"Links between worlds? So you guys all came from the Tower?"

That explains why everyone is all wireframe-y except for Anise. Asch gets a glare in return with his response. Which he probably prefers over the hug Luke was going to inflict on him once he recognized him.

"I've never had anyone follow me back to Auldrant, so I was just checking! And hey Ion...but I'm not alright, everything is dead and my clothes are all filled with sand."

So he's actually glad to see everyone, but that will not stop him from bitching about sand.