The evening sky over Asa Academy was golden, as if draped in a thin veil reflecting the sunset. Classes had long ended, but the academy corridors remained bustling with the sounds of footsteps, laughter, and shouts from students. Some hurried toward the dorms, while others gathered in groups carrying their club equipment.
Van's hands still trembled slightly, a lingering effect of his brief contact with the cube. As for Dex, though his face was calm, a bitter feeling lingered in his chest. There was something about that artifact that seemed to mark his presence—a sensation that persisted even after it was over.
Dex walked with Van toward the staircase connecting the main building to the field and dormitories. The evening breeze blew softly, but his mind was still filled with impressions from the encounter at the Artifact Research Club—a small club that turned out to be far from formal and disciplined. Instead of conducting serious research as its name suggested, the club a gathering of troublemakers who enjoyed tinkering with strange objects, borrowing items without permission, and occasionally causing minor disturbances in the academy's storage rooms.
Van let out a long sigh, his head slightly lowered.
"Dex, honestly… are you sure we should stay in that club?" he asked softly.
Dex glanced sideways, noticing the doubt on his friend's face.
"Why? It doesn't seem so bad, does it? It's a bit noisy, but compared to other clubs, their rules aren't too strict."
"Rules?" Van repeated, as if the word sounded foreign to him. "I see it more as 'recklessness.' They've even been caught stealing multiple times and still keep doing it."
Dex smiled faintly but didn't get a chance to respond before footsteps approached from behind.
Their conversation was cut off when another set of footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway. A male student appeared, walking leisurely, but his gaze was too sharp to be coincidental. He had short black hair, a pale face, and what looked like a scar on his cheek.
"So, you're the ones who just joined the Artifact Research Club?"
Both turned simultaneously. A male student with short black hair stood before them, wearing a neat and well-maintained academy uniform. His expression was serious, his eyes sharp as if appraising them. On the left side of his chest was a blue emblem shaped like a quill and a map—the symbol of the Strategy and Tactics Club.
"I heard from a friend," he continued. "You really joined the Artifact Research Club, huh?"
Dex didn't answer immediately. Van was the first to speak, though hesitantly. "Yeah, we're just trying it out. Is there a problem?"
The student took a step closer, crossing his arms. "My name is Harven Floeen. I'm a senior member of the Strategy Club. I just wanted to give you a warning before you get in too deep."
Dex vaguely recognized the name from conversations about prestigious clubs. The Strategy Club was known as one of the most influential, with members often taking the lead in dungeon raids and simulation battles.
Dex raised an eyebrow. "A warning?"
Harven lowered his voice slightly, but his tone remained firm. "The Artifact Research Club has a bad reputation. They often cause trouble—using lab equipment without permission, entering restricted storage areas, even conducting ridiculous experiments that disrupt other classes. They won't actually help you grow. All they do is tarnish your image as academy students."
Van looked shocked. "Seriously? That bad?"
"Worse than you think," Harven replied swiftly. "They used to have more members. But almost all of them left after getting bored or nearly being expelled due to the club's actions. Now only four remain, and for some reason, they're still recruiting new members."
Dex listened calmly, though his gaze wasn't entirely convinced. "If it's really that bad, why doesn't the academy just disband them?"
Harven snorted softly, clearly holding back his irritation. "Because of academy rules. As long as a club has at least four members and hasn't caused any fatalities, they can continue operating. But don't be mistaken—sooner or later, new members always get dragged into their mess."
Van grew restless, glancing at Dex with an expression that begged reconsideration. But Dex simply stared straight at Harven, seemingly unfazed by the warning. He was only looking for a club with loose rules.
"What do you mean by 'dragged into their mess'?" Dex finally asked.
Harven stared intently at him before answering flatly, "Last year, four first-year students joined that club. They were nearly expelled after being caught trying to steal artifacts from the academy's storage. Luckily, it was their first offense, so they were only punished with cleaning the field every evening for a month. But that was enough to make them quit the club and never return."
A brief silence fell between them. The evening wind grew colder, carrying the distant laughter of other students passing by.
Van swallowed hard. "Ugh, why did I have to get involved in this?"
"But they weren't expelled, right?" Dex interjected quickly.
Van fell silent, staring at him in confusion.
Dex turned back to Harven. "I appreciate your warning. But I've already joined. It would be rude to leave on the first day. If the club is really as bad as you say, I can decide to leave anytime."
Harven seemed dissatisfied with the answer. His brow furrowed, and he let out a long sigh. "Stubborn, aren't you? Fine. Consider my duty to warn you done."
He turned and walked away without looking back. But just before disappearing around the corridor corner, he added one final, weighty remark:
"That club has had plenty of issues with the Student Council and other clubs, kid. Don't say I didn't warn you when trouble comes knocking."
His footsteps faded, leaving Dex and Van in a heavy silence.
Van looked at Dex, frustrated. "Are you really sure about this? I know you're not afraid of risks, but I don't want us to end up cleaning the academy's toilets every day just because that club caused trouble."
Dex gazed at the darkening sky, a slight curve forming on his lips. "Hey, come on, Van. Didn't we already agree? Besides, you didn't want to deal with strict rules from other clubs, right? And this club doesn't require you to show up every day."
Van sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. "You're really something, you know that? So hard to understand."
The two continued walking back to the dorm. The evening grew dimmer, and magical lamps along the path began to glow, casting long shadows on the ground. In the distance, the sounds of students training mixed with explosions from the magic labs. Asa Academy remained alive, as if refusing to sleep even as night fell.