Chapter 181: High Elf: Althea!
"Elder Althea, don’t make me laugh. Just because I awakened an Elf bloodline doesn’t mean I belong to your tribe. You don’t need to act here."
Aria pointed her finger at the High Elf elder in front, furious.
"Sigh...girl, I am not acting or anything. I am genuinely concerned about you. Besides, as an Elf, don’t you think you will learn more in front of Mother Tree?"
Althea felt a headache as she found that Aria seemed to have changed drastically these days.
She didn’t know what happened, but after coming to this place, she completely got rid of her timidity somehow.
Previously, she never dared to point her finger at her like this.
"Hmph, don’t be ridiculous. I am a Summoner and will only be looked down on by your tribe. Besides, didn’t my mother talk to you already about this? Why are you pesterin’ me anyway?"
Aria pouted, feeling quite irritated.
To be honest, although she showed a very strong front outside, she was a bit panicked.
After all, if even her mother gave her permission, then no one could stop Althea from taking her to the Elven Domain.
If it was before, she mightn’t care or even readily agree, but now...
’How can I leave Soren behind with those vixens?’
Aria bit her red lips, distressed.
"Why would anyone look down on you for being a summoner? Do you think we elves have only one class in our ranks?"
Althea was speechless and rolled her eyes at Aria.
Elves were generally excellent archers, but that didn’t mean there were no other classes. If there were none, how would they defend their tribe from danger?
The only reason why Aria might be looked down on could be because she wasn’t a trueblood and was related to the human race.
But precisely because of this, Aria came under their attention in the first place.
"Besides, have you ever thought that if you go with me, you might even be able to awaken a second class? You might not believe it, but it is highly possible. Especially due to your unique nature."
Althea suddenly added with a faint smirk, hoping to entice Aria. She believed that after hearing this, any human would be shocked and curious.
After all, in this world, class determined everything.
Once you awakened a class, it was nearly impossible to change it, let alone gain a new one.
Only the higher races, like dragons, elves of the ancient bloodlines, giants, and celestial beings, could ever achieve something like that.
It wasn’t without a reason that her elven tribe sent her for Aria Luna.
Althea truly felt that she was wasting her potential by studying in this human academy. After that incident with the Demon Gate, she was even more eager to take her away.
Too bad, she couldn’t use force.
"Tch...what’s so great about that anyway? I tell you, no need to entice me any further, Elder. I want to study in the Elite Hunter Academy and have no plans to go anywhere. If you have anything, just talk with my mother."
However, the surprise or the shock that Althea hoped to see on Aria’s face never came.
How could it, when Aria already knew about it from Soren. In fact, she already saw Soren wielding two classes.
In fact, she believed that she didn’t even need Althea’s help.
Soren alone would be able to help her awaken her Archery class, just like he promised before, didn’t he?
"What? Hey, I am not lying here. It is true that...hmm?"
Althea was confused by Aria’s reaction and was about to persuade her when, suddenly, she felt a piercing gaze lock onto her figure from the sky.
Startled, she turned her head toward the direction of that gaze, only to be blinded by the piercing sun above.
In an instant, the gaze disappeared without a trace, leaving her with no clue. In fact, it almost felt like she had simply been mistaken.
’Who is it?’
But as a High Elf, she knew that gaze was real and was looking at her intently just now.
Just, she never thought there was a powerful figure around here who could look at her without being noticed.
She was a high-ranking archer with incredible perception, and yet...
’Someone from the Academy?’
Althea’s mind rapidly began to analyze the situation. From her perspective, whoever was behind that gaze had deliberately made its presence known.
’Is it a...warning or...?’
In the end, she felt that someone might be warning her just now.
They might have thought she was forcing Aria earlier, thus the subtle gaze.
’Sigh...it seems I cannot force her too much.’
Althea felt a bit uneasy being around such a powerful person who was in hiding.
Elves didn’t necessarily have a good relationship with humans.
Who knew what kind of intentions that person had?
