The journey took a lot of time, even with the pod's fast speed, but at least her words were true.
They finally arrived in a city, making Everlearn exhale in relief, and soon enough, they paused just outside a massive black gate.
As they waited for about a minute in silence, he was about to ask why the pause, and not honking, but that wasn't needed.
After just a minute, a beam of green light was cast out from the top of the gate, shining across the vehicle.
They were scanning rays, and once they finished scanning, a stifling,
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEEEP!
sounded, and the massive gate slid aside.
The pod flew in, the gate automatically shutting itself closed.
The inside of the place was… surreal.
The first breathtaking thing was the mansion, wide, calm, and elegant in its design.
Its white walls gleamed faintly under the venting light, with tall glass windows that cut the fading sky's image.
A fountain stood proudly at the center of the yard, spraying arcs of water that sparkled like bits of glass under the soft glow of the garden light.
On either side of the driveway were neatly trimmed lawns, with palm trees lining the path.
As the car turned to the side wing, the garage doors lifted automatically with a quiet mechanical hum.
Bright white light spilled out, revealing a spotless floor that shone like polished chrome.
What was more, there were about three more super-pods in this place, and from their sleek nature, they were definitely of higher quality than the one they rode in.
Now, he understood why she was never interested in the money from selling him out.
Why bother with money if one already had this much? This alone could easily cost millions of Nvdollars.
"We're here?"
The cold word came from the side as the pod doors opened.
Everlearn stepped out, the same as the lady, but instead of leaving the garage to head to the door, she walked deeper into the garage instead.
When she reached the end wall, which had smooth glass panels, her hands reached out and pressed lightly against the surface.
Immediately, he watched as blue light coalesced beneath her palms.
Three seconds of silence passed, followed by another stifling beep before the glass turned itself to the side, revealing a corridor.
"It's this way," she said, as Everlearn resumed walking into the corridor.
They walked for about thirty seconds before they came out at the end, where another glass panel was waiting.
Placing her hands upon it, she confirmed identification, and then the door opened as they fully stepped out of the corridor.
When they did, it was dark.
A bit too dark.
"Activate Elianor," she said into the darkness, and immediately, white light streamed in, making Everlearn wince at the sudden brightness.
"Welcome home, Master."
"Unknown life wave recognized."
"Preparing erasure protocol."
"Huh!?"
Everlearn raised an eyebrow, wondering if he had misheard, but his face changed when he watched a part of the wall quickly ripple.
Out came a gigantic tank-like weapon that locked straight onto Everlearn.
WHIIIIIIIIIR!
"Deactivate self-defense protocol and activate home recognition for unknown life wave," the woman said, and the light beam stopped shining on her.
It was because Everlearn had hidden behind her the second he heard the
WHIIIRRR.
At least she'd help soften the damage by getting blown up first before he was.
"Self-defense protocol deactivated. Home recognition made. Please, what is the name?"
It asked.
"Everlearn. Everlearn Snowfall."
"Everlearn?" The woman asked with a raised eyebrow.
"What?"
"I don't know. Sounds like a library," she muttered, as Everlearn rolled his eyes.
"Welcome home, Everlearn Snowfall," it said before continuing.
"Issuing privacy mode due to Everlearn. All regular preparations have been made. Is there anything special you wish to request, Master?"
"No."
"Then I'll be on standby."
'Privacy mode?'
"With you having been recognized, you don't have to worry about being blown apart," she said.
"You'll be staying here for your entire time in Mechron, so try to get familiar with things."
She stepped toward the elevator at the side.
"And speaking of getting familiar, find a way to get up to the roof of the mansion...without the elevator, of course," she said, as the elevator closed up, and in the next moment, she was gone.
It left Everlearn alone, and only now could he take in the sight of his surroundings.
The first thing was the silence.
It was quiet, but with the brightness, the silence felt intentional rather than unnerving.
He was inside the living room.
A marble floor, ocean-blue in colour, stretched across the space, smooth and spotless enough to reflect the lights above.
And speaking of the lights, Everlearn raised his gaze to find a massive chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling, its crystals glowing like soft fire as they scattered light across the room.
Behind him was furniture arranged neatly, two ocean-blue couches facing each other with a massive glass table between them.
At the far end, a flat-screen 110" TV played a quiet channel that showed a green chameleon on a leaf.
Below it sat a long, low cabinet with a few silver ornaments.
The walls were painted in a soft ocean-blue colour, and by now, he ought to have known, ocean blue must have been her favourite.
On his far left, there was a grand staircase that curved upward, guarded by silver rails reflecting the light from the chandelier.
Beneath it lay what appeared to be a piano room, complete with a piano and a seat.
If he wanted to get up the house, it started from the stairs, and with that, Everlearn moved up, further and further.
Getting to the roof seemed easy, especially since the mansion was only a story high, but it took Everlearn twenty minutes of non-stop walking to find his way up.
At times, he had to run around to save time; it felt as though the house was a maze that needed solving.
It annoyed him, but at the same time, he felt confident, knowing he now knew the place like the back of his hand.
That lessens the feeling of being in an unfamiliar home.
"You're finally here."
The words echoed as he arrived at the top, an open roof, his hair flying around due to the breeze.
"Good, let's get down to business."