The Escapade of Althea

Chapter 8

Third Person's POV

Bryan and Althea finally arrive in the City of Shaltear but it's already late at night so they decided to meet the rest of the Elite's Party tomorrow morning and have a rest first. He drops off Althea to one of the inns she could stay. "I will pick you up early in the morning then we can go to our sanctuary and meet the rest of them, is that okay with you?" He said to her while looking at her eyes intently. He's captivated by her eyes that he can't look away. Althea on the other hand can't handle the way he looks at her and it's making her heart beat fast.

"That's the plan." she quickly said then went inside the inn. She checked herself in, and she can't stop smiling from ear to ear while booking a room. She immediately went to her room and lays to her bed and think of the weird feelings she's having when she's with him. She thinks how her heart beat fast, and can't stop smiling even at the smallest thing he's doing. She's been like this ever since he followed her to her house. 

Bryan on the other hand is now on his way towards their sanctuary. They use this as their house too whenever they're in town. And most of the time they're in town because of their job at the guild and duties of the town. He's now at the front of their house, thinking about her can really make him lose track of time. He's happy the way he feels about her and that's never happened before. Or it's been a long time since he's smiling and to him, that feels oddly weird but satisfying. He went inside the house and quickly went to his room but before he can go inside his room, someone spoke to him. 

"Did you make her join the team and pursue her?" Chloe ask. He looks at her and sees her with a teasing smile.  "But based on your face with a smile from ear to ear, I take it she said yes." Chloe continues to tease him so his face transforms from smiling to poker face. 

"She'll go here early in the morning to engage with you guys." He said plainly to her. 

"So what did she say?" She continues to ask 

"She's worried that you won't approve of her and you won't like her." He answered 

"Is she for real? We pursue her and she's the one who's worried if we will like her and if we'll approve of her?" Chloe starts to laugh so hard and that makes Bryan smiles too. 

"What's so funny?" Hailey asks. "And seeing you smile Bryan, that's new." Chloe and Bryan look at the direction where she is and also sees that Max is with her.  

"I bet it's a piece of good news then?" Max said.  

"Yes, you can bet on that. Do you remember the girl who defeated a Level B monster by herself in the tower?" Chloe said and asks happily to them. Hailey frown but Max is now interested.  

"And you invited her to join our group?" Max asks with a smile on his face. Chloe nodded instantly and that makes Max smile even more.  

"But we still need to test him out, right?" Hailey asks

"Oh, and by the way, we fought a dragon in the middle of the forest and we both will lose if it's just the two of us. But because Althea is there, we defeated it." Chloe said enthusiastically.  

"And we also have a match and we both lose, we know we do right, Chloe?" Bryan said and looks at Chloe who nodded happily. The other two are shocked by what they heard. 

"But we still need to see this with our own eyes. What do you say, Max?" Hailey said, 

"Well, it will be nice if I can experience it first hand too what she's capable of," Max said, 

"That's right." Hailey agrees

"I know she won't mind it, but would you tell us why do you hate her?" Bryan asks Hailey.  

"I don't hate her, I just want to make sure the person who will complete our party." She said shyly and starts to walk away and went inside her room. The two laughs and Bryan smile secretly

.-

 Morning came and Bryan is now waiting outside the inn where she's staying. Ten minutes have passed before he sees Althea walking out the door. She immediately sees where Bryan is waiting. She walks towards him and greeted him.

"Did I make you wait long?" she asks but he just chuckle and shook his head as a no.  

"If you keep me waiting, I would barge into your room already." He said jokingly. She laughs and just looks away from him, she's blushing and she can't help it. 

"You just have to be yourself, and I'm sure they will like you. So don't be nervous, okay?" He said while looking at her. Althea just nodded as an answer. The truth is, she doesn't feel nervous about meeting the others, but she's more nervous when she's with him alone and so close. Her heart keeps beating so fast, and it makes her feel weird feelings. 

After a ten minutes walk, they already arrive at the Elite's house. It is a treehouse-like, but a bigger one. Althea is amazes seeing their sanctuary, it is close to the forest. The inside is a more cabin feel like but a classy one. 

"Nice house." Althea praise, admiring the house, once she went inside. The rest of the party is now staring at her. She greeted them and Chloe just start to runs toward her. 

"Welcome to the group!" Chloe said and start to hug her, Althea smiles and hugged her too."It's my pleasure," Althea said. But then Hailey's glaring at her so she looks at her and smiles. Hailey approach her and said, 

"Before anything, let's go outside and see what you got." She said. "Right, Max?" 

Then she went outside, Max nodded and approach Althea. 

"Welcome to the group, just want to see what you can do but I already welcome you," Max said, tapping her shoulder before he went outside too. They all follow them and stand outside. They can battle and have a match right there because their house is close to the forest that you will need to pass when you will go to the tower. It is a little far from other houses and to the town. 

"Aren't you at disadvantage here? You are a healer and Max is a tank." Althea said and that made Chloe laugh and Bryan smirk. On the other hand, Hailey is pissed off and Max didn't mind her. 

"Less talk and more action. Why don't you attack us?" Althea just shrugs her shoulder and starts to run towards Max and throw a "Fire Burst" in him. But he just stands his ground and uses his shield to eat the fire spell.

"Devour," Max said. Althea takes a step backs and smiles at him and secretly throws the same spell at Hailey but she manages to nullify the spell too.

"Cancel!" She said, 

"Aren't you a sneaky one. Don't you dare underestimate me, Althea!" she shouted at her. Althea instantly runs towards Max and kicks him in the stomach. He's hurt but not that much because he's built for that kind of thing, but after she kicks him she dashes towards Hailey. But Hailey immediately cast a debuff spell. 

"Paralyze!" Althea can't move but remain smiling at them. "Max, now!" Hailey shouted. 

"Devour!" Max cast and it's pulling Althea towards the shield. It is a black and gold shield and when he cast a devour spell, it's opening up and a black hole is seen. 

"Say that you're surrender and I will cancel this in no time," Max said with a smug look on his face. But Althea keeps smiling. And once she's almost sucked by this, she immediately jumps towards Max and points a knife to his neck and at the same time cast a "Water Corral" to Hailey and traps her there. All of them are a surprise to what just happen. 

"I surrender," Max said and after that, Althea removes the knife and spell and fix herself quickly. 

"I'm sorry, I also know how to nullify a spell that's been cast to me," Althea said to them. Chloe runs towards her and asks excitedly. 

"Where did you learn that? I only know one person who can use that kind of nullification. Hailey can cancel spells but can't do it if it's already on to her." She said. Bryan smiles on the side knowing what her answer will shock all of them.

"To my father, he's a mage," Althea answered casually. 

"And is your father name Patrick?" Chloe slowly ask her, but before Althea can answer, Bryan goes down to the three where he's watching and said,

"Oh, didn't I told you that already? I met his father, Patrick the great mage and train with him too." He said. 

All of them were shocked and leaves their mouth open, especially Chloe. 

"Welcome to Elite's Party! Let's conquer the Tower of Life." Hailey said and hug her. And with that they all laugh and Hailey acted shy because of that.