After Artemia told Alex and Maria was happened, the two decided to tell her what Maria went through after being sent to the lower floor while still unconscious.
''I see; I'm sorry, I didn't know you would end up in such a desperate situation.'' Artemia immediately apologized; she meant those words, and the two could see her sincerity; they waved at her stopping her from apologizing.
''You don't have to; if you haven't done that, Alex wouldn't have been able to find a solution to cure my side effect. At the same time, getting closer to cure Typhania.'' Maria said while looking at Artemia's reaction, as she expected, she could not react immediately.
''I see, that's a good thing.'' Artemia nodded before her eyes widened as her brain had finally registered Maria's words.
Alex was already laughing; he had expected some reaction but nothing close to this.
''Wait, what did you say? Typhania?" She asked, doubting her ears, but Maria smiled and confirmed that it was indeed what she said.
''I said he might have found a cure for Typhania, dear human goddess,'' Maria added those words to tease Artemia, who froze before smiling.
''Fufufu! I see, so you know. Let's say it was to be expected. Okay, now that you know, aren't you scared that I might steal him away?"
Because she did not like to be at the losing end, Artemia teased Maria back, but the latter was unfazed.
''Try if you want, but we both know that instead of stealing him away, it is him that stole your heart, making you unable to leave.''
''Ugh!'' Artemia had nothing to say; she could only admit defeat. Still, just as she decided to do that, she remembered something; looking at Alex, who was smiling like a spectator enjoying a show, she smirked, and Alex immediately had a bad feeling, it was the smirk you friend make when they want to screw you over.
''I see. Maybe Typhania, beautiful as she is, the most beautiful woman in Mysthia might succeed where I failed. After all, a certain someone had vowed to make her his woman no matter what. How bold.''
A chill raced down Alex's spine, and he gulped while playing with his hair which had reached his shoulders.
''Oh! Indeed how bold. As expected of my man. He is so bold that it's too shocking. Fufufu! Interesting.''
Maria's compliment did nothing more than make Alex afraid. Artemia giggled, seeing Alex's reaction; when she was about to tease him, Gracier arrived.
''Nnm~ What you are talking about?" Gracier, who followed her brother's presence after she woke up, ended up in Alex's room.
''Oh! Sweet little sister. Welcome back. I missed you so much; let's catch up somewhere else.'' Alex hugged Gracier and dragged her out of the room before the girls could react.
The girls looked at each other before they started to laugh.
''To think he would be that scared and ran away. How funny.'' It was Maria who said those words.
''Well, you might think you're complimenting him, but from his point of view, your compliment is full of thorns.''
''I see. Let's talk between girls.'' Maria's face became serious suddenly, making Artemia drop any joke she had planned.
''Okay, what do you want to know?" Artemia asked while taking out some fine wine she had stolen from her father's collection, a fifteen-year-old wine. She poured one glass to Maria, who happily accepted and took a sip.
''At least ten years old.'' She commented.
Artemia was shocked. She never thought that Maria was that knowledgeable when it comes to wine.
''It's fifteen years old.'' She corrected Maria, who nodded before asking.
''I want to know if we stand a chance against that thing? I mean, the dragon you lost again?"
Artemia didn't immediately answer Maria's question; she pondered. Truth be told, knowing how scary that monster was, she was not sure there was that mysterious organization that showed up. From what they have gathered, this organization might be working under the dragon; maybe their goal is to help the dragon break free ahead of time. All of those factors made things difficult to predict, but she still believed
''We can, I believe we can survive.'' Artemia declared, sure that they would succeed, they would have to win because failing means the death of millions.
''I see. We don't have a choice. I also want to know how many years we still have left before he is free?"
To Maria's question, Artemia gave an immediate response.
''Less than 3 years. Things have been evolving too fast. The seal wouldn't last long, especially after the Chaos organization appeared.'' Artemia explained.
''If only we know where their headquarters is, it will be easy to take them down with our strongest forces, but nothing was found. None of the empires or kingdoms succeeded in making progress; not even a clue was found. Such organization is dangerous to be left alone.''
''Isn't it the organization that kidnapped Gracier?" Maria asked, surprising the princess because she was sure that Maria knew that this organization almost made Alex lose someone dear to him. Not knowing why she asked this girl, despite knowing the answer, Artemia nodded.
''Yeah, it's the same organization. Alex was the only one that managed to deal them a blow by destroying two of their secret bases since their
apparition. I wish we had been that lucky.''
''I see.'' It was all Maria said; Artemia frowned, wondering what this girl was playing at. Her response was too lame.
While Maria's answer might appear lame, it was because she was thinking about something, there was something Alex was hiding from them, and she had the feeling that it had something to do with the location of this organization. She thought of what this could be but still couldn't find anything; the reason why she asked those questions was to test Artemia to see if she also felt the same thing but not.
''Let's join them,'' Maria suggested before leaving the room; she couldn't erase the thought that Alex was hiding something she wanted to know.
''I will know for sure..'' She declared.
