the alchemy and magic crafting club room, so we parted ways to attend.
**************************************************************
Katherine pushed open the heavy wooden door to the alchemy and magic crafting club room. Inside, she found about fifteen students gathered around various workstations, mixing potions, casting spells, and tinkering with gadgets. Most of them were fourth and third years, and Katherine felt a pang of anxiety as she realized how out of place she was.
She then spotted a familiar face, it was the boy that her aunt was scolding before the duel between Artorious and Henry. But before she could approach him, the club president stepped forward to make a speech.
"Welcome, everyone! My name is Marcus and I'm a fifth-year student here at the academy. I'm also the president of Group A. It's great to see so many new faces joining our club this year."
"Thank you, Marcus," the instructor professor said as he stepped forward. "As Marcus mentioned, my name is Professor Hale, and I'm responsible for overseeing the alchemy and magic crafting club. I'm excited to see so many new faces here today, and I hope that you'll all find something to inspire you in our work."
He looked around the room and made eye contact with each of the newcomers. "I remember how nervous I was when I first joined this club, but I can tell you from experience that it's an amazing opportunity to grow and learn. We're all here to support each other, so don't hesitate to ask for help or advice."
Marcus then turned to Professor Hale and nodded, handing over the floor to him. "Without further ado, I'd like to introduce our instructor and mentor, Professor Hale. He's been teaching in this club for years and has helped many students reach their goals. Professor go ahead."
Marcus and Professor Hale stood side by side, Marcus stood around 6 feet tall, with a lean and muscular build. His complexion was a warm tan color, and his sharp features gave him a striking appearance. His hair was a light brown color, styled into a short and neat cut that framed his face. He had piercing blue eyes that shone with intelligence and charisma.
Next to him was Professor Hale, on the other hand, was a middle-aged man with a dignified bearing. He was of average height and build, but he carried himself with a certain authority that commanded attention. His hair was a salt-and-pepper mix, neatly trimmed and combed back, and he had a well-groomed mustache.
Even without the introduction, Professor Hale was a well-known figure in the world of alchemy, in fact he might be the founder of the alchemy that attracted students here. He was the one who created mana and healing potions that we know today after so many trials and errors, he is the most accomplished and innovative alchemists in the world.
The professor paused for a moment, looking around the room, before he continued.
"Thank you, Marcus," the instructor professor said as he stepped forward. "As Marcus mentioned, my name is Professor Hale, and I'm responsible for overseeing the alchemy and magic crafting club. I'm excited to see so many new faces here today, and I hope that you'll all find something to inspire you in our work."
"As we do at the start of each new term, I'd like to ask each of you to introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about what you hope to achieve in this club. Let's start with you," he said, pointing to a fourth-year student near the front of the room.
One by one, the students in the room introduced themselves, sharing their names, their years at the academy, and their goals for the club. When it was Katherine's turn, she stood up with confidence and said.
"Hello, my name is Katherine Whitmore, and I'm a first-year student. I'm interested in alchemy and magic, and I hope to increase my knowledge in both "
The professor nodded in approval before turning to the other first-year student in the room. "And you, young man, what's your name and what brings you here"
The student had a serious look on his face as he stood up and introduced himself. "My name is Damian, and I'm also a first-year student. I want to learn more about the phenomenon of the soul core. I want to study and understand how it works, and what causes it to awaken."
Professor Hale looked at Damian with interest and asked, "It is said that when a soul core awakens, individuals begin to sense mana in the atmosphere between the ages of 10 and 20. However, there is a theory that lineage may also play a role in the awakening. What motivates you to understand the behavior of the soul core?"
After a moment of contemplation, Damian responded, "While it is true that lineage seems to be a significant factor in most cases of soul core awakening, there are exceptions like myself. I am not a noble, yet I have awakened my soul core. Additionally, there are cases where some individuals awaken theirs earlier or later than usual. Understanding the behavior of the soul core can be helpful in unlocking the extent of our potential. It may even be possible for those who did not develop a soul core to awaken one, even if they have already reached adulthood."
Everyone has a soul core, yet it differs if they are awakened or not, not only do they have access to mana and aura but they also have a longer lifespan, and people usually awaken their soul core between the age of 10 and 20. it is only considered awakened when an individual can sense and generate mana with it. When someone's soul core is awakened, they experience an overflow of mana, which they must use forcefully. This can result in small earthquakes and fire accidents, as the person learns to control their newfound power.
The professor's eyebrows raise in surprise, "I see. That is a lofty goal indeed. But why do you think this club can help you achieve it?"
Damian responds, "I believe that the research and knowledge in alchemy that this club offers might be instrumental."
Professor Hale nods slowly, clearly intrigued by Damian's ambitions. "That's great, you have a clear goal in mind, I see potential in you, Damian."
Turning to the group, the professor continued, "Now, let's get down to business. I want the old members to form smaller groups with the newcomers and show them around the lab, introduce them to the tools, and answer any questions they may have. This club is all about team effort"
As the group dispersed into smaller clusters, Professor Hale couldn't help but feel intrigued by Damian's thought process. He made a mental note to keep a close eye on the young student's progress.