‘Why are there are so many voices?’ With a light cough, Tus opened his eyes.

In his vision, he saw quite a few people who were conversing with each other. He also realized that the dark place with camp fire in the center was a cavern with walls that were so smooth that they seemed hand carved. In the chamber, he recognized Worill, Shel, and Yarla, but he wasn’t familiar with the rest.

“He’s awake!” A short green haired girl who was the nearest to him exclaimed, causing the rest to look in his direction.

Feeling pressured from the intensity of their stares, Tus immediately closed his eyes and laid his head back down while trying to breath in shallow breaths to make himself seem like he was sleeping.

“Is there something wrong with him?” Haya asked.

Ruia crouched over Tus and placed one of her hands over his face with a green light spreading out.

‘Why are you touching me?! Stop it!’ Having felt someone actually touch his face, Tus reacted by grabbing Ruia’s arm and peeling it off.

“He seems to be fine?” Ruia said uncertainly as her arm was being grabbed and the ‘patient’ giving her a death stare, although it really only contained slight irritation.

“Why were you touching my face?” Tus asked hoarsely, “and who are you?”

1 hour later.

“I see.” After eating and drinking like usual while he was listening to everyone’s explanations, Tus said. “Well, it doesn’t matter whether or not you told your manager, they were already targeting me. It probably started after I succeeded in the Trial of Passing in Oblivion. I have to thank all of you for concerning yourselves with me.”

“Eh… you’re welcome.

“Trial of Passing?”

“What was Oblivion like?”

“Why didn’t they capture you the moment you came out?”

The members of Haya’s squad started asking various questions, mainly out of curiosity. Their faces showed relief that they weren’t being blamed for their conduct.

“I don’t know any about the Trial of Passing, but I’m familiar with Oblivion. Vast lands of sand, full of monster trying to eat me. I ate most of them, though. The motives of those flying freaks, I don’t know. The reason why they didn’t capture me at first might be because I already made my way out of the area, so they had to do some searching.” Tus answered briefly.

“Tus you seem to be different.” Worill couldn’t help but state. “You are more… at ease.”

Tus moved his left arm and with a slight will, his second heart which was beating like his actual heart gave a larger pulse, and his arm shown with a dim blue light. On his palm, water started forming in droplets that grew bigger, eventually trickling off.

“I finally got what I wanted.” Tus said with his eyes glowing from the campfire in front of him, “So how can I not be at ease.”

“Hey, watch it!” Talian shouted as the water trickled into the fire, causing hissing sounds to echo in the cave, and for it to nearly extinguish.

“Oh, sorry.” Tus apologized as he withdrew his arm and the blue glow. ‘Damn it, I wanted to be cool for a moment.’

“What are you planning to do now?” Yarla said, off to the side, “The alliance seems like they really want to hunt you down. Luckily, they misjudged that monsters’ strength.”

Thinking back on it, Tus found the voice of the dragon to be somewhat familiar, only to be distorted by its brazen words.

He tapped his chin, “I wanted to go to the River Sanctuary, but you’re right, I can’t cross the distance as of yet. For now, I suppose I need to increase my strength before I can trek.”

Hearing what he said, Ruia’s eyes widened in shock, and she rushed and grabbed his arm.

‘Why is she always touching me?’ Tus complained as he was about to pry her hands off of his arm.

“Did you say the River Sanctuary? You know about it? Can you get inside?” She asked desperately.

Tus stopped his movements as he saw her earnest gaze. He dropped his hand down, subtly rolled his eyes to say ‘whatever’, and answered, “Yes to all three of your questions. I lived there for a time and know the Ancient Guardian. The reason why I’m still alive, and the reason for how I found out about Oblivion was also through it. It said that should I succeed, a reward was that I could enter the Sanctuary without restriction.”

“Please take me with you?” Ruia pleaded while tightening her grasp.

“Do whatever you want.” Tus said while looking at the ceiling. ‘As long as you stop touching me.’

Hearing his reply, Ruia’s eyes glistened with tears and she felt like she got a banquet of flowers.

“Don’t do that.” Tus sensed a movement and moved his head slightly, dodging the incoming attack.

Ruia tried kissing his cheek from impulse, but immediately felt embarrassed. However, after hearing what he said next, caused her to feel a great sense of shock.

“I’m like, a two hundred years old. Pervert.” Tus said directly.

Hearing what he said, Ruia moved away while saying defensively to ignore the previous embarrassment. “Pervert? You look younger than me. We of the elven race live to be about two thousand years old without the inclusion of internal energy. Age is not applicable.” Ruia said proudly, while also probably saying something even more embarrassing.

“Oh yeah?” Tus turned his head and raised his head like a confident rooster that strutted around the hen house, “We of the transcendent race can live forever. The concept of age is reinstated.”

Hearing that, Ruia felt defeated as she couldn’t come up with anything to rebuke, and directly sat down.

‘That is counting if I don’t fail the Trials or ‘die’ or else I’ll be enslaved by Oblivion. Wait, wouldn’t I still be alive then?’ Tus thought back to when he first entered Oblivion and remembered the weird voice. Then he went onto a tangent.

The crowd who watched on had a weird feeling rise that most of them didn’t understand.

At this point, Yarla spoke up with a hint of frustration, “Tus, I have a way that you can safely increase your strength. Would you like to listen to my idea?”