"Sorry, but I'm not here to fight," Lucas spoke up as soon as Silas clenched his fists.
'He's observant… he's dangerous.'
"You didn't answer my question. What do you want?" Silas repeated.
"I want you to join- no, I'd better word this better. We want you to join us. Join me and my peers in the Luminar Conclave."
"..."
"..."
"The hell is that?"
"Eh?" Lucas deadpanned, instantly retracting his hand as his incredibly grand offer fell nothing short of a joke. "Y-You don't know of us?"
"No…"
"Ahem…" Lucas took in a deep breath. "Well, we're an organization that influences the entire school. By joining us you too can have such power as long as you climb up the ranks. You even get access to exclusive gear, steam, and additional benefits. Ask for money, you get money. It's an incredible organization… and you seriously haven't heard of it?"
"No… am I supposed to?"
Obviously, nobody knew that in reality, this boy had only been attending this stunning academy for a grand total of approximately a week. Of course, he hadn't heard of it, especially when he was so focused on his own things instead of socializing with others.
"Yes. Yes you are. God… now I look fucking stupid. Anyway, I'm sure you want to join, right?"
"There is no catch?" Silas rubbed his chin.
"Well, there are a few restrictions. First of all, you can't join an adventurers guild. Academic and trade and craftsmanship guilds are fine, but no other adventurers guild…"
[Accessing Restricted Database…]
.
[Adventurers Guild - Mystic Engineers Collective]
[Focus: Integrating magic and technology.]
[Activities: Experimentation with enchantments on steampunk devices, creating magical gadgets, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible through the fusion of mysticism and engineering.]
.
[Adventurers Guild - Mechanical Miners Consortium]
[Focus: Extracting resources with advanced machinery.]
[Activities: Employing steam-driven drills and excavators to extract valuable resources from the earth, providing raw materials for crafting and construction.]
.
[Adventurers Guild - Aero Rangers Brotherhood]
[Focus: Aerial reconnaissance and protection.]
[Activities: Patrolling the skies on specialized airships, defending against aerial threats, and gathering intelligence on potential dangers to steampunk civilization.]
.
[Adventurers Guild - Gadgeteer's Guild]
[Focus: Inventing and crafting innovative devices.]
[Activities: Pushing the boundaries of steampunk technology, inventing new gadgets, and holding workshops to share knowledge and advancements in the field.]
.
[Adventurers Guild - Sable Saboteurs Union]
[Focus: Covert operations and sabotage.]
[Activities: Employing Disruptech and stealth technology for espionage, sabotage, and disrupting rival guilds or factions that pose a threat to the steampunk society.]
.
[Adventurers Guild - Celestial Navigators Order]
[Focus: Advanced navigation and celestial studies.]
[Activities: Developing advanced navigation instruments, exploring the mysteries of the stars, and training navigators to guide airships safely through the skies.]
.
[Adventurers Guild - Ephemeral Emissaries League]
[Focus: Diplomacy and cultural exchange.]
[Activities: Fostering relations between different steampunk city-states, organizing cultural events, and serving as mediators to prevent conflicts and promote understanding.]
.
[Adventurers Guild - Steamforged Arena Syndicate]
[Focus: Steam-powered gladiatorial combat.]
[Activities: Hosting steam-powered arena battles for entertainment, attracting competitors and spectators alike to witness the prowess of combatants equipped with cutting-edge steampunk weaponry.]
.
[Adventurers Guild - Renegade Inventors Society]
[Focus: Unconventional inventions and rebellious innovation.]
[Activities: Encouraging inventors to challenge societal norms, promoting alternative steampunk technologies, and occasionally butting heads with more conservative guilds.]
.
"Have you made up your mind?" Lucas asked.
"Any other catches? I don't have to submit a tribute every other week or something?" Silas smirked with Lucas smiling back.
"Unfortunately, no. But, you do have to come to the monthly meetings and if we ask you to do something, you have to do it. Don't worry, the requests aren't anything too bad."
"What would be the first thing you'd ask me to do?"
Lucas was an arrogant child. He also wasn't the best at reading emotions, especially when his opponent was somebody who was observing the boy's actions very carefully. From the moment he stepped into the room, Silas could tell what this boy was up to and could easily see the various outcomes of this confrontation.
Lucas, although he may be an observant child, unfortunately, doesn't use it well enough. Maybe it's because he is still a child or maybe it's because of his arrogance, but his failure to observe far enough into this boy in front of him ultimately led to his failure at recruiting him.
"Kill Silas."
Such bold words could only be spoken by a bold boy who only had bold thoughts- no, I'd better word this better. Arrogant words were spoken by an arrogant boy, who only had arrogant thoughts. Yes. This was the key, the heart, the unwritten philosophy of this organization.
Arrogance amongst life.
"There's no need to say more," Silas muttered, his expression growing colder by the second.
Silas took a semi-relaxed stance, allowing for swift mobility. His dominant foot lifted slightly off the ground, with his heel raised. His dominant hand positioned into a knife hand, the back of his hand facing Lucas, ready to cut through the air. Simultaneously, his non-dominant hand is elegantly placed behind his back, maintaining poise and balance.
It was a royal stance.
Lucas assumed an upright grappler stance, his muscular frame accentuated by the focused tension in his limbs. Planting his feet firmly on the ground, he shifted his weight slightly forward, ready to engage. His arms hung low, coiled springs of potential power, with calloused hands open and prepared for a clinch.
It was a slippery stance.
Tink… Tink… Tink… Tink Tink Tink Tink Tink
Metallic clinks resounded through the bathroom, and in an instant, all of the fire extinguishers fashioned to the ceiling, splintered off, sending water spraying atop the tiled walls, marble ceiling, and floor, and of course, the two boys centered in the middle of the room.