Clyde was pretty excited about what Anahita said. In fact, he was looking forward to it. When Anahita came up to him and said that, Clyde felt as if the universe heard what he was thinking and gave the response he expected.
Anahita looked at Clyde with eyes showing astonishment. The silver-haired woman tilted her head to the side.
"You don't look worried," said Anahita. "That's... unnatural."
Her words made Clyde realize that the expression on his face did not look natural for a situation like this. He immediately changed his face to be more serious.
"When exactly do you need us to leave?" Clyde asked, trying to distract Anahita from her reaction earlier.
"We hope soon. However," Anahita turned to the five people. "Maybe you guys need to train a little more. Or...you need more people."
"More people?" Clyde asked. "Wouldn't that make us more conspicuous? And surely this expedition - let alone one that requires us to enter the domain of a certain Celestial - should be sneaky?"
"That's how it should be. But we now know how to get to The Nexus of Creation. We can't get there sneakily anymore."
"So you're telling us to be prepared for the risk of a bigger exposure with the Celestials?" Clyde asked.
"Actually, if you look for a path to the Nexus of Creation in the domain of one of the Celestials, they almost surely will find you," Anahita replied.
She looked around. Making sure that other people were far enough away that they couldn't hear what they were talking about.
Of course, Leon, Albert, Wiley, Rosie, and Lola were among the people who had to listen to this conversation since they were going to be taking part in the expedition. They whispered to each other with worried tones and looks when they heard what Anahita said.
"Did you know that our power of system still exists?" Clyde asked.
"I do." Anita nodded. "I think, for now when time is of the essence, the existence of the power of system within your body is quite important"
Anahita said that they have the power that the Senior Council needs to carry out the dangerous missions they give. However, Clyde did not hear any concerns from Anahita about the risks if they continued to use the power of the system.
If they remove their power from system, then they will be freed from the bounds that will limit them later. However, they will not have enough strength to carry out the missions that the Senior Council provides.
So, in the end, Clyde and the five people were only seen as tools. Is that it?
"May I ask you one thing?" Clyde asked.
"What is it?"
"Why don't you Senior Council members who are the most powerful beings in the Fortress carry out the expedition yourself? Why do you always order the residents of this Fortress who are also hiding from the Celestials and are weaker than you?"
Anita shook her head. "I can't answer that."
"Why? Is it because you don't want to endanger yourselves while ordering others?"
Anahita smiled faintly. "I understand why you think that. But that's not the reason."
"Then what?"
Anahita also noticed the looks that seemed to demand answers from Leon, Albert, Rosie, Wiley, and Lola.
"I can't answer that now. Tonight at seven o'clock, you may come to a cafe called White Caffe. There, I will answer your questions."
Anahita disappears into the portal just as she arrives. Leaving them all in question. However, they already know how to find answers to that question.
"What would you do?" Leon approached Clyde and asked.
"This could be dangerous, you hear her," said Clyde. "I don't want to force you to come if you don't want to."
"If we don't participate, what will happen to our power of system?" he asked.
Clyde took a deep breath before answering. "Honestly, I don't know."
"Then it seems we have no choice but to go along. I don't like the idea of losing our power of system."
Clyde paused, thinking of a possibility he also didn't like. "Me too."
They continued practicing again until the sun in this place set. Then, return to the Fortress to prepare.
~~~
Clyde found the location of the cafe after asking Samuel. As it turned out, the cafe was located not far from the lake that he had been using as a meeting place with Maethion.
Clyde had never really paid much attention to what was around this lake other than the clear and calm lake water. So it's only natural that he doesn't realize it.
He came to this cafe first after sending a message about the location of this cafe to the five of them in the living quarter. When he arrived, the cafe still looked empty but the lamps were already on making this place bright.
"Excuse me." Clyde stepped inside. The interior of this cafe is not much different from the cafe in general. It's just that, almost all the furniture in this cafe is pure white.
Clyde sat in one of the chairs and waited. A few minutes later Anahita came from the room at the back of the cafe.
She smiled and asked. "What do you want to drink?"
"Uhh...just give me coffee," answered Clyde.
A few minutes later, Anahita came over with cups of coffee for Clyde and herself.
"You didn't come with your friends," said Anahita.
"They are not my friends," Clyde replied, then drank his coffee. 'This is pretty good.'
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Well, we're just... colleagues."
"Didn't they save you at the Selection Stage?" she asked.
"Yes. It's just... I don't really understand the idea of making friends. I... Never had friends before," said Clyde gloomily. "What do you want to talk about?"
Seeing that Clyde didn't seem to want to talk about it, Anahita immediately changed the topic of their conversation.
"It's good that the five people... your colleague, it's not here yet. There's something I need to talk to you about."
Clyde frowned and waited.
"Your power of system, it seems to be created by infusing a fraction of a certain Celestial power."
The wrinkles on Clyde's forehead deepened. "What are you talking about?"
Anahita leaned forward. "I am the only one from the Senior Council who has ever met him so I can feel his power."
"Who?"
"God Shiva."
The room suddenly felt very quiet. Clyde paused looking at Anahita's eyes that were looking at him with a look that was hard for him to explain.
Clyde couldn't fully believe Anahita, but what she said actually made sense.
The Order of Mindweaver - the group that created the power of system - has God Shiva on their back, so it's very possible that God put a fraction of his power into his power of system.
"I don't feel anything about his power," Clyde said. That was the reason why he couldn't fully believe Anahita's words.
"My guess is, you can't feel it yet because the power is too much for your body right now. You're just not ready for that great power," said Anahita.
God Shiva's power is incredible. Based on what Clyde had known, he was a Celestial with powers of destruction.
Clyde still couldn't imagine how terrifying that power was. He could have destroyed his own body if he received that power now.
"That's all I want to say to you. For now." Anahita leaned back and drank her coffee. "They have come."
The cafe door opened and the five people they were waiting for entered.
~~~
Asqa walked alone towards a large field used for practice. She has an appointment with Joshua to meet today. Asqa intended to ask about Archangel Uriel's whereabouts since she had not seen her for the past few days.
Joshua was standing in the middle of the field bare-chested. In his hand, there was a staff made of metal that reflected sunlight.
Asqa slowed her pace, wanting to see how someone who could be called Uriel's right-hand man fights.
Suddenly, a burst of fire came out from Joshua's body and covered his body. A few moments later the fire shrunk and became a kind of thin layer that protected his body.
Joshua's long blonde hair fluttered above the pressure of the fire energy on his body. Making his appearance even more intimidating.
Joshua suddenly shot out at an incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of a dummy that was his target.
Joshua swung his staff at the same amazing speed as before. The dummy had suddenly turned to ashes without even going through the burning process. Shows how hot the fire behind Joshua's attack is.
Asqa subconsciously compares Clyde to him. Unfortunately, Asqa still saw that Clyde would have a hard time fighting him now.
"Ah, you've arrived," Joshua said with a faint smile. Joshua put out the fire immediately.
Ash walked over to him. "You are very strong."
"This is the power that Archangel Uriel gave. This is not my own power," said Joshua. "So, you want to know why the Archangel hasn't returned yet?"
Asqa nodded.
"Well, you must have heard about the conflict going on in the Far East, right?"
Asqa nodded again.
"But you don't know about what's actually in there yet. What's in there is something very mysterious and powerful. Something even Celestials still don't fully understand."
Ashka frowned. "Something even Celestials doesn't fully understand yet?"
Josh nodded. "Yes. This information is already known to everybody here. You should know it as soon as possible too."
"Why?"
"Because we don't know if the threat will stay there, or will spread further to The All Territory."
~~~
