Gracie leads us into the center of the city. It is a colossal building, similar to the white house. This building has some historical ornament that reminds me of medieval times with runic language back on earth. I suppose Oloras and Earth share some cultures.
Except that's not a rune. It's hard to explain, but "cursive runic alphabet" will do.
"Welcome to Venita Palace. We can travel through Ravenus here," said Gracie impatiently,
"Venita Palace? What is that?"
"This building complex comprises the Mayor's Office and a Warp-gate station. We will go to Ravenus by teleportation."
I'm shocked by Gracie's statement.
"Teleportation? Is that even possible?"
"Yes. Some researchers from Astralle invented this with their aether technology."
I want to ask more about it, but this is not the right time to do it. Also, I need to digest all the information she gave me today. If she explains about teleportation now, I'm afraid that I'm going to pass out.
Teleportation is a complicated thing because the concept only exists as fiction on earth. Technology that resembles that has not been successfully developed, as far as I am concerned.
I used to read books, magazines, articles, anything I could read. It was fun, gaining knowledge by reading. But, before I went to Oloras, I lost the fun of reading. It feels… suffocating.
But since I came here, my curiosity has returned.
"Please tell me more about it after we arrive in Ravenus."
"That's what I intended to do. But, also, this is not the place for it. I don't want to expose you to being an Earthian." Gracie replied with her expressionless face.
"Huh? How do you know that I'm an Earthian? Earlier, you seemed to know my name too."
"Don't forget I can read your mind."
"Oh, right."
This conversation ended awkwardly. We fell into silence, not because we were lost for words, but there were too many things and too little time to converse.
We have to go to Ravenus soon—I can't wait to find out about my situation there.
We arrived at the Warp-gate station. It's an enormous hall with many small rooms; each room contains circular platforms and a square holographic panel. There are few people here, and of different races too.
Across the room, three people are standing there, only divided by the glass pane. They have a peculiar smile like a doll. It's so stiff to the point I doubt they are even human.
But, seeing all the peculiarities I met, the boundary between fantasy and reality seems to disappear.
Maybe they are a new race that I haven't met before. A robotic race, perhaps. A sci-fi technology and fantasy elements seem to be equal in Oloras.
Those people are in charge of registration. I wonder how I got through it. I don't have a citizen ID or anything.
Gracie probably will use her connection to get us through.
She is a high-ranking official, right?
"Gracie Vana of Ravenus. I have guests," she said briefly.
"Identity confirmed. Please step on the warp-gate number 023," one of them replied with a flat tone, like your typical announcer.
"Let's go," said Gracie to us.
We entered the platform, numbered 023, and she put her palm on the panel.
"Ravenna Academy, Atlas city, Ravenus Kingdom. Three people, with fifty percent folding speed."
"Do you want to use risk reduction?" A robotic voice comes from the panel.
"Yes"
"Please specify the percentage. Caution. High risk reduction will decrease your folding speed."
"Thirty percent is enough."
"Affirmative. Please enjoy your ride."
I have no clue what they are talking about. Fold speed? Risk reduction? Do I need Gracie to explain it to me?
The panel beeps, and a holographic circle comes from the platform. It goes up and down like a scanner. Then the room closes and darkens.
It reminds me of lift. When you enter the lift, there's one moment when you feel you are being pressed from the top or lifted. But in this warp-gate, it comes from the front and the back. So the space is compressed and then extended.
After a minute, the compression stopped. In an instant, I feel nauseous; I want to puke all the food or everything I have.
I think I understand what risk reduction means. It's preventing any motion sickness from happening.
Although I doubt this can be called a "motion".
I have a feeling that the warp-gate mechanism involves the space-time plane. But I'm not entirely sure of it, nor do I have the idea of how it works. This concept is still vague, like sailing a boat across the foggy sea with a compass in your hand. You know you sail in the right direction, but you don't see how it's possible.
The room lights up, and I see myself in an unfamiliar area. Instead of a room, we were standing in the middle of a large, circular hall.
"Welcome to Ravenna Academy," said Gracie to me, a little enthusiastically, albeit with her expressionless face.
"Woah…." I said with sparkling eyes. This building is impressive, and everything in Oloras has never been disappointing for me.
An adventure in another world. Maybe it is what I need.
The ceilings are high, like a cathedral in the renaissance era or a castle. The arching shape makes it more spacious; it could fit hundreds of people. Some historical ornaments that are like Venita Palace are seen too.
There are few people here too and of different races. They all wear blue-black-white uniforms, short skirts for women and long black pants for men, and then black boots. I think they all are students here.
She leads us out from the hall to the big, majestic corridor. This has open, large arching windows.
The students glare at us with curiosity; some of them give respect to Gracie.
We are like celebrities, walking on the red carpet with paparazzi looking at us.
