The crowd was still in shock after the final blow was delivered, the arena erupted in cheers and murmurs of surprise. Kendell stood panting, his heart still racing from the adrenaline of the duel. Riven, though defeated, rose with the help of the professor and gave a look of respect towards Kendell.
"That was... incredible, Kendell," Riven managed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Thanks," Kendell replied, still catching his breath. "I just got the hang of the Body Enhancement Ritual last night, I practiced till late so I could use it today- just happened to get lucky there was a duel to show it off in."
Professor Falis shook his head, "To be honest that was an incredible presentation of dueling boys, very well done. Also, to be honest Kendell," he turned and looked at the boy he had thought was clearly going to lose when the duel was announced, " your performance was exceptional, but if Riven had known you had mastered the basic enhancement this fight could have gone much differently." Then he gazed out at the rest of the class, "Let that be a lesson to all of you! Surprise is the most crucial element of a duel, never show your true cards till you know you have a winning hand."
His friends, Celia and Coli, along with a few other classmates, approached him with excitement and curiosity as Professor Falis moved off the platform and began preparations to take the class back to the main building. The talk of his sudden prowess in combat and his adept use of the Body Enhancement Ritual buzzed among them.
"I didn't know you had it in you, Kendell!" Coli exclaimed. "That move at the end was awesome!"
Kendell just shrugged modestly, "Just got lucky with my timing, I guess."
'And happen to have a tattoo with the ritual at second level mastery, but who's to say what let me win.' Kendell thought with a grin.
The rest of their time in the arena went by in a blur of excitement and discussion before the circle was ready to take them back.
As the weekend approached, the students looked forward to a break from the rigorous schedule, but Kendell had something else in mind – the club event.
The trio tried to focus and study up for their classes and presentations the next week, but couldn't wait for the club event that was the talk amongst students. The club you chose at this event would be your club for your entire time at the academy! It would be a place where your seniors could teach you, and you were able to hone your specialties as a ritualist. The group decided to just spend the whole day planning the order they were going to look for clubs in, before excitingly headed back to their rooms for anxious sleep.
The second day of the weekend at Tilanaz Academy was marked by the special event: the club showcase. The main hall was transformed, filled with booths and banners representing the various clubs. Kendell, Celia, and Coli walked through the hall, their eyes scanning the different booths.
Their first stop at the club event was the Duelist Club booth, where members were demonstrating various combat techniques. The booth was bustling with activity, attracting a crowd of onlookers.
As Kendell stepped up to spar, the club members sized him up with interest. "Ready to show us what you've got?" one of the senior Duelists asked, a challenging gleam in his eye.
Kendell nodded, stepping into the makeshift sparring area. The duel was brief but intense, with Kendell deftly handling the senior Duelist's attacks and countering with swift, precise movements. His performance earned him nods of respect and murmurs of approval from the watching crowd.
"That was impressive," the senior Duelist remarked, extending his hand to Kendell. "You've got real talent. Ever considered joining the Duelist Club?"
Before Kendell could respond, Celia stepped forward. "Mind if I give it a try?"
The senior Duelist grinned. "Of course, let's see what you can do."
Celia's sparring session was equally remarkable. She moved with a fluid grace, her strikes balanced with agile defensive maneuvers. It was clear she was not only skilled but also had a deep understanding of combat techniques.
The crowd cheered as Celia landed a decisive strike, ending the match. The senior Duelist, visibly impressed, approached her. "That was fantastic, Celia. You've got a natural talent for this. We'd be honored to have you in the Duelist Club."
Celia's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Thank you! I'll definitely consider it."
As they moved away from the booth, Kendell and Coli exchanged impressed looks. "Looks like we've got a combat prodigy here," Coli remarked, nudging Celia playfully.
Celia laughed. "I just enjoy a good challenge. But let's see what the other clubs have to offer."
