The Grand Archive was supposed to be a place of quiet contemplation, a sanctuary of leather-bound knowledge and hushed whispers. Theo adjusted his wire-rimmed spectacles, smoothing the lapels of his tailored tweed jacket. He looked down his nose at the dusty tome before him, sighing with a profound, performative weariness. "The complete lack of intellectual rigor in this modern era is simply tragic," Theo muttered to no one in particular, his voice carrying an affected, aristocratic drawl. "They wouldn't know true philosophy if it bit them." "Oh, but a bite is purely biological, whereas philosophy is a neurological malfunction!" Theo gasped, offended, as Luca materialized from the shadow of a nearby bookshelf. Luca’s white lab coat was heavily stained with unknown chemicals, and his hair looked as though it had personally conducted electricity. He held a glass beaker bubbling with an alarming neon-purple liquid. "You see, if we alter the cerebral cortex with just a touch of—" "Step aside, boys. The real talent has arrived." Noah strutted into the aisle, hands resting confidently on his hips. He flashed a blinding, cocky grin, utterly convinced that the room had been waiting for him. "Look, I know you're all confused and looking for guidance. Lucky for you, I’m natural-born leader material. Just follow my lead, do exactly what I say, and we'll get through whatever this is." A sharp, mocking laugh echoed from the mezzanine above. Aria stood at the top of the spiral staircase, looking down at Noah like he was a particularly unpleasant bug. She adjusted her faux-fur shawl and crossed her arms. "Excuse me? Follow you? I don't take direction, sweetie, I give it. If anyone is running this little show, it’s me. Now, someone fetch me an iced espresso before I lose my mind." Leaning against a marble pillar nearby, entirely unbothered by the escalating egos, was James. He wore a sleek leather jacket, dark sunglasses indoors, and a casual smirk that suggested he knew a secret no one else did. He didn't say a word. He just hooked a thumb in his pocket and exhaled a slow, cool breath, effortlessly commanding the room without even trying. "Oh man, is this a fight? Are we fighting? Because I love a good scrap!" Asher barged into the center of the room, cracking his knuckles with a grin that stretched ear to ear. He bounced on the balls of his feet, practically vibrating with aggressive energy. "I've been looking for an excuse to punch something all day! Who wants to go first? You, Tweed Jacket? Or how about Sparky with the beaker? Come on, let's see what you got! I can talk and punch at the same time, it’s my superpower!" "Ooooh, did someone say superpower?!" A sudden gasp of pure delight cut through Asher’s shouting. Avery dropped from the ceiling rafters, landing in a perfect, theatrical crouch before springing up with arms wide open. They wore a mismatched patchwork vest and was currently juggling three brightly colored juggling clubs they had apparently stolen from a display case. "Welcome, ladies and gentle-folk, to the greatest show on earth!" Avery squealed, spinning in a circle as the clubs blurred in the air. "We have drama! We have science! We have fashion!" Avery winked at Aria, then tossed a juggling club directly at Theo, who shrieked and dropped his book. "Now, where are the acrobats?!" Theo stared at the circus lover, Luca examined the neon liquid that had splashed onto Noah's boots, Noah bellowed in outrage, Aria scoffed, Asher laughed loudly, and James simply tilted his sunglasses down, amused. The group was a walking disaster—and their story had just begun.
Thumbnail...Doesn't exist XD Chapter 2? Idk really :3 Read :DD
