Looking at the seemingly small clinic surrounded by, at a minimum, three stories building, a vague sense of incongruity filled Trex's mind.
It almost felt like when he was asked to be a trojan against the enemy. The moment he faced the enemy's firewall, Trex can only turn meek and run away.
"Are you feeling the pressure?" A smooth voice suddenly spoke behind Trex.
With a glance, Illana talked again, "that's Doctor Sherman's local domain. One of his elemental specialization is space. Which is why his building is only a single floor. When you enter, you'll realize it might be even bigger than that ten story building over there."
Trex was fascinated by Illana's description. Back in his technological universe, everything follows the laws of physics. Even though non-Euclidean spaces are discovered. The moment technology enters the said space, its function breaks.
Maybe this was one of the differences between the laws of arcane and the laws of physics.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's head in," his mother intervened after seeing her son's eager eyes.
Seeing more and more familiar expressions from her son, while not completely relieved, she began to feel better.
*cling clang*
The sound of wind chimes broke the serene silence of the clinic.
Behind the front desk is a lady who seems to be around 24, wearing a pink uniform. The moment she looked at the newcomers, she flashed a professional smile.
"Good morning Mrs. Rhemi, how are you today?" a bright and welcoming voice entered their ears as soon as they went in.
"I'm good, Shen. Is Dr. Sherman in?" Eliza answered.
"Yes, he's been expecting you." Shen, the lady at the front desk with the name tag that says 'Shenna Murray,' explained. "You must be Marko!" she exclaimed as she pointed at Trex.
"Me?" as Trex pointed at himself, "Must I be Marko?" He questioned himself in his head.
Finding her son's dull expression, Eliza immediately interjected, "Yes, this is Mar, he lost his memories."
Understanding the awkward circumstance, Shen immediately pointed towards the door to her left. "Doctor Sherman is in there, please go on."
Eliza nodded. "Come on," she beckoned Trex, who's still staring dully after hearing the name of the body he's been occupying.
Trex could only nod and follow.
The moment Eliza and Trex entered the door, Shen immediately turned to Illana as fast as Illana did.
"What exactly happened?" Shen asked.
"It's like this…"
——
Stepping inside the double door, Trex's senses suddenly became overwhelmed.
In a seemingly endless hall where doors are found every two meters. Signs that say ER1, SR4, MR3, and others were plastered in these doors. Trex was sure the building wasn't bigger than 10m x 10m. But the number of doors in this long-ass hall already exceeded every single law of physics.
Even his sense of direction shifted.
Smart Minds always had a compass feature that is able to lock on a planet's north and south pole—no matter where in the universe, anyone with a smart mind will never be lost.
Today was the exception.
Entering the space immediately broke the digital compass that OS had to turn it off due to it consuming CPU resources exponentially more of what it usually needs.
["We've entered a weird space. According to my logs, this is similar to entering the worm hole."] OS voluntarily communicated with Trex due to its uncertainty.
"Now that you've mentioned it, you're right. Except we're in control of where to go," Trex replied in his mind. "That reminds me, this is the first time technology entered this kind of space without failing."
[But that would temporarily cease the metal world's analysis.]
"We can always analyze the metal world anytime, we can only visit this place once in a long while."
["Roger."]
After changing the main project for analysis, Trex immediately felt some changes in his body.
["Trex, I just figured out what kind of energy the current smart mind uses."]
"What? Is it my mana?"
["Very much so, yes. Still, from what I'm understanding is that, all things that involves the real world would take up mana from your real world body, while all things that involves the metal world would otherwise take mana from your metal world body."]
"Do we have an understanding on how my body differs in each world?"
["All efforts have been put on analyzi…"]
"So, no?"
["None at all."]
"OS, was this how people felt when conversing with us back in our world?"
["Well, it is in our code that unless we're talking to Jonathan, our main goal is to help, the other is to annoy."]
"Then why am I not on the exception list?"
["Are you Jonathan yet?']
Trex didn't know how to reply.
Why did that seem…
"It's normal, dear," Eliza suddenly spoke up.
Trex glanced towards Eliza with a confused gaze.
"I saw your expression changing every once in a while. Unless you let go, that pressure would continue pestering you." Eliza explained.
"Oh, it's just that. What would it take for me to use this for my room?"
Suddenly, Eliza sweetly laughed.
"Wha… did I say something wrong?" Trex asked a little nervously.
"No, it's just that. You asked the same thing before you lost your memories."
"Oh, I just wanted to…"
"Make your room bigger to make the game bigger." Eliza synced with Trex.
Trex had his mouth open, astonished to hear the exact words that came out from his mother's lips.
Eliza smiled. Happiness poured over her heart. Some things have changed, and her son lost her memories. But in his core, it was still Marko. This pleased her deeply.
Trex, on the other hand, was even more surprised. His outburst for wanting for his game room to expand was not him. It wasn't Marko either. Instead, it was Jonathan.
Now that he thought about it. Genius in programming and genius in spell casting. Highly addicted to games since youth and the hard pride in proving themselves. If even his mother believes him to be Marko, wouldn't that mean Marko and Jonathan is very similar?
Was this a coincidence?
"Well, I mean, the world within the games. They look beautiful and fun." Trex explained himself.
Eliza smiled even more brightly. "I'm glad," she murmured.
Trex heard the murmur, but for some reason, something held him back from asking why.
Jonathan's memory… why does it always act up whenever I'm with this woman?
"Eliza? Is that you? Go to the room marked RR13. Most rooms are occupied by now." A man's voice resounded throughout the hall.
Looking at his right, a door that says RR11. To his left is MR9. Going back to his right, the door forwards, says RR12.
"There," Trex pointed out spontaneously. This sort of search task really feels at home for him.
Eliza nodded.
*knock knock knock*
"Doctor Sherman? It's us, Eliza and Marko," Eliza spoke to the door.
"Come in." The same voice Trex heard in the hallway replied, this time through the door.
Eliza looked at Trex with a nod as she twisted the doorknob open.