Chapter 18 18: Clubs

Rio tapped his fingers as he sat on his desk in the classroom. The silence in the room was unnerving, there was no voice nor movement. He didn't talk, but just silently tap his finger at the desk.

Rio frowned, making him look angry at the eyes of the student. He looked at the seats at the back, and he noticed that a seat had no one occupying ln it. It was Arcuied's seat.

Rio didn't know where Arcuied had gone to, but it seems the other main cast of characters were in the room already. It wouldn't hurt to ask,

"Where's Arcuied?" Rio asked with a frown as he looked at Xiao.

"At the bathroom, Professor." Xiao replied immediately, the situation was tense and serious.

​ It seems he had to wait for Arcuied to come back, Rio thought. He could have started the lesson immediately and no one would reject, but he preferred to wait for the main character to arrive.

Additionally, he didn't want to be disturbed midway while lecturing. That was annoying. Rio thought his as his frown deepened, he waited for Arcuied to arrive.

Speak of the devil, a sound resounded outside of the room. Arcuied stood there, knocking on the door, making everyone's eyes directed to him.

"...Am I late?" Arcuied asked with his hands akwardly scratching his face. The trip to the bathroom took longer than he expected. Eh, damn this body of his that wanted to act on every situation.

"Go to your seat." Rio ordered callously as he nodded at Arcuied. He stood up infront as he prepared to begin his lecture.

"Don't be late again." Rio said, with his eyebrows raised as he looked at Arcuied who had just sat beside Xiao Long.

To others, he would've appeared strict and insensitive. However he didn't care about the thought of others, his experience on teaching told him the best way to control the classroom is through sheer intimidation.

Not the kind that you would beat them through strength, but through mannerism and authority. You have to act confident so they will create a narrative in their mind that you were someone they shouldn't mess with.

Being kind and jolly was an option, but that would be too tiring and not something his personality could stomach. He was a piece of shit, and that was something he knew a long time ago.

"Lesson 2: Ways to Use Magic," Rio said as he flicked a student who was close to sleeping, "That was an example of how Martial Artists use their magic. Don't sleep on me."

"Urgh!" The student groaned in suprise.

"Who are those in here that will choose Martial Artists as their class?" Rio asked as he walked around the room, looking at the students seated. Several students raised their hands, he noticed two of those were Arcuied and Eugene.

"How do Martial Artists use magic?" Rio questioned as he tilted his head to the students.

"You, Arcuied." Rio said as he noticed that Arcuied raised his hand, he was interested in his answer. Arcuied was a genius afterall.

"By compressing their magic on their weapon or body, in turn enchancing their offense and defense." Arcuied stood up as he answered. That was how he used magic.

"Excellent answer." Rio nodded as he picked a chalk on the desk and drew an anatomy of a body in the blackboard, "I will explain it more conscisely for those who don't understand."

"It is widely known that magic is absorbed into the body by the Miracle Core," Rio said as he drew an cube shape on the body anatomy, he continued, "In turn, that magic improves the body of a human."

"That magic in the body is spreaded, so people barely feel any change." Rio said as he drew flowing lines in the body anatomy, he continued, "Then, what has that got to do with Martial Artists?"

"In year 2111, The King Asterios, as of that time completed the magic system of Martial Artists." Rio said as he turned his head to look at the students, he noticed that Eugene flinched.

"The King, Asterios said, if our bodies get strengthened by magic, then if we have more magic then it would be further strengthened." Rio said, as he continued, "Then that's how compression of magic came to be. We converge all of the magic in our body to a particular part to strengthen it more."

"Then skills like «Speed», and «Strengthen» were created," Rio continued as he explained the skills, "By compressing magic in the feet, «Speed» was created, and when they compressed magic in one part «Strengthen» was created."

"Later on the years, countless sub-classes like Swordmasters, Archers and Lancers were added to Martial Artists," Rio said as he tapped his fingers in the desk, he continued, "However that's a story for another time."

