Chapter 37
The next day the group met up again to practice. "You've been approving a lot." Kalim smiled as they took a break.
"Thanks." Odette smiled back at him.
"On the day of the audition we'll be rivals through so you better bring your A game." Jamil said as her wiped his forehead with a towel.
"Good luck to you guys." Kalim said.
"When is the auditions again?" Ace asked as he sipped his water.
"In three days." Odette and Jamil answered in unison.
"Well at least one of you remembers." Jamil muttered shaking his head.
"I filled out the paperwork. It's Friday after school at the Pomefiore ballroom." She explained.
"Well keep up the practice." Kalim said.
Three days later the group met up outside the Pomefiore dorm.
"Every time I see it it's still breath taking." Odette said as she looked over the dorm.
"Why did we have to get the condemned dorm?" Grim whined.
"The inside is looking really nice since you've been moved in." Deuce complimented.
"Yeah, who knew you could get wood and tile to sparkle like that without magic." Ace said which just earned him a glare from Odette.
The group made their way toward the ballroom, they were given a number and told to wait outside in the hallway until the judges came out. While waiting they ran into Carter.
"Carter what are you doing here?" Ace asked as Carter approached the group.
"For the gam of course. If I make it and get to take pictures with Vil my account will skyrocket." Carter explained with his usual grin.
"There's a lot of people here. It looks like over 50. I even see Ruggie." Odette explained nodding towards him.
"These kind of things always bring out large crowds." A voice said from above the group. They look above them and jumped back. "Lilia!" Odette gasped.
"Your reaction is so entertaining, I might have to sneak up you guys more often." Lilia chuckled as he came down to the ground.
"I never thought I would see a member of Diasomnia here." Ace said.
"Really? Why not? It seemed like fun. I even asked Malleus to join us but he's so shy and turned me down." Lilia sighed and a wistful smile. "I think my presence is less shocking than an Ignihyde student." He continue pointing towards a small blue hair boy as he floated over to Carter who seemed unbothered by it.
"Who's that? I've never seen him before." Odette whispered.
"That's Ortho, he's Iida Shroud's little brother. He attends classes here with Iida." Carter explained as he glanced up from his phone to Lilia to Odette but went back to his phone.
"A brother complex?" She asked.
"Don't talk about my big brother like that." Ortho snapped as he came towards the group.
"Oh I meant no offense." She said holding her hands up blushing a bit.
"You heard us? You were over 20 feet off." Grim asked shocked.
"I can hear human voices up to 200 feet away." Ortho explained.
"Oh wow, that's better than any beast or fae." Lilia muttered looking a bit impressed.
"Big brother got permission for me to go to class. I'm here to help him improve his speech inventions and programs." Ortho explained.
"Oh right Iida never comes to the dorm head meetings he just sends his tablet." Odette said. 'I wonder what he looks like. Does he have social anxiety?' She thought.
"We should except nothing else from Iida, he's a magical tech expert." Lilia chuckled.
"Virtual idols are becoming a thing, the VDC would be a good place to become one." Carter said not looking up from his phone. "I can show you, ah man, a commercial."
The commercial began to play, it featured a beautiful small boy with black hair, fair skin and blue eyes. "Try delicious red apple soda." He began in his sweet voice but Carter muted it.
"I like this commercial but I've seen it so much." He sighed.
"Who is that?" Odette asked still watching the video.
"Oh, that's the actor Neige LeBlanche." Carter explained.
"Oh, that's who they were talking about the other day during the meeting." She said."They say he's entered the competition for the Royal Sword."
"He's entering?!" Ace and Deuce exclaimed and the rest of the group just nodded.
They didn't get to watch the video because Vil, Rook and Epel opened the ballroom doors. They were all in their dorm uniforms.
"It's like they're sparkling." Deuce muttered as he squinted at them.
"I hope you all got a number, we'll be calling you three at a time. Rook and I'll be the judges. Numbers 1, 2, and 3 follow me into the ballroom. The rest of you please wait until your number is called." Vil explained the went back into the ballroom. Ruggie, Carter and Lilia followed.
"Good luck." Odette whispered as Lilia began to walk away from the ground.
"Thanks." He whispered back then went into the ballroom.
Rook and Vil back in the room but Epel stayed out in the hallway.
"Have you been okay?" Odette asked as the group walked up to him.
He just nodded meekly.
"Good luck. I hope you get what you want." She said patting his shoulder.
Ruggie, Carter and Lilia all came out looking a bit disappointed.
"You didn't get in?" Odette asked walking up to him as he was leaving.
"It seems not. But it might be for the best." Lilia answered with a shrug. "See ya later."
Odette watched him leave and felt a bit of a chill. 'I must have crossed a line.' She thought as he left.
Next was Orotho, Kalim and Jamil then came out after a few minutes not looking too happy neither.
Epel was the last solo act before the groups were called in. They group was the last to be called.
"Ah, I remember you lot. Let's hope you've gotten more graceful since last time we met." Vil said signaling them to start.
