Late in the night, today Alex decided to sleep with the princess, and Maria agreed.
Artemia used Alex's arm as a pillow, yet she could not sleep. Finally, she decided to chat a bit; maybe this way, she might fall asleep.
''What were you and Lilith talking about?'' Artemia asked this question; she had noticed those two sneaking away while they were listening to Eri briefing them about the higher plane. She had used her senses and knew they were talking, she couldn't stop her curiosity, and now that she could not sleep, she wanted to use this opportunity to let what they talked about.
Naturally, Alex heard her; like her, he was not sleeping not because he was unable to but because he chose not to sleep; there were too many things running through his head, he must first sort them out before sleeping. It was what he was doing when Artemia's question arrived; he couldn't help chuckle, he decided to play with the princess.
''Ah! We chat casually. Nothing serious.'' Alex responded with a smile before suddenly crying.
''Ouch! It hurts. What that's for?" Artemia had just pinched his waist hard while his skin was normal thicker than a normal human; facing Artemia Artemia's vicious grip filled with mana, it was no wonder Alex suffered.
''I will continue if you take me for a fool again, so spit it.'' Artemia declared while trying to sound menacing; it was so funny that Alex burst into laughter, making the princess blush.
''You are cute.'' Alex blurted out, and Artemia rolled her eyes at him.
''Don't try to change the subject.''
Although she was saying those words, she was feeling sweat inside. Which woman would not after receiving praise for someone they were developing feelings for?
''Ah! Take it as I have said nothing then.'' Alex said, dejected; the princess immediately frowned.
''How can you retire something you just said? Are you still a gentleman?"
Alex's lips twitched when he saw her twisting what he said; he almost shouted, woman, you just don't want to be honest and says you were happy to be praised; however, in the end he didn't say anything other than responding to the princess previous question.
''We talked about the curse. She asked me to help her get rid of it.''
''I see. What do you ask in return?" Artemia immediately fired this question at him, leaving Alex speechless; he first looked at Artemia for a few seconds, wondering what do you take me for but after seeing she didn't avoid his gaze; instead, she was glaring at him, he sighed.
''I said I want her.'' Alex didn't hide what he asked Lilith in order to erase the curse inside her body; even after reincarnating, it still followed her; what a vicious curse.
''Wow! You are courageous. Seeing you with your head still intact, I guess she must have accepted then.'' Artemia said this to tease Al; hehe said nothing, only nodding.
''It's good. It would be best if you did not let her go. After all, it's me that suggested that you must go after her.''
''I have always been curious as to why you would suggest that. Care to explain why now?" Alex asked while locking eyes with Artemia.
''Firstly it because I don't want my man to let go of such excellent woman, secondly it's because I can't bear to be separated from her and thirdly but the most important reason, I know you are special while I'm not privy to the exact details I felt something the first time we slept together, something seemed to have been stolen in order to awaken something inside you, but obviously, it was unable to awaken it. Since then, I started speculating, after me, there were Sakuya and Maria, you may not have noticed, but you changed after sleeping with them. Not only did you become stronger, but your gift also became stronger, that faint feeling I perceived when the first time had sex increased, becoming detectable, so I thought you needed to bond with strong females, Lilith being one of them; thus, my suggestion.''
Alex was utterly flabbergasted, not knowing what to say.
〖This woman is sharp. I like her. You need a woman like her.〗Nyx's voice unexpectedly echoed inside Alex's head after a long time, but he was too shocked to say anything.
The others might think Artemia's words were just a bunch of rambling, but deep down, Alex knew she was right. Despite not knowing what kind of power was sleeping deep within him, he could still feel something; even if it was faint, barely noticeable, he could still feel like it. It started when the siblings (Nyx and Silveria) pointed out that he had a unique ability sleeping deep inside him.
What shocked Alex the most was what Artemia had said; she said she changed after sleeping with new girls, a change not even Silveria noticed; Alex also noticed this change but was unsure if it was related to his unique ability. Because he was not sure how his ability worked, he was still thinking about it; he didn't inform the girls yet, but who would have thought that Artemia would be the first one to notice this change and would start planning some methods to help him?
Seeing Alex remaining silent after what she said, Artemia wondered if she had guessed wrong.
''Is there a problem? Did I guess wrong?"
Finally, Artemia's words snapped Alex out of his thoughts; he quickly shook his head.
''No, your guessed right. I was just shocked that you could accurately guess what was happening to me. You are quite sharp, and your mind is shrewd like your father. Immediately your first thought was to make use of your friend.''
Artemia shrugged her shoulders, admitting everything Alex said was right. She was no saint, and she would always think of herself and those dear to her. If using others for her own sake would be considered as sinning, she would gladly accept to become a sinner, beside it was not like she was pushing Lilith to her death; becoming Alex's wife had its benefits. Lilith must have noticed this; it was why she accepted his condition.
''Well, no matter how shrewd you are, you are still my girl. I will still love you nonetheless. I'm truly blessed to have a girl like you beside me.'' Alex declared while caressing Artemia's cheeks.
She said nothing but smiled; not only did he change, becoming powerful, but his tongue also became sweet, he didn't hide how he felt toward the girls anymore, meaning he was less reserved when declaring his love. A change Artemia and the other girls would gladly welcome as it let them feel loved and precious.
''What are your plans?" Artemia asked, switching the subject to something more important.
''I want to join the others, and together we will ascend higher as we came or we will choose a specific floor and train until we are all Demigod or closer to that level.''
Artemia nodded, thinking Alex's plan was not bad, but she had the feeling that there was more than that.
''There is another reason why I want everyone to be together. There is someone I must go.'' Alex suddenly declared shocking Artemia as it was her first time hearing this; naturally, she became curious.
''Where are you going?" She asked.
''I don't know the exact location, but since entering the tower, I can feel something calling me, and from various clues I've gathered, I think the reason I came to Exodus is because of this thing. Someone has planned all of this. Naturally, I don't know the identity of the person behind all of this.''
Artemia frowned upon hearing Alex's explanation. The feeling of someone controlling their every moves, pushing them where this person wants. It was really an unpleasant feeling, and Alex could feel how she felt but said nothing. If she knew their reincarnations, that prophecy, everything was planned, how would she feel? He didn't want to know; therefore, he continued with what he was saying.
''The first time I stepped into the tower, I was teleported to an unknown realm where I saw a dragon, then a nine-headed monster, a hydra. The dragon seemed shocked; he recognized but said it was not the time yet. Then I was sent away. Each time I ascend, the calling would increase. I know I'm getting closer to whatever is calling me.''
''I see; you wish to take everyone with you to go where is that thing calling you is?"
Alex shook his head, Artemia who thought she was guessing correctly, frowned but said, waiting as she waited for Alex to continue explaining.
''My goal after reuniting with the others is to select a few while the rest would train until we come back,'' Alex explained what he had in mind, and Artemia nodded, she immediately announced.
''I will stay behind together with Maria.''
Alex was shocked at first because she guessed what he wanted to do, he had already talked with Maria, and she was okay to stay behind. He chose them because those two have more experience in training other people than most of them. As for who would stay behind with them and who would go only after reuniting with the others (at least the majority), would Alex establish a list?
''I'm tired of talking let's play'' Alex declared before suddenly embracing Artemia's body; she rolled her eyes at him because she knew what kind of game he wished to play, not that she was against playing this game.