Sorien looked at Garion for a long mont, then let out a quiet sigh.
"...I owe you an apology," he said.
Garion tilted his head slightly. "For what?"
"For earlier," Sorien replied. "I was... too cautious."
Garion waved it off. "Don’t worry about it."
He glanced toward where Sindral was still sitting, breathing much more steadily now.
"I understand," Garion continued.
"Anyone would panic if a clan mber suddenly looked like they’d been poisoned right in front of them."
Sorien gave a small, embarrassed smile. "Exactly."
He looked back at Sindral again, then shook his head in disbelief.
"But still," Sorien said, "the speed of his recovery is... abnormal."
He crossed his arms. "Putting aside the taste, the potion your disciple made can be considered top quality."
rsha, who had been hovering nearby, stiffened for a mont.
Then her face lit up.
"Really?" she asked.
Sorien nodded. "Yes. Without exaggeration."
rsha smiled proudly, her earlier nerves completely gone.
"Thank you," she said.
Garion laughed quietly. "Of course it is."
He glanced at rsha. "She’d be offended if it wasn’t."
Sorien cleared his throat. "Alright. Enough about potions."
His expression turned more serious.
"Sir Garion," he said, "can we speak privately?"
Garion nodded imdiately. "Sure."
"There are so things," Sorien continued, "that you need to know now that God Gym has officially beco a Grand Faction."
Garion’s smile faded into a focused look. "I understand."
He gestured with his hand. "Please, follow ."
Garion led Sorien away from the arena and through the quieter section of the God Gym.
They stopped at a simple, clean room.
Garion opened the door and stepped inside first.
"Sit," he said.
They each took a seat on opposite sofas, facing one another.
Sorien rested his elbows lightly on his knees, fingers interlocked.
"Alright then, Sir Garion," Sorien said slowly.
"Before we start," he continued, "do you know about otherworlders?"
Garion stiffened.
Just a little.
It was subtle, but Sorien noticed.
Garion frowned. "Why are you asking that?"
Sorien smiled, not pressing yet. "So you do know about them."
Garion exhaled and crossed his arms. "That doesn’t answer my question."
Sorien chuckled quietly. "Fair."
He straightened and looked around the room.
The clean walls, the simple furniture, the strange feeling of order that didn’t match any known sect style.
"In fact," Sorien said, "it seems you are one."
Garion’s brows furrowed. "How do you know?"
Sorien raised a hand and gestured lightly around them.
"This place," he said. "These buildings. This cultivation path."
He looked back at Garion.
"How could a man from a small village build all of this in a little over a year?" Sorien asked calmly.
"A completely new system. A new way of thinking."
He shook his head slightly. "That kind of leap doesn’t co from this world alone."
Garion was silent for a mont.
Then he nodded.
"I see," he said. "Yeah... from your perspective, what I’m doing probably looks illogical."
Sorien nodded in return. "Exactly."
"But," Sorien added quickly, "you don’t need to worry."
Garion looked up. "About what?"
"There are other otherworlders," Sorien said. "You’re not the first."
Garion blinked. "I figured."
"In fact," Sorien continued, his tone casual, "the current patriarch of the Solmira Clan is an otherworlder."
Garion froze.
"...What the hell?" he said without thinking. "Your clan leader?"
Sorien nodded. "Yes."
Garion leaned back slightly, rubbing his temple. "That’s... not what I expected."
Sorien smiled. "Most people don’t."
"So don’t be too concerned about your identity," Sorien said. "You’re not alone."
He paused, then added honestly, "We were actually relieved when we confird there were still otherworlders appearing."
Garion glanced at him. "Relieved?"
"Yes," Sorien said. "They tend to bring change. And change makes this world stronger."
He reached into his sleeve and took out a small stone.
"Still," Sorien said, placing it on the table, "there’s sothing we always check."
"Touch this."
Garion looked at the stone, then back at Sorien. "What is it?"
"A detector," Sorien replied. "For demonic corruption and malicious intent."
Garion snorted. "You really don’t trust people, do you?"
Sorien shrugged. "Not blindly."
Garion reached out and touched the stone.
Nothing happened.
Sorien released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
"Good," he said quietly. "That confirms it."
Garion pulled his hand back. "Of course I’m not so demonic cultivator."
He frowned. "Don’t lump together with those people."
"I won’t," Sorien said. "As long as you don’t give a reason."
Garion smirked. "I’m good as long as no one provokes ."
Sorien nodded. "That’s enough for ."
He grew serious again.
"Just know this," Sorien said. "Not all otherworlders are good."
Garion’s expression hardened slightly.
"So of the worst demonic factions," Sorien continued, "were led by evil otherworlders."
Garion nodded slowly. "Figures. Even among otherworlders... there are monsters."
Sorien t his gaze. "Exactly."
Garion leaned back against the sofa and let out a slow breath.
"Alright," he said. "Now that you know I’m an otherworlder..."
He lifted his eyes to Sorien again.
"What else do you want to tell ?" Garion asked. "Or what do you want to know?"
Sorien’s expression softened, and he smiled slightly.
"Nothing dangerous," he replied. "Just the basics."
He folded his hands together.
"Now that God Gym has officially beco a Grand Faction," Sorien continued, "there are things you must know."
Garion nodded. "Go on."
"First," Sorien said, "your territory."
He gestured outward, as if pointing beyond the walls.
"Demon Gate Island and the surrounding region are now officially under God Gym’s authority."
Garion’s eyes narrowed slightly. "aning?"
"aning no sect, clan, or even another Grand Faction may interfere there without your permission," Sorien explained. "Unless the world itself is at risk."
Garion whistled softly. "That’s serious."
"It is," Sorien agreed. "And it cos with responsibility."
He continued, "Second, you need to understand the position of Grand Factions."
Sorien looked at Garion directly.
"There aren’t many of them," he said. "They are pillars. When Grand Factions move, the entire world reacts."
Garion crossed his arms. "So no acting reckless."
"Exactly," Sorien replied. "Even a rumor about you can cause waves."
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