"Wonderful, 100 points." Rook said with a smile once they were done.
"Rook, you can't give them all 100 points." Vil muttered shaking his head. "We'll announce tomorrow whether or not you made the cut." Vil said dismissing them.
"That was sad performance. They're all amateurs. They were all pathetic. I don't want to lose this year's VDC. Let's get to the ranking." Vil muttered once they were alone.
"Polished gems are beautiful but even odd gems can be polished to a shine. Perhaps some of those odd gems might be better than the gems we already have." Rook mused perching his chin in his hand.
"You have a good point." Vil muttered as he began to think.
"I believe there is hidden potential in that last group." Rook said.
"The potatoes?" Vil gasped.
"A large diamond ring is beautiful but in this cause a beautiful tiara might be called for. Colorful small gems supporting a big beautiful diamond." Rook suggested. "But it's just a suggestion."
"Mh." Vil muttered.
"I know you want to beat Neige LeBlanche and we'll need more than just brushing up to do that." Rook whispered.
"You have a point. Very well, let's see who made the cut." Vil said flipping through his papers.
The next day the group was on their way to lunch. "I swear he's casting a sleeping spell every time he talks." Deuce yawned.
"I know right!" Ace agreed as he stretched his arms above his head.
Suddenly out of nowhere an arrow stuck the wall.
"What the heck?!" Ace exclaimed and the group jumped back.
"There's a message tied to it." Odette said as she united the paper and unrolled it.
The note read
Congratulations to you,
Ace Trappola and Deuce Spade you've made the cut and will be apart of the VDC team. Please come to the Pomefiore ballroom promptly after school.
P.S.
Bring Odette Thropp and Grim of the Ramshackle dorm with you.
"We made it!" Ace cheered.
"That's awesome, congratulations." Odette said patting his shoulders.
"But we didn't." Grim cried.
"You win some you lose some." She shrugged. "So why do we have to show up? Maybe we're understudies. I would think that was a thing."
After school the group went to the Pomefiore dorm and ran into Kalim and Jamil.
"I take it you guys got the same invite?" Jamil asked as the group walked up to them.
"Yeah." Grim muttered still pouting.
"Halt, you can't go pass this point." A student shouted they entered the yard.
"But we've been invited." Kalim protested.
"To pass you must beat us." A second said.
They group beat them and then the next few until they finally made they're way to the ballroom.
"Jeez what the heck is going on here?" Ace griped.
"I wanted to make sure you really wanted this." Vil said as he came out of the ballroom he motioned for the group to follow him inside.
"Ace, Deuce, Kalim and Jamil you will be joining Rook, Epel and myself on this team and now that the warm up is complete we can get right to it. Go change so we can begin. Today will begin the strictest training you've ever had."
"Excuse me, Vil but why are we here?" Odette asked gesturing towards herself and Grim.
"I can explain that." Head Master Crowley said appearing beside Vil.
"With only a few weeks left until the VDC I want to use the Ramshackle Dorm as a training ground for the team." Crowley explained.
"A training camp!?" Ace exclaimed.
"In our dorm?" She asked giving him an incredulous look.
"Why?" Deuce asked.
"To build teamwork. You're all from different dorms, years and backgrounds. Living together will help you overcome those differences." Crowley explained.
"It's not so odd. It's very commonplace for idol groups to do this." Vil said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Why not here at that the Pomefiore dorm?" She asked crossing her arms over her chest mirroring Vil's stance.
"We're full and your dorm is the closest to campus. This way we'll be near each other and class." Vil explained.
"When?" She asked narrowing her eyes at Crowley as she turned back to him.
"Today." Vil said.
"Who will run our dorms in our absence?" Jamil asked.
"I've already thought of that and talked to the students who will be acting in your absence because I'm so kind." Crowley explained as Odette rolled her eyes.
"So, why should we say yes, we're not even on the team? What if we refuse?" Grim growled floating towards Crowley and Vil.
"There might be something good in it for you." Crowley said patting his head.
"I'm donating my part of the prize money to the Ramshackle dorm. It's pocket changed compared to the contracts I'll receive once we win." Vil explained.
'Arrogant prick.' Odette thought as she bit her lip not to say it out loud. 'That's just pocket change to him?'
"And the free upgrades I will be giving to the dorm." Crowley added.
"Deal." She sighed.
"Wonderful, now everyone go get changed into your gym clothes so we can get started. We have no time to waste." Vil said.
"Maybe this training camp will be a break, there's no way Odette have crazy rules like Heartsbyul does." Ace whispered to Deuce as they followed Rook towards the locker room.
"I better go prep the dorm." She muttered as she left the ballroom and headed back to the dorm.
Thanks for reading and sticking around. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was pretty fun to write for a regular story chapter. All the strong personalities keeps me on my toes and make it interesting. I feel like most of the regular chapters from here on out will be more fun to write. How is Odette going to handle all this in her dorm?