"Then that wraps up the basics of Martial Artists," Rio said while nodding, as he looked at the students and asked, "Any questions?"

"You." Rio pointed at one student that had a raised hand.

"If they compressed magic in their feet, why did it resulted in «Speed» instead of «Strengthen»?" The student asked filled with confusion.

"Good question," Rio praised as he snapped his fingers, he continued as he asked with a hint lf patience, "Then let me ask you this, how do we use skills?"

"By…imagining it and applying it to realit— Aha!" The student mutttered as he slowly got into realization.

"Indeed. If we imagined our feet to be faster instead of stronger when we compress magic, we get «Speed»," Rio explained conscisely, "And, vice versa, if we imagine it to be stronger then we get «Strengthen». Do you understand now?"

"Thank you, professor!" The student nodded, thankful for being cleared up in his confusion.

"No problem." Rio replied as he nodded, he looked at his stopwatch, noticing that his session is almost over.

"Oh right, I need to announce clubs to you kids.." Rio muttered in realization, he remembered that he was tasked to announce to them their plans of clubs.

"By the way, clubs are now open for application." Rio announced in the classroom. Clubs were an important part of this academy. A student was required to be in a club. The academy forces the students to participate to improve their skills on a certain field, those who don't participate get either kicked out or suspended.

"Clubs, eh?" Xiao Long muttered, that was the perfect place for him. As someone that barely has any resources and wealth, a club sponsor would help him practice more.

"Are you interested in any club, Xiao?" Arcuied asked, as he noticed his seatmate ponder.

"Well, yes. How about you?" Xiao asked as he looked at Arcuied.

"Truthfully, I'm undecided.." Arcuied replied pensively.

"Can we create a club then, Professor?" Eugene loudly asked. He was not interested in any clubs at the school at the moment.

"You can, if you have a sponsor and teacher's permission." Rio answered in response as he quirked his eyebrows. This was odd, this didn't happen in the novel. Was his existence already altering the plot as he knew it?

"You aren't thinking of—" Amber said in realization, her eyes widening.

"Why not? The sponsor is not even a problem, as for the teachers permission.." Eugene replied as he pondered. He had an idea, it was viable, so he turned his head up and asked Rio, "Can you be the head of our club?"

"Are you sure?" Rio asked him, with his eyes slightly widening in suprise. This was out lf this expectations, if he were to be the head of their club then his first plan was good as finished.

However, alternatively his plans of staying unknown and lowkey would be good as dead. After a short moment of pondering, Rio decided he would accept. He would have a different identity outiside the academy, afterall.

"I believe you have the capabilities to do so." Eugene answered. This was a high praise coming from him, his sole reason was instinct and the scene at the infirmary before. Those callous eyes, that did not care for anything. Truth to be told, he was curious of his teacher.

"Then, so be it." Rio nodded, he wasn't going to reject this good proposal. This was a heaven sent gift. He continued, "You also need four members."

"That's easy enough, put Me, Amber, Arcuied and Xiao." Eugene replied immediately.

"What?" Arcuied widened his eyes in suprised, he didn't expect to be suddenly included in a club. He looked at his seatmate Xiao.

"This could be a better choice, more funds, less interactions, and more freedom." Xiao muttered as he thought of what Eugene proposed, as much as he didn't like being on the whims of nobles. He preferred to think rationally than emotionally.

At that moment, the bell rang. Indicating the end of class.

"We will discuss this on the faculty later." Rio said as left the room.

"Well, why not." Arcuied sighed, it doesnt seem like he had any choice at the matter. Besides the club idea was not bad. Eugene was a genius comparable to him, maybe he would know ways on how to improve well.

"Well, what should our name be..?" Eugene mumbled as he thought of several names.

"Seriously?" Amber shook her head, it seems like things were getting more absurd. Well she wasn't going to complain, it's not like she had any club in mind either way.

Little did they know, this convoluted decision lf theirs would strengthen their bonds and affect the future considerably.