We made our way into the living room of the Bellum house. Finally being in the house without a party going on made me realize how big the living room actually was. It was a large rectangle room with a pool table in the center. on one wall was a massive fire place with 2 massive leather chairs and a sofa sat in-front of it. Across from that bookshelves covered one of the wall and many comfortable seating options sat Infront of them. One of the shorter walls had a massive flat screen tv mounted on it, with couches set up all around it. the other shorter wall had a bar that was well stocked with various colorful liquids.
Elizabeth and Lexia sat close together on the couch across from the fire place. I decided to relax in the giant leather bound chair next to them.
Aaron was still standing at the entrance to the room. "Ok you three wait here. I'll go get Nox, and some drinks." He walked out of the room the room.
"Can't you just get some from the bar?" I called out to him
"No after a night like tonight you all deserve something from my special collection!" Aaron shouted back.
A few moments passed the sound of Aarons foot steps became faint and then were gone.
"What the hell was that?" Asked Elizabeth. "Why were those people after you?" she looked over to Lexia.
Lexia threw her hands up "How the hell should I know?" she said with exasperation.
Elizabeth looked at Lexia concern growing in her eyes. "Look I'm just worried about you. If you know what's going on tell me, we can confront it together." She pleaded.
"Look just drop it!" Lexia lashed out.
Elizabeth began to look a bit annoyed by Lexias tone.
"Anyone else cold?" I cut in trying to prevent a full blown argument from happening.
Lexia looked over at me. "Yah think you could get the fire started?" She asked and then mouthed the words thank you to me.
That was unexpected. i thought to myself, I mean Lexia actually thanking me for something without an attitude. Hell must be freezing over. I stood up from the chair and held out my hand ready to cast.
Elizabeth stood from her chair lunged for my hand. "Stop! What do you think your doing" she said in a panic.
"Uhm starting a fire, that a problem?" I said.
"Yah? by casting? no offense but you almost blew up half the stadium. I don't want you blowing this room up." She said pushing my hand down to my side.
"Oh right you have a point." I said a little embarrassed.
"Uhm what's going on?" I looked over and saw Aaron and Nox standing in the doorway holding drinks with confused expressions on their face.
"Nothing just stopping Lance from blowing up your house." Elizabeth said letting go of my arm and sitting back down next to Lexia.
"Oh well thank you." Aaron said with a concerned tone. He and Nox walked over handing each of us our drinks.
I took mine and sat back down in chair.
Nox was standing Infront of the fireplace. "Hey guys I heard you had a rough night." She said with concern in her tone.
Lexia gulped down her drink. "Yah you can say that again." she said after finishing the cup in one go.
"Need another one?" Aaron asked.
Lexia held out her glass "Yes Please."
Nox stepped forward and grabbed the glass out of Lexias hand. "I'll get it, Aaron you may as well get this started." She hurried off out of the living room.
"So I know you have a lot of questions." Aaron began to say before Lexia interrupted him.
"Hey Aaron before we get started with this could we maybe start the fire? its freezing." Lexia said through chittering teeth.
"Yah sure." Aaron held up his hand and snapped his fingers. A fire roared to life in the fire place. "Now like I was saying, I know you all have questions about everything that happened tonight. So ask me whatever." he took a sip of his drink.
In unison we all began blurting out questions at Aaron.
"Ok No, stop stop stop." Aaron said waving his hand. "Ok let's try this raise your hand and I'll call on you."
We all raised up our hands. He pointed towards Elizabeth first.
"Who the hell where those people?" She asked.
"Cultists." He said in a nonchalant tone. I guess he sensed that his answer wasn't good enough for Elizabeth so he continued. "As for exactly what cult not too sure, but the girl we caught should provide us some answers. Good job on that one Lance." He gave me a thumbs up and took another sip from his drink. He pointed at me. "What's your question?"
"How did they get passed the barrier? I mean this is the second time something like this happened." I asked nervously.
"We believe one of them posed as a new student, but the jury is still out on that one." He pointed at Lexia.
"You said we don't know what cult. As in there is more than one? how many are there. Also why are we being attacked by cultist" She asked.
"Ok that's a bit hard to explain. For your first question, there are definitely more than one. We believe there are cults for each different leader in hell, nut no one knows for sure." He took a big sip from his glass. "Naturally this makes them our enemies. From what we know they take on people and train them to fight for hell and they gain their magic from whatever leader of hell they're cult follows."
Elizabeth raised her hand again. Aaron nodded for her to go ahead.
"So are they a serious problem?" She asked.
"Some yes, the more experienced members can be as strong as Mr. Griffon, some stronger. But usually we only run into lower level cultist in the field."
