The next day, Thursday, I went through my routine as usual: Assisting the professor in his Lab, guiding new students, then when I had free time, doing the work given by Professor Nolan which was supposed to be fine to finish in installments over several days.
However, because I wanted to take leave for the next few days, I finished it right then and there, continuing what I had already worked on all night.
Then I asked Professor Nolan for permission to take leave until perhaps Monday because of family matters.
After Professor Nolan confirmed, I was told to create my own permission letter on the recording machine to be signed by him. He really trusts me.
This is what I wanted. He told me to make one permission letter, but I will make three at once: One for the university with the excuse of family matters, two for my Magic Academy with the excuse that I have to join a project at my University, and the third I will give to Alicia and Aunt Maya with the excuse that I am being recruited by Professor Nolan to help out for a few days at the Biogenic Corporation in the city center.
The one to be signed by Professor Nolan is only the one I will give to the university board. Then I will copy his signature for the other letters.
With this, everything is settled.
Actually, I feel bad for the Professor. He trusts me so much. But I am truly forced to do this, I'm sorry professor.
After my lecture session was over, I didn't go straight home, but headed to the meeting place with my new Party Members.
Last night I made an announcement on the Hunter Guild Platform, then I received four messages from four people who wanted to form a Party with me.
My Party is not from the Havient City Magic Academy, but it seems they are people from outside the city or perhaps someone whose profession is basically a Hunter.
That was also my wish because if I looked for Party members at the Academy, it meant I had to follow its rules, which is only entering a Dungeon when assigned, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to.
The advantage of making a Party outside the Academy is that I can freely enter a Dungeon anytime as long as there is proof that the Dungeon truly exists. The Academy allows that at one's own risk but still gives credit if I succeed because it means I am already a professional.
Then I arrived at the meeting place, which was on the border of Defier and Havient cities, specifically beside a skyscraper that was under construction.
Because this is beside a construction project, this open field is filled with materials like cement, heavy machinery, and iron bars.
Then I saw three people gathering at a slight distance.
It seems that's them. Where is the other one? Shouldn't there be four?
This meeting is actually just for introductions; entering a Dungeon might be later when I finish my business outside the walls.
I stood in their midst and cleared my throat. "Are you the ones who messaged me?"
The three of them nodded. One of them was a man with long blond hair tied in a ponytail; he had a tall build, he looked to be twenty-five or older.
Meanwhile, the other two were a black-haired woman with clothes that I thought were quite nice; by her side was a boy who had messy blond hair and a face that for some reason looked pitiable. Forget that, essentially they seemed to be the same age as my little sister, Alicia.
"Alright, I will introduce myself first. My name is Adrian Hale, Mage Path, Advance Caster-Rank" I then looked at the oldest man among us, gesturing for him to introduce himself.
However, he instead looked at me cynically then stood up straight. "I changed my mind. I'm not joining you to make a Party, I don't want to risk my life entering a Dungeon with brats like you.
"Unless you appoint me as the leader of this Party and I get the most money, in exchange, I will protect your lives.
"I am James Bennett, Close Combat Path, Rank Vanguard." He showed his Hunter card to me as proof.
He wasn't lying, he has the same rank as Azrael, but the reason I made this Party is so that I can develop through the difficulties I go through, not to be protected. Besides, the nerve of him to get the most money.
"Sorry, but I don't need someone like you. Leave," I said finally.
"You..." He grinned arrogantly then put his card back into his pocket.
Then he walked towards me and deliberately bumped my shoulder hard, making me fall to a sitting position while he continued his stride.
"Go die, you bastard," he said without looking back.
'Sh*t what is his problem?!" I almost said it out loud. Then when I saw him walking away with his back to me, there was an overwhelming urge to attack him until my body trembled, but I held it back and sighed.
Then I got up, dusted off my clothes, and returned to my previous persona. 'If only I could, I wanted to strangle him, punch him, slam him until I was truly satisfied, dammit. Bastard, who does he think he is?'
