The sun came in slowly.
A thin bar of light crept across the floor, climbed the edge of the bed, and settled on Arthur's face until he had no choice but to open his eyes.
He lay still for a moment.
Mira had rolled away from him in her sleep, curled toward the wall with her dark hair fanned across the pillow.
'She always looks so peaceful when she sleeps.'
He looked over at her as he got up out of bed. Making sure to stay quiet, he moved with care as he got dressed.
After lacing his shoes he walked up to the bed, lowered his head, and gave a kiss to Mira's forehead. She smiled in her sleep.
Leaving his room, he closed the door with a click but what caught his eye was the stain sitting right outside his door, like that left behind by a liquid.
Arthur stared at it.
'...Hm.'
He crouched briefly, studying it without touching it. Then he stood, glanced down the empty corridor in both directions, and allowed himself one quiet thought.
'Someone had a fun night.'
He stepped over it and walked to breakfast.
After finishing his meal he went and completed his benchmarks, taking up most of the morning and leaving him little time before lunch.
'Man, Loid is such a pain.' Arthur couldn't help but think as he stepped through the teleporter back to campus.
Rubbing his shoulders, he walked out of the teleporter room and made his way over to a signboard covered in posted papers.
Looking through the different notices, another student walked up beside him. Hair red like fire, his body built like a warrior, his sleeveless uniform showing off his scar-ridden arms.
No matter how different his uniform was, Arthur could still easily spot the House Thrones emblem plastered on his chest.
'Why is someone from House Thrones over in the Watchers hall?' Arthur glanced at him from the side.
"They don't have it here either…" The boy turned and looked at Arthur, holding a crumpled piece of paper in his hand.
"What are you looking for?" Arthur asked.
"Well, this stupid paper I got yesterday is telling me there are a bunch of clubs you can join, and I've been looking for the martial arts one but none of the signs around here are telling me where the clubs are hiding!" The boy said, his voice rising as he threw his arms around in frustration.
"Mind if I take a look?" Arthur offered.
"Yeah, sure, be my guest." The red-haired boy handed over the paper.
Looking it over, Arthur read: 'Looking for groups of like-minded people or a place to advance your skills? JOIN A CLUB! We have a club for everyone!'
As he got further down the page, he noticed it truly didn't say where any of the clubs were located.
"You're right, it really doesn't say where the clubs are. Why would they do that…" Arthur couldn't help but agree.
"See! I told you!" The boy snatched back his paper, crumpling it into a ball. "Ah, who cares about this stupid paper if it's no use!" He tossed it on the ground.
"I'm just going to explore campus until I find it!" He raised his fist in triumph.
"And you are going to help me!" He pointed his finger at Arthur.
"What?" Arthur looked puzzled.
"Anyone who helps Mars Pyke is a friend for sure and friends stick together!" Grabbing Arthur by the arm, he started dragging him along.
"Wait, I didn't even do anything." Arthur protested as he was pulled forward.
"Nonsense! You were here to witness Mars Pyke's greatness, is that not helpful enough?" Mars laughed as he hauled Arthur through every building he could find.
From lecture halls to labs, Mars dragged him everywhere until they finally reached the library.
"Now this is a place for clubs!" Mars announced loudly.
'You said that about the last five places…' Arthur sighed, following along. He had already decided there was no getting away from Mars even if he tried. The boy was simply too strong.
'He has to be at least Peak Bronze. Must be Top fifty among first years. Just my luck.'
Resigning himself to his fate Arthur tagged along with Mars following him into the library.
The library was massive in scale, the walls as large as buildings filled full of books.
But today the books were not the main attractive acting in it's place rows of people can be found.
The entire ground floor had been transformed. Rows of tables and stands lined every aisle, each one manned by students holding up signs, banners, and stacks of flyers. The noise hit Arthur the moment they stepped through the doors, dozens of voices calling out, pitching, arguing, laughing.
"Join the Alchemy Circle! We blew up the west lab only twice last semester!"
"Beast Taming Club, first years welcome! Bites are part of the experience!"
"Aurelius Debate Society, sharpen your tongue before someone sharpens it for you!"
Mars stopped in the doorway and grinned so wide Arthur thought his face might split.
"Now this is what I'm talking about!"
Mars not waiting on Arthur jumps into the fray joining all the other first years. Joining him Arthur follows along getting roped up in the mess.
As he passes by many clubs which try to recruit him Arthur just waves them off as nothing has caught his eye so far. However Mars sees it different as if any of them even remotely deal with martial arts he has to talk to them.
"And you're telling me you don't have a dojo!? How can you call yourself Martial Art studies if you don't have a dojo to practice!" Mars sterling berates the upperclassmen who represent the club.
"Listen if you think you're too good for our club you can just leave!" The upperclassmen having enough of Mars refutes.
"Fine I will thank you for explaining how terrible your club is. Come on Arthur, let's leave these fakes alone." Mars turns on his heels leaving the club in the dust with Arthur in tail showing an apologetic wave to man as they leave.
As they continue along Mars continues his judgement for other clubs.
"Too boring."
"Too stupid sounding."
"Why would you even do a club about that?"
However he then saw it. Like a child seeing a candy store Mars's face grew large in excitement.
"There."
Arthur followed his gaze down the row to a stand near the far wall. The banner above it read in bold, blocky letters: IRON FIST SOCIETY MARTIAL ARTS & COMBAT FORMS.
The stand was simple. No flashy decorations, no gimmicks. Just a wooden table, a signup sheet, and a second-year student sitting behind it with his arms crossed and a look that said he'd rather be sparring than recruiting.
Mars was already moving.
"That's it! That's the one!" He pointed at the banner like he'd discovered buried treasure. "Iron Fist Society! Even the name is perfect!"
He turned back to Arthur, eyes blazing.
"Arthur! I'm joining! Right now!"
"I figured," Arthur said dryly.
Mars slammed both hands on the table hard enough to make the signup sheet jump off the surface. The second-year flinched.
"Mars Pyke! House Thrones! Where do I sign!"
The student behind the table looked up slowly, unimpressed. "...The sheet's right there."
Mars snatched the quill and scrawled his name so hard the tip nearly tore through the paper. He was practically vibrating with excitement, his leg bouncing as he wrote.
Arthur watched him with the faintest smile. The guy was exhausting, but there was something almost refreshing about someone who had zero filter between thought and action.
'And to top that all of he is also probably one of the strongest of my grade.'
Author Note: Patreon.com/Lord_Cuckles for Advance Chapters