"Rain, what should we do? Should we look around the academy?" Ethan stood and went to Rain's side. Excitement was oozing from him.
"That's a great idea! I've been dying to check this place since we first arrived here. I even have a map of the whole school, and I got to say, it would take at least a day to check 'em all." Rever brought out the folded map from his pocket and looked through it together with Rain and Ethan.
Arcane academy was indeed enormous, with a radius of more than hundreds of kilometers. It even had its own city. The downtown city, lining with shops, restaurants, and inns. It's also where their dormitories were situated as well as the train and skyship station.
Inside the academy, proper was where the different school facilitates were situated.
There were dozens of buildings that Rain and the others didn't even know where to begin. They were having headaches just by looking at them.
"Hmm . . ." Rever rubbed his chin. "We are in the main building, dedicated for lectures, located at the very front. There's a garden for relaxation at the center. The gym is located at the back together with other physical activities with an enormous track and field and with dozens of sports facilities."
"The grand hall and coliseum are located to the left of the main building while the cafeteria and library are on its right. And there's that old mansion on the left side just outside the academy's gate. And the rest of these small buildings surrounding the main building must be the different clubs. There's an Armalest club, alchemy club, painting club, music club, acting club, archery, fencing, equestrian, and soon."
Rever massaged his temples, overwhelmed by so many clubs on the map. "I'm having a headache just looking at 'em."
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"We better start exploring if we want to finish visiting all these places." Rain was excited too at their new environment.
"Maybe we can also join in one of the clubs," Ethan mumbled through his breath while his eyes never left the music club on the map.
Rever nudged Rain. "Ah, oh! Beauty alert."
Rain and Ethan looked over at Rever's line of sight. Felysa was walking in their direction with her long blue hair swaying behind her in an alluring sight.
For a while, all three men were frozen, mesmerized by the peerless beauty that was walking confidently with a warrior–goddess face.
"Rain Rizwalde," Felysa said, voice deep and clear.
"Y-yes . . . ?" Rain answered without thinking.
Ethan moved behind Rever and bit his nails while the latter had a lopsided grin on his teasing face.
Felysa breathed a mouthful of air, and Rain flinched when she slammed her palms against his table.
"I challenge you to a duel!"
". . ."
". . ."
"Eh?"
Everyone stopped whatever they were doing and looked in Rain and Felysa's direction.
Rain didn't know how to respond at the out of the blue challenge. He did expect that Felysa would contest him with their swords one of these days, but he never expected it to be on the very first day of class.
Rain sighed and shook his head. "I refused."
It was not because he was scared, nor was he not confident of winning. He just really didn't want to duel. Dueling to prove his sword techniques was the best was not his goal. He understood that each technique had its strength and weaknesses, and he respected it. If only Felysa wanted to duel him with the goal to learn from each other, then he would have agreed.
"I see . . ." Felysa's blue eyes were narrowing as she walked out of the room.
She still had her pride, after all. If the other party didn't want to duel, then she wouldn't nag him anymore. Though she really wanted to do combat to prove that Rozarrian's sword technique was the strongest in the entire four Kingdoms, it was out of her principle to fore someone.
But her resolve to challenge Rain in the future didn't crumble one bit.
. . .
. . .
"Whew! That was intense." Ethan fanned himself with his hand. "Her presence is really something else." He then grabbed Rever's shoulder when his knees almost gave way. He forgot to breathe in the presence of Felysa!
"Ehehehehe. Rain, I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse that you attracted that beauty's attention," Rever teased with a grin.
Rain shook his head a little with a bitter smile on his face before he stood to his feet. He had a feeling that Felysa wouldn't give up on challenging him. He secretly sighed.
Rain then swept the room with his gaze, curious at what the others were doing.
Percival pointed at himself with confidence while his tone was eager and excited as he talked with Pamela, "Pamela, I've already memorized this school's entire layout. With me accompanying you, I guarantee that we won't get lost."
Pamela clasped her hand in front of her, asking for Percival's understanding as she said in an apologetic tone, "Sorry, Percival, but I have something that I need to do. Maybe some other time?"
Pamela then went out of the room while all Percival could do was follow her slender back.
"Hmp!" Percival then turned to Alfonse, giving the man one final glance before he too walked out of the room.
Alfonse didn't mind Percival's attitude one bit as he stood from his seat. He was about to leave when Ethan stopped him.
"Alfonse! Are you going to explore the school? Why don't you come with us?"
"No thanks, I have somewhere I need to go," Alfonse declined and went out of the room.
"Oh . . ." Ethan's shoulders sagged, and he asked Arca, "How about you, Arca? Want to come with us?"
Arca glanced at Rain's group before she flipped her hair. "No, thank you. I have some errands to run." Without glancing back, she, too, took her leave.
"Bummer . . ." Ethan's was disappointed now, but then his face brightened. "Galahad, how 'bout you come with us?"
Galahad looked at Ethan and shifted his sight at Rain and Rever. He then walked towards them with a smile on his face. "Sure, I don't have anything to do anyway. Do you mind if we take Rin with us?"
Galahad pointed at the bored-looking girl who was now about to leave, but at the mention of her name, Rin flicked her attention at Rain's group.
"Sure! The many, the better!" It was Rever who replied.
"Rin, you don't mind, do you?" Galahad asked, a little worried since he just took the initiative to take Rin with them without asking for the little girl's approval first.
"I don't mind." Rin shrugged her shoulders and made her way towards Rain when a resounding bell echoed inside the room.
Ting! Ning! Ding! Ting!
"Calling the attention of Rain Rizwalde and Rever Ixion to come to the student council room immediately. Thank you."
"Eh?" Rain and Rever were speechless and curious as to why they were summoned to the student council room.
"I can understand why Rever was summoned but Rain too?" Ethan muttered, which warranted a frown from Rever.
Rever flicked Ethan's head. "What ya' mean by that?"
"Ouch!" Ethan rubbed his aching forehead before pouting at Rever. "I'm just saying because you're not exactly following how to properly dress with untucked sleeves, tieless shirt, and unbuttoned jacket."
"Heh! I don't want to hear that from someone who uses ribbons as neckties," Rever retorted.
Ethan's eyes turned misty, and his cheeks glowed red. "I . . . I think it looks good."
"I wonder what they want." Rain looked at the others and said, "You guys can go ahead. We'll catch up with you later."
He then dragged the unwilling Rever out of the room and into the ground level, where the student council was located.
Ethan's face contorted in disappointment, but he shook it off. "I guess it's just going to be the three of us. Where do you guys want to head first?"
Galahad looked at Rin and replied, "I don't have any particular area in mind. What about you, Rin?"
"Whichever is which," Rin responded without a care.
"Right! Then do you mind if we check the music club first?" Ethan's eyes were shining while looking at the two.
Galahad gave a half shrug. "Fine with me."
While Rin just nodded her head.