"Hey, how does a club become a Crest Club?" Alex asked.
He had always wondered what was the difference between the Crest Clubs and every other club.
"Good question!" Chuck immediately jumped at the opportunity to enlighten his best friend about what set the Crest Clubs apart from the so-called ordinary clubs. "In order to become a Crest Club, that club must first make great contributions to the academy."
Alex furrowed his brows a little. "Great contributions?"
"Yes, and there are many ways to do that," Chuck replied. "The easiest and most straightforward way is giving the academy big amounts of money. For example, the Merchant Alliance, which is one of the twelve Crest Clubs, controls businesses inside and outside of the academy. It shares the profits with the school.
"However, a club can become a Crest Club by racking up achievements that will make Frieden Academy’s influence and prestige rise! For example, through inter-academy competitions and other contests.
"Of course, you can also do volunteer work. But that is already covered by the White Cross Foundation, which is also a Crest Club. They do community service, humanitarian work, and relief missions to places that have encountered tragedies, spreading the influence of Frieden Academy far and wide."
Alex rubbed his chin because he was now getting a clearer picture of why these clubs were able to stand tall above the rest.
"Then, what about the Lionheart Club?" Alex inquired. "The one where your brother is a part of."
"The Lionheart Club dabbles on politics," Chuck replied.
"Politics?" Alex blinked. "They became a Crest Club just because of that?"
"Alex, don’t underestimate politics." Chuck wagged his finger. "With a single order from a noble, private armies can be mobilized. The original goal of the Lionheart Club revolved around the concept of Noblesse Oblige.
"Those born with power, wealth, or high social status have a moral obligation to act with honor, generosity, and responsibility, especially toward those who are less privileged."
Caspian might not be the most dishonourable, petty, and imprudent person he knew, but that spoiled scion was definitely high up on the list.
Chuck could tell what Alex was thinking. "At least," he said, "that should have been their mission. But over the years, it has just become a club of elitists. It’s really sad to see it happen this way."
"Now, the club only accepts members of the Royal Families as well as the first and second sons and daughters of Earls, Marquess, and Dukes.
"Younger children from these families are not accepted, so obviously all the sons and daughters of Viscounts and Barons are also considered too lowly to be part of their club."
"... Wow, talk about elitism," Nessia sneered. "So, they’re just a bunch of pricks who have gathered together in a club to talk about their lineages so they can feel important?"
Chuck smiled bitterly. "Yes. It’s really sad that such a noble club has now turned into a gathering of noble pricks."
Alex had originally wanted all of them, but especially Chuck, to become part of the Obsidian Fang so they wouldn’t get bullied by the Lionheart Club.
But since all of them couldn’t be accepted, they had decided to make a club of their own.
Chuck’s explanation about the true nature of the Crest Clubs filled Alex with determination.
"Okay, let’s do it!" Alex exclaimed with conviction. "Let’s make Endless Horizon the thirteenth Crest Club of the academy."
Lavinia, Charles, Nessia, and Chuck looked at the young man as if he was out of his mind.
"I know what you guys are thinking." Alex smirked. "But we have a secret weapon!"
"Secret weapon?" Chuck blinked. "What secret weapon?"
"Behold!" Alex said as he picked up Dim Dim as it was busy eating some cookies on top of the table. "This is our secret weapon!"
"Dim?" Dim Dim blinked in confusion, having been interrupted mid-bite.
"Alex, what are you talking about?" Nessia frowned. "And please, put Dim Dim down. Can’t you see it is eating?"
"Oh. Sorry about that, Dim Dim."
Alex then sat down to explain how he would elevate their club’s status to a Crest Club.
"Tell me, why is the Obsidian Fang a Crest Club?" Alex asked Chuck.
"It’s because they regularly clear dungeons and do explorations," Chuck replied. "They give the academy shares of their dungeon loot. They also create guidebooks on how to deal with dungeon monsters."
Nessia’s face lit up at those words and she leaned in to better hear what Chuck was about to say.
"This helps other explorers, including other students of the academy, by teaching them the weaknesses of various monsters and how to fight them effectively.
"Also, the Obsidian Fang goes on expeditions to explore ruins, ancient cities, and other undiscovered or forgotten places. They keep meticulous records of these expeditions as well."
