*Chapter 6: Clubs, Chaos, and Cookies*
The morning air buzzed with excitement as Jade Spirit Academy's courtyard turned into a rainbow of banners, magical sparks, and swirling enchantments. The annual Club Fair was in full swing, and every corner buzzed with color and noise.
Jin Ming couldn't resist pulling the group straight toward the Fire Dancers' booth. He grinned, ready to impress a crowd, but a slip sent a spark dancing across the banner. An irritated upperclassman gave him a glare, but Jin just laughed, "Guess I'm making an unforgettable first impression." Bao Yu's seedling, curious and playful, sneezed out a cloud of pollen onto a tray of enchanted cookies—and suddenly the treats floated into the air, bouncing like sprites. Students scrambled to catch the floating sweets as laughter filled the air.
In the middle of the madness, Chen Xiulan found herself at the Myth Hunter Society, where students in flowing capes demonstrated ancient hunting charms. She signed up, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Mei Fen stunned the Illusionist Club with quick banter and magical butterflies, winning new friends in a swirl of color. Li Wei got roped into the Mind Games Club—members tried to block out his telepathic waves, but none could hide their thoughts. A boy groaned, "Your mind's too loud!" and Li Wei just gave a rare smirk, enjoying the sense of belonging.
Their club explorations led to new faces: a talkative boy with electric blue hair bragged that his pet squirrel predicted rain, and a dreamy girl floated a few inches off the ground, drifting in and out of conversations. Between booths, Bao Yu's seedling sneezed again, sending more magical cookies whizzing through the crowd, while Jin Ming narrowly dodged a flying tart, laughing so hard he almost cried.
By sunset, they gathered under the cherry blossom tree—arms overflowing with fliers, snacks, and magical souvenirs. Jin Ming joked, "Not bad for a day without a single trial!" Li Wei nodded, a genuine smile sneaking through, "Pure, spellbinding fun."
For once, the worries about challenges or mysteries faded behind the warm glow of laughter and new beginnings. But somewhere in the shadows, sly eyes watched their happiness, waiting for the moment the spell would break.