Vol4 Chapter 2 Surveys

Amos left Professor Selene’s office with the club booklet tucked under his arm, already forming a plan. It wasn’t complicated—he’d just ask his classmates which clubs they’d picked. That way, he could figure out which ones were worth joining and, more importantly, know what everyone else was doing without slogging through all sixty-plus descriptions himself. He is not lazy, just efficient.

The first person he found was Willow.

She was sitting near one of the academy gardens with a book resting in her lap. She looked up when Amos approached.

“Amos.”

“Willow.”

He pointed at the book.

“Studying?”

“Mhm.”

“Good.”

He sat down beside her.

“Have you decided on a club?”

Willow blinked.

“A club?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

She closed her book thoughtfully.

“I've been considering a few.”

“Which ones?”

“Probably something related to studying.”

Amos nodded.

“That sounds like you.”

Willow smiled.

“I haven't decided yet, though.”

“I see.”

He stood.

“Good luck.”

“Wait.”

Willow looked at him.

“Are you going around asking everyone?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Research.”

She smiled.

“Of course.”

***

Next was Aurelia.

Amos found her exactly where he thought she’d be—reading. She sat beneath a tree, a hefty magical theory book spread open in her lap.

“Aurelia.”

The green-haired girl slowly looked up.

“What.”

“Have you chosen a club?”

“Yes.”

That was fast.

“Which one?”

“Magical Research Society.”

Amos nodded.

“Sounds appropriate.”

“It is.”

She looked back down at her book.

Amos waited.

Then waited some more.

“…That's it?”

Aurelia looked up again.

“What else is there?”

“Nothing.”

He nodded.

“Thank you for your contribution.”

Aurelia returned to her book.

Amos walked away.

***

Chester was considerably easier to find.

He was training.

Of course he was.

Amos stood at the edge of the training area and watched him finish a series of sword strikes.

Chester lowered his blade.

“You.”

“Me.”

“What do you want?”

“Have you chosen a club?”

Chester frowned.

“Obviously.”

“Which?”

“Swordsmanship.”

Amos nodded.

“I expected that.”

Chester rested the practice sword against his shoulder.

“You?”

“Still deciding.”

“You should join the combat club. So, I could fight you.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I already had enough fighting.”

Chester stared at him.

“You're afraid of me.”

“Sure, let's just say that.”

Amos turned to leave.

“Wait.”

He glanced back.

“Why are you asking everyone?”

“Because I need information.”

Chester narrowed his eyes.

“About?”

“Clubs.”

“Obviously.”

Amos smiled.

“Exactly.”

***

The twins were together.

That made things convenient.

Elodie was going through several papers at one of the common tables while Edith sat beside her with her notebook.

Amos pulled out a chair.

“Have you two decided on clubs?”

Elodie looked up.

“Ah, our esteemed customer.”

“I am not buying anything.”

“You say that now.”

Edith quietly wrote something in her notebook.

He's asking everyone.

Amos looked at her.

“You know?”

She nodded.

“How?”

She pointed toward the corridor.

Apparently, several students had already seen him wandering around.

Amos accepted that.

“Anyway.”

He looked at Elodie.

“You?”

“I haven't completely decided.”

“Any preferences?”

“Something involving business, negotiation, or economics.”

Amos nodded.

“Of course.”

Elodie smiled.

“Perhaps I'll start my own society.”

“That sounds ... wonderful?”

“For everyone else, perhaps.”

Edith turned her notebook around.

I want a reading club.

Amos nodded.

“That also sounds like you.”

Edith smiled.

“Would you join?”

Amos paused.

“Maybe.”

Elodie immediately leaned forward.

“Is that a customer?”

“No.”

“Too bad.”

***

Estelle was next in line. He spotted her assisting another student, and after tending to a minor injury, she turned to Amos with her familiar gentle smile.

“Amos.”

“Estelle.”

He waited until she finished putting away her healing supplies.

“Have you chosen a club?”

“A club?”

“Mhm.”

Estelle thought for a moment.

