A yawn escaped him as Kliff stepped out of the archgate, a shimmering wall of light filling the space between the curved pathway made of stone, and a heated, afternoon breeze rustled his hair as he tramped with exhaustion into the Nexus. Other identical archgates surrounded him here, some of them glowing as his had done once they were activated.

It was funny, to a certain degree, that before he enrolled at Glyph, he was brought up believing that only the Professional Sorcerers had access to the archgates. In a sense, that wasn't entirely inaccurate, just that his instructors failed to fill him in on the nuances. Anyone who knew the words could theoretically get them to work; Glyph students were given them shortly after Orientation. But what made these archgates unique was that only students and other staff members were permitted to enter the academy grounds. They were much like the barrier that protected the school, in that regard.

If one squinted well enough, they would notice the oily, faintly translucent dome that enclosed Glyph Castle, the Symphony Stadium, and everything else on the island. No entity could walk on these grounds, not unless they had the appropriate documentation, or if they were in the academy's files. It was why, Kliff imagined, the professors were so lax on letting the students know the words for the archgates. To him, such a decision was only inviting disaster, and it made the work of a criminal aspiring to infiltrate Glyph's walls that much easier.

Regardless, he had no place in this matter, and could only trust the professors and that enigmatic Orion Valerian knew what they were doing. Shoving hands into his pockets, Kliff made for the Front Gardens. During this time of day, it was typical for students to congregate here, though there were more than he was expecting, especially since there was some kind of conference going on.

He strode up the dirt trail with a herd of other students that led to the main academy entrance, a pair of crimson-colored doors more than ten feet tall; they were always left halfway open, from what Kliff had noticed. But littered in segmented groups around the gardens were students who chatted or conversed with one another, either sitting on the grassy lawns or the various park benches situated under trees billowing in the wind, freckling shadows spotting the green.

By now, the sky had turned orange with clouds rolling over it like clusters of purplish cotton, carried off to the eastern mountain range by howling wind. His day had been well spent, he liked to think, although he couldn't deny that Glyph's syllabus would prove to be brutal in the coming weeks, and the thought of how much sleep he'd inevitably be forced to sacrifice was enough to make him shrivel where he stood.

As he neared the large doors, a familiar voice caught his attention. Despite himself, he glanced to his right, across a stretch of well-cut grass to a courtyard featuring a fountain made of stone at its center, water streams ribboning out of the gaping beaks of the griffin statue, positioned on its hind legs with its wings unfolded and its front pair of petrified talons swiping the air.

Students sat on the fountain's rim, and those who didn't choose to settle on one of the three long benches curled around its circumference. But Kliff's eyes landed on one person, in particular; the blonde-haired girl was currently chatting with two other of his classmates: the silent but kind-hearted Mason and the energetic Jack who lived for the thrill of combat.

Mason had a good head on his shoulders, although Kliff wouldn't go as far as to say the two of them were necessarily friends. The same went for Jack. He hadn't thought much of him on the first day, but even Kliff had to admit that he'd aptitude for sorcery, as well as he should considering the loud sulmo somehow clawed his way into Glyph.

And then there was the girl who alluded him entirely: Elaine Harwood. Much like Jack, she hadn't stood out to him all that much, however, it was during their test in Black Magic Defense Studies that he really began taking notice of her. She specialized in Light Magic. Realistically, that should have been the first hint that she was more than the customary country girl she presented herself as on the first day. Even by a Professional Sorcerer's standards, Light Magic was a difficult beast to master.

Sure there were some basic spells that even a child could use—illuminating a person's immediate vicinity or creating a sphere of light was common practice in this day and age—but things started to get a bit more...complex when it came to applying Light Magic for combat. Yes, that was an apt word to describe it. Of course, every magic and artform was complex in some capacity, but if it was that Light Magic was so easy for a Professional Sorcerer to practice, then why were light mages in such low quantity?

And here she came in, a random girl from a random town in some random part of the countryside Kliff didn't even know existed, casting Light Magic as if it were no big deal. This truly was the Era of Magic, however, that didn't explain how a mere commoner could have possibly learned what she had done. There was something different about her, and he imagined that Professor Marsh had also discerned this. Why else would he refuse to expel her even after she'd failed to escape the pocket prison? Could this be the reason why she was permitted into the academy in the first place?

