Chapter 77: Alena

"We really got out, huh?" Elgin brushed off some dust from his clothes, as he stared at the area they were in right now.

It was the outside world, the world they were all familiar with. No longer were they in a dungeon. The journey had ended.

"I guess this is where it ends.. for today," Reina said, stealing a glance at Aria.

Aria understood the meaning behind Reina's words. The dungeon trip was a trial that would decide whether or not Aria would like to join [Lichte] as an official member.

For today, the trip ends here. But who knew what would come in the future? Whether or not Aria would end up spending much more time with those folks, or that they would separate off into their own paths.

"..I will be thinking about the offer seriously," Aria shot a complicated gaze as she averted her gaze away from Reina. "But.. I have to remind you that the deal was that no strings are attached. I understand that my suggestion might have indirectly caused your team to lose a member, but I expect you all to not hold that as a bartering piece for my member application or something," Aria warned.

She was still having troubles trying to decide what would be best for her.

In fact, she thought that she was very lucky to be put in this position. The fact that all of the events ended up checking out for her and causing her to move forward without end.

"Of course, I understand what you are trying to say," Reina waved her hand in the air, assuring Aria that the thing she mentioned would not happen.

After engaging in further small talks, the group separated and went to do their own thing.

Aria was thinking to head back to [Golden Insignia] for the time being. She knew that her disappearance along with some other clues that had been dropped during the time would definitely cause suspicion within the team.

But ultimately, her deal with [Golden Insignia] was also similar to the one she made with [Lichte].

Aria had the higher authority in terms of her freedom. Although she had more ties to [Golden Insignia], Aria could still leave and the team would not be able to prevent her from doing so.

She aspired to build a home for herself in the future.

A proper, permanent home that belonged to her. Whether or not she would make the decision to allow other people into said home was a separate matter that had to be discussed in the future, but as of now, she aspired to only make a secure home for herself.

As she walked back to the base, she passed by the forest that acted as a shortcut.

She entered the lush area without much thoughts. As she began to trail the familiar area, Aria felt something wrong.

It was then that Aria began to sense an unfamiliar presence. The presence was tailing her, very poorly at that. Their movements were leaking all over the place, making Aria doubt whether or not this was a purposeful stalking.

She narrowed her eyes and heightened her senses. After a few moments as she tried to fish out the intentions of said follower, she confirmed that there was a rather high chance that she was indeed being followed, and everything was not just a coincidence.

"If your morals are intact, then you should know that it's bad manners to spy on people. Come out and state your wish personally," Aria exclaimed. She didn't know if the other party was an enemy, and whether they were stronger than her or otherwise.

Judging by the terrible performance, however, Aria was led to believe that she was stronger than this person.

Responding to Aria's call, the follower let out a sharp gasp. The voice was a female one, coming from a relatively young girl by the sound of it.

"Please wait! I-I don't have any bad intentions," The person said.

"That's what cheap villains say when they're caught," Aria determined where the source of the sound was and approached it with careful steps. "Should I drag you out myself, or are you going to come out?"

"I'll come out! I'll come out, so... can you trust me enough to hold a short conversation? I have something to say to you... Summoner Aria Schreiner," The girl anxiously spoke.

"..!" Aria knitted her brows. There was actually someone who knew of her identity apart from the ones that found out from special circumstances.

'This scenario is...'

It scratched her past. It happened in a sudden reveal, but Aria was willing to ponder upon it.

'She does pique my interest. If she's weaker than me, I'll just fight her once something goes wrong. If she's stronger than me, she won't let me leave without her approval anyway, right?  If so..' Aria resolved her will.

"Alright, I will listen to you," Aria thought that the choice was risky. However, they were in a location where nobody could see them, so in case a fight does break out, no one could stop them.

Blonde locks, blue irises. Foreign features. Pale skin that did not have any traces of scars or bruises. The young girl looked like a doll, one that was too fragile to be touched. As if her entire being was carefully carved by a master artisan, a rare beauty.

"My name is Alena Croft. Aria Schreiner, I have came to seek help from you as a fellow <Player>," With an elegant tone, albeit slightly shaky, she calmed her accelerated heartbeat and looked at Aria in the eye.

'Alena.. Croft?'

She was not familiar with the name no matter how much she tried to recall a similar memory.

'Is her knowledge not from the past? If she is a <Player>... Then she might have acquired that knowledge from a special feature.' Aria deduced.

"Miss Aria Schreiner.. You should be looking for a lot of answers, am I right? I can... No, I would like to help you fill in those questions as much as my ability allows me to," Alena stretched out her hand and flashed a genuine smile. She wanted to convey that she was on Aria's side.

After all, this was her only chance. A gamble the girl took in order to survive.

"A fellow <Player>.. huh? How can I trust you? How do I know that you're not here to hunt me, another <Player>, down?" Aria had to be skeptical. She had attained a new life after so long, she had to work hard to keep it now that she gained what could possibly be a new chance in grasping her goal.

"To a certain point, I am the only one who knows the depth of which your anomalies are in this world. You need someone's help to find out the secrets to this world.. right?" Alena was taking a risk. She didn't know how Aria's personality was and her likes and dislikes. Asking frontally like this might be a bad choice, but she had to take it nonetheless.

This was the perfect chance to get closer to the girl if she responded in her desired ways.

Gulping down her fear, she clenched her fists.

"I'm able to provide you with information and primary protection. Aria Schreiner, won't you ally yourself with me?"

'Well, well, well.' Aria chuckled internally.

The girl's bold statement made her be intrigued even more.

What did the girl know?

Was this the beginning to opening up another path to her story?

"Dianthe," Aria summoned her water spirit and commanded her to wrap around the blonde child.

With the spirit's enthusiastic approach, the girl sweated bullets as she thought that she was doomed.

"Blade," Aria said, commanding Dianthe to form a water blade with her body.

The spirit did so, and the liquid that loosely surrounded Alena became a sharp blade that slowly inched closer and closer to the little girl's neck.

The girl's hopes became even more destroyed. She closed her eyes and was prepared to take on anything. This was a risk she took out of desperation over the nearing disaster that was about to approach.

"Stop," Another command was issued.

"I thought that you would reveal your fangs, but you didn't. It seems like you really are the one on the passive side in this conversation," Aria deduced.

If the girl was stronger than her, then her likely reaction would not be to cower, but instead fight back. If she was at the very least confident of her own skills, she wouldn't have just given up like that.

Alena looked at her in confusion. "..Then?"

She grew hopeful of the outcome she was about to create.

"It's just listening to a couple words, I could spare my time for that," Aria said. "However.. if the contents of your words displeases me, then I wonder what that might end up as?"

Joy sparked on Alena's face as she bowed and thanked the older woman for trusting her, even if she was still marked with suspicion.