The hallways in the morning were more quiet than usual as Allen continued towards his classroom.
"After all, the preliminary rounds announcement is today," Allen said out loud to himself.
Most of the students were preparing for the assembly that would be taking place within the next hour. Whether that was eating breakfast first, getting some training in, or simply hanging around with friends, most of the students found their own time to wait.
Since they would be holding the assembly first thing today, classes would have a late start, so Allen didn't quite need to be at class yet, but there was something he wanted to get done.
"Let's just hope he's here," Allen took in a deep breath as he knocked on the classroom door.
"The doors unlocked. You may enter," Mr. Lyon's voice came from inside.
"Excuse me," Allen said, as he opened the door and walked in.
"Ah, Fleming. What brings you here?," Mr. Lyon asked, as he was sorting some documents on his desk.
Well, he's definitely a lot more organized than William and Ms. Florence, Allen thought to himself.
"Mr. Lyon, I had a quick question for you," Allen stated as he walked up to his desk.
"And I may have a quick answer for you," he said, looking up at him. "Something about classwork? Or perhaps a question on magic?"
"Neither," Allen answered, to Mr. Lyon's surprise. "I was wondering if you would be able to be our club sponsor for our Training Club"
"Ah, I have heard about your club," Mr. Lyon said, pondering in thought. "Ms. Clark is your temporary club sponsor, yes?"
"Right. Which is why I am asking if you would become our permanent one," Allen continued.
"Makes sense," Mr. Lyon nodded his head. "However, I have to unfortunately advise you that I am already a sponsor to another club"
"Can't you be a sponsor to multiple clubs?," Allen asked.
"I'd assume you would know the answer to that, given you are the club president of your club," Mr. Lyon raised an eyebrow. "Regardless, each teacher can only be a sponsor to one club, which means I cannot be your club sponsor, unfortunately"
"I see," Allen said, as he sighed. "No luck"
"I'm sorry Fleming. I guess you could try asking your previous teacher, Ms. Florence, but knowing her…"
"She could care less," Allen shrugged.
"Sounds like her," Mr. Lyon rolled his eyes. "Anyways, I advise you should start making your way to the assembly. They'll be starting soon"
"They're starting soon already?," Allen exclaimed, looking at the time. "Guess I will start heading out. I suppose I'll see you in class later?"
"Correct, after the assembly. Anything else you wanted to ask before you leave?"
"Nope, that was all for right now. Thanks Mr. Lyon"
"Of course. Just let me know if you need anything else," Mr. Lyon gave him a small smile as Allen made his leave.
Well, now it's time for the preliminary announcement assembly, Allen thought, as he left Mr. Lyon's room. Only a matter of time before I'll be in the real tournament.
By the time Allen arrived at the assembly room, all the other students were already shuffling in. He had to squeeze his way through so he could make it to where his friends were.
"Al!," Thomas waved, as he saw him from across the room. "We saved a seat for you!"
Thomas patted down the seat to the left of him, as Cecily was already sitting on his right.
Ah, that's right, Allen thought. Now that we are D ranks, we don't have to sit all the way in the back, with the other F ranks.
"So, how did it go?," Thomas asked.
"He's already a club sponsor for another club," Allen answered him.
"Aww, that sucks. I was looking forward to our teach being our official club sponsor!," Thomas exclaimed.
"It's alright, we can always try to find another teacher," Cecily added, looking up from her book.
"That's true, but who could we ask?," Allen asked.
"Uh, maybe Ms. Florence?," Thomas suggested.
"Uh huh. Why don't you go ask her personally Tom?," Cecily gave him a look.
"Yeah, she'd definitely say yes if I asked her!," Thomas grinned.
"That's- not the point Lily was trying to make," Allen slapped his forehead.
"Huh?"
"She means that she wouldn't accept, and you know that," Allen elaborated.
"But-"
Before they could continue their conversation, all the other students suddenly had their attention to the front of the auditorium, and for a good reason. The assembly was beginning.
"Welcome back everyone!," Rose's voice filled the room. "As you know, I am your Student Council President, Rose Marion!"
Students' voices began to fill the room as everyone noticed Rose up on the stage. Once again, she had gotten everyone's attention rather easily.
"It's Rosy!," Thomas exclaimed.
"Well, of course. Not like she's the student council president, or anything," Cecily rolled her eyes.
Rose waited for all the students to calm down before she continued talking.
"I am here to explain to all of you how the preliminary rounds will work, for those of you who don't know already!"
"Firstly, not everyone is required to participate in the tournament. Well, aside from one individual as you all may be aware of"
Not again, not again, Allen thought, as he could feel everyone's stares from all around him.
"Well, I definitely remember this!," Thomas exclaimed, looking at everyone all around him.
"I just want to study," Cecily mumbled, trying to ignore the attention.
"It's even worse this time, since we're a little closer to the front compared to before," Allen whispered to Thomas.
Since they are sitting with all the other D ranks, it was much easier to see the front of the room, at the cost of being closer to everyone else.
"Anyways, as I was saying," Rose continued. "The preliminary rounds are just to ensure we don't end up with too many students in the actual tournament! After all, it is a tournament!"
"The preliminary rounds will be relatively short, with each student facing off against at most up to two students total. However, unlike the actual tournament, losing a round in the preliminaries does not guarantee that you will not be selected for the actual tournament! The preliminaries are to showcase your abilities and your resolve!"