Shrugging to himself, Kliff started for the courtyard, trying as best he could to act casual, but that was a challenge in and of itself considering how tired he was. As he got closer, he heard the latter end of whatever Elaine had been saying. "...and it doesn't have to be permeant, or anything like that. We must satisfy the Student Council's conditions, otherwise, the club will be closed by next week." Funnily enough, even though she said she hailed from the country, her accent wasn't nearly as slurred, and Aeris knew she didn't sound like a commoner. "Please, I wouldn't ask you to do this if it wasn't important."

Mason rubbed his chiseled chin. "I hear what you're saying, and while I wish I could help somehow...I just can't." A sigh escaped him as he hung his head, meaty hands placed on his sides. "Had this been a day earlier I would have accepted without a second thought, however, I've already another commitment to attend to. Against my understanding, Adeline has, for some odd reason, designated Simon and me as official assistants to the class president. As such, we're expected to assist her with, I don't know, anything she needs for the foreseeable future."

"She might be the most beautiful girl I've ever met...but it takes a whole lotta gumption to say no to someone like her. Especially when she's looking you dead in the eyes," Jack smirked. "I heard they called her the Glacial Girl before she even started dueling in the Capital. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

"Sorry, Elaine," Mason continued as though Jack hadn't said anything. "On top of our upcoming assignments and classes, I imagine this business with Adeline will be demanding."

Elaine frowned at that, a muscle twitching in her cheek. She tried to moderate her tone as she went on, but Kliff could tell she was disappointed by the outcome, no matter how much she tried pretending otherwise. "So what about you, Jack?" Elaine asked. "I'm sure we'll find some need for your talents."

Cringing his teeth, Jack kicked a stone into a nearby grass patch. "Yeah...I'm going to have to pass on the offer, too. Sorry, Elaine," he muttered, holding the back of his head. "The thing is, I already joined the Dueling Club. Had to wait on a huge ass line which was annoying, but, hey, they told me that club is a good way to hone my skills. Don't get me wrong, you're my friend and classmate, and after the way you handled your own in that pocket prison, you've earned my respect." Jack held a trembling fist out in front of him, and his strained expression implied that someone had just punched him in the privates, or stabbed him right in his chest. "But what kinda man would I be if I suddenly backed out of my commitment to the Dueling Club? Not a very good one, I'd say. And if I ain't a dependable man who values his word, how can I ever call myself a Professional Sorcerer?"

"The Dueling Club, you say?" Elaine asked.

"Yup," Jack nodded. "Heard that someone from our class caused quite the stir there. Got a pretty good read of who it was, too. Even so, I'm tryna join the ranks of the State Sorcerers after I graduate. I'll treat this as one of the many tests I must take to make my dream a reality!" Jack started, more than likely noticing how loudly he was speaking. "Oh, but none of that interests you, I take. Anyway, sorry once again."

Elaine smiled at him, but it was oh so obviously fake. "It's fine. It'd be selfish of me to try and convince you to put aside your interests in favor of furthering my own. I'll have to ask someone else."

Kliff smirked. If there was one aspect that Elaine had inherited from living in the country it was that of her modesty. He couldn't list how many nobles he'd come across who believed they were the center of their own universe, as if everything that Aeris breathed Essence into systematically revolved around them. Although, given how powerful most of them were, it wasn't surprising that they fostered that ignorant presumption, and Kliff didn't despite them any less for it.

Honestly, it was a rarity these days for him to run into a noble that wasn't blinded by their supremacy, even more so amongst his age group; the young lords and ladies he'd have to "mingle" with at social events and parties had as much character as a mistreated wand discarded on the floor. It was why he was so taken aback by his classmates, by how generous and well-meaning they appeared to be, at least, on a surface level. For all he knew, they could be wearing masks, too.

As Mason and Jack turned to leave, Elaine threw back her head as she released another sigh of defeat, running both hands down her hair that flowed like a golden river past her shoulders. So distracted was she that she didn't even notice him approaching, and he found himself smirking at that. "Joined a club, have you?" A gasp jumped out of her, and Elaine hopped in place, whirling around a second after to point her wide, blue-colored eyes at him. Seriously, was she really from the country?

"Ah! K...Kliff!" she stammered. "You're...ah...you heard all of that, did you?"

"I wasn't snooping, if that's what you're asking," Kliff smiled. "But what I did overhear, well, it would seem like you're in somewhat of a predicament. You've got a club on the verge of collapse and need new recruits to justify its existence. Do I have that about right?"

"More or less." Elaine leered at him, suspicion seasoning her next words. "You sure you haven't been spying on me?"

