Chapter 268: Three Uninvited Opinions

Garen Vollbrecht was offended.

Deeply offended, in fact.

"I can’t believe you two got invited and I didn’t."

Ilya had expected some sort of reaction when he mentioned the Thirteenth Society. He simply hadn’t expected Garen to treat the matter as a personal betrayal.

They were sitting in an empty classroom after their morning lecture, with Tristan occupying the seat opposite them. The southern nobleman had agreed to join their discussion after Ilya suggested comparing what they’d discovered about the mysterious organization.

Unfortunately, their conversation had barely begun before Garen learned that both of them possessed invitations.

"Maybe they’re looking for people with excellent academic records," Tristan suggested.

Garen regarded him with undisguised hostility.

"My grades are perfectly respectable."

"Of course. In certain subjects."

"I passed Magical Engineering!"

"On your third attempt."

"That was one time!"

Ilya decided to intervene before the argument became a discussion of Garen’s entire academic history.

"The invitations aren’t membership certificates. For all we know, they’re inviting us to help arrange furniture."

That possibility seemed to improve Garen’s mood.

Only slightly.

The fellow had spent several days investigating the Thirteenth Society, and the prospect of being excluded from its first confirmed gathering was understandably frustrating.

More importantly, he had discovered something useful.

According to several students from the upper years, the society had existed long before any of its current members enrolled at Holy Trinity. Its membership changed with each graduating class, but its traditions were apparently passed down through successive generations.

There were no public recruitment announcements, and ordinary student associations rarely acknowledged its existence.

Nevertheless, certain patterns were difficult to overlook.

Several students who later received prestigious academic appointments had reportedly belonged to the same private social circles. Others had obtained rare research materials or unusual opportunities shortly after becoming acquainted with influential upper-year students.

Garen had traced some of these connections through old academy publications.

Ilya examined the documents he’d collected.

"Where did you get these?"

"The library archives. They keep records of student competitions and honorary appointments."

Tristan appeared mildly impressed.

The records weren’t definitive evidence of a secret organization, but Garen had identified several recurring names and associations that deserved attention.

More importantly, his research suggested the society’s influence extended beyond any particular department.

"I thought you’d spent the whole week asking people about rumors," Ilya remarked.

"I did that too. You’d be surprised how much people tell you when they think you’re just being nosy."

That was a useful observation.

Ilya and Tristan attracted attention because of their backgrounds and accomplishments. Students often became more guarded when speaking with them, particularly if the conversation concerned influential aristocratic circles.

Garen possessed the opposite advantage.

People were comfortable complaining around him.

And apparently, he’d been listening.

Tristan reviewed the documents once more before proposing that they investigate several names associated with the society’s previous gatherings.

Ilya agreed, although he doubted they’d uncover much before Saturday.

Their invitations had already provided a legitimate opportunity to observe the organization directly.

There was little reason to complicate matters unnecessarily.

Garen, however, had another concern.

"What about me?"

Ilya considered the question.

The invitation specified attendance was voluntary, but it made no explicit mention of whether guests could accompany other students.

That left room for interpretation.

"Ask the organizers," he suggested.

"How? We don’t even know who they are."

"Then come with us on Saturday. If they refuse, at least you’ll know."

Tristan frowned.

"You’re proposing that we bring an uninvited student to a private gathering?"

"Yes."

"That’s remarkably improper."

Ilya glanced at him.

"Then you can explain that to the organizers."

Tristan considered the prospect of being the one responsible for introducing Garen to an exclusive gathering.

He suddenly looked less enthusiastic.

Saturday evening arrived with cool weather and a steady breeze drifting through Holy Trinity’s western courtyards.

The Old Astronomical Hall stood beyond the academy’s principal lecture buildings, separated from the newer facilities by a narrow garden and several stone walkways.

Its architecture reflected an older Imperial style, with tall arched windows, weathered sculptures, and a circular tower rising above the western wing.

Although the building had fallen out of regular academic use, its grounds remained well maintained.

Ilya arrived shortly before the seventh bell.

Tristan was already waiting near the entrance, wearing a formal academy coat with the Bellacourt family insignia embroidered discreetly along the collar.

Garen arrived several minutes later.

He had apparently decided that attending an exclusive gathering required exceptional preparation.

His hair was neatly combed, his uniform had been pressed, and he’d borrowed a decorative brooch from a relative.

Unfortunately, the result made him look like someone attending his first noble banquet.

Tristan examined him.

"What exactly are you wearing?"

"Formal attire."

"That brooch belongs on a ceremonial sash."

"How would you know?"

"Because I own one."

Ilya suppressed a laugh.

Garen removed the brooch.

With that matter settled, the three approached the entrance.

Two students were stationed beside the doors, both wearing ordinary academy uniforms with small silver insignias depicting thirteen stars.

One requested their invitations.

Ilya and Tristan presented their envelopes.

Garen smiled.

"I’m accompanying them."

The attendant examined him.

"Your invitation?"

"I wasn’t given one."

"Then I’m afraid this gathering is restricted."

Garen had apparently anticipated that response.

He explained that he’d been assisting with research concerning the society’s history and believed his findings might interest its members.

The attendant listened politely but remained unconvinced.

