Several weeks had passed since Sarah, Alice's other personality, had officially joined the Training Club.
Since Sarah is Alice's other personality, they had to take turns during training. Mostly it was Alice training, since Sarah was more interested in talking and hanging out over actual training.
The times that she did want to train, she only wanted to train with Allen. There was only so much time that Allen could train with her before he felt dead inside. When anyone else offered to train with her, she would decline. The only exception to this was the one time she trained with Rose.
Today, it was Alice training with Cecily. Stephen was training with Thomas, and Allen was training with Rose.
For whatever reason, Thomas and Stephen bonded really well when they trained together. Allen wasn't entirely sure why, but didn't interfere since they were training and having a fun time. Stephen and Thomas would still train with everyone else, but mostly with each other.
"Got you," Rose said, as she had her rapier pointed at Allen's neck.
"You won this time," Allen admitted defeat. "But I still won last time"
"Sure, but I won the time before that," Rose gave him a small smirk.
"Yeah yeah. With your win today, what's the current score?," Allen asked.
"Hm. If I remember correctly, it's currently 4-4, so we are tied," she shrugged.
"Guess I'll just have to win next time in order to get back to winning," Allen grinned.
"Sure, sure. You try that," she said as she sheathed her rapier.
"I won't just try it, I will do it," he responded as he sheathed his sword away. Rose playfully rolled her eyes in response.
"Is everyone else finished yet?," Rose raised her voice, looking over at both groups.
"Yeah, we're done," Thomas announced while they were both sitting on the floor taking a breather. Just how much training were they doing?
"We're finished too," Cecily announced as the two of them walked over.
Shortly after Cecily and Alice reconvened with Allen and Rose, Thomas and Stephen made their way over too. All six of them would always reconvene before they left the training room.
"Alright, same thing tomorrow everyone?," Allen asked, checking to see who would come tomorrow. He always did this so he could keep track of everyone for the club.
"Yeah," everyone responded, but not all at once.
"Alright, then we'll see each other later," Allen announced as the whole group started to make their way towards the exit, except for Thomas.
"Guys, wait a second"
"What's up Thomas?," Allen said as everyone turned around.
"Clubs are allowed to go on trips, right?"
"Not that I am aware of," Allen admitted.
"I can actually answer this for you," Rose announced, as she walked towards Thomas. "Yes, clubs are allowed to go on trips with their club sponsor's and a director's permission"
"Luckily, our club sponsor happens to be both," Stephen added, grinning.
"Well, what did you have in mind Thomas?," Allen asked, interested.
"Well, since we are a club and going on a trip would be fun, why don't we go on a club trip then?"
"Hmm, that actually isn't a bad idea, what does everyone else think?," Rose asked, looking around.
"I think it would be a great idea," Allen said, smiling.
"Sure, I could use a break," Stephen said with a big grin.
"Sure, I don't mind," Cecily quietly added.
"Yes," Alice blankly responded.
"What about Sarah?," Allen asked, half expecting what the answer would be.
"Oh," Alice said, caught off guard for a second, her face a little red. "Uh, one second"
Alice took off her glasses, her hair and eyes quickly turning brown. Sarah was now the personality in control.
"Of course I will go as long as Allen is going!," Sarah said as she quickly moved over to Allen, locking her arm around his.
"When did you-," Allen said, caught completely off guard at how she was already over by him.
"Allen…," Rose muttered, her hand on her rapier's handle.
"I swear, I didn't-"
"Wait, how did Sarah already know what we were going to ask her?," Thomas interrupted, confused.
"Oh, you didn't know?," Rose immediately asked, acting like she didn't just try to murder Allen.
"Didn't know what?," Thomas asked, dumbfounded.
"I would just explain it to him," Allen said, laughing.
"I just thought he'd already know," Rose said, laughing a little. "Although only one of their personalities can be out at once, they can both see what the other does if they aren't the current one in control, so to speak"
"Ah, I see," Thomas said, satisfied with her answer.
"Yeah, I can see what Alice is doing when she's in control, and then she can see what I do when I am in control"
"Sometimes you just have to remember that Thomas is a bit slower than everyone else," Cecily said, shrugging.
