The portal opened before their eyes. A hissing sound made Erend, Billy, and Lt. Boartusk felt a little surprised. It was unusual for such a hissing sound to appear when the Portal was open.
But they didn't see Aurdis worried. He didn't even say anything and continued to stretch her arms towards the Portal.
The Portal then opened completely and revealed what was on the other side. A dark study room appeared. But no one seemed to be working behind the counter.
Aurdis looked behind her. "Can we get in already?"
"Can you tell if there's someone there waiting for us?" Lt. Boartusk asked.
"There's no one there," Aurdis replied. "At least for now."
"All right. Then, let's go in." Lt. Boartusk gave the order. "Erend takes the point."
Erend nodded and walked to the front towards the Portal. In his hand was an Elf dagger just like what Billy and Lt. Boartusk have.
Erend poked his head into the Portal and looked around. This room is quiet and dark. There is no one to be seen here.
"Clear," Erend said. After that, he entered the Portal.
The others followed after. Once they had crossed into the study, Aurdis immediately closed the Portal.
"Where is she?" Billy whispered.
No one answered his question because no one knew the answer. A moment later they heard footsteps.
"Hide!" Lt. Boartusk said in a hard whisper.
"I'll hide us," Aurdis said. Then she waved her hand toward all of them. After that Erend, Billy, and Lt. Boartusk are shrouded in a veil that makes their bodies invisible to the human eye.
The door opened. A woman with glasses with slightly disheveled hair came inside with a cup that was puffing with smoke.
The woman turned on the light and sat down at her desk. She immediately opened a thick book that had been on the table from the start.
Billy gave a glance towards Lt. Boartusk, Erend, and Aurdis. His glance seemed to say: 'Is it time for us to show up?'
Then Lt. Boartusk tapped Aurdis on the shoulder to signal her.
Aurdis smiled. "You don't need to be afraid. Not only she can't see us but she can't hear us too."
Billy groaned while looking at Aurdis with an annoyed tone. "Why didn't you say so from the start!"
Hearing his words Aurdis just laughed a little. "Sorry."
"Is it time for us to show up now?" Aurdis asked.
"Wait!" Lt. Boartusk said. Then he looked at Erend then tilted his head at the woman.
Erend who understood what Lt. Boartusk's signal meant nodded his head.
Erend immediately walked behind the woman. He didn't even bother to be careful. This magic veil can even eliminate their voices when they talk, let alone just the sound of footsteps.
When Erend was behind the woman, Lt. Bortusk told Aurdis to open her Magic veil.
Aurdis nodded then waved her hand again.
After that, the veil disappeared and they appeared in front of the woman. The woman immediately widened her eyes and looked like she was about to jump up and stand up. But Erend's hand immediately covered her mouth from behind.
"Sshhh..." Erend said. "We just want to talk. Don't worry. We won't hurt you."
Elis felt as if her heart was going to jump from inside her chest as soon as she saw those people appear out of nothing.
But the words of whoever was covering her mouth calmed her down a bit. At least they wouldn't hurt her for now.
"Can you promise not to scream?" Erend asked.
Elis nodded her head slowly.
"Alright. I'll let go of my hand. Don't scream."
Erend removed his hand from Elis' mouth. Elis took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.
Elis tried to take a good look at them. They were all dressed in plain white. It doesn't look like a normal outfit.
Then she saw the figure of a girl who was among them. She has pointed. Besides that, Elis seemed to have seen her face yesterday.
"You..." Elis gasped. That girl was the one she saw yesterday when she open the Portal
"Yes. You opened the Portal and it just so happened that we were both there," Erend said.
Elis turned and saw that the man was indeed the man she saw yesterday. That means... They are from the fantasy world!
But Elis also knew who the three men's true identities were. The three of them are people who are made scapegoats by LTC. Ibis and LTC. coil.
"What do you want?" Elis asked.
"You already know who we are, right?" Lt. Boartusk asked as he drew closer to Elis.
Billy walked to the door to keep watch. He placed his ear close to the door.
Elis answered with a nod.
"You already know everything that happened," Lt. Boartusk said. "Do you accept all that? We were framed and made enemies of the state to fulfill the goals of those corrupt military officers."
Elis bit her lip. "I had no choice. That's how things work here."
"Why don't you have a choice?" Lt. Boartusk asked.
"Only they will pay for my research," Elis replied.
"What research are you doing?"
"Research on fantasy worlds." Elis looked at Lt. Boartusk with eyes that gleam with determination. "Everyone thought I was crazy when I said that. But the two they accepted and asked me to cooperate."
Elis' answer did sound insane if she said it under normal circumstances. But now everything is different.
"When did you start this research?" Lt. Boartusk asked.
"About five years ago."
She only started work after a human stole the crystal key to the Fountain of Eternity.
LTC. Ibis and LTC. Coil knew that and as soon as they realized the woman's existence and capabilities they immediately asked her to cooperate.
"Are you interested in fantasy worlds?" Lt. Boartusk asked.
"Of course." Elis' eyes glanced at Aurdis and then back to Lt. Boartusk. "Why?"
"We can give you the fantasy world experience you want. You see our Elf friends?" Lt. Boartusk pointed at Aurdis. "She is an Elf princess."
~~~