After leaving the infirmary, Aries followed Victor outside.

“Sorry, Cliff is a bit hard to approach for newcomers.”

Victor smiled awkwardly at her. Aries smiled slightly.

“It’s fine, I understand. How long have you known him?”

“I just arrived here yesterday. At first, he didn’t talk much to me either, but since we share the same Ability System, he opened up a little.”

Aries nodded.

It wasn’t strange for Cliff to act that way. Some Ability Systems clashed heavily with each other, so it was common for people of different Ability Systems to keep their distance or even fight.

Like her Ability System and Victor’s.

“You don’t seem to keep your distance or be cautious of me, huh?”

“I can’t do that to the person who saved my life.”

Aries chuckled softly.

“You’re exaggerating.”

“No, I’m being serious.”

“You said you’d show me around the base, right? Come on then.”

Victor was surprised when Aries suddenly changed the subject. He only smiled and nodded slightly.

...

After a while, they had toured all the areas of the base. Now, Victor and Aries were back at the lobby on the first floor of the main building.

Aries recalled:

When entering from the main gate, right opposite the entrance was the main building, which was also the central workplace.

Turning right and walking a bit further, there was another gate with a sign reading [Dormitory 1], where staff working in the base rested.

Behind the main building was a gate marked [Training Area], where new recruits were trained and where staff regularly practiced, like a gym.

The last building, located to the left of the main building, was another dormitory similar to the one on the right.

In short, the place was huge.

“How do you know so much about this?”

“Cliff told me when he showed me around.”

Aries nodded. It seemed this Cliff wasn’t entirely against communication, just a bit guarded.

As they neared the main lobby, Aries was surprised to see a large crowd pouring inside. They were so noisy and loud it made her ears ache.

“So many people...”

Aries muttered. Suddenly, Victor grabbed her arm and pulled her along. Aries was startled but didn’t say anything.

They pushed through the crowd and luckily managed to find a small open space, right in front of the infirmary door.

“Too crowded, I almost suffocated...”

Victor raised his voice a little so Aries could hear him. Aries nodded slightly, glancing at the crowd huddled around the reception desk.

At that moment, the infirmary door opened.

“Cliff.”

Victor smiled cheerfully. Cliff nodded slightly, then handed each of them a sheet of paper.

“I asked for approval from the higher-ups in advance, so you two got processed first.”

“Thank goodness, thank you.”

Victor smiled, and Aries also nodded in thanks. Cliff pointed toward the nearby stairs.

“Take the stairs. The elevators are packed.”

“Thanks.”

Victor quickly headed for the stairs. Aries nodded once more in gratitude and followed after him.

“Aries.”

Aries stopped and turned back to Cliff. He looked at her, his golden eyes gleaming faintly. Aries slightly confusion. 

“Is something wrong?”

“...Nothing, just be careful.”

“Oh, alright.”

Aries felt a bit puzzled but didn’t ask further. She quickly walked toward Victor, who was waiting for her at the stairway entrance.

Cliff watched them go inside, frowning slightly...

He was suspicious of Aries...