Vernik pondered for a few seconds in silence in his room. He was a little regretful because he didn't take Maethion's words seriously at that time.
Vernik realized that Clyde's powers had grown too fast even before he left the Fortress. But why did it happen? How could that child be different from other humans of the same Selection Stage?
He and the other Senior Council members had only heard that Clyde had indeed shown amazing results in the Selection Stage. However, they never really checked it out themselves.
But now when he is in this place and uses his powers, Vernik, Madri, and Maethion who are the only Senior Members in the Fortress know clearly about his powers.
"Why? Did he get a unique artifact in the Selection Stage or something?" Vernik wondered. "Ahh, I should start investigating that kid."
Vernik pressed his palm against the hexagonal crystal again. This time, he channeled Mana along with his will to see Clyde.
"What's he doing?"
Vernik saw Clyde sitting on the bed in his living quarter. He is closing his eyes tightly.
"Is he meditating?"
There's nothing wrong with that. Someone does meditation because one wants to feel calm even Vernik often does it when he wants to imagine his life before the Selection Stage starts and destroys everything he had.
Unfortunately, he couldn't use the hexagonal crystal to read someone's mind. It would take up a lot of Mana and be too conspicuous for him to do it stealthily.
If Clyde realized he was being watched, then he would create an unnecessary ruckus.
Vernik was sure he could handle Clyde even though he was quite strong. But it wouldn't be an easy fight and would only make him do something that wasted his precious time.
So, Vernik prefers to avoid doing something troublesome like that. While telling himself that Clyde definitely wouldn't do anything other than meditate.
Vernik decided to end his spying process. Then he went to meet Madri and Maethion.
~~~
However, Vernik's guess could not be further from the truth. He thought Clyde was just doing ordinary meditation while in fact, Clyde was trying to contact Asqa via the bracelet Hammer had just created.
He had no idea how the Dwarf could have the knowledge to do something like this. Certainly, back in his world - before the Selection Stage happens - Hammer was a respected master of his craft.
Clyde had been concentrating long enough and he had already been flowing a lot of Mana. Yet Clyde still hasn't gotten any indication that he can contact Asqa.
With his eyes closed, Clyde's forehead furrowed. 'Does this bracelet even work?'
He decided to try for a few more minutes. If he still didn't get results, Clyde decided that he would cut it out, figure out what went wrong and try again tomorrow.
However, Clyde sensed something. He felt like something inside him was connected to someone.
'Clyde? Is that you?'
It was Asqa's voice. Clyde almost jumped for joy because he finally managed to reach Asqa after tiring trials.
'Yes. This is me,' Clyde said through his mind.
'I can't believe you did it,' Asqa replied in a happy voice.
'I also couldn't believe this at first. But I have someone quite skilled here.'
'Actually... where are you now?'
Clyde hesitated to answer. Asqa might be watched by her master. And even when she wasn't being watched, Clyde felt giving out information about his whereabouts was not a safe thing to do.
'I can't tell you,' said Clyde.
'O-Oh, you're right. Sorry for asking that.'
'It's okay. As long as you understand.'
They were silent for a few moments. Then Clyde said. 'Asqa.'
'What?'
'What actually happened at that time?'
'Shouldn't I be the one asking about that?' Asqa asked back. 'What happened? Why did Rodney, Reed, Eric, and Mona betray you?'
Asqa's voice was filled with anguish and confusion. She had harbored those questions and feelings for a long time and felt breathless at not being able to ask them.
They had all gone their separate ways and might meet again because relations between Celestials weren't always good. And encountering followers of other Celestials only meant that they would have conflicts.
'Well, as you already know. They suddenly attacked me. I was lucky to survive long enough so the people who save me arrived at the right time,' answered Clyde.
He then told about what had happened up until this point. About he who suddenly found himself in a mysterious place and how now he has to struggle to gain power bit by bit.
Of course, Clyde didn't mention a voice calling him from the dead. Everything about the whereabouts of his Private Attribute would remain a secret as long as he could keep it a secret.
There was no answer from Asqa for a few seconds after he finished saying everything. Clyde wonders what happened.
'I'm okay,' replied Ashka. 'Anyway, what do you want to talk about now?'
'I wish we could meet again,' said Clyde.
'I also hope so. But... it's very difficult to do.'
Clyde exhaled. He already thought that much. It won't be easy.
'Where are Rodney and his friends?' Clyde immediately changed the question.
'I don't know where Rodney, Eric, and Reed are. But I know where Mona is,' Asqa answered.
The roar of revenge in Clyde's chest burned again when he heard that name.
'Where is she?' he asked.
'Mona is in God Loki's domain. At that time the God seemed interested in her because she managed to trick you.'
Clye's teeth grinding got tighter. So as he had expected, the four of them used him who had saved them to look good in the eyes of the Celestials.
Be it by taking advantage of his achievements, or by what Mona did, by using their betrayal in order to gain the favor of certain Celestials.
Clyde already knew that there would definitely be Celestials who liked their betrayal. It made him hate those Celestials even more.
'Alright. She will be the first target for my revenge.'
~~~
