Welcome to the Fan Club

Hey, you look familiar... Wait, I remember! You're the new student!

How's life been so far at the Academy?

That's great to hear. We here at the Spacetrek Collective come from all over Solaris. Everyone has different customs and habits, and it can take a minute to get used to everything.

Speaking of campus life, Rover, have you had a chance to check out any of the Academy's fan clubs?

If you're looking for a fun way to spend your free time, joining one is a great idea.

That's great, then I'll spare you the introductions.

Fan clubs... Let me see. Aha, here it is!

I highly recommend this article, "Freshman Essential: Startorch's Top Fan Club Picks"! Hang on a sec...

The article lists the most popular fan clubs in Startorch Academy, and their usual hangout spots.

If any of them have caught your eye, be sure to check them out, Rover.

(The article says there's a Peaks of Prestige fan club...? Could I have been a former member? Might be worth checking out.)

Great. Don't forget to let me know what you think of the article's recommendations!

Most Popular: Peaks of Prestige fan club Mr. Furius of Septimont, creator of the one and only Peaks of Prestige, invites you to experience his masterfully crafted Echo battle strategy game! Fight thrilling duels, use bold all-or-nothing tactics to defeat powerful foes, and be honored as a true duelist! Most Quirky: Argus Workshop Where modern technology and ancient tradition meet, a paradise for arms and armament enthusiasts! Want to craft a legendary weapon by your own hand? Curious about Resonator weapon-making craftsmanship? Come to the Argus Workshop, where everything you need can be found! Note: This fan club meets in the Academy's Crafting Bay. For more details, please contact club leader, Garris. Weirdest... er, Most Practical: Gastro-Alchemist fan club Best to go experience this in person.

Rover, you've come at the right moment. Have you seen Olof?

Strange... He hasn't been coming to club meetings at all lately.

Olof was always so proud of his skills. I think losing to Chessa might have crushed his spirit.

Rover, could you go look for him? I don't think he's in the mood to see me or anyone else from the fan club.

But he might talk to you. You're the one who beat Chessa. In his eyes, you basically avenged him.

Let me think... Ah, I hear he hangs out in the arcade after class.

If you find him, please ask him what's on his mind.

Whether he needs our help, just needs some space, or... is even thinking of leaving the club, we'll support him.

Thank you, Rover.

Ah, it's you... Well, at least you're not someone from the club here to rub it in. Hah.

But you wouldn't do that. You're the force of nature who bested Professor Calith and saved the fan club.

I must seem like a complete ant to you, don't I?

Of course you'd say that... you won. Winners get to be gracious. Winners also get to hand out dismissive platitudes...

But what about the loser? What do I get?

It's funny. I once thought I was the second-best duelist in the fan club, and by extension, the Academy. But since dueling Miss Chessa, I've realized...

All my hard work, my so-called "talent," every win I was so proud of... it was all nothing next to a real genius. So what's the point?

I don't feel the slightest bit of joy in dueling now. And I refuse to become a pathetic bully who only picks on weaklings to feel better.

Tell me, Rover, what should I do?

Is... Is that your answer? Did you not hear a word I just said?

I cannot find satisfaction in dueling anymore. Victory has abandoned me.

Fine. I mean, you are the one who defeated Miss Chessa. Maybe our duel will be different than how I'm imagining it...

I'll wager the last of my passion on this showdown. Let the duel begin!

Just as expected. I had no hope of winning against you.

But... thank you. For not holding back. For not giving me a pity victory.

To me, pity cuts deeper than any loss. That's the real reason I couldn't face the club.

I kept seeing sympathy, pity, and worse... a sense of mocking in everyone's eyes. I know they didn't mean it that way, but I just couldn't shake it.

I know, otherwise they wouldn't have asked you to come here. But as you can see... I still need time to think about why I want to keep dueling.

The last time I was at the fan club, club leader Anita asked me a question.

"What's the point of being a duelist if you're so fixated on winning that you forget the thrill of the duel itself?"

Heh. I still don't have an answer for her.

Don't worry, Rover. I won't give up that easily. I'll find some time to go back and see everyone so they'll stop worrying.

(Good. Now that's sorted. I can go check out the other fan clubs.)

Hey, Rover!

Correct! And I'm the Argus Workshop's leader, Garris.

Interested in our fan club?

Simply put, we "craft weapons." More precisely, Broadblades, Swords... that whole classic arsenal.

