Alex and Clare proceeded to enter her ward. The room was large with faint medicinal smell in the air. There was a magic device with a screen to watch, like a T.V. A half open window allowed the fresh air to swirl in. The room looked like a deluxe room of a 5-star hotel but obviously arranged medically.

Clare walked in front of Alex.

“Your friend Alex has come to visit you R-1, how are you doing?” Rose who had no mask immediately took one kept on the table at the side and wore it quickly.

“I am alright master and he is no friend, only an acquaintance.” Rose said as she tried to get up. However, Clare gently pushed her back down.

Clare, “Keep resting girl, you are not on duty.”

“…Understood master.” Rose replied.

Alex, “Yo”

“What are you doing here? Go back to school.”

Alex, “Geez relax, I came all the way for a visit and this is how I get greeted? Tsk-tsk… youth these days…”

Rose almost popped a vein on her forehead watching Alex acting all smug and mocking her. She averted her eyes from him in response.

“I had told you guys to stay away, can’t you follow something so simple?” Rose remarked after a few seconds of silence. She was referring to when she had told Alex and Nina to head back to school before leading Oz away.

Alex, “Well I was all for going back but Nina insisted that we check and dragged me along with her.”

“They saved your life; you should be grateful.” Clare reminded Rose.

“Yes… master… tha—

“It’s alright, you helped us first, we helped you later, we’re even.” Alex shrugged as he gazed at Rose.

She had an ivy connected to both her arms. She was wearing the hospital gown which revealed her slender but strong arms. Rose immediately pulled her blanket up when she saw Alex observing her up and down.

“What are you looking at?!” Rose frowned as she glared at him.

 Contrary to her misconception Alex was only checking if she was severally injured or wounded. Clare understood that and hence remained silent.

“Your arms look strong.” He teased with a grin.

Rose, “You—

Before she could say something, Alex tossed a plastic case covered food to her which promptly she caught.

“Chill, I was only complimenting you. It’s a ‘tak… takemond’. The store owner advised people usually give this as a get well soon present. But the store owner looked shady so… be careful I suppose.” He paused a little observing her reaction before he continued.

“It’s from me and Nina. She couldn’t be here since she collapsed and fell asleep as soon as Luxario brought you guys to Merissa’s.” Rose kept looking at the packet in her hands not raising her head to meet his gaze.

“I’ll take my leave now, Merissa’s already mad at me for not contacting her before about this.” Feeling he might incur her wrath any moment Alex quickly added that and left.

“He is going to hear an earful from Merissa about this.” Clare sighed as walked towards the window to take a look outside.

Rose kept looking at the packet as her lips formed a smile under her mask. ‘It’s called a ‘takimun’ …dummy.’ Rose thought as the smile lingered on her face for quite some time.

Alex had a special pass granted to him by Augustus to travel between Emerald and back. He just had to present it at the world transporter station. Using that he had returned to earth, went to Merissa’s house and after getting a lecture which seemed like eternity, left with Nina to return back to school.

…

Emerald: Some abandoned location:

“Forgive me master for I have failed you. The stone is destroyed and Dobius is dead.” Bodi cried as he kneeled before a shadowy figure covered in black smoke having only a face with some recognizable features to it.

“You… give me one reason why I shouldn’t erase you!” the shadow asked in a raspy voice.

Bodi, “Have mercy master, mercy! That earthling Alex, there are rumors that he might be capable of wielding legendary treasures. He is also responsible for destroying the stone.”

“Fool!” the shadow bellowed in anger.

“You think legendary treasures are that easily destroyable?! And that too by a mere human with no magic. It must be Xerxes; he must have destroyed it with the help of the boy. With that our chance to obtain Xerxes power has turned to dust.”

Bodi cowered in fear as a strong pressure descended upon him. “I am giving you one last chance to let you keep your life. Make me the ‘Liquid of Revival’. Take help from the 6 curses for all I care.”

“Yes master, I’ll make it, I’ll bring you back for sure… rest assured.” The shadow then dispersed and, in its place, remained a black gem even darker than the darkest night. Bodi fearfully grabbed it and put it away in a pouch.

…

Two weeks passed by as Alex found his school life returning back to normal. Today just like any other day Alex and Grey were heading to the field for the soccer practice.

Grey, “Hey want to come with me to Merissa’s today? I want to borrow another book from her.”

Alex, “Yeah sure, I have a leave today from martial arts club anyway.”

“Coach has started taking the practice up a notch. The inter school is only a week away. I thought I would totally die yesterday.” Grey said as he began to talk about casual stuff.

Since it has been a while since Alex had started training, his body had reached a state that the football practice wasn’t much physically taxing for him now, he barely gets tired now. Not to mention his physical body have already progressed far beyond that of normal body in the human realm. He has to take caution to keep his strength under control. The credit of course went to Luxario and Miracle’s rigorous training.

But just to keep appearances he had to go along with Grey. Alex, “Yeah, I thought I would—

“You would?” Grey asked seeing Alex pause mid-sentence.

“…never see him again.” Alex pointed at a boy with black hair who was warming up on the field in their black and white team jersey.

“Woah! He’s back?” Grey was surprised seeing the person he least expected now.

“Oh, my star and lazy lads are here. Look who’s back, Winchester boy is here.” Robin called out noticing Alex and Grey arrive.