4: Merissa

The town was nothing much, it was simple and ordinary. Despite that, there were still plenty of tourist around. This was because of the Anestian mountain range which was the major attraction of this Uphill city.

While walking down the streets Alex saw some police patrolling here and there. Alex, 'Looks like it's their daily routine, lucky I am wearing a jacket to conceal my shirt.’ He then further ventured inside the town exploring a few shops here and there.

'Huh... there is nothing really intresti—

While Alex was thinking of going back, he suddenly saw an amusement park or more like a place to have fun. He entered through the huge gate at the entrance which had different things made on its top to let the people know what they have to offer and displayed the name Anestian Wonders.

'Of course! since lately the Anestian mountain have attracted a lot of attention, these things were likely to be set up to rake in money but didn't imagine there would be such a place here.'

The gate above had depictions of a circus, magic, concert, rides and more. When Alex went in, he saw food stalls, game stalls and many retailers selling unique crafted things everywhere. The business was booming. It was a good change of scenery and take his mind off the things that happened yesterday night.

Alex didn't had money on his hand and so he wasn't able to get anything. He was still looking around when suddenly he felt someone's gaze on him. He turned to look and saw that a woman standing outside a shop staring at him.

When their eyes met, she suddenly went inside. 'Weird' Alex shrugged. It looked to him like she was staring at him with suspicion of murder. Alex then inspected the shop from outside. The shop had the name board "Mystical Stories" with the subtitle of a bookshop.

*Thud*

"Ouch!"

"Ow!"

Alex had turned around to leave when he suddenly bumped into someone and their heads crashed.

"Oi! can't you walk with your eyes open" the person yelled while rubbing his forehead. "What it was you who..." Alex was retorting to him when he realized the person, he bumped into was Grey.

"Grey!"

"Alex? what are you doing here?!" Grey asked in astonishment. Alex explained Grey how he had seen him and ended up here.

"Oh, I see but I never really thought that you would be so worried about me my lovveee" Grey teased in a womanly manner while holding Alex's arms.

"Scram! what kind of a person you are I only came into the town out of curiosity." Alex yelled while pushing Grey back. "Anyways why did you sneak out in the first place?" Alex asked.

"I just came to visit an old friend here." Grey replied while pointing towards the shop that lady went into. " She's really cool come on I'll even introduce you."

Alex was somehow trying to get out of this situation of 'meeting the person who was staring at him weirdly' but after finding it impossible to resist Grey's ' evil mental attacks ' he gave in.

They entered the empty shop. As they opened the door they were greeted by the aromatic smell of wood and books and the sound of door chimes. "Hey Merissa you home?" Grey asked aloud. There were some footsteps.

"Grey! long time no see you returned from your holidays I see and how many times..." Merissa was talking while coming into the main hall when she was suddenly interrupted by something. She was almost 6 feet tall woman probably in 30's with a beautiful face and elegant body wearing a blue floral dress and blonde hair falling against her back.

"...I told you not to sneak out of school." she quickly said after regaining her composure a little. "And I see you have even brought a friend with you." she said while eyeing Alex warily.

"Don't be childish I am a free man no school walls can stop me to meet you." Grey said while puffing his chest up in a childish manner. "Oh, and yeah this is my friend Alex, I just bumped into him on my way here, I didn't know he also sneaked out of school." Grey said while looking at Alex mischievously.

"Still, you should avoid it, if you get caught then you will get hammered or worse, expelled." Merissa lectured him. After that Merissa offered them both to take a seat while she gave them some snacks and juice. Grey like his usual self, chit chatted with her non-stop while Alex only gave the occasional nods and answers.

To Alex their relation seemed close. He wondered how long they have known each other. After a bit asked with a childish smile on his face to which Merissa sighed. "Alright but make it quick and return quickly, it’s almost an hour since you came here.”

"Aye, aye ma'am! Alex, you wait here I'll be back in jiffy." Grey said after going in the room from where Merissa came from.  'What a piece, even adults fall to his trickery.' Alex thought.

After that Merissa and Alex were left alone in the room. Alex was feeling kind of awkward with her gaze on him, as if he was an unknown species. As if sensing the awkwardness, she tried to lighten it by asking him "so you are Grey's friend huh?"

"Well, I don't know if friend would be the proper word more like a prey to his pranking." Alex replied earnestly. "Well, he could be a bit troublesome sometimes, but he’s a good kid if you’ll ask me." Merissa said with a smile. The previous weird image of her in his mind were going away as Alex thought she didn’t seem weird.

However, the next words coming out of her mouths left him speechless. “So, how did you survive against it?” Merissa asked her expression becoming completely indifferent. “It doesn’t seem like you are from a mage family… not to mention your mana… its completely nonexistent. That’s quite uncanny.”

