Brimful Depravation

The return of Khallyon to Tiaone is tranquil and uneventful, the same cannot be said about the Academy itself.

A large crowd of Cadets are stationed along the entrance courtyard, with tents, tables, various clothings or items on display, and handing out leaflets.

"Right… , The Clubs"; Murmurs Khallyon with annoyance as he analyze the available options; Because is Mandatory to be in a Club, if not, you must found one, or you would be part of the Academy Task Force.

The requirements in some of the Clubs are absurd, from having a Singularity Category 3 or above, up to annual donations of 5 Millions of Credits.

However, Khallyon has his own agenda for what he is searching; A Club that doesn't take up too much of his day or don't require his presence to be mandatory, with a calming environment and in some way caughts his attention.

Unluckily, the Young Man begins to get impatient, the Clubs are mostly noisy, not very organic, with power conflicts, politically tied, elitist, or simply factions with radical thoughts.

A clear example would be The Nesohc and The Lanigiro who have opposing ideas about Åyûrïc Energy.

The Former believe anyone without Åyûrïc Energy should be exterminated, the same can be said about the latter, proclaiming the abhorrent thing is to possess Åyûrïc Energy, even when almost everything uses this wonderful marvel to power up their inventions and satiate the increasing necessities of the global population.

One of the tables is lacking candidates interested on approach, and the same can be inferred from the women there; Three Ladies, totally asymmetrical if they are compared to each other.

The first is a Nerdy Lady with orange hair braided in two pigtails, her aqua green irises are behind glasses and her overall silhouette is occult by her Academy uniform, having an unusual long skirt that reaches up to her shins.

The Farm Lady has blonde hair, blue eyes, freckles on her cheerful face, and a toned frame under her denim overalls and white cotton t-shirt, this characteristics and fashion are probably due to her country life.

Lastly, the Tomboy, weirdly she is less muscular than the Farm Lady, having short black hair and eyes with a petite and flat body.

Along with Khallyon, another Lady of long black hair and white skin advance to the table, grabbing and filling an application to join The Club Of Secret Passages, leaving as soon as she arrived.

"What is the exact purpose of your Club?"; Questions Khallyon to the Nerdy Lady, she seems tense at the large frame and imposing voice of the Young Man, gathering her courage to answer.

"W-We, We search f-for Secret Locations, mostly in the Academy grounds, but we occasionally go to investigate Old Buildings, Ruins and Invasive Territories"…

The Nerdy Lady is calmer the more she talks, being obvious how excited is she about telling others this amazing subject; Intriguing Khallyon as they don't look like a qualified group to fight, much less to delve into a Invasive Territory.

Yet, he knows pretty well how deceiving things can be, and underestimate someone or something can lead to anyone's death.

"Tiaone is built over and Ancient Castle, which is why is possible to encounter places unknown even for the Headmaster"; Adds proudly the Nerdy Lady, puffing out her chest as she is pleased with her introduction.

This demeanor last a little bit, getting extremly nervous at Khallyon's expressionless face.

"You have bored or overwhelmed him by dumping on him so many words"; Whisper the Farm Lady, as the Tomboy scolds the Nerdy Lady with less decorum "You are not a Merchant, Actress, Bureaucrat or at least a Trickster, talk less and only answer when and what you are asked".

{Isn't the Nerdy Lady the President of this Club?, She needs to have more backbone, Although, This behavior of her's can have some advantages}

Khallyon thoughts refocus in the following second, leaning forward to fill one of the applications for the Club "I would like to have a tour around the Academy to learn where is our Club, Can you do it now?".

The Nerdy Lady is stunned for a few moments, as the Tomboy comments with an encouraging pat on the shoulder of the motionless Lady "Go with the Freshman, President; Odette and I can stay here, just in case someone else wants to join the Club".

Nodding, The Nerdy Lady rises from her seat, strolling around the facilities of the Academy with Khallyon; Arriving to a wall in a secluded area of the building.

The Club President materializes a node of Åyûrïc Energy, placing the small sphere of ethereal graphite on one of the bricks, repeating the process in other spots with abnormally high speed and precision.

The Six Nodes of Åyûrïc Energy cause the wall to shake, rearranging the bricks in such a way that they reveal a wooden door behind them, which requires three more Åyûrïc Nodes on the doorknob to be opened.

"D-Do you want to do the honors?"; Asks timidly and expectant the Nerdy Lady.

"Sure"; Says stoically Khallyon, casting simultaneously three Åyûrïc Nodes and putting them in the doorknob.

"I-Impressive"; Stutters the Nerdy Lady with reverence and awe; To which Khallyon replies "I appreciate the compliment, but I am still far from the 47 Nodes my mother could insta cast".

The two youngsters enter in the room, moving around the obvious "U" layout of this secret and strange room, which immediately makes no sense to Khallyon's understanding, as there is no need to have a structure dividing the chamber, even more when it comes to such a large division.

{Is this a design error?, Or maybe there is another hidden passage right here}

With his curiosity spiked, Khallyon has no doubts, he made the right call by joining this Club, because has all what he likes, and more.

"I love this place, and is late to say, But, I am Khallyon, How should I Address you, Club President?".

"I-I am Single!"…

Confess the Nerdy Lady, immediately regretting her mistake with panic "I, I mean, my Name is Daphne Eckhart, Cadet DEED-88, but you can call me the way you want".

She gets more embarrassed and frustrated, as Men don't approach her, not knowing how to deal with them, and Khallyon straightforward attitude is uncommon for her.

"I am Single too"; Mentions nonchalantly the Young Man "Should we do something about our status?, because I can call you my Girlfriend, and I want that to be true, Daphne"…