Chapter 78: Alicia Ashford
"I just heard you guys talking about entering an Astral Rift. Can I join your team as well?"
The instant William saw who had asked the question, his mouth reacted before his mind, and a flat voice echoed out.
"No."
"Huh?"
Alicia was stunned by the immediate rejection, and a baffled look appeared in her almond-colored eyes.
Liam also looked at William strangely, wondering whether he had some sort of grudge against the young lady. After all, he had rejected her in less than a second.
William looked at the woman standing before him, and the corner of his eye twitched slightly.
The young woman had long raven-black hair, almond-colored eyes, and fair skin. She was wearing a long purple dress adorned with several rare gemstones, making it obvious that the dress was anything but cheap.
’Alicia Ashford...’ William recalled her name and sighed inwardly. ’Why am I running into troublesome people one after another?’
"Why are you reacting so strongly?" Alicia couldn’t help asking with a confused expression. "I don’t think I have offended you, have I?"
’You are speaking as if you don’t know about your psycho brother whose sister complex is higher than the sky,’ William grumbled inwardly.
Outwardly, however, he maintained a calm expression.
"Miss, I don’t believe we know each other, right? If someone suspicious suddenly appeared in front of you and asked to join your team, would you agree?"
"Someone suspicious?" Alicia felt as though her worldview had been shaken.
She instinctively looked down at herself several times, wondering exactly what about her appearance looked suspicious.
Seeing the confusion on her face, William patiently explained.
"From your appearance alone, anyone can tell that you come from a well-off noble family. If someone from such a family suddenly wanted to join the team of two commoners they had never met before, wouldn’t you find that suspicious?"
"That... actually sounds reasonable."
Alicia nodded after thinking about it.
Seeing her nod, William waved his hand before lightly pulling Liam along.
"Since you understand, we will be taking our leave."
"Wait!"
Alicia hurriedly stepped in front of William when she saw him about to leave.
"It’s true that I come from a well-off noble family, but I really don’t have any friends. I don’t know why, but the other kids always avoid me whenever they see me."
’Isn’t that because they are afraid your brother will pay them a visit in the middle of the night if they accidentally make you unhappy while playing with you...’ William rolled his eyes inwardly.
He was just about to walk past her when he suddenly recalled something and stopped.
Turning back toward Alicia, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Under the effect of True Wisdom, memories from the original timeline gradually became clearer in his mind.
’It seems... she was captured by the Blood God Cult in the original timeline.’
William hadn’t had much interaction with Alicia in his previous life.
However, since they had attended the same academy, it had been impossible for him not to hear about major incidents that happened within.
He couldn’t remember the exact time, but he clearly recalled that Alicia had been captured by the Blood God Cult roughly one or two years after entering the academy.
It was said that she had gone to explore an Astral Rift with a group of other students when the Blood God Cult made its move.
They killed all the students who had gone with her and captured her.
As for what happened afterward, he didn’t know.
The only rumor he had heard was that she had eventually been killed by them.
’The spirit of the pearl told me to make small changes to the timeline from time to time...’ William recalled the spirit’s earlier words, and an idea gradually formed in his mind.
’Changing her fate wouldn’t be a massive event, but it should still create some disturbance within the Cracks of Time. After all, her family isn’t ordinary.’
As the thought crossed his mind, William immediately looked at Alicia and spoke.
"Since you don’t have any friends, we don’t mind letting you come with us."
He paused briefly before adding.
"But are you even capable of protecting yourself?"
"Hmph! Don’t underestimate me."
Alicia let out a soft huff before releasing her aura.
A powerful pressure belonging to a middle-stage Star Warrior immediately spread from her body.
Liam’s eyes widened in shock when he sensed her aura as she appeared to be about the same age as him.
Yet he hadn’t even reached the Star Warrior realm, while she was already at the middle stage.
William’s eyes flickered slightly, but he wasn’t surprised.
Leaving everything else aside, the cultivation resources provided by Alicia’s family alone were enough to push her to the middle stage of the Star Warrior realm within a short period.
Besides, it was very likely that she had turned sixteen one or two months before July and had already been cultivating for quite some time.
William then turned toward Liam.
"Do you have any objections if she joins us?"
Since they would be entering the Astral Rift together, he naturally wanted Liam’s opinion as well.
Liam shook his head.
"I don’t have any problem with it."
"Alright." William nodded.
"You can come with us. However, we will be entering the Astral Rift a few days later."
After all, Liam still needed to break through to the Star Warrior realm first.
"Great." A bright smile finally bloomed across Alicia’s face.
Now she wouldn’t have to enter the Astral Rift with the people her brother had arranged for her.
Once the matter was settled, William accompanied Liam into the registration building.
After the receptionist explained several important matters, Liam also received his student badge, two academy uniforms, and his Academic Credits.
The three of them then left the registration building together.
However, just as they stepped outside, Alicia suddenly seemed to remember something and turned toward William with a serious expression.
"You should be careful. The matter with Zavier won’t end so easily."