Peerless Pioneers… Was it the name of Ryan’s team? Alnea could understand why the purple robed man would use Peerless in the name of his team, but what about Pioneers? What was he trying to pioneer? Thinking about the complex situation of the city, and the things that he had asked Vestia to investigate, he just nodded back to Ryan, not giving him any definite answers.
Whether it was from his experience, or from the countless advice he had received, both of them were telling him not to trust other Wanderers easily. Especially when they approached him on their own. Although, from their battle, he could tell that Ryan Purplebird was not the kind of man who would deign to use tricks like the Lotus clan, he could not risk his team on just his feelings.
As their leader, he was responsible not just for binding the team together, and steering it towards the right direction, but also for ensuring the safety of his Wanderers. Still, cooperating with Peerless Pioneers did not sound like too bad of an idea…
“Finally,” Cecilia said, as he returned back to his teammates in a daze. “Took you long enough.”
“…It was a long fight,” Alnea said, smiling wryly, as the soreness in his muscles began to intensify. Especially in his legs. The Sky Streaming Style…
“…I am sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?” Cecilia said, staring at him in confusion.
“…I did not win.”
“You did not lose either,” Cecilia said, waving her hand to dismiss his worries, before patting his back to cheer him up. “You did a good job showing him how tough the friends of the Snake of Infinity are.”
“Although I usually do not agree with her, this time, I have to say that I am proud to have a friend, and a team leader like you, Alnea,” Vestia said, flashing her dimples at him. Just like she always did. Warming his eyes. Her smile… He had to admit, she was beginning to grow on him.
“Despite being at a disadvantage, you kept pushing him back again and again… Honestly, this was the best battle that I have ever seen.”
“…I just did my best,” Alnea mumbled, trying not to let his blood rush to his face, but it just would not listen. “I do not even know how I lasted for so long. At some point, I just forgot everything…”
“And that is what makes you different from the rest,” Yuri said, charming him with her smile once again… Perdia’s boots, when was his Spirit Power going to recover?
“The way you were smiling while you kept giving your best, not thinking about winning or losing… You were having fun, right?”
“…I guess. I have never had a fight like that. One where I can give it my all without thinking about the consequences…”
“…How about I accompany you to a fight the next time you want to have fun?”
“…I want to have fun, not get beaten,” Alnea mumbled. Although she seemed harmless, and sickly with her pale skin, he knew the terrifying strength she hid behind her frail appearance.
“I will go easy on you.”
“…Such a fight would be meaningless,” Alnea said, shaking his head. “We have almost the same amount of combat experience, so if you fight while holding back, it will not help either of us. But if you do not hold back, then I would just end up getting beaten. In either case, it would not bring me the same thrill I felt fighting the Purplebird heir… Only if I fight someone close to me in strength can I have so much fun.”
“…I get it. You do not want me anymore.”
“No! I did not mean that. I…”
“Relax,” Yuri said with a laugh. “I was just joking.”
“…I did not like it.”
“It is rare to see you so drained of your Spirit Power… without your Aspects hiding your emotions.”
“Indeed,” Vestia added from the side. “Even on the stage, you were laughing along with the Purplebird heir. I have never seen so many emotions on your face in such a short time…”
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Vestia paused, and smiled once again, before winking at him.
“There is no need to worry though. I like you either way.”
…It was what she said that was beginning to make him worry. Thankfully, Cecilia, perceptive as ever, jumped in between him and Vestia before the latter could push him any further, saving him from any more embarrassment.
“Speaking of laughing with your enemy… what were you talking about with that bird at the end?”
“Nothing…” Alnea said, wondering if it would have been better if Vestia had kept pushing him. “We were just exchanging pleasantries.”
“…Exchanging pleasantries after trying to kill each other for the most of an hour?”
“What do you know?” Zain said, sneering at Cecilia, as if trying to provoke her. “This is how men make friends.”
“…Is that so?” Cecilia said, cracking her knuckles. “Then would you like to make friends with me on the stage too…”
“…Zain,” Alnea mumbled, nodding to the white robed man standing behind the girls, wondering if he had been acting a bit more arrogantly lately. Was it because he broke through to the Peak Stage? Or because of the rumours about him going around in the city? What was it… Right, Zain, the White Arcanist.
Of the five whom he had asked to venture into the Black Desert, it was undoubtedly Zain who had become the most famous. Mostly because of his endless repertoire of Arcanas, whose number, and prowess had only increased after he broke through to the Peak Stage. It was not for no reason that he had earned a special moniker for himself. But…
Just because he was a little famous, did he think that he had become invincible? Or was it because of the difference of two stages between him and Cecilia? Did he forget that Cecilia also had Forne with her? For a moment, Alnea could think of the possibility of Zain winning against him. But winning against Cecilia… Well, being too arrogant was not good for him. So, for the sake of his future, Alnea decided to not remind Zain of the abyss he was jumping into.
“When did you come to the Arena?”
“…Just as you began fighting.”
“What about the others?”
“They are all resting back at the mansion.”
“Then why are you here?”
“…A genius like me does not need rest,” Zain said with a solemn face. That was another one of his abilities. Lying with a straight face. Not that he was any good at it. The flush on his cheeks, and the look of pride on his face every time he heard someone mention the ‘White Arcanist’, was enough to answer Alnea’s question.
“…Then we will wait until you are done with your battle.”
“…I am done.”
“Already?”
“…Do you not know how long your battle lasted for? Or are you just acting?”
“…Right, I almost forgot,” Alnea said, leaving Cecilia to deal with the stinky mouth. “After the fight, Ryan Purplebird invited me to cooperate with his team.”
“…You did not agree, right?”
“Of course not,” Alnea said. “I know when I can be wilful, and I need to assume my responsibility.”
“…But you did not reject him either…”
“…I really miss my Aspects right now,” Alnea mumbled. “Let us investigate them first.”
“You mean, let me investigate them first.”
“…It is the same thing.”
“So, you agree that two of us can be counted as one?”
“…I meant that we should let Vestia investigate his team first, and then decide whether we should cooperate with him or not.”
“…Stingy,” Vestia said with a pout.
“This is very important, Vestia,” Alnea said, trying to divert the topic away from himself. Besides, he was not lying. What he was going to say was indeed very important.
“Ryan… He is very strong. His teammates should be strong too. At the very least, they should not be just normal Peak Stage Wanderers. And he has also allied with many other teams and clans… We need to take his invitation very seriously. Even if we do not end up allying with him, we should not make an enemy out of him either. Or else, he will truly become our greatest obstacle in entering the inner city…
“No, he is already our greatest obstacle. Because I am sure that he will never be satisfied with just entering the inner city. He must be aiming for the core city. So, our clash is inevitable… Before we make contact with him again, I want you to investigate everything about his team, about his teammates, and his allies. I want to know their strength, their weaknesses, and anything else that we must take note of… Can you do that?”
“…Are you doubting my ability?”
“No, I have never doubted your ability. But I cannot order you.”
“Have you forgotten about our bet?”
“…That bet was just a joke.”
“…Not to me.”
“…You know that I cannot order you around like that, Vestia.”
“Cannot, or will not?”
“…You are my friend.”
“…Just a friend?”
“…A very important friend.”
“…I will let you go this time, but I still want my surprise,” Vestia said, with a hint of dissatisfaction on her face.
“And mine too!” Cecilia said, finally jumping in between him and Vestia. He was wondering where she had gone, but she came back as soon as the topic shifted towards surprises…
“Do not forget about me.”
…Although making the girls smile was worth the effort, sometimes, it could be even more tiresome than fighting a battle down to the very last drop of his Spirit Power.