However, unlike the smithies of Septimont with their furnaces and anvils, we craft weapons by using a Crafting Bay.

We encourage everyone to add their own personal flair to the weapon templates. It's how we pay respect to tradition, using the tools of today.

Why do you make weapons but not other craftwork?

...I think, on some level, we're all hardwired to appreciate weapons.

We humans discovered fire to protect ourselves from the dark. But simply huddling by the flames wasn't enough.

To conquer what lurked in the shadows, we had to invent the blade. It was the key that let us venture into the unknown.

So for us, the furnace's fire is our craft, and the weapon is our courage to venture into the unknown.

Haha, that's the version we put on the club's homepage. The truth is… everyone here just really likes sharp, shiny, melee weapons.

What is a blade if not humanity's romance of the ages? Who wouldn't want a legendary weapon and a work of art crafted by their own hand?

How 'bout it? Want to join our fan club?

Excellent! Then let's get you started. First, craft a Sword.

Here, take this Luxite. If you run out, you can always collect more.

Oh ho! You've crafted quite a piece there... Mind if I take a look?

...Wow, not bad at all! The balance and grip are excellent.

It's not sharpened yet, but the quality of the metal is superb. I can tell it'll hold an incredible edge.

The length and weight distribution differ significantly from the crafting templates. Did you modify it to fit your combat style and personal habits...?

...Oh! I'm sorry, I'm getting carried away. It's not every day I come across a masterpiece.

Nothing compares to the feel of a weapon you've crafted yourself, right? A store-bought blade could never match that.

Hmm... I've heard that swordsmen in Huanglong value "simplicity above all." At the end of the day, a weapon is just an extension of one's own skill.

In the hands of a true master, even the most basic blade can defeat a formidable foe.

Thank you for showing me your exceptional crafting skills, Rover.

You're welcome to practice crafting at the Argus Workshop anytime. After all, even the finest smiths never stop honing their art, right?

(There are other fan clubs mentioned in the article. I'll check them out, too.)

Umph... Urgh....

Hello, do you know where I can find the Gastro-Alchemist fan club?

Eh, "Gastro-Alchemist"...? That's me.

Nope, the leader is in the infirmary. Sudden stomachache.

Speaking of which, Dr. Luuk seems to cook for himself a lot... Maybe we should recruit him too...?

Ahh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Felicia, and I'm a member of the Gastro-Alchemist Fan Club.

Well, the grand mission was to "improve Academy food," but unlike those real clubs, our fan club doesn't do food engineering or nutrition research.

We're all about the methods! Little life hacks for combining the food you can buy on campus to make it taste better.

For example, one of our recipes calls for taking out the fried noodle stuffing in "Why-Not" buns, filling the cavity with Squeezy Jelly, then soaking the whole thing in leftover broth from a Midnight Wonder Cup Noodle...

That's one of our tamer recipes. In this fan club, everyone experiments liberally, combining whatever ingredients they have on hand.

We record the tastier combinations. But even if something tastes weird or turns out to be a failure, we still eat it. We have a strict no-waste policy!

Every member is mentally prepared for any, ahem, gastrointestinal outcome. In fact, our club leader is in the infirmary precisely because of her latest creation.

So, want to give our food a try? I just came up with a recipe that should taste pretty good.

Good! It's been too long since a new student showed such admirable courage and curiosity!

Allow me to get ready...

Well...? How is it?

Phew! Wonderful! I'll go ahead and add this to the Gastro-Alchemist cookbook!

I'll even name the recipe after you: Rover's Special Nutri-Meal.

Thanks for your help, Rover! I'll whip up something even more exciting next time!

(Well ... I've visited all of the fan clubs listed in the article.)

(Might as well go find Bjarki.)

How about it, Rover? Were those fan clubs worth checking out?

Haha, that's great. Guess I didn't write my article in vain...

Why, yes. I like to post a few recommendation guides on the school forum to help new students find their footing.

Whether it's fan clubs or campus urban legends… this Academy is just full of interesting things to discover.

I think it would be such a shame if no one knew of their existence.

Oh, that reminds me! At the end of the term, the school holds a huge festival. All the official clubs show off their work, and the fan clubs put together their own exhibits too.

You can't miss it, Rover! Not when the Academy will be especially lively!

Alright then… see you next time, Rover! I hope you have a wonderful and unforgettable time at the Academy!