The club hall looked nothing like anyone would have expected; it was lavish, to say the least. Each member of the club sat comfortably in leather seats, the cushions molding to their forms.
A cool breeze swept through the room, fed by modern air purifiers, the air fresh and pure. Pyris could sense something more, though—there was a formation pulling mana into the hall, making it even more impressive.
'Mother is certainly generous!' he thought, knowing this club operated under his family's banner. The Obsidian family had earned generous rewards from the academy over the years, recognizing their contributions through the generations.
And of course, Emberly, his mother, poured even more money into it when needed. She had recently passed the responsibility to Pyris, which was the main reason he'd joined the club in the first place.
[Too bad someone wants to use the very club she funds to challenge your family's position,] Lia, his companion, interrupted his thoughts.
'A plan destined to fail, now that I'm here,' Pyris thought confidently. 'They don't know who they're dealing with.'
He spotted an empty seat in the middle of the room, right among the club members. Seeing his intention, Alexa let go of his hand. "I'll see you soon," she said softly. He smiled in farewell, and she nodded gracefully, walking away with the same poise she always carried.
'To think Mother would resort to such games!' Pyris mused, a new revelation sinking in.
[What do you expect from someone who's run a business empire for decades?] Lia said with a hint of admiration. [She knows exactly how to play the game.]
'Indeed. She's baiting them, making everyone believe we're easy targets now that I'm in charge,' he thought, chuckling quietly to himself.
Pyris watched Alexa leave, her presence commanding the room as she walked gracefully toward the platform. The sway of her hips drew attention from many, but it wasn't just her physicality that caught their eyes.
Alexa's entire demeanor had changed—once timid and overshadowed, she now exuded the aura of royalty, walking with confidence and grace. She no longer seemed crushed beneath the oppressive gazes of her peers.
Her transformation was evident to all. The students stared in silence, feeling the weight of her presence. Every step she took echoed in the room, even though her footfalls were nearly silent. It was as though the very air bent to her will, and the students—who once disregarded her—now looked at her with a mix of awe and respect.
Even her brother, who had once overshadowed her, went unnoticed in her wake, despite walking just behind her.
Even Pyris found himself momentarily entranced by Alexa's newfound power. His gaze, however, soon shifted to Alexander, the club president. The hatred Alexander harbored for his sister was almost tangible, but no one else seemed to notice.
They were all too caught up in Alexa's quiet spectacle.
'He's a snake,' Pyris thought, studying Alexander closely. 'A venomous snake wrapped in the skin of a virtuous man. If left unchecked, he'll drag this club—and my family's legacy—into ruin. But he'll be fun to deal with… for a little while.'
Pyris had no intention of allowing Alexander and his scheming family to tarnish the reputation of the Obsidian Roar, the club that was the face of House Obsidian at the academy. The club had fallen on hard times, despite Emberly's efforts to fund it. It was the lowest-ranked club at the academy, and Pyris was beginning to understand why.
His sharp eyes scanned the room, finally landing on Alexa, now seated at the front of the hall among the club's committee members.
Even Lia dared not interrupt his thoughts, though she had ignored his warnings before, learning the hard way what it meant to cross him.
At the same time, Alexander, a black-haired, blue-eyed youth, arrived at the platform. He didn't sit down, but instead faced the students. Standing between the five committee members, he scanned the room, his eyes briefly meeting Pyris's, though Pyris seemed lost in his own world.
Alexander's smile was fake, a facade that fit his pristine blue suit. His good looks were not lost on the female students, many of whom shot admiring glances in his direction. Though the attention boosted his ego, he maintained his composure.
"Ahem," Alexander cleared his throat into the microphone, his voice reverberating through the hall. He made a point to grab Pyris's attention, annoyed by the dragon's indifference.
"We don't usually make a spectacle of welcoming new members to the club, but today is an exception. This is a special occasion, given the Obsidian family's deep ties to our club." All eyes turned toward Pyris.
"Let's give a warm welcome to Pyris Obsidian!" Alexander's voice dripped with false enthusiasm, and the students nodded politely in acknowledgment of Pyris.
'This bastard,' Pyris thought, his patience wearing thin. 'I had no intention of confronting him immediately, but this arrogance is unacceptable. How dare he insult me so blatantly!'
Alexander's words implied that Pyris was only worth their recognition because of his family, not for any merit of his own. The sharper students in the room picked up on the underlying insult.
One of the boys sitting next to Alexander tried to speak. "Club president—" he began, but Alexander cut him off, continuing his speech.
"We've decided, as the committee, to make Pyris Obsidian the vice president of the club. While we don't normally have this position, we've created it specially for him, given the circumstances." Alexander's tone was laced with condescension, and the tension in the room grew thicker.
Alexa bit her lip, helpless.
'So this is how you play?' Pyris thought, his anger bubbling to the surface. 'Public insults? Fine, let's do that.'
Without warning, Pyris stood up, his movement catching everyone by surprise. He didn't wait for Alexander's permission to speak.
"I don't need any special treatment," Pyris began, his voice cold and commanding. "I came here as a member of this club, to participate in all the activities I'm capable of. But what I've found here... I'm disappointed. You would bend the club's long-standing policies just because someone with a recognizable name joined? Is this how you lead, Alexander, as the president of the Obsidian Roar?"
The hall fell into stunned silence. Alexander, caught off guard, had expected Pyris to revel in the offer of a high position. Instead, he was being openly challenged.
"What do you mean, student—" Alexander began, but Pyris cut him off.
"Don't you dare say my name! Vice president? You think you're fit to lead this club, let alone make me your subordinate? The audacity!"
With a few steps, Pyris was on the platform, standing inches away from Alexander. The two locked eyes, the air between them charged with intensity, neither backing down.
*****
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