Greta invited Catalina over so they could discuss about the game. Her room was quite small and shabby but Catalina didn't mind. They both laid on the bed fantasizing about what they'd do with the money if they won it.
"I'd get one of those electric cars" Catalina said with a smile.
"Enough fantasies. First we'd have to get 300 quantox to buy the game each. That's like 600 quantox" Greta said cutting Catalina's joy short.
"Woah, I don't think I can afford it. Well, it was fun while my fantasies lasted" Catalina uttered giving up almost instantly. She got up from Greta's bed getting ready to leave cause it was getting late.
"What? So you're just gonna give up? Cat, we are talking about ten thousand quantox here. We might never get this opportunity again" Greta needled hoping to change her friends mind but Catalina wouldn't budge.
"I'm sorry Greta, but I don't think I can fork this one out before tomorrow" Catalina said in disappointment. "Okay, bye, see you at school tomorrow" she continued, leaving Greta's room afterwards.
"Just one more heist" Greta proposed to herself. Then she sprung up from her bed.
"Greta, where are you going to it's late?" her aunt inquired.
"I'll be back soon" she rushed, hurrying to make a good deal before it got too dark.
Greta blended effortlessly into the bustling downtown foot traffic, her keen eyes scanning for her last victim. That's when she spotted him – a well-dressed gentleman checking his gold pocket watch, completely oblivious to her sly approach. As the crowd bottlenecked at a busy intersection, Greta casually bumped into her target, muttering a quick "pardon me". In one fluid motion, her nimble hands dipped into his jacket, closing around the watch, but just as she began to slip away, rough fingers seized her wrist with an iron grip.
She whipped around to find the man staring down at her, his expression grim but composed. "Stealing…tsk, tsk, tsk. Not a good look for a pretty girl like you" the man said.
"I didn't mean to. Please let go of me" Greta begged.
"Do you know how much what you tried to steal cost?" the man asked calmly.
"Of course, that's why I tried to steal it" Greta jeered.
"If you wanted money, you could have held up a sign. But no, you'd rather steal" the man said calmly again. Greta was amused by his calmness.
"I wanted to participate in the mail man's quest. I really need the money" Greta confessed then he let go of her hand.
"Well, if that's the case…" he said as he slid his hands in his right pocket a brought out a thousand quantox note and gave it to her. "…for the game. My name is Felix. I happen to work for "the mail man". You have potential, passion. And I'm sure unlike you, most people who bought the game have no idea what it is like to desperately want something that you'd go to any length to get it. Make sure you get that Grimoire for him" Felix praised. Then he gave her a pat on her shoulders as well as his business card and walked away.
"What the fuck just happened?" Greta asked herself in shock. She walked back home thinking about what Felix had said to her. He was indeed correct but that was what got her bummed the most.
Meanwhile, Aurelia stretched out across her fluffy pink bed, sinking into the plush comfort with a contented sigh as she scrolled through her phone. Her room was an epitome of girlish charm; everything coloured in shades of pastel and adorned with lace or frills. She also had an antique vanity hosted that hosted her extensive make up collection, surrounding an oval mirror encrusted with flower stickers and inspiring notes.
"What's up with this new game?" she thought out loud as she read through a blog post about it. She felt intrigues and immediately wanted to be involved.
"A real book of spells. That way I can get anybody I want. Me likey" she said to herself with a huge smile on her face. Then she ordered the game online all set for the grand opening the next day.
****
Alex stood nervously at Avia's door, rehearsing his speech for the hundredth time. He knew he had screwed up. Taking a deep breath, he raised his fist and knocked. A few agonizing moments passed before the door opened. Avia's expression was wary at first but softened when she saw who it was.
"I'm so sorry about yesterday. What I said was insensitive and unfair. You and I have been crazed about Hanbity and Octavius for years and now we finally get the chance to do what Octavius herself have been meaning to do for over 200 years. We're getting that grimoire Avia" Alex said confidently. Avia was moved by Alex's speech that her arms were already wide opened while rolling her eyes playfully before both friends embraced each other.
"There's a ten thousand quantox prize for anyone who gets the grimoire and gives it to the "mail man". He's making think otherwise about him" Avia mentioned.
"Most people still think the grimoire's a myth. Anyone buying the game now will be in it for the money. It's gonna be very competitive" Alex added.
"More reason to get to the game store before the VR's are sold out" Avia encouraged while pushing him out of her house. They got to a nearby game store and purchased two VR's. on their way out, Greta was going into the same store to get two VR's – one for her and the other for Catalina.
"Sorry, we have just one left" the cashier announced.
"You can't be serious. I-I need to get another one for my best friend" Greta urged but the cashier was very unbothered.
"It's the last one till it's sold out. A boy and a girl just got the other two, do you want it or not?" the cashier asked already agitated.
"Okay, here" Greta said disappointed whilst giving the cashier the money. After transactions had been made, she went after Alex and Avia, who had already seemed to have gotten some miles away.
"Hey!" she called their attention then they stopped.
"Please, I really need that VR helmet" Greta begged.
"What? You have one already" Avia countered.
"It's for my best friend" Greta replied.
"Same here, sorry" Avia said then they walked away.
In utter disappointment, Greta walked back home and broke the news to Catalina. She wasn't all that sad to hear it. She only hoped for the best for her best friend.