It's uncomfortable.
Kaeri walks behind me. His face looks displeased.
"Kaeri." I called his name. "You don't have to follow me all this time, y'know."
He opens his mouth and closes it again.
After a few seconds, he replied, "I…. Rain asked me to protect you."
"But you feel uncomfortable, right? I can protect myself."
Kaeri's last response is weak, I cannot hear it clearly. Gracie glanced back slightly, perhaps annoyed by our little conversation.
"The road to my office is kinda long. Do you want me to answer some of your questions?" She talks to me, offers me a chance to know more about this world.
This corridor is quite long; it takes a lot of distance to the first turn. So we turn left into a smaller corridor.
This is what I've been waiting for. I need many answers to my endless questions.
But, what question should I ask first?
Should I ask about the technology or ask right away about my situation?
I don't fully trust her, so not giving her too much information is a good choice.
So I asked her this.
"What is going to happen to me?"
That's the expected question; it changes nothing in Gracie's expressionless face.
"We will go to my office and talk about it." She replied coldly.
"So, there's a chance that you'll do something bad to me, like killing, right?"
She fell silent a little bit and sighed.
"It depends on the outcome of our discussion. You are basically an outsider, and…. Possessed a potential threat to us."
She hesitates in the last line; she must've had a lot on her mind. But it's logical, being a threat and so on.
"I see. Okay, second question. Can you explain about the warp-gate?"
This question changes her expression. Gracie's strict composure has loosened up, and a faint smile is seen. Perhaps, because of her occupation, she likes to teach others.
"In this world, there are six elements. One of them, named Aether, controls all movement in time and space. The warp-gate is Aether technology."
We arrived in front of a big, futuristic gate, and then it scanned our bodies. Finally, the gate opens, and I see a new section of this building, with more futuristic architecture than before. After that, Gracie continued her explanation.
"It basically shortens the length of the space-time continuum by 'folding' it. There are many coordinates in space-time dimensions, and this 'folding' connects those coordinates. It's very complicated, and unfortunately, I can't tell you more about the details. Ravenus isn't the hub for Aether after all."
"Um...What?"
My confused face has triggered her laugh. It's small and faint, but it's a laugh, after all.
I cannot understand a single word in her explanation, but one thing is for sure: my guess is right; Warp-gate connected to the space-time continuum. Just it. Nothing more.
"So, what's Ravenus' element then?"
"It's Psionic. The element of Mind and Soul."
Ah. Suddenly, everything makes sense.
I'm in the right place to ask about Ava then.
….
The path to Gracie's office is long indeed. I might've been bored if Gracie didn't offer me a chance to dig up some delicious info.
Although the atmosphere is warming up when we talk, it quickly gets cold again. Kaeri was still looking uncomfortable, and Gracie put on her expressionless, strict face.
I bet Gracie's actual personality is not this strict. The faint smile and her laugh prove it.
I can't help but be curious about them. Curiosity is a feeling I haven't felt in a long time; once it's lost in the sea of eternity, living monotonously with no insight into the future.
I thought, what's the point of having it? I already have all I need. It changes here, though. I want to survive now.
We enter a lift at the end of the road. It's a circular shape and reminds me of Centralia's lift.
We arrived in a big office with windows facing the city.
It's so big, and I can see the whole Ravena Academy complex and Atlas city.
This office is a round-shaped room with a curvy table and a chair against the window. The table is sci-fi-like with holograms and a terminal on it. Probably, it functions as a working table for Gracie.
There are sofas, and a coffee table on the left side of the room; behind them are small cabinets with brewing equipment.
On the right side, there is a golden-silver harp, which looks shiny because of the light reflection.
I walk closer to the window and I see the details of Ravenna Academy and Atlas city.
Do you know about green cities which are often seen in advertisements? Usually, those so-called green cities are just a building complex that doesn't really match with the ads.
But Atlas city is a perfect embodiment of a green city.
White futuristic buildings, with many layers that have trees grown on them.
The lower the layers, the more trees are seen.
Also, many overpasses overlap with each other. I cannot see what type of vehicle this city uses, but I guess it will be like Ilval.
Ravenna Academy is located on the higher ground. This academy complex is massive. I can see four buildings, and if you count the buildings we're in, there will be five buildings in this academy complex. Consider the size of those, and this academy is the biggest I've ever seen.
Now I've done sightseeing. I turned back and saw Gracie and Kaeri already sitting on the sofa, waiting for me.
I quickly joined them.
Gracie is the first one to speak.
"Now, we've finally in a proper space to converse. Krisan, tell your story."
I didn't know where to start.
Actually, I've been wondering about this. Why didn't Gracie use her mind-reading ability to know my story? Are there any rules that prohibit it?
Before I could speak, she interrupted me.
"And…. Please tell me about Avaire Kyrstiva."