“Will you both like to order something?” A waitress asked them.

Alex briefly looked at Merissa. “Go ahead order what you want. I’ll only have a coffee please.”

Seeing as she didn’t mind Alex picked up a menu and began ordering “I’ll have this walnut brownie, an Apricot Danish, this here and…”

Merissa’s face twitched wondering if he planned to order everything on the menu.

“…And that’ll be all.”

“Okay, thank you for your order, we’ll have it ready in a few minutes.” The waitress said beamingly as she then left them.

“So… shall we get down to the matter at hand?”

Alex nodded.

“Tell me then what exactly happened yesterday?”

“I thought you knew?”

“I do know what happened…” After a pause she leaned in and continued “You came into contact with something you shouldn’t have, didn’t you? Something you can’t believe exists and makes you question whether you are dreaming.”

Alex gulped thinking back to the strange looking creature. If his mind didn’t tell him otherwise, he would have assumed he was dreaming. Merissa noticed the slight change of expression on his face and decided to take this opportunity.

“You can decide not disclose anything if you don’t trust me but I wonder what’ll happen when it returns? Will you be able to survive another attack? Not to mention who would believe you even. I say your best chance is me considering I believe in whatever happened with you was real.”

‘She’s right, if I go back without taking her help, I don’t think I can depend on that weird item…’ After the incident yesterday Alex had been trying to transform that thing back into a sword or something but it didn’t work. He was completely clueless as to how that thing worked.

Deciding to trust her a little he began to narrate to her the whole incident. After hearing it all, Merissa seemed calm yet slightly disturbed. “This thing that you said saved you, can you show it to me?”

Alex nodded as he reached in his pocket to remove the thing and placed it on the table. Upon observing it closely she became perplexed as the next question followed “So, you just found it your bag one day and the next time it suddenly appeared in your hand out of nowhere?”

Alex nodded while eating his snacks which were served just now. “Okay now your turn, I told you everything I know, so tell me what is that thing?”

Merissa took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. When she opened them, she had a look of clarity as she began explaining. “That thing is called Nacla, it’s a summoned creature.”

“Summoned creature?”

“Yes, someone summoned it from its dimension using forbidden magic. They probably ha—

“Wait a second, back up a bit, magic? Are you joking with me right now, because if you are it is not a funny one.” Alex said interrupting her midway. Things like weird monkey looking, fangs bearing was already hard enough for him to believe and now magic? His mind might just spiral out of control.

“That is indeed correct, magic exists.”

Alex was sceptical. “Then can you use magic?”

Merissa shook her head. “I was able to before but not anymore.”

Alex narrowed his eyes wondering if she was telling lies.

“Magic exists, it just requires its fuel to come into existence, that is mana. It practically resides in almost everyone and everything except for a very few exceptions who are born without it.” Merissa explained.

“Then can I use magic?” Alex asked his eyes gleaming up.

“No, you are one of the few exceptions. I don’t sense a single drop of mana from you.”

“How awfully convenient.”

“Look kid, if you don’t believe me, I can’t help you. I know it sounds ridiculous but it is what it is. I believe about what happened with you so, do you think I would suddenly spring nonsense upon you?”

Alex found it difficult to believe that magic existed but he wanted to keep an open mind if he was to get out of this situation. He gestured her to continue. “The creature wouldn’t attack anyone randomly. Seeing as how it came after you… my guess is you have something that it’s summoner wants.”

Merissa then looked at the pentagon shaped wooden item on the table. “This thing?”

“Correct, that’s no ordinary item kid, something… no the less you know the better it is for you.” Merissa said with slightly solemn eyes.

“Then if I get rid of this, it’ll stop coming for me?”

“Probably… it’s not a guarantee but that’s the best chance you have. I would say hand it over to me but I don’t think you still trust me enough to do that. All I can say is that whatever you do, do not hand it over to the summoner.”

“It sounds to me like I have no other option but to hand it over to you.”

“Well, it’s up to you to decide, but I have a duty too, so if you don’t hand it over, I might have to take a more forceful approach.” Merissa said indifferently looking at him.

“Then aren’t you just the same as that summoner who wants to take it by force? How do I know that you’re not the bad guy?”

“That would be the case, but the only difference would I be that I won’t be trying to kill you in the process.”

Alex contemplated for a while as he drank his coffee. The mood suddenly became serious. It seemed now that his answer would have a great impact now. Having seemed to made a decision, he put down his cup and took a deep breath. “Then I am sorry, I can’t hand it over to you as well.”