"Wha-? Cecily?!," Thomas exclaimed. Everyone proceeded to laugh.
"Well, when should we ask Ms. Clark?," Thomas asked, after everyone was done laughing.
"Well she's going to do her weekly visit to check in on our club tomorrow, so we can ask her then. No point in trying to track her down now," Rose explained.
"Good point. Let's all meet here tomorrow, and wait for Ms. Clark," Allen announced.
"Sure," everyone agreed.
After they all talked for just a little bit longer, they all headed back to their dorm rooms.
Once class was finished the next day, they all met back in the training room, where they waited for Ms. Clark. Once she arrived, they asked her if they could go on a club trip.
"I'm sorry, but no," she responded.
"Aww, but why?," Thomas pleaded.
"Is there some sort of issue?," Allen asked.
"It's not that I don't want you all to go and have fun, but as your temporary sponsor, I cannot permit all of you to go. I can permit you all as my position as a Vice Director, but not as your temporary sponsor," she explained.
"Then how can we get approved? Do we have to wait for a permanent sponsor?," Allen asked.
"A club with a temporary sponsor has to get the head director's permission," she responded.
"Well, off to see my father it is," Stephen said, shrugging.
"Ugh, I suppose it is," Rose said, a little annoyed. She already had to see him enough as is.
"Good luck," Ms. Clark said as she waved as everyone left.
"Wait, aren't we going to train today?," Thomas asked while they all left the training room.
"Don't you want to go on the club trip?," Cecily asked, sighing. "We can always train later"
"Oh, right. Good point. You always seem to know the answer Lily!"
The six of them made their way to William's office, where they expected him to be. Rose informed them that he was normally in there anyways, catching up on paperwork, as usual.
Rose swung the door open as hard as she could, like she normally does.
"Head Director, we need your approval on something," she casually said as all six of them walked in
Once Allen entered the room, he noticed William talking to someone by his desk. He looked a bit older, maybe in his fifties, as he also had a bit of a beard. His hair and eye color were both brown, but not as brown as Thomas'. He had a rather crude look on his face, as if this was how he normally looked everywhere he went. Perhaps his old age is starting to get to him? He wore a distinguished uniform similar to William's, but brown. Could this be Walter Garet, the Earth Vice Director?
"I trust that you will make his entrance into the academy smooth and efficient?," he asked William, a now serious yet refined expression on his face.
"Of course Walter, someone such as him would definitely need an easy and smooth transition into our academy," William responded, a serious expression on his face as well.
"And who are these kids?," Walter asked, finally turning back around to look at the six of them in the room. He looked at each of them individually, despite seeming like he couldn't care less about any one of them. He made a slightly disgruntled face when he noticed Rose, and when he noticed Allen he seemed to get a good look at him.
"Mr. Garet," Rose acknowledged, but she seemed a bit annoyed. "We're here to speak to William regarding our club"
"Ah, so the Student Council President isn't here regarding the Student Council, but for a club she joined? Hah, who would've known you of all people would get yourself involved in something other than the Student Council?," he had an amused look on his face.
"It's not like I am not allowed to participate in club activities like the rest of the academy. Even some of our Student Council Members are involved with clubs outside of the Student Council," Rose explained, crossing her arms as she spoke.
"Hmph, I wonder what your mother would think if she heard about your… activities… at this academy," he spoke with an amused yet arrogant look on his face, while slightly stroking his beard on his face.
"Don't you dare mention my mother!," Rose yelled and pointed at him. Clearly, him mentioning her mother hit a spot.
"Now now, Walter. Remember she is still a student of the academy. We still need to treat our students with some level of respect," he reminded him.
"Hmph, whatever"
"Mr. Garet, was it?," Allen finally spoke up.
"Hmph, so you must be that student everyone is talking about. Allen, is it?," He asked, looking over at him with a slight annoyed look on his face.
"Just a reminder that I haven't forgotten your involvement in a little… something," he said, referring back to his duel with Nathaniel.
"Oh? My involvement in something? I see," he said with a curious look on his face.
"Alright Walter, I think it's time you resume back to your own duties. I do have to speak with these students here," he reminded him.
"Fine, I do have some tasks that do need to be completed. But you William, involving yourself so much with some… students. Some of you have clearly changed," he said with a slightly disgusted tone in his voice.
