A few hours later, the plane finally landed on the runway of Leila's hometown. Compared to the city where Edward lived, this place was almost rural. As Edward and Mrs. Snow left the plane, Edward soon noticed a black car with tinted windows waiting on the tarmac. Initially, Edward was surprised that a car would even be on the tarmac, but then he remembered how rich Mrs. Snow was. If she wanted to, she could've bought this airport with the change she lost in the couch cushions.
"Mrs. Snow," The driver smiled as Edward and Mrs. Snow approached the car.
"Harold, it's been a few months since I've seen you. How is Lisa?" Mrs. Snow replied.
"She's recovering well. The doctor says the cancer may go into remission sometime within the next month," The driver replied with an even bigger smile than before. He began to open the car door to allow them inside but soon froze halfway when his eyes turned to look at Edward, "You have a very peculiar set of eyes, young man. Mrs. Snow, I didn't know you had any friends who were into body modification."
"Body modification? Oh! Uh, Right! Yeah, I lost a bet," Edward smiled, momentarily startled when the driver noticed his new eyes. Not even Mrs. Snow noticed them while they were on the plane, but now she had grown curious after hearing the driver mention them. She turned around and looked at Edward. He expected her to gasp in surprise, but her eyes only twitched. Otherwise, her expression remained as still as a rock.
"Yes, that was a funny weekend," Mrs. Snow lied as she turned back to the driver, "Harold, can we go? I'd like to reach our destination before the sun comes up."
"Certainly, Mrs. Snow," Harold nodded. He swung the door wider, allowing enough room for Mrs. Snow and Edward to squeeze into the car. Once the car door was closed, Mrs. Snow immediately turned to the driver's side of the car and closed the window separating the driver from the passenger carriage. Once they were alone, Mrs. Snow turned back to Edward.
"Explain," She told him, "I thought your body already ascended, so how did you end up with another physical change on top of what you've already gone through? Do I have to worry about any new abilities?"
"Uh, not for a while," Edward answered.
'I don't have enough MP to morph, after all,' He silently said to himself. Mrs. Snow sighed before looking back at Edward.
"How did this happen?"
He spent the next few minutes explaining everything to Mrs. Snow. At first, she didn't appear to believe him. When he mentioned that his race had changed— thus making him inhuman now, she almost seemed amused. Only when he removed his glove and revealed his scaled hands did her expression turn serious.
"What abilities have you gained?"
"My magic is a little bit stronger now, but that's about it," Edward told her, "Later on, I'll be able to change my form into my Dragon form. That won't happen for a while, though. My MP is still too low. Sorry for not telling you sooner, it only happened today."
"This is big news, Edward," Mrs. Snow said, "The news of superpowers spreading through the population will be startling enough, but your existence means creatures from Avalon could survive here. I was hoping the lack of natural mana would somehow end up detrimental, but it appears I was wrong. We might have ordinary monsters like Goblins and Wargs cross over!"
"The Stranger needed you to make a portal for him. Without that, I doubt anything similar to what you're fearing will come to pass," Edward reassured her, "For now, just worry about what you're going to say to Leila. She's a big fan."
"Right. Thank you, Edward," Mrs. Snow sighed. Edward's ears perked up upon hearing his first name, but he didn't really mind. It felt oddly comfortable to hear Mrs. Snow speak so informally to him, "Your help has been invaluable to me."
When the car finally arrived at Leila's apartment, the door opened to reveal a small apartment building just across from a university.
'She's a university student?' Edward thought to himself, impressed. He only went to college for an associate's degree, as it was too expensive to remain for longer. Anybody who managed to find the dedication to remain deserved recognition, in his books.
Mrs. Snow didn't come here with her bodyguards this time. Perhaps that was because Edward was here. She knew he was capable of tearing a telephone pole from the ground with ease, even though he focused mainly on Wisdom. Anybody with ill intent would find themselves facing the modern-day equivalent of the boogeyman. Not to mention, Leila would soon be with them, as well. That woman would be more than willing to burn a mugger alive should one approach them.
The apartment building was four stories tall, a usual height for apartment buildings tailored mainly to university students. Leila lived with three roommates on the fourth floor, near the southern wing of the building.
"Let's go," Mrs. Snow smiled as she walked up to the front entrance. Soon, they encountered a woman waiting for them. She was leaning against the wall only a few feet away from the front doors. She wore the work uniform of the university itself, though was only old enough to be a student.
'I guess she's not a professor or anything,' He thought to himself.
"You're here for Leila? Too bad, the doors are locked!" The woman said. Her short hair and punk attitude told Edward that she must've been Sam, one of Leila's roommates, "She was on the phone with you only a few hours ago. She was jumping for joy after you two hung up, but I believe you came here with ill intentions. Who are you? How do you know my friend?"
"You're Sam?" Edward asked. Sam stammered and pushed away from the wall. She clenched her fists as she turned to Edward.
"How do-"
"Leila told me. I'm a recent friend of hers. My name is Edward Colt. This is Anne Snow," Edward told her. He wanted to be as polite as possible, but he truly believed it was inconvenient for him to be interrogated like this, "May we speak to her? She's expecting us."
"Anne Snow? As in-"
"The CEO of Desert Industries, yes," Mrs. Snow smiled, "Unfortunately, I have come here to talk to Leila, not you. Would you let us pass?"
"Desert Industries? You're the one that released Avalon, then. It's you! You turned Leila into a freak!" Sam rushed forward and held up her fist. However, before she could strike the woman before her, Edward stepped forward. His speed was high enough to allow him to teleport behind Sam before she could take her second step. Then, he put his hand on her collar and brought her high into the air.
"Sorry, but you've forced my hand. Until you calm down, you'll have to remain there," Edward sighed.