"You can always tell us if you need any help.
Remember that, Alex," Quartz chimed in.
It wasn't that she didn't care about Alex.
Her mind was too busy thinking about what kind of monster they would need to better increase their odds of going to that place.
She couldn't contain the excitement in her heart.
She knew the chance they were alive was small.
But alive or dead, she wanted to bring all of them home.
They then exchanged some more discussion before going on their own way, leaving only Alex and Olivia in the forest.
Olivia's expression turned solemn.
Alex was puzzled by her sudden request but still followed her.
They walked through the forest maze until they arrived at a clearing.
In the middle was a tree slightly larger than the others, while many fireflies brightened the area with their light.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Olivia asked, smiling at Alex.
Alex, his gaze still focused on the scenery, could not help but nod in agreement with Olivia.
He had never known a place existed in the forest. He was mesmerized by the beauty.
Olivia walked toward one of the tree roots and then sat there cross-legged.
"What are you dilly-dallying about?
Alex looked at Olivia.
He came closer but didn't sit; instead, he took out a table and two pairs of chairs from his storage ring.
"Nice, do you have some wine and food too?
"If you're hungry, why do you look for wine?" Alex asked, puzzled.
"Because I want to enjoy the scenery, so do you have it or not?"
"I do have it," he said, taking out a bottle from his storage ring and placing it on the table with two wine glasses.
"So, sis, do you want me to grill some meat?
Or do you have other food requests?"
"I miss your food; cook for me; anything will do," Olivia said with a smile on her face.
Alex rarely cooked, but Olivia knew he was very good at it, just like his father.
Olivia thought this was because of his ability, allowing him to know the best timing for it.
Alex took out charcoal and some grills. He then used an Embershift hammer to make the charcoal burn, making Olivia chuckle, "You do that to show off, right?"
"Cough, can you not point it out, sis?" Alex replied.
Olivia laughed as she watched Alex start grilling the meat, the delicious aroma spreading in the forest.
But Alex didn't feel worried any monster would attack them; it would be a good source of life force for him.
The sound of sizzling meat filled the air as Olivia enjoyed the smell.
"How has your life been lately?" she asked.
"Well, many things have changed, big sis, but honestly, for me, it's the same.
I just do the things I do in the VR world now in the real world."
Olivia's voice then turned solemn, "I see, that is good. Tell me about it, Alex."
Alex nodded. He told her some of his life stories, even one in the game world, including how Luca took his VR headset when he killed the Calamity Dragon and what kind of novels he read.
Melodious laughter reverberated in the air, "You really are the only one that can make her mad, Alex."
"Did she never get mad in the guild?" Alex asked as he brought two plates of steak to the table.
"She does get mad, but it's only for something serious, Alex.
And when she does, your dad will also shut up.
Your mom is really scary at times like that."
Seeing the meat in front of her eyes, Olivia could feel her mouth salivating.
She cut the meat, and seeing it cooked medium rare made her smile and feel warm.
'He still remembers what I like,' she thought.
They exchanged some small stories as they ate the meat.
A few wolves came by, but Alex took out Petricia to kill them all and took the corpses inside the Awe cube.
She then stayed guard on the perimeter, making sure none disturbed them.
After finishing dinner, Olivia's eyes turned serious, "How many years have you been avoiding me, Alex?"
"I am sorry, sis, it's my fault," Alex replied with cast-down eyes.
He knew the number, but saying it would just hurt her more.
"Are you still mad at me for rejecting your confession?"
Alex's cheeks turned red, remembering it. Olivia was his first crush.
He didn't know if it was love or not, but in a moment of impulse after the incident, he had confessed to her, but she shut it down directly.
Remembering what he did afterward made him want to bury himself in the ground now.
He lashed out at Olivia at that time.
With a low voice, he replied, "I am not, sis. I'm just too ashamed to face you.
I was being a brat at that time.
I know I was unfair to you."
Alex looked up again to see Olivia's expression.
What he saw pained his heart.
Even though he didn't love her like before now, Alex still didn't want to see her like that.
Olivia's golden eyes glimmered in the night, with tears dripping from the corners of her eyes.
"Leader is gone, Alex. Eria, Jasper, Orion, Uncle Silva, Aunt Ariadne, Kane.
Everyone disappeared from my life.
You kicked me from your life.
You didn't even give me a chance to explain myself!
How can you be so cruel to me!
Do you know I really thought you hated me until we just met now?
When I hugged you again, I was so afraid you would reject me."
Her voice cracked into sobbing, her hands starting to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"I really thought, I really thought you would..."
Her cry became louder, muffling her voice, making Alex unable to hear it clearly.