Chapter 123: What Make The Crystal React
'Vesa, do you recognize these words?'
[Let me analyze this first, King. It will take a while.]
'Sure.'
He then continued to another object; the next one was made from a similar material to the crystal, but this one was carved like a lens and put in some frame, allowing people to hold the object on the left and right.
With its size, it looked like a wok, but Alex doubted its use was for cooking.
The next object was also made with the same crystal, but this one is unique. It's diamond-shaped, with a unique pattern carved in the middle of it.
The diamond-shaped crystal was polished, making it look beautiful, just like jewelry.
"How could they engrave this symbol in the middle of the crystal?" Alex wondered since he could not find any cuts around the crystal; it's not as if it's glued together.
He then realized there were a few crystals like this one, each in a similar shape, the only difference being the symbol inside it.
Alex put all this into his storage ring; for now, he needed to find out first what made the crystal react. "Petricia, continue to look for something unique. Take anything that has a weird symbol on it."
"Yes, King."
Alex then told her to search only the houses around their camp. Patricia and Zargath had cleaned this area from all the sand, scooping it out into their storage ring.
Alex doesn't want them to go too far to make sure their safety. The city was vast, and Alex didn't believe they were the only ones staying there.
He then left the area, returning back to the camp.
When he returned, he saw Olivia in a daze, looking toward the scenery.
An idea then came to his mind. He walked stealthily, getting close to Olivia, then with one motion, he touched her shoulder and screamed, "BOOOO!" Making Olivia jump on her feet, "KYAAA!"
Alex laughed from his stomach; he always knew Olivia was someone who gets surprised easily. Looking at Alex's gloating face made Olivia pout, "ALEX!!"
"Sorry... Sorry, big sis, I just couldn't help it."
"Hmph! First, you run away from me, and now you return only to scare me; you are really annoying!"
Alex let out another chuckle; deep inside, he found it funny how veteran hunters like Olivia, who were fighting in the frontline, still easily cared like this, but he didn't say this out loud. Instead, he changed the topic, "How are Aunt Quartz and Zold?"
"They are fine. They should awaken soon," Olivia said while still putting her hand over her chest, trying to calm her heart down.
She then gestured for him to sit next to her.
"You tell me you are a progenitor, someone who must resurrect a whole species, but here you are, acting like a child."
Sitting at her side, Alex replied, "That is that, this is this. It's a different matter."
"So why are you back here already?"
Olivia felt confused since she thought Alex wouldn't return for a while and that she would need to look for him after either Quartz or Zold woke up.
"I'm looking for you, Sis," Alex replied.
Olivia felt happy hearing what Alex said; she thought Alex was looking for her to say sorry since he understood her feelings.
"So why are you looking for me?"
Alex then took out the crystal from his storage ring to show it to Olivia, "I'm trying to find a way to make the crystal active.
After testing some of my peculiarities, the only one left is trying to use your abilities to make it react. Can you help me, Sis?"
Olivia was stupefied by what Alex said since it was not what she expected.
"Did I say something wrong, Sis?" Alex asked, feeling confused by Olivia's reaction.
Olivia's cheeks puffed out, turning into a pout. She then took the crystal from Alex's hand.
A golden light started coming out from her palm, engulfing the crystal. The light spread its warm glow, giving a feeling of calm to anyone seeing it but not Olivia.
A few minutes passed, but the crystal didn't show any reaction. This confused Alex since he had already tried every possibility he could think of.
"I doubt any longer will be useful," Olivia said in a flat tone, then gave the crystal back to Alex and stood up, "Since you're already here, keep watch on Quartz and Zold, I want to get some fresh air."
She then left before Alex could say anything.
"Big sis, you leave too quickly; I just wanted to tell her, how could she get fresh air deep underground?" Alex said with a chuckle, and then a realization came to him, "Wait, this place is deep underground. Why is the air so fresh, then? It's just like I'm on a mountain."
He then looked upward to the hole he plugged in, "It's even better than the air in the desert."
Alex then remembered how he got squashed into a pancake when he fell into this building. "Now that I think about it, does it have something to do with blood?"
He then took out a needle, made a prick on his finger, and let the blood drip toward the crystal, then put it on the table.
After some minutes passed, Alex's lips curled into a smile; the crystal started to react, glowing just like the crystal on the building.
"So, this crystal somehow reacts to my blood. I need to test whether it reacts only to mine or to any blood. Vesa, what do you think?"
[King, I think you should test the spice water on the crystal.]