"Here is your drink." Nox said walking back into the room. She handed Lexia her drink and walked over and stood next to Aaron in front of the fire place.
Lexia sipped her drink slower this time, savoring the taste of whatever concoction Nox made her.
"You like it? I know it's probably not as good as one of Aarons but. I think i did alright." Nox said.
"Oh my sweet mixologist protege, you make wonderful drinks." Aaron said giving her a kiss on the cheek. her cheeks turned a darker blue. He looked back over to us. "So anymore questions?"
Lexia raised her hand.
"Go ahead my hot topic princess."
Lexia gave Aaron a death stare. "What? don't call me that." She paused and took a shaky breath. "Do you know why they wanted me?"
Aaron and Nox looked to each other like they were trying to telepathically discuss what to say. And they just might be, with what i've learned with my time at this school telepathy would be one of the lesser weird things this week
Nox decided to speak first. "Well we aren't sure, like I said we know very little about the cult. Their plans are a mystery to us."
"But whatever it is, it cant be good." Aaron said it looked like he had more to say, but then down the hall the front door swung open.
The dwarf from earlier Bolt came into the house followed by Jean and Jordan. they walked into the living room.
Bolt from what I could see on from his face looked a bit annoyed. "Look see their fine." He said pointing at the three of us sitting in the room.
Poor guy Jean probably didn't leave him alone for 1 second the moment they made it in the shelter and Jordan joining probably made it one hundred times worse.
"Oh thank god." Jean said as she began running over to me.
"Buddy!" Jordan yelled as he launched passed Jean and began squeezing me in his arms.
"Uhm hey man you good?" I asked the air slowly getting squeezed out of my lungs.
"No. How dare you go off and fight without me." He said in a whining tone.
I started pushing him off me. "I'm sorry man it's not like i planned it." I said.
"Well don't let it happen again." He said crossing his arms and looking away from me like a child.
I looked over to Jean she looked pissed.
Aaron leaned over to me and whispered in my ear. "Oh yah your in trouble."
"Hey Jean uhm sorry about before." I began to say when she started walking towards me I was expecting a nice kiss, what i got instead was a strong slap across the face.
"Don't ever do that type of shit to me again." She said looking even angrier than before.
"Look I'm..." I began to say only to be interrupted again.
"let me guess your sorry?" she yelled. "You took off. I could've helped." She said now looking more sad rather than angry. "I could've helped." Tears began rolling down her cheeks.
"I know you could've helped but." I tried to start talking but unfortunately it doesn't seem like she has any intention in letting me talk.
"No buts! Never leave me behind again. Never again got it?" She said termbling over her words
I didn't speak i just nodded in agreement and pulled her in to hold her tight.
"Well now that we have more company anyone want a drink." Aaron asked, but before anyone could talk Aaron began speaking again. "Oh who am i kidding of course you do. Jordan, Jean I'll make you one of my specialties. Bolt anything for you?"
"Anything is fine just make it strong." Said Bolt he was now sitting down leaned back in a reclining chair near the TV.
"Oh my sweet Bolt do i make it any other way?" Aaron joked.
"Are you kidding? My grandma drinks stronger shit than you, and she's 185 years old." Bolt laughed.
Aaron put his hand to his chest. "Oh Bolt you know just how to hurt my heart." He said dramatically. He made his way out of the room to get more drinks.
Over time more and more club members began showing up at the house. I looked over at Jordan who was standing with his sister next to the pool table. I Moved over to join them.
"So thinking of joining the club?" Alice asked me.
"I'm not too sure i was thinking of Joining practical magic or battle tactics." I said.
Alice gave me a disappointed look. " Damn we could use some freshman with some actual battle experience."
I gave her a reassuring smile. "Well hey Lexia, and Elizabeth will be joining so you got them."
She nodded. "Oh yah they definitely are the top human fighters in your class."
Jordan looked to his sister a bit hurt. "Hey what about me." he asked in a whiney tone.
"Hey don't take it like that. You are good but those girls are crazy good." she patted Jordan on the back.
"There you are." I heard a voice from behind call over to me. I turned around to see Jean and Nox making their way over to us.
"Hey Vice cap!" Alice called out.
Nox looked a bit annoyed. "Alice I keep telling you when we aren't at practice or in a match Nox is fine." She said sharply.
Alice laughed. "Oh relax Nox I'm just having some fun." She looked over to the other end of the room where Angelo and some other people were gathered around a tv playing one of the latest fighting games. "I'll catch yah later, come on Jordan We got next." She grabbed Jordan by the hand and dragged him over to the game area.
"So what were you two up to?" I asked Nox and Jean.