Alex simply blinked not understanding except that she might be referring to the creature from yesterday. Not getting a response Merissa sighed “This is why I hate dealing with newbies. Did you or did you not meet with something unusual yesterday?”

“I-I… did, except it could hardly be called a meeting… Wait a minute! You know about… about that creature from yesterday?” Alex asked confused.

“I do indeed, I even believe you might have fought with him, that creature’s presence is oozing from you like a leaking bucket.” Merissa replied as she looked at Alex with a slight glint in her eyes. “Wh—

Before he could ask his plethora of questions, Merissa interjected “First things first, how did you escape unscathed from it?” Alex paused. He didn’t know whether to reveal about that thing or not. Since that incident Alex has been carrying that piece of wood everywhere he goes like it’s a jewel to him.

“If you hide anything from me, trust me, it will only add to your troubles. Alex Morgan, right? You have encountered something which you shouldn’t have, I won’t beat around the bush. Your life could be in possible danger.” Merissa said in a stern tone.

Alex gulped. With no other sensible path to take Alex decided to narrate the whole incident of yesterday. “So, this thing just suddenly appeared in your hand like poof?” Merissa asked as she observed the wooden piece in her hand.

“Correct.”

Merissa continued to inspect it for a minute or so before returning it back. “Do you know what this is?” Alex asked. Merissa nodded. “Okay, since you told me everything, I suppose I ought to fill you in a little bit.” Alex nodded waiting for the explanation. That thing which you talked about, its not from this world, I am sure you must’ve gathered that much.”

Taking a pause she continued, “That thing is like a summoned creature.”

“Summoned creature?” Alex furrowed his brows. “Yeah, it was summoned from another world. Now usually the summoner can control them to make them do their bidding but from what you told me. The way he was returning back to the resource room again, I am guessing, it looking for something.”

Alex, “Like what?”

“Well, the only thing that comes to mind is a summoning pendant. Its basically like a tool used to summon creatures. There are other ways to summon them without the use of the pendant but this pendant method is usually used by beginners.”

“Th-Then why isn’t whoever summoned it controlling it?”

“Probably because they failed. If a pendant summon becomes unsuccessful it has to be disposed. That idiot of a summoner must’ve fu*ked up and didn’t even destroy it.”

“So, is that why that creature is looking for it?”

“Yes, if the pendant isn’t destroyed the creature, as much brainless as it may look still has a desire of its own, if they find the pendant then they can permanently reside in this world. All they have to do is destroy it with their own hands. Not to mention, the pendant which puts restrictions on their powers, will be no more and so they’ll attain their true strength as they would have in their own world. And these creatures aren’t really a friendly bunch, it’ll probably hunt people of its own accord.”

Alex gulped at her last statement before contemplating the situation. Alex, “Then does that mean someone from school is the summoner?” Merissa scratched the back of her head “Its highly unlikely, the creature has a connection with the pendant which lets it know its approximate location. Someone from school might have picked it up.”

Alex, “Then how do one stop the creature?” Merissa, “Cutting its head is one way and the other way would be to destroy the pendant itself. If I, were you, I’d choose my options carefully.” Alex blinked a few times. “Wait a minute… you mean you won’t stop the creature?” Merissa sighed, “I would’ve like to but sadly I am helpless.”

Alex furrowed his brows doubting her but he had no way to confirm. A couple more minutes went by as Merissa explained a bit more details here and there.

"Ahh sorry I got carried away and took too long" he said with a book in his hand.

Grey had suddenly returned with a book in his hand. Apparently, he frequently borrowed books from Merissa. Alex doubted whether he was the same Grey he knew for 2 days. He was a book worm at least for fiction and fantasy.

"I told you to make it quick, alright now return quickly before someone notices you boys are missing." Merissa said in her calm demeanor.

"Relax we'll be fine" Grey said. When the two were leaving after Merissa's scolding to Grey, she turned and said to Alex " think about what I said" before closing the door.

Grey looked at him confused " what was that about?" "Nothing just some guidance on life." Alex said as he started walking. "She never gave me any, well anyways how will she, she just always keeps lecturing me and..." the rest of the way was just Grey talking and Alex deep in thought.

After that they successfully arrived in school through the shack. Alex never thought that Grey would be a book lover especially for fiction. 'Well, the world is full of interesting people in weird ways…'

Alex looked at the main school building as they headed to their dorm. His talk with Merissa kept repeating in his mind. Apparently, the creature would most definitely hold a grudge against him since he severed its arm. Well, who wouldn’t? Alex thought of changing schools or go back to his dad but that doesn’t change the fact that it might still come looking for him someday.

Feeling tired with his mind trying to find a solution about this Alex decided to take a break and think about it later.

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