Everyone in the room began to murmur once again. After all, the preliminaries would make it a bit more fair, giving everyone equal opportunity. However, the actual tournament itself will be a process of elimination, for sure.
"However, I wish everyone luck! I will also be participating in the tournament, so I hope to see you all there!," Rose smiled.
Excitement easily filled the room, as everyone remembered she would also be in the tournament. This could be good or bad in several ways, as everyone would have a chance to see her up close and personal, but they may end up facing her in the tournament.
"That's all for me for right now. Now everyone, please give your attention to the twins Lisa and Misa, who will be your tournament commentary once again, just like last year!," Rose explained as she motioned her hand to two girls who were getting up on the stage as Rose was leaving.
The students in the crowd started to get a little wild, with the two new girls.
"Hello everyone! My name is Misa!"
"And my name is Lisa!"
"And we're your twin announcers for this year once again!"
Up on stage were the two girls, who both wore water academy uniforms. Allen could tell straight away that they were twins, looking exactly like with blue eyes and blonde hair. However, the difference between the two was how they tied their hair, with Misa's hair tied to her right and Lisa's tied to her left.
Wait, I've seen Lisa before, haven't I?, Allen thought to himself. Way back during the entrance ceremony, but it was just Lisa. I haven't seen Misa yet.
"And now allow us to tell you some extra details about the preliminaries that Rose may not have mentioned!," Misa spoke.
"Damn, they're both pretty, aren't they?," a familiar voice came from behind them.
"Stephen?!," Allen and Thomas exclaimed at the same time.
"Yo," he greeted them, sitting down next to Allen.
"Are you sure you can be here?," Allen asked.
"Remember what I said during the assembly to introduce August?," Stephen asked.
"Ah, right No one will do anything about it," Allen remembered.
"Correct! So I thought I'd hang with you guys, while we get to watch the cuties Lisa and Misa talk!," Stephen grinned. "What do you guys think?"
"Ah, I don't really care," Allen shrugged.
"Alright, what about you Tom?"
"I-," Thomas was about to speak, but he noticed the glare coming from Cecily next to him.
"Ah, I think you're better off keeping your mouth shut," Stephen laughed, noticing Cecily.
"I doubt he even knows why she's giving him that look," Allen laughed.
"Huh?," Thomas looked at them, completely dumbfounded.
"Anyways," Stephen changed the subject. "What did you guys think about Rose's announcement?"
"I think she did very well. She is the student council president, after all," Allen responded.
"Yeah, Rosy did a very good job!," Thomas also agreed.
"Well, here's the thing I wonder," Stephen started to say, leaning in closer to Allen and Thomas. "I wonder if she was wearing her favorite pair of pink p-"
"Uh, Stephen, look behind you," Allen quickly interrupted, noticing a menacing glare from behind them.
"Huh?," Stephen turned around, to find none other than Rose herself. "What are you doing here?"
"Come with me," Rose declared, already dragging him by the collar of his shirt.
"Wait no!," Stephen shouted, getting the attention of those around them. "Please save me!"
Allen and Thomas proceeded to laugh as Rose started to drag him away to punish him outside of the assembly room.
As Rose was taking him away, she gave both Allen and Thomas a glare, as if they would be next if they continued laughing. They immediately stopped out of complete fear as to what they could be in store for.
"How about we agree not to say anything about Rose when we feel she might be nearby?," Allen asked.
"Yeah. Good idea," Thomas agreed.
Once Rose was finished with Stephen, the both of them walked in, trying their best not to get the attention of those around them. They both sat down, however Rose had Allen swap seats with Stephen so she didn't have to sit next to him.
"So, you good?," Allen asked, turning to face him.
"No," Stephen said, his eyes looking completely dead.
"Serves you right," Rose nodded, crossing her arms.
The four of them finally turned their attention back to the stage (except Cecily who chose to read instead), as Misa and Lisa finished off their announcement.
I'm surprised that through all of that we somehow didn't interrupt them, Allen thought, surprised. Then again, I don't know if anyone would stop Rose when she's in that serious mode of hers.
"Anyways, that's all from us!," Misa waved.
"Thank you everyone!," Lisa waved.
"And we'll see you all at the preliminaries!"
A lot of the students began to cheer as the two of them started to exit off of the stage.
"Well, I hope they didn't say anything too important," Allen said, realizing they were distracted the whole time by Stephen.
"Well if you missed anything because of this bonehead, then I'll be sure to help you," Rose nodded.
"Oh man, I am so looking forward to the preliminaries! It's getting me so pumped up!," Thomas exclaimed, punching an invisible opponent in front of him.
"It'll get here when it gets here. I'll study for now," Cecily added, still engrossed in her studies.
As everyone began to exit out of the auditorium, Allen couldn't help but think what the preliminaries will be like, and who he will be up against.
As Rose advised everyone, losing in the preliminaries does not guarantee that you will not be able to participate in the official tournament. Allen however, needs to make sure he wins to ensure he fulfills his conditions William gave him to remain at the academy.
Well, we're running out of time to train before the preliminaries, since it's just around the corner, Allen thought to himself. I'm going to do my very best to win my round in the preliminary rounds!