“Did you leave the school grounds today?” Rose asked as she folded her hands. “Huh wh-what are you…” Grey was about to outright lie about it but he felt that if he lied it wouldn’t be good for him, so after a slight pause the he told the truth. “Yes…” Grey said uneasily.

Rose knew that the domain radar wouldn’t lie but she just needed to confirm it herself just in case. “Thanks for the truth. Don’t worry your secret’s safe with me.” Rose said as she hurriedly left Grey. ‘Whew I thought I was a dead man.’ Grey thought as he wiped his forehead.

Rose than ran to the library’s third floor where the anomaly had appeared today. According to her this anomaly was not as simple as it looked. When she got at the exact location, she chanted a few words and held her hands in a circle manner which released a white glow spreading in the entire room.

‘Come on, detect something… yes!’ Rose had just now chanted a detection spell and found a small spatial distortion in the air. It meant that someone had teleported from here and they had used a very advance device to go undetected under the domain.

…

Somewhere in the kingdom of Green Deralus:

“What is the kid thinking about? If he uses it, now, there is less than 20 percent chance that he will definitely fail to severe the bond.” A hooded figure sitting across from Merissa said to her. The two of them were currently in a small house.

“Yeah, I know but I think, if I don’t give it to him now, it’ll be all the harder for him to escape death.” Merissa said as she looked at the test tube with a black liquid in it. She than began to leave when the hooded figure asked her a question.

“Do you trust the kid?” After a little pause Merissa replied without looking back “somehow… I do.” A slight smile appeared on the hooded figure’s face.

“Bring him back safely then.” The hooded figure said as she left.

…

“The city’s public grave? But why will he go there?” The goblin who had contracted the Black Cloud said.

“Because as per master that’s the only place where he might have a chance of destroying it.” Dobius, the person who had stolen the stone in the first place said.

“And why have you brought this stinky human brat with you?” the goblin asked as he pointed towards an unconscious Nina who was tied up.

“Because as per your report on the Black Cloud’s failure, she was indeed a good bargaining chip. Master says to be wary of that kid… so she’s, our guarantee.” A figure cladded almost hidden in a shadow said as he walked forward into the light of the room.

Dobius looked at him with a complex expression. The figure was none other than Dobius Bell Hammer who had tried to steal the soul stone and was capture by Damian Marley.

…

Some Few Hours before.

Damian Marley’s Head Quarters:

“Are you kidding me! How is this possible!? I want him caught right this instant. Deploy the whole force.”

“Sir we have checked the perimeter, he is not here.” Barren Convo the commander of Damian Marley’s first unit reported.

Barren, “Even the means of his escape is still unknown.”

“Whatever it is he used it’s not so simple. Come on Barren, gather the unit, I might have a good idea about where that thief is heading right now.” Marley said as he put on a dark black coat.

“Sir?” Barren was still confused as to where Damian wanted to go. “I have received news from an old friend from the Council, what was the boy’s name again… right Alex! We are going on a little human hunt.”

…

At Present.

“This is too much, I myself will head down there and take the stone from him, I’ll ma—

The goblin became irritated and began to chatter until he found himself being lifted up by his throat by Dobius. “You will do no such thing Bodi! Moreover no one disobeys master’s orders, you will bring the arranged soldiers to the grave or I’ll gut you myself, understood Bodi?”

“Ye…ss” Bodi said through a strangled throat. After that Dobius released him. “Besides I have a feeling that the council’s old man would make an appearance.”

“Wh…what!? That wo…would be troublesome.” Bodi said as he gasped for air.

“Let him come I’ll have some preparations to hold him off.” Dobius said as he revealed an evil smile.

“But that’s the Council’s top head we’re talking about, can we still win?”

“It doesn’t matter, even if the old man comes at us, we need to get that stone so that our master can soon walk this world again.” Dobius said as he turned around.

“Yes…” Bodi said in agreement but his face crumbled in resentment for Dobius.

…

Kingdom of Green Deralus:

The King’s Private Office.

“You want to go there yourself?”

“Yes, your majesty.” The Council head said.

“Oh, Augustus stop with the honorifics will you, we are alone now.” The King said.

“As you wish Zamian.” Augustus said.

Zamian, “That’s much more like it. So, why do you think he wants to destroy it?”

Augustus, “I think you might have the same idea about it as me.”

“It seems fate have brought upon the kid, quite a heavy burden and looks like he has found a way to fight it.” Zamian said as he looked at the sky from the glass window on the ceiling.

“That’s why I ask you to let me see things through, since it’s our fault that the stone was stolen in the first place.” Augustus said.

“You have gotten old but haven’t stop blaming yourself, have you?” Zamian asked as he looked at the well-aged old man who seemed to be physically strong in a long grey robe and a little disheveled white beard. Augustus only gave a small smile.

“Fine then, take Clare with you since we have the information through her. And I hope you know that I can’t stop the generals from taking action, this is already a clear threat to the kingdom and us taking no action raises doubt to the other rulers.”

Augustus, “yes I know, don’t worry, if I happen to cross paths with the generals, then I’ll go easy on them.”

“Also, if …you know… no never mind. You can take your leave.” Zamian said as he turned away from Augustus. Augustus started to leave but when he was at the door he said “don’t worry I’ll protect her if she faces any danger.” And with that he left.

‘You always know what to say don’t you …uncle.’ Zamian thought as a slight smile appeared on his face.

…

Everyone was getting into motion now and they all had one target, Alex. Though their reasons differ, Alex had now become the center of attention of many strong individuals in front of whom even with the help of the stone, he will be no more than an ant. Unknown to all this he continued to sleep and lessen his fatigue as only a little over an hour remained before everyone arrived there.