Elias' look at seeing Xie Lian so quickly back is almost ready for a fight, expecting confrontation or some other kind of quip. It doesn't come, and he isn't sure what to make of that.

So he just continues walking like he has done nothing wrong and everything is fine.

"They rather changed the world, my world at least. The new, dizzying heights buildings could be built once Otis introduced his new contraption to the world was remarkable." And the fears that came with the new, machine devices and heights and dark corners-- Delightful.