CHAPTER 1057: NEW SIGHTS

Erend and Adrius came out from the living quarters. When Erend glanced at his watch, he realized only two hours had passed since he went to another world.

He thought the trip would consume more time but it turned out not to be as long as he expected.

As they walked down the corridor, the staffers and soldier guards immediately noticed Erend was accompanied by someone they didn’t recognize.

Their eyes lingered on Adrius and clearly scrutinized his presence.

Erend caught the looks and leaned slightly toward Adrius.

"Don’t think too much about it. You’re with me so it’s going to be fine," he murmured, and Adrius gave a faint nod with a calm smile.

Erend had already sent a message to Adrien, telling him he had returned from the other world and wanted to meet them all.

Adrien’s reply came not long after, directing him to their usual meeting room where he and the others would be waiting there.

Meanwhile, Adrius was glancing around with open curiosity.

His eyes moved from the metal pipes running along the ceiling to the lamps glowing with steady light, then to the hard concrete walls that shaped the structure.

A small smile tugged at his lips but he tried to keep it restrained. He was worried that a wide grin would make him look even more weird and suspicious.

"This is not just stones," Adrius said, pointing lightly at the wall.

"Yeah," Erend replied. "It’s combined with something called cement. Makes it harder, smoother, and more durable."

Adrius nodded with interest, his gaze lingering on the details. In a low voice, almost to himself, he muttered, "I can’t wait to take a proper tour of this world."

Erend smirked. "I hope you don’t get disappointed when you see what’s really here."

Adrius turned his head with his brow lifting. "What do you mean?"

Erend sighed. "I mean... my world isn’t exactly beautiful. There’s a lot of metal and concrete, not like your world with its trees, greenery, and cool air. We’ve got plenty of pollution instead."

Adrius was quiet for a moment, then looked at him thoughtfully.

After a few seconds, he said, "I still think it’s worth seeing. Every world has its good and bad, I presume. I don’t just want to see beautiful things. I want to see something new."

Erend chuckled softly and shrugged. "Got it."

When they arrived at the meeting room, Erend pushed open the door.

Inside, Adrien, Billy, Jesica, Thomas, and Conrad were already gathered and in the middle of a discussion.

Their voices stopped when they noticed Erend enter and their eyes quickly moved to Adrius beside him.

His unfamiliar presence drew their curiosity immediately, the room filling with unspoken questions as they waited for Erend to explain.

Erend closed the door behind him, the quiet click echoing softly through the room.

Beside him, Adrius wore a calm smile that belonged to someone who had faced countless formal encounters before.

As an Archmage, he understood the balance between composure, respect, and dignity. He knows how to project calm while subtly letting others sense the strength that kept his honor intact.

But in this moment, Adrius knew there was no need to display his power aura. He was with Erend and Erend’s companions were of course allies, not threats. Besides, he already recognized two faces in the room—Billy and Adrien.

Only the two of them who were not looking at him with curious stares unlike the others.

Erend stepped forward and broke the silence. "Everyone, this is Adrius. He is an Archmage of the Astoria Kingdom from another world. He’ll help us gain a better understanding of Magic assimilation with the candidates. The manual I had before about control also came from his creation."

Adrius bowed his head slightly and spoke in a warm yet dignified tone. "My name is Adrius. I’m here to help. It’s a pleasure to meet you all."

Jessica, Conrad, and Thomas exchanged quick glances, their eyes carrying the same confusion. Should they bow back or shake hands or say something? None of them were sure what was appropriate when faced with a figure like this.

What shook them even more was Erend’s casual tone when introducing him. Another world? An Archmage? And this man—despite his humble smile—clearly radiated the kind of presence that spoke of immense experience on Magic knowledge.

Before their hesitation could grow heavier, Adrien and Billy rose from their seats. Both walked over to Adrius with easy familiarity.

Adrien extended his hand first, followed by Billy.

"Hey, old man. You look nicer than the last time I saw you," Billy said, eyeing Adrius’s clean-shaven face with a half-smirk.

Adrius chuckled, his grin widening. "I was nice even when my beard was still around."

Adrien’s smile softened as he shook his hand firmly. "I’m glad you’re here. Sorry we’ve dragged you into our problems again."

"Don’t worry," Adrius replied with a light laugh. "Erend promised me a tour of this world. I think that’s a fair trade, don’t you?" His eyes swept across the room, finally settling on Jessica, Conrad, and Thomas. "So, are you also the people I’ll be working with?"

"Yes." Adrien said.

Adrius gave a steady nod, folding his hands behind his back. "Alright. You said there are twenty more candidates, most of them still under treatment for their injuries?"

"That’s right," Erend confirmed.

Adrius hummed in thought. "Hmm... I see. We must proceed carefully. In my world, people are born with Magic. It flows naturally so our struggles are different. Here, things are reversed. I don’t know yet how the experiment reshapes a body without Magic roots. I will need time to adjust and understand your process. Only then can I give you proper insight on what to do next."

Erend leaned forward slightly. "What do you need, then?"

"I need to see these candidates of yours first," Adrius said firmly.

Without delay, Erend gestured for the others to follow.

The group left the meeting room and walked through the facility’s corridors.

The sound of their steps echoed against the concrete, a blend of two worlds moving together.

Adrius kept his sharp eyes forward, the Archmage’s calm presence radiating confidence and there was a thoughtful expression on his face.

When they finally arrived at the infirmary, the sterile scent of medicine filled the air.

Rows of beds lined the room, and the sight of weakened candidates waiting for recovery greeted Adrius.

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