"That’s it?" Alex asked.
"What do you mean that’s it?" Chuck frowned. "The library of the academy has many of their published books. Data compiled through hundreds of years since the academy’s founding. It’s not a feat anyone can accomplish."
"Don’t worry. If that’s the only thing that the Obsidian Fang can do, I’m sure we can do better," Alex replied with confidence before glancing at Dim Dim, who was happily munching on cookies.
When it came to knowledge about the world of Arcana, the combined efforts of the club members of the Obsidian Fang for the past hundreds of years couldn’t even begin to compare to what Dim Dim knew.
In fact, even if they managed to collect all the information about the Elarion Continent, where the Kingdom of Avalon was located, it was just one of the seven continents of the world of Arcana.
There were more mysteries that were left to be discovered, and all of this information was something that Dim Dim knew.
"Alex, let me just be clear about something," Chuck said in a solemn tone. "You plan to challenge the authority of the Obsidian Fang?"
"I don’t plan to challenge anyone," Alex replied. "This is what you call healthy competition. Isn’t that what being a student of the academy is all about?"
"I can already foresee another Crest Club becoming our enemy in the future." Nessia facepalmed. "Maybe I shouldn’t have joined this club."
"O-Oi! No take backs!" Chuck immediately crossed his arms into an X to tell Nessia that she wasn’t allowed to quit their club.
Nessia negated Chuck’s earnestness by simply looking away. "Just know," she said without facing Alex, "that if I become a ghost because of this club’s shenanigans, I will haunt you till the day you die."
"Don’t worry, you won’t turn into one," Alex replied with confidence.
After all, Nessia was the future Phoenix Tactician.
A Strategic-Class Mage who could always find her way out of the most tricky situation.
With such a strategist as a member of their club, Alex was confident that they would be able to go a long way when it came to dungeon expeditions and field explorations.
’It’s too bad Renard joined the Obsidian Fang,’ Alex thought. ’Well, with his ability, it’s only a matter of time before he becomes part of it.’
But, just as Alex was thinking along these lines, they heard a knock on the door.
Since Chuck was the closest to the door, he didn’t hesitate to open it to see who it was.
Everyone’s eyes landed on Renard, who looked as if he had swallowed a fly.
"Did you manage to join Obsidian Fang?" Alex asked.
"...No," Renard answered.
"Huh?" Alex looked at the young man in disbelief. "You weren’t able to join it? Did you fail their trial?"
"I didn’t fail!" Renard replied. "I... I just gave my spot to someone that needed it more than me."
"Someone who needs it more than you?" Alex tilted his head. "Who?"
"Phoebe." Renard leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms over his chest. "I gave my spot to Phoebe."
"Oh?" Alex smiled mischievously. "I didn’t know that the two of you were that close."
"Shut up!" Renard, who twitched like someone had grabbed his tail by surprise, glared daggers at Alex. "She said that I shouldn’t join the Obsidian Fang because I would not be able to grow stronger by joining them."
"So why are you here?" asked Nessia pointedly.
"Phoebe said that I should join your club instead. So, that’s why I’m here. Don’t get the wrong idea, okay?"
Alex gave Phoebe two thumbs-up in his heart after hearing Renard’s explanation.
He didn’t know why the young Seer of the Silver-Horned Tribe had asked the teenage boy with trust issues to find them instead.
The other thing that surprised him was the fact that Renard actually trusted Phoebe’s advice instead of ignoring her!
Alex’s train of thought was suddenly interrupted when Renards’s voice reached his ears.
"So, are you guys forming a club or what?" Renard scratched his head in frustration. "If not, I’m going to leave."
Chuck hastily grabbed Renard’s hand and shook it happily.
"Welcome to the Endless Horizon Club," Chuck exclaimed warmly. "We will become the thirteenth Crest Club in the future, so you will become one of its Elders if you join now!"
Renard clicked his tongue because Chuck was too enthusiastic for his taste.
Still, he glanced at Alex and told him to add his name to the list of club members before leaving the room without a second glance.
Even he didn’t know why he had followed Phoebe’s advice.
However, for some reason, the words of the young lady had sounded so compelling. It was as if she had been making some kind of prophecy.
A prophecy that caused a ripple of casualty in the world, where someone named Alex Stratos, shouldn’t exist.