The atmosphere in the clubroom was alive—almost buzzing—with a strange energy. The older students looked almost proud, like hosts unveiling secrets to guests who had just stepped into a sacred circle. John, standing with arms folded and his usual boisterous grin, leaned back in his chair as he spoke.

"Our club president and the other fourth-years are always out on missions, so you won't meet them today," he announced, his voice carrying that mix of confidence and cheer that demanded attention. "But don't worry—I've got a message straight from them for you juniors."

The room fell into a hush. Even Eric, who had been smirking since introductions, leaned forward with mild curiosity. Luca's gaze sharpened. He had joined this club with no real expectations, yet the idea of hearing words from an unseen president stirred something in him—perhaps the possibility of gaining knowledge not found anywhere else.

John cleared his throat dramatically, pulling out a folded slip of paper from his vest pocket. Straightening it out with a flourish, he read aloud:

"Dear Juniors, I welcome you all to the Hero Research Club. It's not just a club, but a legacy—a medium for us to find out the truth about our saviors as well as ourselves. Now that you have entered, it's not merely an extracurricular activity, but a responsibility we all carry toward this world. I am very sad we cannot meet today, but rest assured, John will guide you properly in our stead. And remember—enjoy your days."

The words lingered in the air even after John closed the note. The room remained quiet for a heartbeat. Luca exhaled softly, leaning back in his seat.

So,at least the president's a normal person after all. That's a relief.

His gaze flicked toward Lilliane, who sat stiffly at first, her hands clutched tightly on her lap. But as the message ended, her shoulders loosened, and a small, almost unnoticeable breath escaped her lips. Luca's eyes softened for a second. Good. At least she's relaxing a little now.

"Alright!" John clapped his hands once, breaking the silence. "Juniors, listen well. We'll each share one discovery we've uncovered so far. Of course, we won't reveal everything today. But you'll get a taste. And remember—next time you come, you bring at least one piece of information of your own. Got it?"

Luca gave a calm nod. Beside him, Eric leaned back with a smirk, raising his hand lazily in agreement. Lilliane, though a little hesitant, bobbed her head quickly, her pink hair brushing against her cheeks.

"Good." John's grin widened. "Let's start with Amara, then."

Amara—mischiveous,but her posture as composed as possible —folded her arms beneath her chest and leaned forward slightly. Her eyes gleamed with the excitement of someone who lived for uncovering secrets.

"We've discovered something… intriguing," she began. Her tone lowered, drawing everyone closer. "There may still be descendants of the great heroes among us. And—" she paused deliberately, as if savoring the weight of her words, "—it seems that our Imperial family is one of them."

The effect was immediate.

Lilliane's eyes widened, her breath catching audibly in her throat. Luca's own gaze narrowed faintly, though he kept his expression outwardly composed. They actually know this much accurate information?… Or just pieced together from rumors? There are various rumours surrounding the Imperial family.

Amara's lips curved slightly before she continued, her voice dropping another octave.

"And there's more. It seems another noble family within our Empire carries the same blood. But they keep themselves hidden… too hidden. There isn't much information yet."

A faint tremor passed through Luca's hand as he rested it against his knee. His mind whirled, racing faster than he let show on his face. So they've noticed that too…? This club isn't just playing around with myths. They're dangerously close to the truth.

Eric leaned in, whispering low near Luca's ear with a mischievous grin. "Hey, do you think one of them could be right here in the Academy?"

Luca tilted his head toward him, answering with a quiet, almost indifferent murmur. "Who knows?"

Eric laughed softly, but Luca's eyes never lost their edge.

"Now you, Leonhart!" John's voice boomed, pointing toward a tall, steady-looking boy with dark hair tied back neatly.

Leonhart nodded once before speaking, his tone measured and calm. "The heroes… they were not just humans. There are ruins and records indicating elves, dwarves, and even creatures unknown to us fought among their ranks."

Luca's fingers tapped silently against his knee. His eyes hooded slightly as he absorbed those words. So even they've traced that far back… Elder Thrain of the dwarves is one such descendant. That explains it.

The room filled with murmurs, the juniors exchanging glances, the upperclassmen clearly savoring their role as keepers of hidden truths. Luca, however, sat quietly—eyes sharp, heart steady. For the first time since entering, he thought, This club… might actually be worth keeping an eye on.

John turned toward the corner, "Marius, you're up."

Marius shrugged. "Fine." His voice was calm, lazy even, but laced with a quiet confidence. "My focus is on the battlefield. Records of the First Great War mention heroes wielding powers that don't fit into the categories we know—Knight, Mage, Priest, even hybrids. Some of them commanded elements that don't exist anymore. Ever heard of the 'Primordial Arcane'? Fire that freezes. Shadows that heal. Time that devours."

Lilliane's eyes went round, her lips parting slightly in awe. Eric leaned closer to Luca, whispering, "That sounds… totally made-up, right?"

Luca didn't answer. His fingers tapped his knee lightly. Primordial Arcane… Could it be related to the anomalies I've been sensing with my own powers?

Marius smirked at the silence, satisfied with the reaction he had stirred.

Just like that Cecil and Selene also shared some information, which made Luca think again, whether they were rumours or…..not.

John finally coughed a bit , breaking the growing heaviness. "Well, there you have it, juniors! A taste of our little obsession. Don't worry, you won't be quizzed on this… yet. Next meeting, you'll have to bring your own tidbits, got it?"

Eric groaned playfully, while Lilliane nodded a little too quickly, clearly nervous but oddly excited.

Luca sat still, his face calm, but his mind was turning like clockwork.

Descendants of heroes hidden among nobles. Primordial powers. Distorted histories. These eccentrics… They're chasing after threads I already know tie into the real truth. But what unsettles me is how close they are. If they keep digging like this, they might stumble onto things even I haven't uncovered yet.

For the first time since stepping into the clubroom, Luca's lips curved into the faintest of smirks.

Perhaps joining this club won't just be amusing—it may very well be dangerous. Exactly the kind of place I need to be.

John clapped his hands once, drawing everyone's attention. His booming voice carried easily across the room.

"Well, that's our time! For today, our club meeting is over. We'll meet again in a week—don't forget your assignments. You can leave for today."

Chairs and sofas scraped against the floor as members rose, chatter spilling in little bursts of laughter and sighs of relief. Luca, Eric, and Lilliane stood up and quietly filed out together.

By the time they stepped into the hallway, the evening sun had painted long orange slants across the stone walls. The light was soft, but there was a sense of day drawing to its close, the corridors quieter than usual.

Eric stretched his arms behind his head with a lazy grin. "I've got something else to do. You two can go forward without me."

Luca raised a brow. "Are you sure? We can wait for you if you want."

Eric's smirk widened, almost mischievous. "Just leave now."

Luca studied him for a brief moment, then nodded. "Alright."

Eric waved a hand casually before turning down another hall, his laughter echoing briefly before fading away.

That left Luca and Lilliane walking side by side in silence. The air between them was heavy—not unpleasant, but uncertain. The sound of their footsteps against the stone floor seemed unusually loud, filling in the spaces where conversation should have been.

Lilliane fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve. Her lips parted once, closed, then finally opened again.

"W-what… what do you think of all that information?" Her voice trembled with hesitation, as though each word had to be coaxed out of her throat.

Luca slowed his pace, glancing at her. She wasn't looking at him; her eyes were fixed slightly downward, as if afraid of what she might see in his expression. Her fingers twisted together nervously.

He tilted his head, thoughtful. How should I answer?