Kliff laughed. "You know, some might find it odd that you'd want to choose a club that might not be functioning by the end of the semester, let alone the month. What, is the person who runs it a good friend of yours?"

"Not really. I just met her today."

"Then why...?"

"Look, it's a lot to explain, but I don't have time to spare, I'm afraid," she said, rubbing her arm. For some reason, she consistently refused to meet his stare. The most he'd get from the girl was a partial peak or minute glance every other sentence, but other than that, she would stand where she was now, nervously looking at basically anything that wasn't him. At the moment, she settled on a rock protruding out of the ground at the tip of her boot, but he didn't fail to notice her cheeks coloring from their natural fair complexion to a pinkish red.

"This club of yours," Kliff said. "What's it all about?"

"It's called the Aire Club."

"Really? Can't say I've ever heard of it."

"I wouldn't blame you," Elaine admittedly sheepishly. "It focuses on helping the student body with tasks and other little errands. Basically, if anyone on campus has a problem, it's up to the Aire Club to rectify it."

Kliff raised a brow. "So...is it kind of like a smaller version of a Student Council of sorts?"

"If it'll help you understand it better, then yes. Pretty much. Don't mention that in front of the club leader, or she'll flip out."

"Got you," Kliff noted with a smile.

"Anyway, according to her, the Student Council has been an active hindrance for quite a while, continuously trying everything they can to shut the club down for good." Elaine's face went hard, at least, it looked like it did as she kept her gaze on the ground. "At this point, there's only one way to ensure that it isn't closed, that is, the club must have a total number of five active members. Right now, we need one more student. For the entire afternoon, me and the others have been running around like ogrehounds gone mad trying to find someone willing to join us. Sadly, most of our homeroom class has either already signed up for another club or is just uninterested."

Kliff shrugged. "I'll join."

"What's more," Elaine continued, massaging her temples with rotating fingers, "I hardly know anyone from the upper years. I doubt they'd be necessarily interested in what I have to say, especially once they figure out we're on our last legs."

"Ah, Elaine, I say I'd—"

"But I can't just give up like this!" Elaine grunted, her voice ripe with a kind of trepid resolve. "Casey's counting on me. And after everything she's done to keep it afloat, I can't accept that for it to be shut down as if it's not worth anything. It isn't fair. If we..." Whatever she'd left to say disintegrated into a whisper, and as she trailed off, for the first time, Elaine stared directly at him, her eyes as blue as wintery stars. "Wait...what did you say?"

"Oh, is it my turn to speak?" he chuckled. "I said I wouldn't mind joining your club. After all that you've said, I'm keen on discovering what makes it so special."

"Really? And you're not...joking?"

"Please, why would I joke about something like this—"

"Thank you!" Elaine exclaimed, and before he knew it, she had his right arm in her grasp, blindly tugging him forward amidst her sudden burst of excitement. "This will mean the world for us! With someone as famous as you in our ranks, that surgin' Student Council wouldn't even think about interfering again!"

"Someone...as famous as me?" Kliff repeated, confused.

"Well, yeah, you're Kliff Dresden, the sole heir of House Dresden. I mean, I'm pretty certain there isn't a single person on campus who doesn't know who you are."

Kliff chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah...yeah, I suppose." Once again, that cursed name followed him wherever he went. It was a challenge to keep his lips from contorting into a grimace. Luckily for him, he'd had practiced wearing a few masks of his own, and much to his eternal shame, he'd have to thank the nobleborn filth for teaching him when to where which at the right time.

Elaine yelped once she registered how close the two had gotten, breaking Kliff out of his momentary stupor. With colored cheeks, she hopped away from him, nearly stumbling over the rim of the stone fountain behind her. "A...anyway, err," she stuttered, brushing the hair out of her face as she lowered her chin to her breast, "if you are planning on joining us, then we should probably get going. We don't have much time. Oh! And you don't have to feel committed or anything. Once we attract more members, you can quit...that is...if you want to."

"Sounds good," Kliff smiled. "Shall we be on our way, then, Lady Harwood?"

His imagination rarely won him over, but Kliff could have sworn that he heard another astonished yelp from her, but he didn't draw attention to it. He watched her start ahead of him with a stagger, nervously attempting to regather what was left of her composure, her fists tightened by her sides. He didn't know a lot about her, that being the case, this girl—Elaine Harwood—was a strange one, indeed.