"Okay, you know what, I understand your point, Aria. Then, let’s put aside this discussion for now."
Once decided, Althea turned to look at Aria and showed a beautiful smile.
"But I have to say, young lady, you don’t need to be so defensive about going with us. You know all we want is for your potential not to be wasted. So, we will just wait until you decide later."
Elves had a long life span anyway. Althea could very well wait for Aria to realize that they meant good for her.
In fact, if not for the sudden incident of this Demon Gate, she wasn’t in a hurry to meet her yet.
"Until then, how about you check my club in this academy? Although it is an archer club, I bet it will be very useful for you even as a Summoner."
Althea spoke before throwing a small card to Aria, which she caught reflexively.
"Okay, that’s all for now. Be careful and take care."
After saying that, Althea abruptly disappeared from her position, not even giving Aria time to speak.
"What happened to her all of a sudden?"
In an instant, Aria found herself completely alone and confused.
She thought Althea mightn’t relent easily this time, but suddenly she just left?
’Forget it...it is good that she left. Saves me from a headache.’
Aria thought before turning around, intending to return to her camp.
As for the card, she directly threw it inside the inventory without even a care.
Rather than that, it was better to just learn from Soren.
’Come to think of it, isn’t it time for our training day?’
Aria suddenly remembered Soren’s promise that he would train her in archery once a week at the Academy.
Although he did more than just train her, that only made her want to look forward to it even more, especially after what happened in the cave with Sylvia alongside them.
Just thinking about it made Aria’s face flush red when, suddenly, a voice called out to her, the very one she wanted to hear.
"Aria? What are you doing here all alone?"
Who else could it be if not Soren, who came here just to meet Althea? Too bad, he was a bit late as he only found Aria walking towards the camp, blushing all alone.
"Soren...?"
Aria didn’t notice his weird look. Rather, after seeing him, she immediately gave a beautiful smile before running over and directly grabbing his arm.
Her impressive bosom immediately pressed against his arm, while her green eyes focused on him charmingly.
To be honest, with those long ears, impressive cleavage, and the faint red hue surrounding her cheeks, she looked a bit sultry.
"Why are you here? Were you looking for me?"
Aria asked while tilting her head cutely, her long hair swaying softly behind her as her green eyes shimmered slightly.
She looked genuinely happy to see him. Maybe because of her talk with Althea, who knew?
"Yeah...I was, actually. Haha..."
Seeing her so bubbly, Soren didn’t ask what she was doing anymore and instead gently caressed her long hair, only for his fingers to brush against a hairpin.
"Hm? Oh... you’re still wearing this, huh?"
Soren immediately recognized the Sylvanleaf Hairpin he once gave her as a gift.
"Yeah... does it look good?"
Aria beamed instantly, adjusting a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she tilted her head slightly.
To be honest, perhaps because she was an elf, the leaf-shaped hairpin suited her perfectly.
"Yeah, you look beautiful."
Soren readily gave praise, making Aria let out a soft laugh before he gently wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Let’s return to the tent then. I have something else to give you besides this hairpin."
Soren suddenly said mysteriously, making Aria puzzled.
"Give? What else do you want to give? Soren... I don’t need anything. I haven’t even given you anything yet, and..."
Soren already gave her a D-rank hairpin and a robe that could save her life from a fatal crisis.
In return, what did she give him?
Nothing at all. Of course, Aria felt bad.
"Haha... don’t think too much. Besides, once you have it, I’m sure you’ll like it."
Soren found her reaction a bit too cute and pinched her cheek playfully before abruptly using teleportation.
"Wait... Soren..."
Then, before Aria could even react, he directly brought her inside his tent, this time ready to form a new Crimson Bond.
He realized that while having Elise’s skills was fine and all, it was ultimately limited in use.
So what if he formed a Crimson Bond with Aria? He didn’t need to win her over to make that happen.
And if he completed the main quest later on, would that grant him the abilities of a summoner?
Most importantly, could he also summon an entity?
To be honest, Soren was a bit excited.
