Icard thought for some time.
'Do I tell them? It would definitely sound ridiculous and complicate a lot of things' he thought.
Then he raised his face to them.
[Lol]
A panel appeared before him which Icard ignored.
[Why Don't You Use Your Usual Excuse. Isn't It Believable?]
Icard sighed.
'Maybe it could work' he thought. 'But then, they're questioning even my person and it's understandable, I guess. I'm completely different from the Icard they knew back at the camp'
[Hmmmmm. All The Years You Spent Climbing The Towers In Your Last Life Changed You That Much, Mmm]
'Yeah' he thought. And his mind drifted to his past life.
Looking at them now reminded him just how they had been then. It was a pleasant memory, one that made him smile at their ignorance, with even more understanding.
"So what do you guys think?" Icard asked. "Is it a bad thing?"
There was a brief silence then
However, Jack's suspecting eyes remained rested on Icard, like he was expecting any type of answer before Matt spoke up.
"Well, maybe it's not so strange" Matt began.
"Everyone's passed through a lot, especially in our keeper's spaces so, maybe it's not so strange" Matt said, with a bit of a tense smile.
"I mean, I did pass through a lot, for days I experienced hell. I was just able to pull through without losing my sanity, which she warned me not to lose or she'll just get rid of me" he said, shuddering at the thought of it.
"It's true" Reya concurred. "You could even say the same for Eric. He returned quite shocked and since then, he hasn't really been the same" she explained.
Hearing them say all this made Icard widen his eyes in surprise, but just for a short time before he exhaled deeply and chuckled.
"It's true that I changed, I guess" Icard said, looking for words. "But it's for the better, isn't it? Better than a ranting, stubborn and rowdy idiot"
Icard shrugged, putting the question to them and they nodded in affirmation.
"You were definitely an idiot back there" Alia added.
"So, does it matter how or when I changed. I could just decide to go back..."
"No! No, no" they dissuaded him immediately.
'Actually, he was really difficult back then' Reya thought upon realisation. 'And he's been really helpful these past days. The Icard I knew couldn't have possibly done so much even with everything that has happened'.
And so, she dragged Jack to a corner and began whispering to him,
"Jack. This is Icard. If you remember him well enough, you'll know he was a problem for everyone" she said.
"We don't need to know how he changed. We just know he did change and is helping a lot, so just drop it"
Jack's eyes went around, at Alia and Matt and they seemed to be in agreement with Reya.
Then he looked back at Icard who simply stood there, with a soft, vaguely familiar grin that he could recognise from the Icard back at the camp.
It was then he dropped it. He realised it really didn't matter.
"Uhm. You're right actually. It's...it doesn't really matter. Sorry for all that" he said in an awkward apology.
"It's alright" Icard replied. "Actually, I should get going now"
"Wait... you're still going?" Alia asked.
"Yeah. I don't really have a choice" Icard said before leaving them.
They still wanted to drag him back but his determination was clear and solid.
"Icard" Alia muttered, watching him walk away.
[Hmm. What Happened? It Felt Like You Were A Different Person For A Moment Just Now]
Icard read the panel and scoffed.
'I wasn't. It was all me. Although, it was kind of hard putting up with that. I wonder how I managed to be such an idiot back then'.
[Too Bad I Didn't Get To See You Then. You Might Have Been A Little More Fun].
'Yeah. Whatever'
He left toward the gate around the center of the city, where Thalrien had appeared overhead.
Soon enough, the gate's energy could be felt even more clearly past a few buildings, a constant wind pushing from it.
People were already hanging around there. Most of them where just curious to see what it was.
"What did you say that is?" Icard heard someone ask as walked toward a cluster of people hanging around there.
"I think he called it a gate. Should mean we can walk in through it, right?" another answered.
"You sure? Why don't you check it out, Liam?"
"Liam?" Icard muttered, glancing at the young, lean man called Liam.
"I would if you go in first, Mr Dane" Liam replied and they both laughed.
They stood together with a number of people in their group, just observing the gate.
'I see. They are here' Icard thought. 'These guys were really popular back then and a rival group of ours when the guilds were formed'.
He walked passed them and hung around the gate too.
'So this is where we all started, huh' Icard thought, glancing around.
Watching everyone while knowing all he knew made it much more interesting for Icard. He then rested his gaze on the gate before him.
This was everyone's first gate so he could remember a lot of things well. The gate was at a four road intersection with buildings and blocks all around.
Seeing it close enough, the energy and wind coming from it could be felt even more; a bizarre sight that not just anyone could walk up to.
Although he itched to enter, he wouldn't. It wasn't in his place to do that.
'Where are they?'
Icard searched the area with his eyes and there, he saw them.
A middle aged man with a fairly heavy build, blond hair and full beards.
He walked with purpose, and beside him was a smaller creature, like a large porcupine.
Icard grinned.
'Talk about timing'
He left where he was and went toward them.
"Albert" a woman following him called. "I think there are more people here willing to enter"
Albert looked around, studying the area.
"I see. Then it's even better" he said.
Naturally, he grabbed everyone's attention as he walked closer to the gate without hesitation, exuding a kind of demeanor that made people want to follow him.
"Is he really going to do it?"
"What is that thing with him? A porcupine?"
Albert stood before the gate then turned about to face the people there who slowly converged, thinking he was about to enter.
All they needed was someone to enter first. There were a lot of people itching for some action, with some wishing to find out more about this apocalypse.
And their answers were definitely beyond that gate.
"I did not expect to see this much. You all already headed here before me" Albert addressed them.
Those around could tell it was definitely about to happen.
"Alright" Albert said, wearing a black coat that fluttered in the wind as he turned about, fully aware he was leading the charge.
"If you wish to come, you may follow me"
Then he entered first, walking into the rift along with the porcupine. Their forms merged into the yellow light and quickly faded into it.
There was silence. Someone had finally gone in!
Although most couldn't understand why he had a porcupine...
The woman accompanying him, also wearing a black coat, went in after and a number of other people followed.
'Hmph. They're pretty much a guild already' Icard thought. 'That's how it is for people with information and a guide'.
A lot of people still hesitated but it didn't matter now. Icard needed Albert to take that stage properly.
"Now, let's begin" Icard said before briskly walking in.
"Someone else is going!" he heard someone say with footsteps gathering behind him.
"Let's go!"
Icard walked into the windy rift. Everywhere went yellow rapidly as the feel of the city disappeared.
He could instantly tell that he was entering a completely different place.
Within seconds, the yellowness faded too and a view came before his eyes.
'It's been a while' Icard said, fully entering a gate.
Before him were Albert and his people. And around all of them was a different world. Hot and sunny, with a stony terrain.
Not far from them were three large rocks, the size of really big buildings, with holes in them, like a hive.
Sharp sticks were plugged into the earth around those rocks, like a deterrent barrier. Works of living and intelligent creatures.
The sight was unexpected.
"There are things moving there" one of the men accompanying them said wide-eyed, pointing toward the rocks.
Looking closely, it wasn't just one, or ten, but hundreds of them.
"Garlyks" Icard muttered, recognising them at once. "And they've seen us"