Clyde chose to walk towards the portal first instead of going to the hotel where Samuel and his party were.
He couldn't tell exactly what time it was by looking up at the sky because there was no sun. All he could see was a dark, starry sky as if in this Fortress there was only night.
But fortunately, there is a clock in his living quarter that shows the time. Clyde had no idea how the clock worked or what its accuracy was based on.
The clock was the same as the one he had found on Earth but did it show the same time? Clyde had no idea about that.
That's quite worrying because it's possible that the time Clyde saw was manipulated.
Besides, he also doesn't know why the sky in this place is always dark. Could it be that the goal was indeed to make the inhabitants of this place oblivious to time?
"Good morning."
A calm voice greeted him suddenly. Clyde looked sideways in the direction the voice came from and saw the figure of an Elf who was wearing glasses, and had blonde hair.
The Elf smiled at him while approaching him. "Let's walk together to the portal."
Clyde was still looking at the Elf with a suspicious look. He didn't even bother to hide it.
The bespectacled Elf chuckled. "Sorry if I'm being rude. My name is Maethion."
Clyde just nodded while still looking at him as if to convey that, what he wanted to know from the Elf wasn't his name. But why did he suddenly approach him?
Noticing Clyde's gaze demanding an explanation, the bespectacled Elf said. "I just want to know someone who has made a spectacle in this Fortress the past few days."
Clyde started walking after hearing his answer. But he didn't say anything.
"You really are amazing. I've rarely seen someone who recovers and awakens Mana as fast as you," said Mathion.
"Who are you?" Clyde asked back in a sharp tone. What Maethion said earlier did not answer what he wanted to know at all.
"I'm just another resident of this Fortress," Maethion answered.
"Really?" Clyde raised an eyebrow as he looked at him. "I don't think you're just an ordinary residence."
"Why do you think so?"
"Because people here stay away from me. You suddenly approach me out of nowhere so it feels suspicious."
Maethion chuckled. "So you are aware that people here stay away from you."
"Just say what you want. We're almost at the portal," Clyde said.
"Oh, you're right!" Maethion looked surprised. "Well, then. Instead of you asking me, I'll ask you. Do you have anything you want?"
Clyde turned and looked at Mathion. His gaze showed that he couldn't believe what he had just heard from the bespectacled Elf.
"I'm serious. I will try to help you," Maethion said with a smile.
Clyde of course still couldn't believe him. There was only one possibility why this Elf stranger would suddenly offer help without asking.
"Nothing is free in this world. You ask me so I will indebted to you?" Clyde said.
"No. I'm serious." Maethion looked at Clyde with firm eyes and a glint of seriousness.
Somehow, Clyde felt that he was serious. But he just couldn't believe it. Surely one day this Elf will ask for something in return.
"No, thanks. I'm fine," Clyde said then accelerated his walking pace.
Maethion chased him and said. "How about I help you get your sword back?"
Hearing that made Clyde stop and look at him with a surprised look. "How did you know about that?"
Then remember Hammer's words that said that there are groups who can know many things in this fortress.
"Are you one of the Senior Council?"
It wasn't hard for Clyde to link two and two together. This bespectacled Elf came out of the blue and approached him, saying that he would offer to help, and revealed that he knew about his sword.
Maethion smiled, then raised his glasses with a finger. "Yes. So you know that I have authority here."
When he turned towards the portal, Clyde saw that Samuel's party had arrived.
He turned to Maethion. "We'll talk later. How can I meet you?"
"There's a lake if you walk east. We'll meet there when you're ready."
Clyde nodded curtly. Maethion replied with a short nod as well. Then the bespectacled Elf walked away.
Clyde walked towards the portal where Samuel's party was waiting for him. Without taking too long, they entered the portal and returned to the Ruin world that had turned into a desert.
~~~
When they arrived at the Ruin, they immediately spread their eyes around for possible enemies that might come.
"Let's just run and avoid all those worms," Samuel said.
"Can we do it?" Clyde sounded doubtful considering how the worms could move so fast and smooth in the sand.
"We can run as much as we can and fight those that are very close to us. I'm sure the worms won't be able to enter the city," Samuel replied.
"Or," Clyde said. "I can kill them the second they appear like before so you guys don't have to worry about anything."
Clyde drew his sword with a calm and confident face. He walked ahead of them as if he wanted to challenge the worms.
Samuel keep silent but he gritted his teeth. His eyes let out a strange red glint that seemed dangerous when he saw Clyde's back walking in front of him arrogantly.
"Isn't he being arrogant?" Leyan said, pouring oil into the fire.
"But you know that he can kill those worms easily, right?" Kiara said. "It was our advantage to bring him along. So I don't think there's a problem with that."
Kiara started walking forward, the others followed her and didn't seem too bothered by Clyde's attitude. Unlike Samuel who was still grinding his teeth.
Not long after that, Samuel took a deep breath and let it out. He also loosened his grip on the shaft of his spear which was tightening without him realizing it.
Samuel walked after the others with a feeling he had kept to himself.
~~~
