Chapter 120: Invitation?

**

[Profile]

Name: Cedric Stormrider

Age: 21

Race: Human II

Classes: Luminous Sage (Main), Demon Slayer (2nd), Smith Lv.75/100 (Sub)

Level: Tier 2 - Lv.9

Titles: Son of Heaven (+4)...

System Authority: Lv.8

Aptitude:

Body: EX!

Energy: EX!

Spirit: EX!

Final rating: EX+

Skills:

Actives: Sword Intent Lv.75, Kickboxing (M), Iron Skin (M), Multi-Stab (M), Air-Hop (M), Focus (M), Lightspeed Lv.75

Passives: Elementary Sage Physique (U), Sage's Perception (U), Education Lv.100, Demon Lore (M), Slayer's Mark Lv.15, Sage Arts Lv.50, Marksmanship (M).

Sub-Class Skills: Focus (M), Decode (M), Symbol Mastery (M), Crafting Lv.75, Metallurgy Lv.75, Smith's Blessing Lv.75, Repair (M)

[Mandatory Task:]

: Hell Dive - Survive the Endless Undead Horde for 5 hours twice.

: Rewards - 100% Demon Soul gain, Clearance Streak +1

: Punishment for Failure - Failure Streak +1.

: Record: Clear Streak - 13, Failure Streak - 0

**

"Nice, my Sword Intent leveled up faster ever since I started training at the Sword Tempering Cave." Cedric murmured as he rested for a bit.

At Lv.75, his Sword Intent looked like this:

"It's not!" The other one yelped in frustration, "Didn't you hear him, this is a tradition here. I'm sure that the Instructors already learned about it before, and if they didn't do something to stop it then, why would they start now?"

"..." The rest of the friend group turned silent after that.

"I'm just gonna inform them. There's really nothing we could do here. I only hope that they wouldn't push us too hard."

Cedric kept observing them while feeling a little concerned. He's missing the context since he listened a little too late but he already has some guesses from what he saw and heard so far.

He waited for a bit and as expected, he received a message from a person called Gilbert Reese - the same guy who talked to the sophomore he saw earlier.

"Greetings, Batchmates. My name is Gilbert and I hope you could find some time to read this message.

Today I was stopped by a Sophomore. He told me to tell all of you that we are invited to participate in a 'Freshmen Welcoming Party' set up by our Seniors. They said that it's an age-old tradition of the Academy and everybody's presence would be greatly appreciated.

The party is scheduled for this Saturday at 6 pm at the Arcane Arena. That's what they told me and I felt inclined to inform you all. Please consider attending. That's all, have a great day!"

Cedric snorted upon reading the message. He then thought: 'It seems that my guess was pretty spot on.'

Although they call this a 'Welcoming Party', it'd be more accurate to say that this is a 'Freshmen Hazing Tradition' instead.

"I mean, the girls did tell me that our dear seniors would try their best to not bully us too much since we're fairly new, but if they're using a 'Tradition' to do so, then it would seem perfectly legal." Cedric mused.

He has seen how their seniors looked at him during his time roaming around the Academy. They mostly ignored him but there were a handful who wanted to do something instead, however, they were holding back for the sole reason that he's a freshman.

As if their piss-poor acting could fool him...

He's tempted to think that it couldn't be helped since everybody here seems to carry some form of self-entitlement. After all, this is a prestigious academy that only geniuses could enter, and there will always be some people who want to throw their weight around and rub their status in everyone else's face.

Personally, he disdains this. He just couldn't fathom how those people have the time to do these kinds of things when they're literally surrounded with numerous opportunities to become stronger instead.

This was a paradise for learning and a haven too. Why waste time antagonizing new students for the sake of 'tradition' and entertainment? It just seems illogical to him.

That said, this was his personal opinion. They are not him so he wouldn't understand what goes on in their mind. He's not particularly inclined to know either.

As expected, his batchmates reacted to Gilbert's message. Someone even created a group chat to make communication easier.

Cedric read their chat and as expected, some people discovered something amiss.

Because out of all the places to throw a welcoming party, why does it have to happen at the Arcane Arena - a place where enemies settle down their conflicts?

Piecing the puzzle from there wasn't a challenge to rest, and everybody came to a conclusion fairly quickly.

As the discussion of his batchmates continued, Cedric noticed that Isabella and Garrick were also reading the chat, and just like him, they didn't bother adding to the conversation.

"Garrick seems to be the type that won't back down from a challenge. He'd most likely attend the party after seeing this. As for Isabella...it's uncertain." He murmured to himself.

Even though they were classmates, Cedric never interacted with Isabella save for some occasional glances here and there. The girl was extremely anti-social and unapproachable. Some already tried but spectacularly failed since she just refuses to say a word, she won't even look at them.

"Well, even though it's only a party for the sake of keeping up appearances, I've never attended one before so I might as well check it out. Who knows? Maybe it'll be fun."

Cedric smirked as he returned to the training room.