"Alright!" Mars spun around, flexing both arms like he'd just won a tournament. "Now we find yours!"
"Mine?"
"Your club! You helped me find mine, so now I help you find yours. That's how friendship works!" Mars declared this like it was universal law carved into the foundation of the world itself.
"I don't think I actually helped you find—"
"Nonsense! Let's go!"
Arthur sighed but didn't resist. Truthfully, he already knew what he was looking for. He'd known since before Mars had dragged him out of the Watchers hall.
'I just need to find a club that allows me better access to glyphs runes and hopefully they have information on Vex and Hexes.' Arthur muses as he and Mars continue to search for his club.
Arthur's eyes were already scanning ahead, reading the banners over the tops of heads.
And then he found it.
Tucked into a quieter corner of the library, away from the noise and spectacle of the larger clubs, sat a modest stand. The banner was clean but understated: GLYPH & RUNE CLUB.
'Bingo.' Pushing past other students, Arthur beelined for the stand.
"Glyph & Rune Club? Really? A man of your talents?" Mars questioned Arthur's decision.
"It's a practical skill, and do you really think everyone fights head-on like you?" Arthur refuted.
"Well of course not, who else is going to be there to support me while I fight the hordes of enemies?" Mars said rather matter-of-factly. "I just thought someone who'd be a friend of Mars would share at least a common style of close-range fighting, not this scholarly stuff."
"Well, don't lose your strings, as I assure you there is more than meets the eye." Arthur placated Mars as they made their way to the stand.
With the stand now in view, Arthur saw three people standing behind it. Two looked like 2nd or 3rd years, while the last looked to be older, a 4th or 5th year. Her back was straight. Her chin lifted just enough to carry the unmistakable posture of someone born into nobility, not the practiced kind that lesser houses taught their children, but the kind that ran so deep it looked effortless.
She was tall and statuesque. The kind of beauty that didn't ask for attention but took it anyway.
Her platinum blonde hair fell past her shoulders like spun silver, catching the library light in a way that made it difficult not to look twice. Her skin was pale, almost porcelain, and her eyes icy blue, sharp, the kind that could cut through a conversation before a single word was spoken.
She wore the Virtues house uniform, but even the standard academy attire looked like it had been made for her. Every line sat perfectly against the elegant frame of her figure, and the Virtues crest on her chest only reinforced what was already obvious.
She was like—
'A model.' Arthur couldn't help but think as he walked up to the stand, trying not to stare too much.
"Wow." Mars, however, couldn't help but comment upon seeing the girl. "Yo, Art, you think I got a chance with her?"
"In your dreams. I'm sure she's already taken, and besides, she's at the age for political marriages anyway." Arthur deflated Mars.
"Yeah, but a man can dream, you know..." Mars said somewhat sadly.
Noticing Arthur and Mars, one of the boys stood up to greet them.
"Hi there, my name is Brandon, and we're the Glyph & Rune Club. If you guys are interested, here is a brochure that has more about us."
Handing over the small brochure, Brandon gave them both a friendly smile. "We cover everything from basic inscription theory to advanced glyph arrays. We even experiment with using the Sinclair framework if you're into that sort of thing."
"The Sinclair framework? Surely you mean the Hargaven principles as while Sinclair's is great for a base level of glyphs when it comes to runes Hargaven proves that the limit of irrationality can in fact affect the effects of runes giving a deeper value to what they produce."
Brandon looks at Arthur with genuine surprise. "Yes of course we mostly just tell first years about Sinclair's method as it's the most known but sense you clearly no more then yes. We do mostly work with Hargaven's principles however we find that Sinclair's method is great for combat purposes for its all-round capabilities."
"That makes sense but what about sub-stacks if you use an overarching glyph with inscribed runes then you wouldn't have to worry about the time it takes to use Hargaven's principles and still be able to reap the benefits." Arthur debates.
"That is…yes…that would work. I think. Hey Helena, can you come over here? This first year brought up an interesting thought." Brandon turned over to face Helena the platinum blonde model.
"Yeah sure." Setting down her paper Helena walks over.
"What can I help with?" Helena ask staying professional even when her hips swayed back and forth in a hypnotic fashion
"Well mister umm… sorry what was your name."
"Arthur."
"Well, Mister Arthur brought up an interesting idea. He thinks that if you were to use a sub-stack of Sinclair for the glyph on top of inscribed runes, you could cut the time for casting typically associated with Hargaven leaving you with the speed of Sinclair but the power of Hargaven." Brandon retold what Arthur said.
Putting her finger up to her chin, her face pinched as she thought over the idea, her icy blue eyes narrowing.
"In theory it would work, especially since in isolation it isn't unheard of. But to use it to bridge the two theories? Now that is something new." She then studied Arthur openly, noting how he was a Watcher.
"Say, with someone of your knowledge and clear noble heritage, what are you doing in the Watchers house, and the lowest dorm at that?" Helena asked the obvious question, pointing at Arthur's emblem which showed he was from House Watchers and the Iron Dorm.
"That's because I'm Arthur Webb."
Instantly the faces of Brandon and Helena changed from surprise to understanding.
"Well, that would explain it... But umm, don't worry, you might still be able to join the club. It's just that..." Brandon said, looking toward Helena as if asking her to help explain.
"I see no issue," Helena said rather matter-of-factly, ignoring Brandon's fence-sitting.
"Wait, but Helena, he's... you know... a Webb. We can't be seen having one around think of our reputation." Brandon, trying to stay friendly, had a hard time saying his thoughts.
Helena, however, had a slightly different look compared to Brandon. "As vice leader of the club, I can allow you into our club, but I have to ask you a personal question first, Mr. Webb."
"Go ahead." Arthur shrugged his shoulders.
"Your bloodline, while I know those of Taboo, try to hold the secrets of them close as they are your lifeline. I need you to at least swear on your mana that your bloodline won't cause you to force yourself on other members or make members act differently than typical." Helena stared at Arthur, gauging his response.
"I, Arthur Webb, swear on my mana that my bloodline will cause no issue or make me force myself on others of the Glyph and Rune Club." Arthur swore, knowing that while if he did mark someone in the club they might change a bit to fit their kinks, but it would technically still be them making the decision..
"That should quell any of your doubts, shouldn't it, Brandon?" Helena looked at Brandon, her arms crossed.
"Yeah, that's fine, but our reputation, are you sure we can handle it? Can you handle it?" Brandon asked clearly worried for Helena.
"We will be fine, and trust me, I've handled much worse." Helena said, making her stance very clear.
"You're the boss." Brandon says, throwing up his hands.
"Wow, Arthur, I think she might like you for trying so hard to get you to join. I wish I had good looks like you..." Mars said, trying to whisper in Arthur's ear but Mars isn't known for being quiet.
Helena's eye twitched but she said nothing, her composure held by a thread.
'Mars, you idiot.' Arthur couldn't help but smile wearily at Mars's words. 'Can't say I don't agree with him though, cause why else would she help me?'
Trying to ignore Mars's words, Helena continued.
"Anyway, now that it is settled, if you would just sign on this paper, we can officially start your membership."
She hurriedly shoved the paper forward as if saying get that guy out of here.
Signing his name down on the dotted lines, Arthur was now officially a member of the Glyph & Rune Club.
Author Note: Patreon.com/Lord_Cuckles for Advance Chapters