Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Cram Session
Rian groaned as he stared down at the mountain of unfinished homework on his desk. The battle in the woods, the ancient power, the hooded figure—it had all been so overwhelming that he'd completely forgotten about the most mundane problem of all: schoolwork. He wasn't alone in this crisis. Dante sat beside him, furiously scratching out notes, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"This is a disaster," Rian muttered, rubbing his temples. "We've got three essays, two scrolls of arcane calculations, and that spell-casting exercise. How did we let this pile up?"
Dante snorted, flipping through his notes. "Easy. We've been too busy saving the academy from dark magic and evil rituals."
Rian couldn't argue with that. Still, if they didn't get their assignments done soon, the professors would have their heads. Professor Eris had already been giving him pointed looks after his last mishap in class, and he didn't want to push his luck further.
"Okay, calm down. We'll figure it out," Lyria said as she entered the room, her arms full of books. Seraphina was right behind her, balancing a stack of scrolls that looked about ready to topple over.
"We heard you two were in trouble," Seraphina teased, setting the scrolls down on the table. "So, we're here to help."
"Seriously, you saved us," Dante said with a grateful smile. "I was about to give up and accept whatever fate Professor Eris has in store for us."
Lyria shook her head, already flipping through one of the books. "You boys need to learn to keep up with your work. But we've got this. I'll handle the arcane calculations. Rian, you start on the spell-casting notes. Dante, Seraphina can help you with the essays."
Seraphina nodded, pulling a chair beside Dante. "Alright, let's get this done quickly. We still need time to check out the club fair after this."
"The club fair?" Rian raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't forget about that too, did you?" Lyria asked, exasperated. "It's happening this afternoon. It's our chance to find a club to join."
Dante grinned sheepishly. "Guess we've had a lot on our minds. What's the rush anyway?"
"Clubs at Aurora Academy are a big deal," Seraphina explained. "Some of them have amazing resources and can really help you advance in your Essentia training. But they're also super competitive. If we want to stand a chance, we need to make a good impression."
Rian exchanged a glance with Dante. "We're in no condition to make a good impression right now."
"That's why we're going to finish this homework first," Lyria said firmly. "And then, we'll head to the club fair."
Later that afternoon, with their homework finally finished (thanks to Lyria and Seraphina's intervention), the four of them made their way to the academy's central courtyard, where the club fair was in full swing. Colorful banners and posters hung from every corner, advertising all sorts of clubs: from alchemy to combat training, enchanting to spirit hunting.
Students bustled about, signing up for various clubs and talking with the club representatives. It was clear that joining the right club was a big deal here, and Rian could feel the excitement and nervous energy in the air.
"There's so many," Rian said, glancing around. "How do we know which ones are worth checking out?"
Lyria pointed to a section of the courtyard that was noticeably more crowded. "That's where the elite clubs are. They're the most popular and hardest to get into."
As they made their way through the crowd, they caught sight of a booth that stood out from the rest. The banner above it read "The Vanguard Society". The students manning the booth wore matching uniforms, their expressions confident and poised. The Vanguard Society was one of the most prestigious clubs at Aurora Academy, known for producing some of the best fighters, strategists, and leaders the academy had ever seen.
"I've heard about them," Seraphina whispered. "They only accept the top students. Getting in is almost impossible unless you're recommended by a senior."
Before they could get any closer, a tall figure stepped out from behind the booth. He was a senior student, his posture commanding attention. His piercing green eyes swept over the crowd before landing on the group. His black hair was neatly styled, and there was a calm but intimidating air about him.
"Interested in The Vanguard Society?" he asked, his voice smooth but authoritative.
Rian blinked, realizing that the senior was talking to them. "Uh, maybe? What exactly does your club do?"
The senior smiled faintly. "We are the academy's frontline. We specialize in advanced combat techniques, strategic operations, and leadership training. Our members are often selected for elite missions outside the academy, and our graduates are among the best in their respective fields. But entry into The Vanguard Society is not easy. We only accept the most dedicated students."
"We're not afraid of a challenge," Dante said, stepping forward with his usual confidence.
The senior raised an eyebrow, clearly sizing Dante up. "Good. But it takes more than courage to be a part of The Vanguard Society. My name is Kael Stormrider. I'm the president of the club. If you're serious about joining, you'll need to prove yourselves."
Lyria looked intrigued. "What kind of test do we need to pass?"
Kael's smile grew. "There's no single test. We evaluate students based on their performance in various areas—combat, strategy, teamwork. If you think you have what it takes, sign up for the trials next week. But be warned: the acceptance rate is less than five percent."
Rian and Dante exchanged a glance. This was exactly the kind of challenge they needed to push themselves, but they knew it wouldn't be easy.
"We'll be there," Rian said, his resolve firm.
Kael nodded approvingly. "Good. I look forward to seeing what you're capable of."
As the group walked away from the booth, excitement buzzing in their veins, Dante couldn't help but grin. "This is going to be intense."
"Intense is an understatement," Lyria added. "But if we can get in, it'll be worth it."
Rian felt a mix of anticipation and nerves. After everything they'd been through with the dark magic and the hooded figure, this challenge seemed almost refreshing. But there was still the lingering question in his mind: What would the trials involve, and could they really pass?
For now, though, they had taken the first step. The Vanguard Society awaited, and they were ready to face whatever came next.
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