Chickendric

Shrugging his shoulders, "I'll just ask SCRAP later."

Ordering some steamed rice coupled with a juicy steak, Cedric drools over the thought of finally being able to eat food not cooked by his father.

As Cedric moves towards Siegward's table, he sees a worried Siegward staring at him.

"What's the matter, bud?"

"You know, when I heard there are rumors going around about a trainee who collapsed in the training chambers, I couldn't believe it when I found out you were the one. Are you okay, man? What happened?"

Shrugging, Cedric addresses his friend's worries. "I'm feeling a bit lightheaded, but other than that, everything's fine."

Sitting down next to Siegward, Cedric starts to dig into his food.

Deciding to share his thoughts, Cedric mumbles audibly while chewing, "Mhm... I remember entering the gate to the 11th wave of the strength trials... And then everything just went black?"

Gulping down his food, he continues, "And then I just woke up in my room."

"Hmm," lost in thought, Siegward inquires, "Anything else?"

"Other than the massive headache I got and feeling so hungry I could eat for days... No? I guess there's nothing else. Oh! I also somehow managed to get the points from the 11th through 19th wave."

Seeing Siegward's distant look, Cedric shrugs and decides to continue stuffing his face full of food.

"This sounds too strange. Something must have happened during those last stages of his trial. How else would he have gained all those points... Whatever. The observing captains decided to release Cedric back out; he hasn't been detained. They probably know what happened."

Shrugging, Siegward displays a wide smile on his face, saying, "Man, you were probably too much of a wuss. Let's not forget you sucking so bad in the agility trials. You were probably terrified!"

Cedric, having eaten his entire meal already, shakes his head in disapproval. Feeling his fighting spirit coming back to him, he says, "You'll see. I'll try it again, and this time I won't faint. Mark my words."

"Sure thing, Chickendric."

Giving Siegward one last glare, Cedric stands back up. Putting his food tray on the disposal station, he begins walking towards the training area. Before long, he arrives at the entrance.

Standing in front of the entrance was SCRAP with its arms folded. Its one eye lighting up, it looks upon Cedric, stating its reason for barring his path:

"Young Cedric, you may not pass through just yet. I have been ordered to bar you from entering the training area for the next 24 hours. You are to go back and rest for a while."

"Huh? I feel just fine, though? I don't want to fall behind on points. What if someone manages to get the last canteen!?"

Nodding its head, SCRAP echoes, "I understand your concerns, young Cedric. Yet I am unable to do anything else in the matter. You are to rest. Come back tomorrow."

Hunching his shoulders disappointedly, Cedric walks back to his room. "Why is everything suddenly going to shit?"

***

Appearing above a bustling metropolis, Diana emits a small amount of her aura.

A voice echoes from beside her: "Why have you come here, Silver?"

Turning to the red-haired old man standing in the air beside her, Diana states in a serious tone:

"You are to defend the star shatter while I take care of business. I shall be back in a couple of hours. The ship is still quite close to the Federation's borders. Go, now."

Nodding, the old man says, "As you command, Silver."

As the old man disappears from sight, Diana looks up, staring at the stars above with a scrutinizing gaze, as if searching for something.

"Now, if I were a scared old man hiding from military attention, where would I be?"

"..."

"Aha! Found you, Roddie."

Taking off at speeds far surpassing human logic, Diana flies toward the location she has marked with her gaze.

***

"Huup!" The sound of grunts could be heard from within the forest. This was the same place where Cedric last trained with his father.

Cutting down a large tree, Rodrick could be seen sweating profusely.

"Haaah!" With one final shout, Rodrick manages to fell the tree he has been trying to chop down for the last couple of days. The creaking tree, barely standing on what small piece of wood still remains, was massive. It was so wide that it would take 15 grown men to fully hug it.

"Damn this body. Is this how I must suffer for my sin?" Shouting in frustration, Rodrick embeds his axe in the massive fallen stump. Dropping down to the ground, Rodrick exhales in a sorrowful tone, "Oh, Diana, you better make sure my boy makes it to the forge."

"Oh, don't you worry. Your boy will make it there just fine."

"Huh?!" Jumping up, Rodrick looks around, trying to identify the source of the unpleasant yet familiar voice.

"Must have been the wind."

Deciding he was just tired, Rodrick moves to take his axe back. Grasping the handle, he pulls the axe free. While moving back from the momentum, he raises his head and sees Diana's face, causing him to yell, "Aaaaah!"

Dropping on his butt, Rodrick points his finger at the immortal. "Y-You should be away with my boy! WAIT!"

Coming to the realization that something might have gone wrong, Rodrick's eyes widen as he loudly questions, "What happened to Cedric!?"

"Calm down, you oaf. Your kid is fine, for now." Sighing in frustration, Diana rebuts the overly emotional man.

A gentle gaze replaces her stern expression as Diana says in a low tone as she observes Rodrick's chest, "It is nice to see you too, Roddie. I see your wound has not been kind to you."

Taking a moment to calm down, Rodrick wipes the sweat off his forehead. Stretching his arm, he offers Diana a handshake. "It has been a long time, Captain."

Shriveling her nose, Diana frowns. "Get your sweaty hand away from this lady right this instant! Do you not see how tender I have become?"

"Pfft." Seeing the incredulous look on Rodrick's face, Diana is unable to hold her act for long. Dropping the act, she rushes forth, encasing the giant of a man in a hug.

Diana mutters, "I missed you too, weakling."