CHAPTER 118: CHAPTER 118 - WHICH CLUB SHOULD I JOIN?

The weekend had passed in a blur.

Luca had spent his time training hard at dawn and dusk, his twin sabers slicing through air like ribbons of silver and shadow. But outside those hours, he found himself walking the cobbled streets of the city beyond Arcadia’s gates—with a cloaked baby dragon trotting beside him in disguise, her eyes wide with wonder at every market stall, every street performer, every burst of color.

She would chirp excitedly at sweets, tug at his sleeve to visit flower shops, and once even tried to chase a flock of pigeons until Luca scooped her up with a laugh. No one recognized the creature for what she truly was—just a strange, shy girl clinging close to her older brother figure.

They were moments of warmth. Of fleeting normalcy.

But Monday came far too quickly.

The sun crept above Arcadia Academy, casting golden light on the sprawling campus. There were no classes today. No combat drills or spell recitations. Only one thing filled the air—excitement.

The Club Fair.

Colorful banners fluttered from the balconies of every major building, each proudly displaying the emblem of a different student club. The open plaza before the Tower Hall had been transformed overnight into a festival ground—rows of booths lined the area, each decorated to reflect the essence of the group it represented.

Posters waved magically in the breeze. Holographic projections danced mid-air. Some clubs had summoned minor elementals to perform flashy tricks. A brass band was playing near the Music Society booth, while someone juggled fire in front of the Performers’ Circle. Elves from the Botanical Club were giving out free sprigs of blooming herbs. The Alchemy Society had set up glass tables filled with shimmering potions that fizzed or changed colors as you watched.

It was chaos. Beautiful, creative, magical chaos.

Students bustled about, first-years in clean uniforms huddled in groups, trying not to look too lost. Seniors called out offers like merchants at a bazaar:

"Come join the Duelists Guild! Test your mettle!"

"The Beast-Taming Club needs brave hearts and sturdy gloves!"

"Drama Club auditions begin today—we need a villain!"

"Try our enchanted cooking samples—one bite and you’ll float!"

And among them, Luca stood at the edge of the crowd, hands in pockets, brows slightly furrowed.

Clubs, huh?

In the game, choices were limited. Aiden had barely gotten time to explore beyond the combat path.

But now... things were different.

He had knowledge. He had time. And more importantly—he had people.

His eyes scanned the fairground. There were so many options that it almost overwhelmed him. Sword-related guilds, research societies, art circles, beast-related factions, religious student branches, elite strategy councils, magical theory groups, and even one that claimed to investigate paranormal phenomena on campus.

As he slowly walked forward, taking it all in, a thought echoed in his mind—

Where do I belong?

Just as Luca was lost in thought, caught between the colorful banners fluttering in the morning breeze and the excited chatter of students around him, a familiar voice made him flinch.

"Have you made up your mind?"

Luca turned to see Eric standing beside him, hands tucked casually into the pockets of his uniform trousers, his usual laid-back grin in place.

"Don’t sneak up like that," Luca muttered, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "And no... I haven’t decided yet. What about you?"

Eric gave a slow, deliberate nod. "That’s a surprise."

Luca arched a brow. "You’ve decided?"

Eric merely shrugged, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Let’s just say I’ve got an idea. But more importantly—let’s go see where you can fit in."

With that, Eric clapped a hand on Luca’s shoulder and gently nudged him forward. They stepped into the thick of the crowd, weaving between booths and displays set up across the sprawling courtyard. Colorful canopies and magical illusions adorned many of the stalls—an explosion of creativity, beckoning curious eyes and hesitant hearts.

Each club had transformed their area to reflect its spirit. The alchemy club’s stall shimmered with flasks and bubbling liquids in all colors of the rainbow, occasionally emitting harmless smoke clouds. The theater club had performers dressed in outrageous costumes enacting a comically exaggerated tragedy, drawing laughter and applause. Overhead, small familiars and enchanted mascots zipped through the air, advertising the Familiar Taming Club.

"This is kinda overwhelming," Luca murmured as a paper crane landed on his shoulder with a flyer and a jingle.

Eric smirked. "Yeah. Welcome to Club Fair Day."

Their first stop was a quiet, green nook tucked beneath a flowering archway. Vines wove through enchanted trellises, and the scent of fresh herbs and blooming flora filled the air. The sign read: Botanical Arts and Herbal Studies Club.

