Chapter 23- We're Here

I slowly opened the door of the training room trying not to make a noise, but it did. When I opened it, they were all there, even Isaac. I was the only one missing.

I just got discharged from the clinic, but I went straight here. "Sorry, I'm late." I sat on the empty seat and Isaac also began to speak after he stopped for a moment because of my arrival.

"This week will be much more hectic because we will only be training until this week. On Saturday, a vehicle will take us to the Arena where the 23rd Tournament will take place."

Isaac sighed. I can see the nervousness on his face right now and I know why. To him lies the great responsibility of the group. He needs to be strong for us. "We will be escorted towards the Realm of Monsters. That is the name of the place where we will fight because our opponent there is not just a group of people from Magical University. We're going to fight monsters."

I sighed and turned to face Kristian, who happens to be sitting beside me. "Hey! When's the Grand Magical Ball again? I thought this week, we will be busy?" He faced me and chuckled because I was almost whispering.

"Yes, we will be busy, but a tradition will always be a tradition. Two events will take place, first the Grand Magical Ball which is tomorrow, while the Enchanted Ball will happen on Friday night. Nine o'clock pm. And we are expecting you to attend. Necessarily, we need to attend or else, Isaac..." He pointed to Isaac who was still speaking. "Will be mad."

I couldn't answer and I just looked at Isaac. Is he really going to be my date? I wonder what he looks like wearing a tuxedo, or any formal attire. I shook my head, what am I thinking?

They left to attend to their scheduled classes, except Isaac who cleared his schedule to sort out our training for today. I approached him while he was arranging the weapons that we will use later for the training.

"Isaac..." He stopped as soon as he heard my voice and smiled at me, but it quickly vanished when he saw my serious expression. "I'm leaving after this Tournament."

His jaw clenched, he dropped the sword he was holding and looked at me, intently. "No. You belong in here, Althea."

I closed my eyes, I expected him to say that since he's been opposing my decision every time. "Isaac, you belong here. Not me. My real home is out there, and as long as I'm here, you're distracted, and I don't want that--"

Before I could finish what, I was about to say, he pulled me closer to him, I almost fall but he held my waist, making me flinch. He used his other hand to make me look at him and our lips touched. So, this is his way to make me quiet?

He withdrew from the kiss when we were almost out of breath but he's still holding my waist as if he's not even planning to let go. His green eyes were staring at me and I tried to stare back but I couldn't.

"Althea, what am I to you?" I couldn't speak when he asked that. I averted my eyes. I do not know. I fear that one day, what I feel for him will hurt me so much. I'm afraid of what might happen.

"I don't know." I shrugged. He smiled, a half one and I felt his lips again. Every time he's doing that, I feel like I'm being owned by him.

"I don't care how long it takes for you to love me back, because I love you. And I don't want to lose you, Althea. So, please don't leave." I nodded and My world seemed to be spinning around him and I did not know why my heart almost exploded.

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"This group will be divided into two. To make the training process easier. Kristian, Kurt, and Althea. You're the first group. Lydia, Cath and Me, will be the second. The first group is assigned to the forest. When the illusion simulator opens, the time attached to your wrist will start to run," Isaac explained. We're already wearing our gears, it's Kurt, Kristian and I will be the first to compete.

"Before the runs out, you should have found the red flag inside the illusion. So, do we. There are monsters inside the illusion and that will serve as a hindrance for you to find the flag." He spoke again. "Our teamwork will be tested here. You should not only take care of your life. But also, those with you."

I smiled. He's a good leader, president, and a friend. He has everything. I don't even know why he likes me. He has everything and he can get someone better than me. Why is he liking someone who's not even sure about how she feels?

"I repeat, I want my members complete after this bloody day of training," Isaac said. I noticed his hands were trembling. He was nervous about what might happen.

We were in red gear, while Isaac's group was in blue, a sign of where we were in the group. Kurt and Kristian started to fix the simulator. I approached Isaac and held his trembling hand.

He was surprised at what I did, but it was later replaced by a smile. My two hands grabbed one of his hands and brought it close to my mouth, then I blew it to make it warm.

"What are you doing?" smiling, he asked me. I smiled back.

"I blow my palm every time I'm nervous, it might work for you." I lowered his hand, but he lifted it again.

"Do it again, it calms me." I smiled and blew it again. "You never fail to amuse me."

I averted my eyes; I could feel the redness on my cheek. This is embarrassing. He's getting more attractive every day.

"Hey, it's training. You can do that later!" We laughed when Kurt said that. I turned to Isaac before entering the illusion.

"Goodluck. You can do it." He put a thumbs up to cheer me up then he messed his hair. A habit of his that I've been used to.

I looked at his hands and it stopped trembling. I guess what I did calmed him. Good.

Kurt's POV

Cath fixed the electronic chair for me. I just looked at her as she put the belt on me. I smiled. Her beauty doesn't fade and every time I look at her, I fall in love. This is how it feels like when you know that she is the only woman you want.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, laughing. She leaned and smiled at me. "I need you to be strong until this tournament ends, okay?"

I nodded. "Yes ma'am!" I'll be everything just for her. "I love you."

She was stunned when I said that. It's been a long time that we're together, yet she's still flustered every time I say those words.

