Dark glanced around and quickly spotted Dulong in the corner.
Dulong was listening with great interest as fourth-year Mike Owen told tales of strange and curious happenings.
Compared with the previous two years, the atmosphere in Noble House was indeed much more peaceful this year. That was likely because this year's president of the Noble History Research Club was Edwin Clarissa, which had rid the club of its former hostility.
Senior Edwin Clarissa sat nearby, speaking with a sixth-year senior.
That senior was Noble House's sixth-year solo duelist this year. He was extremely strong, but after losing to Pandora Doragon—then only a fourth-year—in last year's cross-grade challenge tournament, he had fallen into a slump for a time.
This year, however, he had returned with renewed determination, resolved to erase that humiliation and leave this Holy Grail to Noble House.
Noble House students had never lacked the will to win. They needed no encouragement in that regard.
After sitting down, Dark naturally joined the conversation between Dulong and Senior Owen.
Then, one after another, more people gathered in the common room. Once all the competitors for this year's Academy Cup had arrived, Edwin Clarissa smiled and said, "Professor Jones, everyone's here."
Professor Jones nodded slightly to him and began, "Since everyone is here, let's begin. I gathered you all tonight mainly because I wanted to have a chat. I've been Head of House here for quite some years now. Everyone present is someone I've known since you were first-years. Now, this group of sixth-years is about to graduate as well. Once you leave the academy, there's no telling when we might meet again. I only hope that after graduation, you'll continue to seek the path of Magic..."
Unexpectedly, Professor Jones did not specifically discuss the Academy Cup. Instead, he slowly began