The students sitting around each designated table listened to the words of Ms. Ayleen Mayfield, one of the professors assigned with teaching the class A-1.
Though the tables were labeled per class, a student can leave his or her seat freely, respecting one's choice.
"As you may know, the purpose of this 'Banquet' is for each one of you to make an acquaintance, but before we proceed to that, various events will be held accordingly. Please, refer to the booklet given to you on the day of the announcement last Friday."
As Ms. Ayleen's words were heard, the students who had a booklet each of their own opened it and read its contents, though it was given a few days earlier, the flow of events was not explained properly.
Russell Moon who was sitting on one of the banquet chairs read the contents of the booklet, the same with Freya, Amery, and Amelie, even if they're from class A-1, and the event hasn't officially started yet, it was encouraged to have a company before the event, thus rendering the official seat arrangement as useless.
'Banquet of Obelisk Booklet'
Event list:
1. Opening Ceremony
- Obelisk Anthem
2. Performance Number
- Recreational Club
3. Making Acquaintances
4. Dance Floor
5. Closing Ceremony
Though the entirety of the event felt like a short one, the 'making of acquaintances' including the 'dance floor' has a long duration, making most of the time.
As every student does their own business whether reading the booklet, talking with one another, confused about what to do, or preparing to approach their prospective target to be made friends or something else; Vice-Chancellor Dexter Rainfall entered the stage, prompting everyone to look on him as he exudes a gentle aura with a dignified atmosphere at the same time.
"Good evening first-years! Please stand up for our Obelisk Anthem."
Everyone stood up as his dignified voice, containing great respect for the Obelisk Academy, entered the ears of everyone in the hall as each individual whether students or staff straightened their backs and waited for the 'Obelisk Anthem'.
'Goddess, I hope you're not listening right now!' Russell lampooned, knowing the contents of the 'Obelisk Academy' before he even went in as a student.
"The Obelisk Academy, blessed by the System
Looked upon by Constellations
The proud soon-to-be Champions
The Obelisk Academy, blessed by the System
Opportunities are born
Players we are, humans we are
The Obelisk will reach the heavens"
~Clap clap clap~
Russell Moon frowned at the lyrics he wrote in his novel as he heard it personally for the first time as there was no such ceremony before classes unlike in his previous life, and the last line was almost a blasphemy to the Constellations, especially against the most prideful ones.
'I'm glad their influence wasn't maximized yet.'
Constellations with the use of the System function can send messages to individuals they have an eye for, and events that need collective participation were the kind of System messages that are sent to everyone whether to humanity only or every race across the world.
A Constellation influence, though almost 40 years had passed since the Emergence, was very limited, and it's not possible for them to have a 'spawn of a Constellation'.
'The successive openings of Close Mystery Towers will increase their influence in the future.'
'Though I am training in the Chaos Training Grounds every night, it's still not enough, nowhere near enough,' he thought.
"Please, let us welcome the Recreational Club!"
The voice of the Student Council President cut off Russell's thoughts as he introduced the members of the Recreational Club with its duty to entertain everyone in the banquet with the use of dancing, and singing.
'Come to think of it… whose voice sung the Obelisk Anthem? I didn't know!'
It was a recorded voice by a woman, it has a soothing and dignified voice matching the anthem's theme.
Russell looked around from his seat, more specifically on class A-1 tables where the main characters were sitting. He wants to be a spectator for now.
'That Han Jiho cannot talk at all, though he's being approached by many girls due to his overpowered charm stat; the same with Leon, though his smile is fake as fuck, forming an expression that one might want to punch him to the ground.'
As he looked around, his gaze stopped at Elizabeth, Rumia, and Samantha, not just his gaze, but many pair of eyes were looking at them as if seeing a descent of a goddess.
Elizabeth is wearing an evening dress, matching her long blonde hair which reaches her waist as she gives off the impression of being a royalty, while Rumia wore a mini dress with various light color that shows her knees and Samantha wore a white shirt dress that exposes her fair-colored legs.