"Yes yes, and you too have changed as well," William spoke with a slight smirk on his face.
"Hmph, I'll finally be on my way then," he said as he began to head towards the exit.
He slowly headed towards the exit, everyone moving out of the way for him except Allen.
"I'll be watching you, Fleming," he whispered as he passed by him.
"Sure," he responded, glaring back at him as he finally passed by him.
He finally left the room, closing the door behind him. Everyone seemed to sigh in relief.
"Well, that was certainly difficult to deal with," William said as he rested his hand on his forehead for a moment.
"For the record William, I dislike him. Very much," Rose crossed her arms.
"I am aware, but those things aside he is a great vice-director," William admitted.
"So that was Mr. Garet? Is he always like that?," Thomas awkwardly asked.
"Hmm, not always. But you get the idea," William responded.
So he was the one who interfered with my duel with Nathaniel, Allen thought. But why did he? What goal was he trying to accomplish? If he wanted me out of the academy, he would've done it differently. Right?
"Well subtracting what happened before, why don't we get back to what brings all six of you here?," William asked, putting a smile on his face.
"Right. We originally came here to discuss something with you, since Ms. Clark said we needed your permission," Rose recalled. "Thomas, why don't you explain?"
"Me?," Thomas asked, surprised.
"Well of course. You're the one who thought of the idea," Rose smiled.
"Really? Thank you!," Thomas said with a major grin on his face.
Allen was glad to see everyone back in spirits again, but he still couldn't help but think back on his duel with Nathaniel and the exchange with Mr. Garet just minutes ago.
"We were interested in going on a club trip, like what other clubs do!," Thomas explained, a big grin still on his face.
Everyone else nodded. Everyone could use a break, including Rose.
"Oh, a club trip, huh?," William asked, a small smirk on his face. "And what kind of trip were you guys thinking about?"
"Well, we haven't fully sorted out the details, but we figured we could at least ask you first since we need your permission anyways," Rose elaborated.
"I see," William said, thinking. "Well, I have no issues with it, as all clubs are usually permitted to go on trips. However…"
"However?," Everyone asked, awaiting his response.
"Need I remind you that several of you within the room are behind on your work in class?," he leaned forward.
"Oh? And just who is that?," Rose asked, looking throughout the room. It was clearly not her, after all.
"I uh might be a little behind on some stuff…," Thomas said scratching the back of his head.
"A little behind? More like a lot behind," Cecily sighed. "Ms. Florence doesn't assign much, yet you somehow manage to not turn in anything"
"I don't know what you mean!," Thomas had a silly look on his face.
"I myself got a little behind, but not a lot," Allen admitted.
"Okay. Who else?," Rose glared at Stephen.
"I'm not behind," Stephen shrugged.
"Not behind, you say?," William suddenly had a large grin on his face, pulling out a piece of paper from his desk. "Need I remind you about the reports we have here of you talking to female students instead of-"
"Okay okay I get it! I concede!," Stephen practically fell out of his chair.
"Hmph, such a moron," Rose turned her head away from him.
"I swear I am just trying to make friends!"
"More like trying to hook up with all the female students," Allen laughed.
"Allen, you gotta be interested too in all the hot-"
"Shut up!," Rose slapped the top of his head, to which Stephen fell over.
"As far as everyone else, Alice has managed to always turn in her work early. Sarah however, is a completely different story…," William stared down at Sarah, who just appeared after Alice took her glasses off.
"Shhh, I have other things to worry about!," she smiled.
"Oh, like controlling your fanbase?," William sighed.
"I may have a lot of fans, but Allen is by far my favorite!," she cheerfully smiled.
"Since when was I one of your 'fans'?," Allen asked, looking over at her.
"Since you started at this academy obviously!," she smiled back at him with a cute look on her face.
"Someone please save me now…"
"Alright, everyone settle down," William announced, everyone finally putting their attention back to him. "Unfortunately, I cannot permit you all on a club trip if more than half of the members are behind on work"
"Looks like we need to straighten the boys out, and Sarah," Rose said, cracking her knuckles.
"We're all innocent, we swear!," Allen, Thomas, and Stephen all said at the same time.