Nox grabbed jean and pulled her in tight "I'm trying to convince Jean here to join the bellum club."
"And I told you i appreciate the offer but ancient witch craft is my best path." Jean said with a smile.
Nox sighed "Such a shame. you got what it takes to be a great battle mage." She said disappointingly.
All of a sudden Bolt appeared to the left of Nox. "Lance, Aaron would like to see you."
Jean not noticing him standing there jumped. "Where did you come from!" She shrieked.
"That's are sneaky Bolt silent and deadly." Nox joked.
Bolt ignored this remark. "Lance head up to the second floor first door on your right."
I made my way out of the living room and over to the stairs i looked straight up. The staircase looked like it went up 50 floors. I made my way up the stairs to the second floor and over to the door that Bolt specified, I raised my hand to knock but before I could i heard Aaron.
"Come in." I heard he called from the other side of the door.
I opened the door and saw the room was like a study. it was lined with bookshelves on all sides. A large desk was in the center. Aaron sat in a Leather chair next to a place on the opposite side of the room.
"Come sit." he told me. he snapped his fingers and another leather chair appeared next to his in-front of the fire place.
I made my way over and sat down. "Hey man what's up?" I asked him.
He took a sip from his drink. "Lance how are you holding up?"
"Fine i guess." I said.
"Fine?" He looked at me with concern. "Lance your time here so far has not been ordinary. You understand that right?"
Yah you could say that again. First monster attacks, now cultist what could be next Cthulhu.
The desk behind us began to raddle.
"Don't even think of that name." Aaron said in a calm tone.
"Noted. anyway it hasn't been that bad." I joked.
"This isn't funny." He said with a harsh tone. "Yes it is not unheard of for monsters to break through the campuses protection, and cultist causing trouble big deal. But you for some reason are always around when something bad happens."
"Come on you don't think i have something to do with this do you?" I asked nervously.
His harsh stare dropped and he gave me a smile. "You? of course not don't be silly. But what I am saying is you need to be prepared."
"I know that, but hey the year just started so don't worry. I'll get there." I said letting out a sigh of relief. After everything that's happened its nice to hear, Aaron knows he can trust me.
He gave me a sly smile. "That won't be quick enough. so starting tomorrow you will be joining the Bellum club."
"Wait what?" I choked on my drink a bit. "No man i don't think that's a great idea."
"Doesn't matter i talked to the Dean and he shares my concerns. tomorrow you will officially be a member." He gave an amused chuckle.
"Can't we talk about this?" I begged.
"Hmmm, No." Aaron snapped his fingers and my leather chair shot out of the room and carried me back down to the living room, stopping right next to Jean, Nox, and Bolt. who were all now sitting on the couch by the fire place.
Bolt seeing the expression on my face almost fell out of his chair laughing.
"Classic Aaron. Always has a flair for the drama." Nox giggled.
"Lance are you ok?" Jean asked as she leaned out of her seat and over to me.
"Yah I'm fine we can talk about it later." I said feeling a bit annoyed that I don't even get a decision on what club I'd get to join.
We spent a few more hours at the Bellum club chatting with members, meeting new people. Before long Jordan found me and Jean and told us Lexia and Elizabeth were waiting for us at the front ready to go.
As a group we started making the long walk back to the dorms from the Bellum house.
Jean nudged my side "So now are you going to tell me what Aaron wanted to talk to you about?" she asked.
"Nothing special just trying to get me to join the Bellum club." I lied. I don't want her getting angry with Aaron over them forcing me into the club.
Lexia gave a me a mischievous smile "Hey not a bad idea then we'd be able to have our rematch." She teased.
Oh joy I thought to myself. Being in this club is going to be the death of me.
Jordan gave me a pat on the shoulder. "Hey you should join man it's gonna be tons of fun, plus most of your friends here are joining, it's gonna be a blast."
I gave him a nod. Yeah a blast more like Lexia is going to blast me through the walls i thought. I began imagining all of the painful days this club will bring.
We made it back to the dorm and began to climb the stairs all the way up to our floor.
"Well goodnight you guys." Elizabeth said as her and Lexia started walking down the hall to their rooms.
Jean leaned over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight." She said and then began following after Lexia and Elizabeth.
"Aw so cute." Jordan teased.
"Shut up.." i grumbled.
We made our way through the door and saw Reese and Jill sleeping. Looks like they passed out watching a movie.
"Welp goodnight man. Get some sleep we got a busy day tomorrow." Jordan said making his way into his room closing the door behind him.
I made my way into my room and crawled into bed. Sleep came easy tonight only a few moments after my head hit the pillow and i was fast asleep.