After the exciting encounter at the Duelist Club booth, where both Kendell and Celia showcased their combat skills, the trio moved on to explore other clubs at the event. They visited the Curses Club, where they witnessed students experimenting with various curse rituals. The demonstration was intriguing, with students engaged in a deep discussion about crafting and countering curses.
After they realized curses weren't really their thing, they arrived at the Ritual Research Club booth. It was less crowded than the others, but the array of ritual texts and artifacts on display was impressive. The club members were discussing various rituals, their effects, and strategies for countering opponents by analyzing their rituals before they could finish casting them.
Kendell felt an immediate connection with the club's focus. His ability to absorb rituals using his system made this club an ideal fit for growing stronger. If he was in this club people wouldn't question his ability to have a random assortment of rituals from all kinds of paths. After interacting with the club members and learning about their research projects, he knew he had found the right club.
"I think I'll join this one," Kendell said to Celia and Coli, who nodded in agreement- it made sense given Kendell's apparent ability to pick up new rituals.
Next, they came across the Elemental Mastery Club. This club focused on harnessing and understanding the power of the elements through rituals. Club members demonstrated their control over elemental forces, showcasing impressive feats like creating small whirlwinds or igniting flames in their hands. Kendell, Celia, and Coli watched with fascination, discussing the potential applications of such powers.
Another club that caught their attention was the Fey Relations Club. Here, students practiced the art of forming alliances with fey creatures and learned about all the types of fey that exist.
As Kendell, Celia, and Coli approached, they were greeted by the sight of a member communicating with a small, luminous fey. This ethereal creature was captivating, with its delicate, translucent wings emitting a soft, iridescent glow. The fey's body was slender and graceful, resembling a tiny humanoid with features so fine they seemed almost otherworldly. Its eyes sparkled like tiny stars, full of intelligence and curiosity.
The club member, a young woman with a gentle demeanor, explained, "This is Lirielle, a light fey from the Enchanted Forest. Fey communication is all about mutual respect and understanding."
Kendell and his friends watched in awe as the club member and Lirielle exchanged a series of intricate gestures and soft, musical sounds. It was a dialogue unlike any they had seen before, a blend of elegance and mystery.
Lirielle fluttered closer, her movements like a dance, and the trio felt a sense of peace and wonder wash over them. "Fey are not just magical beings; they're guardians of nature's secrets," the club member said. "Learning to communicate with them opens up a whole new realm of magical possibilities."
Celia, mesmerized by Lirielle's beauty, whispered, "It's like a glimpse into a world we've barely scratched the surface of."
The club member smiled, "Exactly. In our club, we explore the depths of fey magic and learn how to form bonds with these incredible beings."
As Lirielle took flight, leaving a trail of shimmering light, the trio knew they had witnessed something truly special. Kendell thought about the potential of incorporating fey knowledge into his own magic, but Coli pulled him out of his thoughts when he made a sharp gasp. The little fey had perched on his head!
"Oh looks like someone has a natural affinity for fey relations!" exclaimed the club member, "You should definitely think about joining our club. If you have an energy that resonates with the fey they are much more likely to bond with you," she explained.
Coli's eyes lit up since he had never considered the path before, he then looked deep in thought before responding, "Sign me up, I love this little guy and I think I want to explore more about them, we haven't seen any in demonstrations so far so it will be nice to do something unique. With all the possibilities of the fey realm, I'm sure it's hard to counter a fey user without knowing what fey they are partnered with."
The lady nodded and with a smile, wrote him down to join their club.
The trio also stopped by the Historical Rituals Club, where they explored the origins and evolution of various rituals throughout history. This club's focus on understanding the historical context of rituals and their development over time was particularly intriguing to Kendell, given his interest in expanding his knowledge of rituals. However, it seemed like the Ritual Research Club was a better fit. "I'm going to go back and sign up for the Ritual Research Club, want to meet up in the cafeteria afterward?" His friends nodded in agreeance and went off eagerly discussing their new clubs.