18 Unexpected Development

With Renissa opening up the conversation in a light-hearted tone, the women were the first ones to move to greet and congratulate her.

"It's true! You look totally different, Renissa. This hair. Is it natural?" One of the leading girls leading the pack pointed at Renissa's icy-blue hair and was seemingly tempted to reach it.

"It is natural and… it is somewhat dangerous if you carelessly touch it. I apologize." Renissa stopped her from touching it. Following that, she brushed her own hair and a cold breeze could visibly be seen being emitted by it before crystal-like beads of ice fell down to the ground.

And upon seeing that, everyone was clearly stupefied as they stepped back, in fear that they would be frozen.

Aldrin who was watching somewhere at the back was also somewhat amazed at what he witnessed.

In his memory, Renissa was a black-haired woman. For her hair to turn into a natural icy-blue while also possessing that kind of effect, Aldrin guessed that it was because of her Awakening as well as the Dimensional Energy inhabiting her body.

For her to harness it like that, it made Aldrin excited at the prospect of his impending Awakening.

"That's amazing, Renissa! Come come. Let her sit first, guys!"

To break the 'ice' that seemingly formed from that amazing display of what sets an Energy Refiner apart, Bert, as the host of the party, shouted with his microphone again to let the girls make way for the star of the day.

With his words, the women, who were just crowding around and got scared from what Renissa's hair could do, parted to let her pass.

Renissa thanked Bert for his quick wits before moving from her position.

She was aware that the enthusiasm everyone showed earlier was replaced with a small fear.

She expected that. She was an ordinary civilian just a month ago. But because of a near-death incident, she found herself in a new world, or rather, she began seeing the world in a new light.

After taking a seat, Renissa put down the metallic briefcase to her side.

At this point, even the guys were thinking twice about how to converse with her.

She's a lot different from how they remembered her. Even Oliver, who was fully convinced that Renissa would still be the same normal citizen, was somewhat timid and couldn't make a move after seeing that spectacle. It reminded him of his brother who couldn't care less about him anymore after Awakening as an Energy Refiner.

Amidst the silence, Bert who could easily read the air clapped his hands and his waitresses brought in drinks and meals inside.

With food and drinks, it somehow abated the awkward atmosphere that suddenly built up.

And at this point, Aldrin, whose purpose of coming here was to interact with a real Energy Refiner, stood up and walked towards Renissa's table.

"Hi… I have no idea if you still remember me. Either way, I want to congratulate you. You surprised all of us with the news. Moreover, for you to spare us the time by coming here despite your now-busy schedule, you have our thanks." Aldrin blurted all of that out which made the attention of everyone to be focused on him.

However, ignoring all of that, he sat down in front of the Energy Refiner and poured her a glass of wine. "Here, let me serve you."

"I do remember you. But you're not like this before. Did something happen?" Renissa received the glass and with one of her eyebrows raised, she inquired in the same line of thought as Alisa earlier.

Thinking about it, Aldrin agreed with her. If this was before his encounter with the IDLE Database, he would be satisfied just watching at the side. Even though he wouldn't be bothered by the others calling him out or making fun of him because of what he accomplished in life, he wouldn't be this bold to approach the star of the day when everyone else was still deliberating.

Aldrin poured a glass for him first and after taking a sip, he answered, "Something like that. Anyway, I think everyone's curious not of me but you… Everyone can agree with me that you changed completely, is it because of the Awakening?"

"Oh! That's a great question, Aldrin! Yes, Renissa, tell us. We're truly curious. How does it feel to awaken and become an Energy Refiner?" Bert backed up Aldrin with his microphone still in his hand.

At this point, everyone's eyes were now waiting for an answer while they also began drinking at their own table.

Although there were others thinking of also standing up and joining the two at their table, they reeled in that thought given that there's already someone asking questions for them.

Renissa smiled meaningfully and took a sip as well before answering, "Hmm? Did I change? Maybe… It's like a new door was opened for me. I had undergone training for a month ever since that day… And tomorrow, I will be going to a Primary City to attend a Refiner's Academy."

Refiner's Academy… That's something a Secondary City like Lonewind City didn't have. Every newly Awakened Energy Refiner was required to attend it to further understand what it means to be an Energy Refiner.

According to what Aldrin read in the information accessible through the dimnet, most of the secrets of the world or the universe in its entirety were only accessible for the Energy Refiners.

"I see. That's why you agreed for today." Aldrin nodded. No. Everyone nodded their heads and it gave the justification for this abrupt gathering.

Everyone was naturally curious about an Energy Refiner, given that even those busy with work or studies arrived on time.

"I don't mean to be rude but your hair… and what happened earlier, is that normal?" Aldrin continued with his question. He wanted to be prepared in his own Awakening. In his mind, direct interaction with an Energy Refiner was better than any information he could read on the dimnet.

"I'm glad you asked. No. This isn't normal. This is the result of how I am still a novice at refining Dimensional Energy." Renissa smilingly answered.

And when everyone heard that, they all heaved a sigh of relief while nodding continuously towards Renissa as well as Aldrin who became something like an interviewer for them.

However, Renissa had other thoughts upon seeing how Aldrin remained calm without any change in his expression.

'This guy… Is he possibly an Energy Refiner fanatic? No. A fanatic will be too excited, unlike this guy. It's normal to be curious but he's calmly sitting here in front of me without being uncomfortable by my gaze.' Renissa suspected while staring at Aldrin's calm composure. 'I accepted this invitation to see my former classmates' reaction… but out of everyone, I am more baffled by this guy… Why do I feel some kind of familiarity from him?'

As thoughts continued to run around Renissa's head, she suddenly thought of something. She closed her eyes for a few seconds before focusing her gaze on Aldrin.

On the other hand, Aldrin felt it. He felt the feeling of someone probing his whole person as if clothes and any other obstacle were insignificant as that probe focused entirely on his inner self.

After a while, with her eyes slightly widening, Renissa showed a surprised expression, "You… what are--"

However, before Renissa could finish her question and blurt out what she discovered, the hairs on her skin stood up as a chill ran through her spine. It was a chill that was enough to make her shiver despite her icy disposition.

And likewise, Aldrin felt an impending danger looming towards them.

"Everyone! Duck!"

The Energy Refiner hurriedly stood up from her seat and picked up the metallic suitcase beside her as she shouted that.

Based on the urgency of her voice, some followed her like Bert and Alisa. While others were stupefied at this sudden development.

"I said duck! That is if you don't want to die!" Renissa shouted once more and this time, with an even higher sense of urgency.

BOOM!

As soon as her voice died down, the roof of the three-story restaurant suddenly exploded. Some of those who failed to duck was about to be showered by the debris of rocks and metals falling down from above.

"W-what?!"

"What's happening?!"

Surprised shouts instantly rang out but it was all drowned when another explosion ensued.

BOOM!

"What else? Hurry and leave this place. A rift! A Dimensional Rift opened near us!" Renissa gravely answered as her ice-blue hair fluttered behind her, creating a thin film of ice shield that tried to protect the whole room from the falling debris.

Following that, Aldrin, who followed her advice to duck, lifted his head after understanding the situation to catch a glimpse of Renissa in her role as an Energy Refiner.

Due to that, he saw how the metallic briefcase in Renissa's hand opened.

It then produced a white katana as well as armor parts that flew towards the woman, attaching themselves to her body.

A few moments later, a quadrupedal winged beast appeared from the opened roof.

GROWL!