My alarm clock started screaming at me. I raised my hand and smashed the snooze button. I struggled to open my eyes. Thank god no nightmares.
After struggling to get out of bed, i managed to get dressed in a shorter than usual time and headed out my door and into the main room. Jordan Reese and Connor where sitting around the table enjoying breakfast.
Connor looked away from his meal and over to me. "Good morning Lance did you sleep well?" He asked.
"Yah as good as usual i guess." I answered. I walked over to the fridge and began getting my breakfast ready. "you guys ready for the day?"
"Hell yeah, Bellum club is going to be amazing." Reese said while pumping his fist into the air.
"Oh yah cant wait." I mumbled under my breath.
Connor must have heard me. "You decided to go with the Bellum club? why the change of heart?" he asked.
Damn vampire hearing I thought to myself. "I had a talk with Aaron and he convinced me."
Connor looked like he wanted a better explanation but to my surprise he let the issue go.
We finished eating and made our way out of our room and then out of the building. Connor went off to meet his sister so they could start touring the clubs. Reese Jordan and I made our way the the Colosseum.
"This is going to be so sweet." Reese said as we walked through the archway.
we walked over to the crowed of freshman gathering in the center of the arena. We saw Lexia and Elizabeth standing at the edges we made our way over to join them.
Elizabeth looked over and gave me a smile. "What took you all so long its about to start." she said with excitement.
"What is?" I asked but she got cut off from the sound of a familiar voice coming from the front of the group.
"Welcome freshman." Aaron called out. "I'm sure many of you are wondering on what we have planned for you. If you would all please hold out your hand."
Every single freshman held out their hand in-front of themselves. Aaron snapped his fingers I felt something land in my hand. I looked to see a plain red card in my hand. I looked at my friends Jordan and Reese both had red cards as well but in Elizabeth and Lexia were holding blue cards.
Aaron spoke again regaining all of the surprised freshmen attention. "Now all of you should have either a blue or red card in your hand. Am I correct?" We all began nodding in agreement.
"Fantastic i want everyone with a red card to move to the left side of me and everyone with a blue card to my right." He said with excitement. "Now your vice captain Nox here will explain what we have prepared for your first day."
Nox appeared right next to Aaron excitement all over her face. "Thank you cap."
"Knock em dead my night sky beauty." Aaron said as he gave Nox a gentle kiss on the cheek and began to make his way to sit in the stands.
Nox cheeks turned a dark blue. "Welcome everyone, to your first day with the Bellum club." She said after regaining her composure. "How many of you have ever had the chance to see a Bellum match? raise your hands."
A handful of students raised their hands.
"Good nice to see some of you know what you are getting into." Nox said with a smile. "Now for those of you who did not raise your hand how many at least know what happens during a match?"
Maybe one or two people raised their hands up.
Nox gave an amused smile. "That's it? well no worries i guess i will explain the basics for everyone." She raised her hand to the air and snapped her fingers.
The ground began to shake, the colosseum walls began to disappear from sight our surroundings began to look like more like a forest than the colosseum we were standing in.
Nox let out a sigh. "Gods isn't magic great?"
A few students began to clap.
"Thank you, thank you hold the applause." Nox giggled. "Now for those of you who don't know Bellum, or war in Latin is one of the few sports people in our world enjoy. And in my opinion the best sport ever."
"Hell yeah!" A freshman on the red team shouted.
"I like the enthusiasm don't lose that." Nox said to the freshman "Now the goal is simple each team gathers on opposite ends of the arena." She held out her hands motioning to the massive jungle surrounding us. "There are no rules everything goes."
"Seriously? what about no killing?" Elizabeth interupted.
"Don't worry about that due to the colosseums enchantment no damage you take here will be permanent, but a different enchantment is used to monitor your damage." Nox snapped her fingers again and a dummy wearing silver armor appeared Infront of her. "Take a hit that would normally kill you." Nox summoned a long curved blade and slashed the dummy. it fell to the ground and began to dissolve. "And the colosseum will transport you to your teams bench. Anymore questions?"
"How many spots are open for the main battle group." Reese called out.
Nox turned to look at him. "We currently have 25 openings those of you who show exceptional skill will be selected to fill those slots, the rest will be secondary."
A few students began to mutter disappointedly.
Nox noticing the disappointed looks on the students faces spoke quickly. "Don't worry its not uncommon for the positions to change around during the year, and besides when we have large scale Bellum matches everyone in the club is involved in the match."
The voices from the other students died down.
"Now lets begin once teleported to your side you will have 20 minutes to plan your strategy once the bell rings your match begins." Nox raised her hand and snapped her fingers and a mist began to cover the arena.