Those delusional would obviously thought that she's garnering attention with her body, but knowing her personality…
'She probably wore that so that she can move easily if a fight breaks out,' Russell thought as he made a self-deprecating laugh inwardly.
…
After a few hours, the dances and songs were done, and on the stage, the Student Council President spoke…
"I hope you enjoyed what the Recreational Club had prepared, and now it will be your time!"
The lights from the massive chandelier changed, along with the atmosphere signifying the 'making of acquaintances' event which is originally the main focus of the banquet.
'Your time my ass, you probably going to scout some students with potential,' Russell thought as he took a sip of a lemon juice served by one of the staff earlier.
…
On the class A-1 table
A flock of girls came to Han Jiho as he formed a flustered situation, remembering what the Chancellor Alexander told him.
'Just enjoy the night.'
'I'd rather train in my personal training ground,' he thought as he force a smile for the girls flocking into him, and asking various questions.
"Hey, hey, what are you all doing? Can't you see he's being uncomfortable?"
The flock of girls looked to the location of where the voice came, there, a blonde woman with light green eyes was sitting with her arms crossed. As soon as they saw the woman, their eyes immediately widened, and sweat formed on their foreheads.
"Princess…" muttered by a girl with long black hair, and grayish eyes.
"Let's go…" said by another girl with short hair, and brown eyes while holding one of the arms of the girl who muttered 'Princess.'
"Don't call me that," Elizabeth said in a monotonous tone.
"Sorry, sorry!" the girls bowed their heads and scurried away.
"Are you okay? Must be nice being a handsome, right?" She said to Han Jiho in her normal tone.
"Handsome?" The clueless Han Jiho replied in a confused manner.
"You should probably look in the mirror at least once," Elizabeth replied as she reached for a glass full of wine free of alcohol, and took a sip of it.
"By the way, thank you, I didn't know what to do, and why didn't men come to you when you're beautiful?" He asked, with genuine confusion on his face.
"Bleerrrghhhh, pfftttt! HAHAHA! Sorry, sorry!" Elizabeth spat out the drink she drank to the floor, unbefitting of a Princess.
"Beautiful you say? HAHAHA, you may be right, but people are afraid of my 'Status' as a Princess, same with Rumia, that woman…" She looked at Rumia who is currently talking with another woman on another table who is a redhead with a bob hairstyle and ruby eyes. Each table for the A-1 class was almost empty as most of them were making friends or talking to the Student Council and Disciplinary Committee members.
"Princess… you don't act like one." Han Jiho said as she looked to another table where Rumia and Anya were talking.
"Yeah, I'm different from your usual fairy tale princess. Though I act like a free bird, I don't do anything that will ruin my family's name, well, even if I did, it will be resolved quickly just by having my surname. It's a pity that I can't socialize more freely with others aside from people with connections with my family." She said while thinking about her family's reputation as a top-rank guild as well as the ruler of Etheria.
Han Jiho remembered another advice of from Chancellor Alexander and asked Elizabeth for something.
"Is that so… uhmm… you can tell me any stories, I'd listen." He said as he remembered what Chancellor Alexander said…
'People here will consider you strange based on where you came from, that's why you should talk to them in a manner where they'll suspect that nothing is wrong.'
"Hahaha, you're an amusing one, alright! I'm bored here anyway."
This was the moment where the two of the main characters that have no formal connections formed a bond.
'Good, good…' Russell thought as he watched the interactions between them from afar.
…
'What is he doing right now?'
'Isn't he making a friend or a companion?'
'Why though?'
'Doesn't he need such a person?'
'Crap, crap! Why am I thinking about such a thing?'
'It's not my business!'
'Isn't he going to approach me here?'
'Where is he seated by the way?'
'So it's only during -…'
A cry of thoughts of a woman sitting on one of the A-1 designated tables were rampaging on her mind as a sudden voice cut off her brewing thoughts.
"Is this seat taken?"