Sigh…
'Focus, focus, don't be blinded by rage!' After saying it in my heart, I approached the two remaining members.
The two of them looked at me with concern.
I cleared my throat and said, "If you object to my decision to remove the figure who could protect us, please leave, and we don't need to form this Party."
"No, I will stay here," said the black-haired woman.
"Me too."
"The reason?" I wanted to test them.
"Sorry, I do not want to tell my reason to you. But I truly want to build this party," the woman replied first.
"I-I want to earn money for my needs..." the boy beside her added.
Hmm, do they know each other?
"Well, introduce your names and your paths, starting with you." I gestured to the black-haired woman.
"Alright. My name is Evelyn Rose, you can call me Evy if you want. I am on the Mage Path, Rank-Caster, a Water magic user," she introduced herself elegantly.
I became curious about her. Not in a weird way, I mean she looked like a rich person. Why did she want to form this Party?
"Alright Evy, nice to meet you." I looked at the boy beside her. "And you?"
"I-I, let me introduce myself, my name is Ryan Miller. Just call me Ryan. M-my Awakened Path... I don't know yet..."
'What? How can he not know yet? Or is he a new Awakened who doesn't know his core power yet?'
"Oh alright, I understand. In your opinion, what is your magic?" I softened my voice a little because he seemed intimidated by me and thus nervous.
"Healing magic," he answered quietly.
I nodded then showed a scratch on my wrist caused by a cutter to see his healing magic work. "Heal it."
He nodded then directed one hand to my small scratch.
Healing light began to appear from his palm, but I felt something different from that light, this wasn't like the healing magic I usually saw which was contaminated with elements, this was pure light.
'Is this Light Magic? If true, this kid has great potential and will be very useful to me later.'
"Alright, stop." I pulled my hand away from him, although I had given him time, his magic couldn't completely heal my small scratch.
"C-can I join?" he looked at me nervously.
I nodded and said, "Yes, certainly. By the way, your magic isn't just ordinary healing, but it is Light Magic whose utility is more than just for healing."
"W-what, me? How can you know?"
"Well, that's because I didn't see any element in your magic. Usually, healing magic has elemental components, like warm fire, growing roots, flowing water, and soft wind. But yours doesn't exist, it is pure light."
Ryan looked at his own hand in disbelief.
"The point is, don't consider it as just Healing Magic. Imagine it like this: Light illuminating darkness. Then you will get the essence little by little."
Now Evelyn was also surprised by my knowledge.
Then we made small talk for a moment. Evelyn asked me how I knew so much, I just said because of studying. Meanwhile, Ryan seemed nervous and couldn't start a conversation if I didn't ask about him.
It turned out they were both from the same Academy, which is in Meridian City, still neighboring Havient. But they didn't know each other. Evelyn still hadn't opened up about her motives, but Ryan had told me that he really needed money because his Academy scholarship was about to expire. He is an orphan.
After a few minutes, I wanted to end this meeting, but because this Party was still short of two more people, I ordered them to search if they had free time.
I smiled kindly, "Alright everyone, let's end this here. For what's next, I will send messages to you to train according to my instructions at your respective homes or Dormitories, because we will enter a Dungeon next week."
They both nodded.
"Ah, am I late?" A man's voice came from behind me.
Suddenly I smelled a strange scent that was very difficult to describe. It wasn't a foul smell nor a fragrance. This was the first time I smelled a scent like this.
I turned my head and saw someone wearing a black robe covering his head. He had very pale skin, snow-white hair, and glowing red eyes.
His physique was truly abnormal. He seemed to be my age.
Somehow, now I was the one feeling intimidated. "Are you–"
"Are you Adrian Hale?" he interrupted me.
"Yeah, that's me."
"Oh alright, I am interested in joining your Party. Let me introduce myself, my name is Julian."