"However, there is another way I can permit you all on this club trip," he said with a grin on his face.
"And? That would be?," Rose turned her attention to him, allowing the boys to sigh of relief.
"If all of you, aside from Alice and Sarah, can defeat me in a duel, then I will allow you all to go on a club trip of your choice, provided it is reasonable," he declared with a big grin on his face, pushing his glasses in.
"Say what now?," Rose looked like William was out of his mind.
"Well, this is getting interesting," Stephen grinned.
"It's been awhile since I've faced William, so I like the sound of this," Allen said while also grinning.
"That shouldn't be too difficult, right?," Thomas asked, looking around the room for reassurance.
"You're asking if it will be difficult to defeat the Head Director of the academy in a duel? Not to mention he is regarded as one of the strongest mages currently in England?," Cecily stared at Thomas.
"Okay… maybe just a little difficult…"
"You think?"
"Cecily is right, however it would be five of you against just me," William added.
"Hmm, should we do it?," Stephen looked over at Allen with a grin on his face.
"I say we go for it," Allen grinned back at him.
"Whatever stupid ideas you both have, might want to end it now," Rose rolled her eyes.
"Well? Are you guys for it?," he asked, awaiting their responses.
Everyone looked over to Allen, who was the Training Club's President.
"I honestly think this is a bad idea, but it's up to you Club President," Rose shrugged.
"I say we take the chance," Allen said, grinning. He can't wait to duel William, who he hasn't faced since he was thirteen, which was about two years ago.
"Very well. We shall head to the training room, where we shouldn't get interrupted, and will conduct the duel there. I will have Ms. Clark oversee the duel," William announced, getting out of his chair.
The six of them headed towards the training room together, without William. He informed them he would join them there shortly after they arrived (if he had gone with them, they would've attracted too much attention). Once they got inside, they all began to stretch and prepare while they still had time.
Not too long after, William had arrived with Ms. Clark, who followed behind him. Everyone was finally here.
"So, how is this going to go?" Rose asked. "Also why is Alice or Sarah not participating?"
"Alice and Sarah won't be participating due to their magic," William explained. "Don't worry too much about it"
"Okay, and the rules?"
"Ms. Clark will be overseeing this duel, to make sure it is fair and square," he motioned over to Ms. Clark, who nodded her head. "Go ahead and start to get into position, all five of you"
"He still hasn't explained the rules yet," Rose sighed as they all went into the middle of the room, where the duel outline was.
"Alright this is how our duel will go," William began to explain. "It will be me versus you five. If you land a single hit on me, I lose and you all can go on your club trip. If I get a single hit on any of you, that person is out. You all lose if I manage to get all of you out"
"Wait, so we just need a singular hit on William, and we win?," Thomas asked, as if he expected it to be harder.
"Thomas, I don't think you realize how difficult this will actually be," Cecily sighed.
"William, you cannot be serious about this," Rose looked at him like he was crazy. "Just one hit? And with all five of us? This is no regular duel!"
"Indeed it is no regular duel. Normal duels at this academy consist of one mage versus another. However this duel will consist of five mages versus one stronger mage," William explained.
"Okay? And why do something like this?"
"All of you, or should I say all five of you, have only been trained how to face another opponent. If any of you are actually interested in becoming magical knights, fights like these are ordinary. You all need to show me that you have the motivation to push for your goals by facing me in a duel here," he elaborated.
"Hmm, fair enough. Then we shall face you in this duel!," Rose said with a serious look on her face, unsheathing her rapier.
"I've been waiting for something like this," Stephen said, grinning and getting his magic ready.
"I can't wait to defeat you William! It's time we face each other like we did before!," Allen said, unsheathing and pointing his sword at William.
"I feel like this is a horrible idea," Cecily sighed, but started to ready her magic.
"I haven't faced someone like the Head Director before! I am very excited!," Thomas was practically bouncing in place.
"I'll be cheering you all on!," Sarah waved from the stands closest to everyone else. "Especially you, Allen!"
"Please have someone change her back to Alice," Allen muttered.
"Allow me to show you all why a majority of England considers me the Mage in Glasses," William said with a serious yet interested look on his face as he pushed in his glasses.