…

Grey, “One more, I need one more!”

Merissa, “Enough already… give it here.” Merissa and Alex tried to snatch the bottle of orange juice away from Grey.

“No, never, let’s get drunk tonight, Merissa, I need to drown the pain of my chances going in the pit with the girls. All because of that damn Blake… you join too Alex, drink with me!”

Alex, ‘Huh… I shouldn’t have let him come here.’ Grey was acting like a drunk man with a bottle of orange juice in one hand and a newspaper in the other serving as a mic. Alex and Merissa knew that he was acting but as more time passed it seemed like he put himself in a placebo effect. When one lived with a species known as Grey for long enough, they often get used to this.

After half an hour of drunkard acts, Grey fell asleep.

“Haahh he is too much to handle!” Merissa complained as she slumped on the sofa. Grey was soundly asleep in Merissa’s bedroom now.

Merissa, “Is he so upset with Blake’s return?”

“Well… anyone who girls like, Grey, dislikes and vice versa. It’s a simple equation.” Alex replied as he slumped back in his chair.

Merissa, “Anyways it seems your plan worked though. Those two you captured, they have spread the word that the rumor about you was simply a rumor and nothing else. Though I don’t think the person who got away might think the same, they might reverse the flow again.”

Alex, “They won’t, that is unless they want a competition over me, they won’t. Anyways Luxario tipped the Council about Oz, so they are tracking him down. But tell me something, do I really have that ability just because I was able to form a bond with the soul stone.”

Merissa, “That depends. Not all legendary treasures require the same conditions to be wielded. It could be that you were the only possible person to wield the stone or there might be others. Similarly, many can wield a legendary treasure or none might be able to.”

Alex, “Does all of them bring a curse in exchange, like the soul stone.”

Merissa, “I don’t know, to be frank I’ve only heard that the person capable of wielding one commands strength, respect, wealth, you name it. Why do you think it has the name treasure attached to it in the first place?”

Alex only nodded in agreement before asking, “So do anybody you know possess one and is capable of using it? A legendary treasure.”

Merissa took a moment before replying, “There’s only one known who possess a legendary treasure and can use it. Zamian Light-Heart, king of the Kingdom: Green Deralus.”

Alex noticed a tinge of sadness when Merissa mentioned the name. He didn’t know why but whether it was due to Miracle, or not his perception had become keener. Though he didn’t want to put his nose where it didn’t belong and so abstained from prying further.

“But why the sudden curiosity about these treasures?” Merissa asked.

“Umm… well you’re aware of the condition Miracle put on me to lend me his power, right?”

Merissa nodded in reply. It was no secret to her that Alex had to find Miracle’s sister. “Well, I have been going through a lot of books in that ‘fiction’ section of the library. I happened upon a book talking about some legendary treasures. In that one a treasure named ‘All Seeker’ piqued my interest. Have you heard about it?”

“Let’s see… I have indeed heard about it. To my knowledge it can help you to find any person you are looking for no matter whether they are dead or alive. Though I don’t know the details that’s the summary of it.” Merissa explained recollecting her memories about it.

“Correct, it is as you say. Though the book doesn’t really explain much about it because the author herself hadn’t come into contact with it as she explained in the book. So, I was wondering if any of the Kingdoms had that treasure.”

“I see, it certainly seems like a surefire way to find her. Though after the last great war between the Kingdoms all the legendary treasures at the time had been equally divided between the four as sign of peace and to maintain balance. But still the aftermath of the war had left every kingdom in dire states so some of the legendary treasures went missing and some got stolen. The All Seeker was one of them.” Merissa explained.

“Yeah… even people in high positions like Augustus, Luxario and Damian also doesn’t know about it.” Alex remarked with a sigh. He had researched to the best of his capabilities with the help of Luxario but this was the best method he could come up with finding someone completely unknown. If he isn’t able to find the All Seeker then his last option would be to travel all around Emerald in search of Miracle’s sister. An option he didn’t wanted to resort to.

After a while he woke up Grey and returned back to school with him.

…

“Ah! I can’t believe him, that traitor Alex. Come on Tom, Nova we’ll get drunk ourselves.” Grey shouted as he banged the cup of orange juice on the table.

“No thanks.” The two said nonchalantly.

Grey, “What?!... and I thought you—

“Listen here Grey, if you don’t stop your rambling and let me finish my meal in peace, I’ll beat you up in front of everyone.” Maddy warned as she grabbed the fork in her in a reverse grip. It was one thing for Grey to be in a foul mood but Maddy had a reason to. It was because of Alex.

“No more drinking.” Grey immediately resumed eating his dinner quietly in a docile manner.

Blake, “Your friend doesn’t look much happy.”

Alex, “Ignore him, he’s suffering from rejection anxiety attacks.”

“I see. But I don’t understand what are you doing right now?” Blake asked on the verge of popping a vein.

Currently Alex and Blake were having dinner together!