It was, surprisingly, Senior Elowen’s club—the one she’d mentioned just the day before.

"It’s peaceful here..." Luca murmured.

Before they could step further in, a familiar voice called out.

"Oh? Luca, Eric? I didn’t expect to see you two here first thing in the morning ,although I did invite Luca."

Turning toward the voice, they saw Elowen kneeling beside a set of flower beds, wearing gloves and a wide-brimmed sun hat that looked oddly fitting atop her green hair. She gently patted soil around a cluster of glowing blossoms before rising gracefully to her feet.

"Senior Elowen," Luca greeted, offering a small wave. "Mind describing this club a bit?"

She nodded, brushing some earth from her gloves. "Yes. We work with magical flora—hybrid cultivation, herbal potions, even research into sentient plants. It’s quite calming... especially if you’re fond of quiet and the company of nature."

Elowen gestured toward the inner section, where students were tending floating gardens and moss-covered runes.

"You don’t just learn botany here. It teaches patience, balance... and a bit of harmony with things we often overlook."

Luca looked around, taking in the serene hum of magical life. The idea of nurturing something, especially after what he’d been through recently, carried a quiet allure. Still... he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to handle plants more delicate than the baby dragon chewing on his scarf every other day.

Eric elbowed him gently. "You’d probably accidentally feed a cactus a mana potion."

Luca snorted. "You’re not wrong."

With a fond farewell to Elowen, they moved on.

Further along the path, a golden banner caught their eyes: SaintessOutreach and Volunteering Club.

Luca leaned in towards Eric as he said "Did she form her own club?"

Eric replied "Well she is a Saintess? Who can stop her?"

The booth was surrounded by images of healing missions, orphanage visits, and disaster relief projects. And right at the center stood Aria, radiant as ever in a pure white dress tinged with soft lilac. Her smile lit up the space around her as she spoke with a first-year student.

When she noticed Luca and Eric, her eyes sparkled.

"Luca! Eric! Are you interested in spreading a little kindness?"

"I’m just browsing," Luca said, offering a polite smile, while Eric tried not to look too awkward amidst the saintly aura of the stall.

Aria giggled. "This club supports local communities. We will go out weekly to help with healing, food distribution, and spiritual guidance. It’s a beautiful way to connect with the world beyond magic and combat."

Her tone was soft, but her eyes carried a strength Luca had come to admire.

"You’d be great here, Luca," she added warmly. "You’ve got a quiet strength that people trust."

Luca scratched the back of his neck, a little flustered. "Thanks... I’ll think about it."

Eric leaned in and whispered, "You’re already being recruited by the Saintess. Better say yes before she turns on the halo."

With a shared chuckle, they continued toward the far end of the courtyard.

Their final stop brought a shift in atmosphere.

The clash of blades, grunts of effort, and cheering students filled the air around the Swordsmanship Club. A wide sparring arena had been erected, surrounded by training dummies and display boards boasting achievements and tournament titles.

Aiden stood in the middle of a sparring ring, sweat glistening on his brow as he exchanged swift blows with another student. His movements were sharp and fluid, like a dance honed by discipline and raw will.

Watching him was Vincent, arms crossed, his club vice president badge pinned proudly on his chest. He spotted Luca and Eric and raised a hand.

"Come to test your steel?"

Eric grinned. "You know I can’t resist a good fight."

Vincent gestured around. "We focus on all forms of bladed combat. Swordplay, dual wielding, greatswords—you name it. Physical conditioning, mental resilience, and tournament prep are core parts of our curriculum."

Luca observed silently as Aiden finished the match with a clean disarm, then offered his opponent a hand with a stoic nod.

"He’s really grown," Luca muttered, watching Aiden quietly.

Vincent followed his gaze. "He works harder than anyone I’ve seen in years. That kind of focus? It changes people. He will surely join this club"

As Luca thought to himself, Well it is the best choice for Aiden.

Eric turned to Luca. "So... any closer to deciding?"

Luca let his gaze drift between the clubs they’d seen—the tranquility of Elowen’s gardens, the compassion in Aria’s mission, and the fire burning in Aiden’s swordplay.

"I don’t know yet," he admitted, hands in his pockets. "But I think I’m starting to get an idea."

When he looked in one direction, he said, "What’s that club there, where Aurelia is standing?"