Chapter-18

After they were on the train, Theron immersed himself in his phone, and after some time, he felt a slight weight on his shoulder. Glancing to the side, he saw that it was Aria. She looked so defenseless and cute as she seemed to have drifted off to sleep.

The constant movement and excitement of the festival had worn her out.

He adjusted her head gently, trying to make her more comfortable.

'Maybe she trusts me more than I thought,' Theron thought

Though Aria had been the one guiding their path earlier as she wanted to experience this festival more but now, in the calm after the excitement, she seemed to have succumbed to fatigue.

"Aria," he said softly. "We're already at our stop."

"Oh," she responded, rubbing her eyes as she woke up.

After they exited the train, Theron couldn't help but chuckle at her adorable disoriented state. Aria soon realized what had happened, and with a reddened face, she quickly walked out of the train, leaving Theron behind, amused. She soon realized what she was doing and with a red face, she quickly walked out of the train leaving a stunned Theron who started to chuckle a bit before quickly following behind.

"Wait for me, Aria" he called, catching up to her.

"It's fine. I can go back on my own," she insisted.

"Grandpa Cedric might be worried if I don't personally send you back home."

"Fine," she conceded.

They soon arrived at the blacksmith, and Aria waved her hand before heading inside.

In his room, Theron was drying his hair as he had just had a shower and checked his notifications in his system.

[Aria Regalheart's favorability 10% has been reached]

[Blacksmith skill has been acquired]

He had a wary smile as he saw this but thought of something. Though it might make him busier, it would also help him, collect favorability that is.

[Aria Regalheart]

[Favorability: 11.59%]

He then checked out how much affection he had till now inside the shop and to browse through to see if there was something that would be useful.

[Shop]

[Ap: 13434]

Most of the Ap points came from favorability increase. As he limited his search to below 3000 points, he found something that interested him.

[Shadow Veil Shroud]

[Cost: 2500 AP]

[Usage: Able to hide mana flow when cultivating]

[Description: Created by a workaholic who was too intent on cultivating that he started to cultivate while dealing with worldly matters. After going into seclusion for a long time, because of not having breaks and overtasking, he soon passed away. At his last breath, he still didn't understand why he died]

 __ __

The next day, a notice at school detailed the changes and the new locations for each class. As Theron had chosen the special category, he found himself temporarily placed in Class S, the special class. This was due to many students opting for different classes, and specific grades had yet to be determined.

Along with the class changes, the notice also mentioned an orientation. It seemed like the whole year was starting over again. It was only two months in so there wouldn't be too much loss. Theron made his way to the orientation hall, where a crowd of students had gathered. He selected a spot where he could hear the speech while remaining somewhat hidden. As he sat and waited as he started to cultivate while sitting, using the Silvercrest's cultivation. The cultivation method got registered as a skill after he used it for the first time. He hadn't reached much progress in it as well as his cultivation hadn't broke through yet because his mana core was still recovering from the lingering effects of the purple corruption but it wouldn't be long before it recovers fully and he would break through when that time comes since his cultivation had already reached the peak of initial rank so he was just condensing and making his foundation even stronger and making progress in his cultivation method rather.

Lost in his concentration, he failed to notice the people who sat beside him until he opened his eyes. To his right were Seraphina and Elysia, and to his left was Aria. All three of them were looking at him curiously.

"Umm, good morning" 

"Pffts" the trio burst into giggles. 

"When did all three of you arrive?" he asked scratching his head. 

"A moment ago" Elysia replied.

"Oh right, let me introduce you guys, she is Aria" 

Theron said as he showed Aria 

"Aria, she is Seraphina" 

"She is Elysia" 

"Yes, we are from the same class before" Aria said

Seraphina was lost in her own thoughts as she tried to remember but soon stopped as she knew that she wouldn't be able to remember since she didn't remember most of the people in her class and most of the time had Elysia to help her with the names. The reason why she knew about Theron was not only because of his infamous condition but also because of something else.

"Nice to meet you," both Seraphina and Elysia said to Aria.

"Nice to meet you both as well"

 __ __ __

As Theron was focused on the three of them, he didn't notice the jealous glances which were directed at him by the guys. The first time he arrived and fell asleep which was him cultivating, they didn't think about anything but after the two beauties who were Seraphina and Elysia not having acquaintances except for Theron, after seeing him sat beside him while he was just asleep, they couldn't help but feel jealousy, their hearts ached and they were eying him if they could just replace him.

"Who is this lucky bastard?"

"What did he do to deserve such luck?" "Did he save a planet in his last life?"

"Why can he sit next to two beauties?"

"How can I gain such luck?"

"Yet he still doesn't know and is still asleep."

"If I could just replace him..." Then another one who was the cold beauty, renowned ice queen of class S, Aria arrived. Initially, the guys hoped that she would choose a seat near them, attempting to maintain a facade of indifference. However, their hopes were crushed as she walked past them, choosing to sit near Theron once again, who remained oblivious to the attention he was attracting.

Theron completely unaware of the envious gazes directed at him by the guys who observed him surrounded by the trio of beautiful companions slept peacefully it seems. But after he woke up, Theron started talking to them as if he knew all three, the guys, at least who saw it had wars and cyclones in their heads but outside, they managed to maintain a normal look.