Tristan appeared ready to intervene when Ilya noticed something unusual.

The second attendant had been listening to the exchange with considerable interest.

Unlike his companion, he seemed more curious than annoyed.

Ilya decided to try a different approach.

"Is admission determined exclusively through written invitations?"

The attendant hesitated.

"Generally."

"Then exceptions are possible?"

"Under certain circumstances."

"Excellent. My friend has information your organizers may find useful. Would you mind asking someone authorized to consider it?"

The request was difficult to refuse without first consulting a superior.

The attendant exchanged a glance with his companion before disappearing inside.

Garen looked pleased.

Tristan looked irritated that such a straightforward argument had apparently worked.

Several minutes later, the attendant returned with a young woman wearing the same silver insignia.

She had dark hair tied neatly behind her head and carried herself with the confidence of someone accustomed to managing troublesome guests.

Her name, according to the attendant, was Margarethe von Adlerheim.

Ilya didn’t recognize it.

She introduced herself as one of the society’s current secretaries and asked why they believed an exception should be made.

Garen presented his research.

Margarethe examined the documents with growing interest.

The records concerned several decades of academy history, including references to academic gatherings that appeared to precede the society’s current traditions.

However, she noticed something immediately.

"These records are publicly available."

"Of course," Garen replied. "I wasn’t planning to break into the archives."

Margarethe smiled.

"Then what makes them valuable?"

Garen explained that the individual records revealed little on their own. However, when arranged chronologically, they suggested that certain private academic gatherings had continued through multiple generations of students.

He’d also identified several years when the pattern abruptly disappeared.

Those interruptions corresponded to periods of major institutional reform.

Margarethe examined the documents again.

That was evidently more interesting.

After a brief consideration, she returned them.

"Very well. You may enter as a provisional guest."

Garen brightened.

"Seriously?"

"Your attendance does not guarantee further invitations. However, initiative deserves consideration."

Ilya found himself agreeing with that assessment.

Tristan seemed relieved that the matter had been resolved without requiring him to make a personal appeal.

Margarethe instructed the attendants to admit all three.

The doors opened.

Inside, the Old Astronomical Hall had been transformed into an elegant gathering space.

Tall bookshelves lined the walls, while several antique astronomical instruments stood beneath the vaulted ceiling. Lamps illuminated a collection of long tables, and students gathered in small groups discussing everything from magical theory to Imperial history.

The atmosphere resembled a private scholarly salon.

A rather expensive one.

Refreshments occupied several tables, including imported pastries and wines that ordinary student associations would have struggled to afford.

Garen immediately noticed the food.

Ilya noticed the people.

Some wore academy uniforms, while others had adopted more formal attire. Their conversations were relaxed, but the gathering included several students whose names he recognized from departmental rankings and academic competitions.

Tristan appeared equally interested.

A few attendees recognized him and offered greetings, which he returned with practiced ease.

Garen, meanwhile, had already begun speaking with two students about the quality of the refreshments.

Ilya wondered whether leaving him unattended was wise.

Then he noticed that Garen was using the conversation to learn how frequently the society organized gatherings and whether ordinary members contributed to their expenses.

Apparently, the fellow could investigate while eating.

A remarkable talent.

Before Ilya could explore further, the lamps near the central platform brightened.

The conversations gradually subsided.

A student standing beneath the old astronomical dome welcomed the assembled guests.

He was a tall young man with pale blond hair and an impeccably tailored academy uniform.

His appearance was refined, although the easy confidence with which he addressed the gathering suggested that he possessed more than an impressive family name.

"Welcome to the Thirteenth Society."

The student introduced himself as the organization’s current president.

He explained that the society existed to bring together exceptional individuals whose interests extended beyond ordinary academic requirements.

Its members organized private discussions, intellectual competitions, collaborative projects, and occasional gatherings intended to challenge conventional thinking.

However, invitations were only the beginning.

Prospective members would be evaluated over several meetings before the society decided whether to extend formal admission.

Garen seemed delighted.

Tristan appeared intrigued.

Ilya found the arrangement reasonable, although he wondered how the organization intended to evaluate qualities that were difficult to measure through ordinary examinations.

The president soon answered that question.

"Tonight, we’ll begin with something simple."

Several attendants distributed sealed cards among the guests.

Each card contained a different instruction.

The president explained that everyone present would participate in a social exercise lasting until the ninth bell.

Their objective was to accomplish the task written on their card without revealing its contents to anyone else.

Some tasks involved acquiring information.

Others required persuading fellow guests to perform particular actions.

Participants were permitted to cooperate, negotiate, and exchange favors, provided they respected the gathering’s rules.

At the end of the evening, the society would evaluate their performance.

Ilya opened his card.

The instruction was short.

*Identify three individuals whose objectives conflict with your own.*

He considered the wording.

Interesting.

His assignment didn’t actually specify what his own objective was beyond identifying conflicts.

Which meant he would first need to determine how the exercise defined success.

Across the room, Tristan was examining his own card with a thoughtful expression.

Garen, meanwhile, looked delighted.

Whatever instruction he’d received, it apparently suited him perfectly.

Ilya returned the card to its envelope.

The evening was becoming more entertaining than he’d expected.