“I haven't.”

“Any particular one?”

“Perhaps something involving healing perhaps.”

“That makes sense.”

She smiled.

“What about you?”

“I'm considering several.”

“Several?”

“Apparently We can join more than one.”

“That is true.”

Estelle's smile widened slightly.

“You seem very interested in this.”

“I've recently discovered that clubs are complicated.”

She laughed softly.

“I suppose they can be.”

***

Amos kept moving, easily spotting Mira as she practiced with her bow. He came up from the side, closing the distance quietly.

“Mira.”

The elf turned.

Her ears twitched slightly.

“Amos.”

“Have you chosen a club?”

She considered the question.

“Archery.”

“An archery club?”

“Yes.”

“Reasonable.”

Mira lowered her bow.

“Are you joining one?”

“Probably several.”

Her ears twitched again.

“That sounds like you.”

Amos nodded.

“I'll take that as a compliment.”

“It was.”

He smiled.

“Good.”

***

Frida was next in line. Finding her wasn’t hard, and just hearing her was all it took.

“AMOS!”

He turned.

Frida came running toward him, her tail wagging.

“I found you!”

“You weren't looking for me.”

“I was.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to show you something!”

“No.”

She stopped.

“Why?”

“Because its you.”

Frida looked offended.

Amos sighed.

“Anyway. Clubs.”

Her ears perked up.

“Clubs!”

“Yes.”

“I'm joining the beastfolk cultural club!”

“There is one?”

“Yep!”

“What do you do?”

Frida smiled proudly.

“Talk about beastfolk!”

Amos nodded slowly.

“That actually sounds good for you.”

“I know!”

She suddenly grabbed his arm.

“You should join!”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I am not a beastfolk.”

“You can still come!”

“That's not how clubs work.”

Frida tilted her head.

“Are you sure?”

Amos paused.

“…No.”

She smiled triumphantly.

***

Lucra was sitting nearby. Amos approached her next.

“Lucra.”

The dragonfolk girl looked up.

“Hm?”

“Club?”

She stared at him.

“Club.”

“Yes.”

“What about it?”

“Which one are you joining?”

Lucra crossed her arms.

“None yet.”

“Why?”

“I haven't found one that interests me.”

Amos nodded.

“That makes sense.”

“What about you?”

“Same problem.”

Lucra glanced at the booklet under his arm.

“You're taking this seriously.”

“I am conducting research.”

“Research?”

“Yes.”

She stared at him for a moment.

“Why?”

Amos sighed.

“Because the someone invited me to theirs.”

Lucra blinked.

“…Oh.”

She immediately understood.

“Good luck.”

“Thank you.”

***

By the time Amos finished asking everyone he could find that his original plan had become considerably more complicated.

Aurelia had settled on magical research, while Chester went for swordsmanship. Mira was leaning toward archery, and Frida had already joined a beastfolk cultural club. Willow was still weighing her options, and Estelle remained undecided. Edith was looking for something tied to reading, Elodie wanted something in the realm of business, and Lucra hadn’t come across anything that caught her interest yet.

Amos glanced down at the booklet, noting there were still dozens of clubs. He let out a sigh, then a thought struck him—his tea club. He could start one himself. After all, he already had the first member: him.

Elena was practically confirmed, even if she had made it very clear she didn't particularly want to be involved.

Estelle could probably be persuaded.

Edith would likely enjoy the quiet.

And Elodie—

He could probably convince her if there was food involved.

That was four.

He needed one more.

Amos's eyes slowly moved across the academy courtyard.

Willow? Maybe.

Frida? Definitely too energetic.

Mira? Possibly.

Lucra? Unlikely.

Aurelia? Hard to imagine.

Chester? He’d rather fight monsters.

Amos rubbed his chin.

He smiled. A tea club—somewhere he could enjoy a cup of tea. With that thought, he closed the booklet.

“Excellent.”

His academy life was beginning to take shape.

He just had to recruit four other people.

Amos frowned.

“That's going to be the harder part.”