"I-I love you, too." She stuttered so I laughed again. She walked away from me and I hissed when the machine pierced my right arm and there was a throbbing clock being carved in it. Our group will be the first to compete, followed by Isaac's group. I turned to Isaac who's busy looking at Althea. He's too obvious.

"Is there no good luck kiss for Althea?" He glared at me as if he's ready to devour me. I shouldn't have said that now I'm doomed.

"Shut up! After this, you're dead." I swallowed. Isaac acted like he's cutting his neck then pointed his hand in my direction. Kristian chuckled as though we both knew I pissed Isaac off today.

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Althea's POV

Gradually, my vision started to blurry and my head was throbbing. I leaned back in the electronic chair and heard Isaac speak again, "Look for each other inside the illusion. Good luck, Everyone."

I completely lost consciousness. A few minutes later I woke up and sighed when I realized I was already inside the illusion. I can only see trees all around and I can't help but be amazed.

Maybe if I didn’t know it was an illusion, I would think this was all true. Only trees and birds chirping can be heard around. I stood up and leaned to the tree. I looked at the time on my wrist, it continued to throb and run.

01: 20: 33 sec It's only an hour and almost a half. But how can I find Kristian and Kurt in this kind of place? I gasped and began to step.

I looked around and tried to sharpen my senses for I know that any moment from now, a monster may come out and kill me.

"Kurt! Kristian!" I shouted, but it looks like it was the wrong decision. My eyes widened when someone growled behind me. I slowly turned around and was stunned to see a monster behind me. It's almost triples my size.

Its skin is black and does not look pleasant. He growled loudly and struck the axe he was holding but I immediately avoided it. I quickly hid behind a tree.

I did not carry a single weapon that could be used against it. I closed my eyes. I need to think.

I put out a fire in my hand, if I have to fight without any weapon, I must use my power to survive. I formed a fireball in my hand and threw it to the monster. He moaned loudly as his arm was burned. It seemed I made it even angrier so one of his long hands pushed me and I was thrown out of the tree and I fell on the ground making me scream in pain.

That monster was not just big, it was too strong that it almost broke my bone.

"Damn it." I looked at my shoulder that's now bleeding, it hit a sharp wood.

With all my strength, I looked around and saw a branch with a sharp edge, but it was connected to a tree. I turned to see the monster approaching me while holding his axe.

Quickly, I kicked the tree to cut off the sharp branch. I slid to the ground. I could no longer bear the pain of my body, I stood up and took the branch then jumped up and jump toward the monster. I stabbed the sharp branch straight into his head, so it fell off and I fell to the ground.

I closed my eyes when I felt a pang of pain on my back and my bleeding shoulder. "I thought this is an illusion!" I shouted. I can’t believe that the pain almost felt real.

I stood up and with all my might and I started walking. There's no time to rest, time is running out and I haven't found them yet.

We only have thirty minutes to find each other and find the red flag Isaac was talking about.

I stopped walking and I gasped when I heard a growl coming from the dark part of the forest on my right side. I quickly hid behind the tree.

I just finished fighting that huge monster then now, there's another one. And I was right. When I took a peeked, a huge monster showed up again.

I ran and made a spear using ice. I looked at the monster and threw the spear, but he just caught it and threw it back at me. My eyes widened as it plunged toward me but before it hit me, a fire suddenly showed up, making the spear melt in front of me. I turned my gaze and saw someone running toward the direction of the monster.

"K-Kristian..." He salutes to me then Kurt showed up as well. They killed the monster and I watched them as they stab the monster.

They both sat at the ground as the monster's blood splattered around. The monster fell to the ground and I quickly ran toward them.

"Four monsters in an hour? Does Isaac want us dead?!" Kurt complained that made Kristian and I laughed.

We found the red flag that Isaac told us to get and we completed the mission, as well Isaac's group.

When we got out of the illusion we talked as we walked toward the cafeteria. We were exhausted and our body was aching, they were complaining to Isaac about it, but he just ignored them.

"Tomorrow, we have training again. Eat a lot and gather all your strength," Isaac said as we ate. "The next day, the people of Magical University will visit who we can fight. We have to at least welcome them even if they don't deserve it."

They fell silent Kurt. Maybe there was a dispute between Andrei and Isaac. Whatever it is, the tournament is also affected.

Isaac, Kurt, and Kristian left as they said they would fix the ones we will use for training tomorrow.

Lydia and Cath and I were walking to my dorm. They said they wanted to hang out with me today.

"Do you mind telling me what happened between Isaac and Andrei?" I want to know. When Andrei talked to me then, I felt his anger toward Isaac, and vice versa. Lydia chuckled, drastically.

"Isaac and Andrei were best of friends back then when Isaac chose to stay here in Alexandria Academy. Andrei was left there at Magical University and Andrei thought that Isaac forgot about him. Andrei was an introvert then and his only friend was Isaac. So, he did not want Isaac to have another friend." Andrei is an introvert? If you think about it, he is the opposite of that word. But maybe, he was hurt so he was able to change.

"Isaac is mean, Althea." I was surprised by what Cath said. "Back then, he pushed Andrei away. He didn't like Andrei to depend on him so much. So, Andrei got angry, but Isaac regretted that. Is just that, the time that Isaac tried to say sorry, Andrei became rebellious and he did not want to accept Isaac's apology." So that's what happened. They both did wrong, yet the other one changed so much.

I don't even know much about them, especially about Isaac. I sighed. I want to get to know them beyond their facade.