Over the following weeks, Zenash returned several times to the Dunvyr house.
Draven wasn’t exactly sure what kind of arrangement Kali and the demon queen had that allowed the future heir of Fernus to travel so often to a forgotten little town in Aster.
He wasn’t sure he wanted to know either, but the important thing was that Zenash showed up, and every visit meant an opportunity.
[The bond with Zenash Varzometh has strengthened.]
The first time that message appeared again, Draven almost smiled, but afterward he began paying much closer attention.
Not because he wanted to manipulate Zenash, or at least that was what he tried to tell himself.
’I’m just making use of the blessing.’
It was an important difference, probably.
"Draven."
Zenash was sitting across from him on the grass.
"Yes?"
"Your turn."
Draven looked at the improvised board between them, which was a simple game Zenash had brought from Fernus.
It was played with small black and red pieces on a grid.
Draven knew the rules very well, since it was a minigame that appeared inside the main game.
Besides, there was an achievement for defeating five different masters, and Sam had gotten that achievement years ago, but the problem was that he couldn’t play all that well.
Zenash started to grow impatient.
"How much longer are you going to take?"
"I’m thinking."
"You think too much."
"You already told me that."
"Because it’s true."
Draven moved a piece and Zenash responded immediately, after which Draven looked at the board.
’Damn.’
He had just lost again, and Zenash smiled, satisfied.
"Congratulations, Miss Zenash, you won."
Draven said, to which the demon replied.
"I know."
"You could pretend a little humility."
"Why?"
Draven looked at her.
"Doesn’t matter."
Yruza was a few meters back, sitting by a tree, and as always, she was keeping watch.
Although now she no longer seemed to be watching every one of Draven’s movements as if she were waiting for him to try to kidnap Zenash.
That was progress, while Zenash collected the pieces.
"Again."
Draven sighed.
"We’ve already played five times."
"And you lost five."
"Thanks for reminding me."
Zenash lifted her chin, and Draven began setting up the board again.
Several visits had passed since the creek incident, and since then, Zenash seemed much more interested in seeing him.
At first, Draven had assumed it was simply because they were children of similar ages.
Later he understood it wasn’t that simple, since Zenash constantly asked him questions.
About animals, about Aster, about magical objects, and about Fernus.
Sometimes she even asked what food he preferred or what kind of weapons he liked.
Draven answered carefully, and the more they talked, the more the same message appeared.
[The bond with Zenash Varzometh has strengthened.]
Every time it happened, Draven checked his mana, and every time he found an improvement.
It wasn’t always large, and sometimes he could barely notice it, but it was there.
His reserves were still far from impressive, though he could already maintain small spells for much longer.
He had also managed to reinforce his legs with mana without exhausting himself immediately.
That was enough to confirm that Oram’s blessing was still working.
’Sasri really gave me something dangerous.’
He couldn’t stop thinking about it.
A skill like that had too much potential, and precisely for that reason it also came with a price.
He needed people and real bonds, but it wasn’t enough just to know someone or to talk.
He had to strengthen the relationship, and that meant getting involved, and Zenash was the first example.
"Draven."
"What?"
"You lost again."
Draven looked at the board, and Zenash had won once more.
"I wasn’t even looking."
"That’s your fault."
Draven sighed.
"Yeah, I know."
Zenash watched him as she collected the pieces and then asked something unexpected.
"Draven."
"Yes?"
"Do you like demons?"
Draven lifted his gaze, since it was a strange question.
"What?"
"Demons."
"I heard that."
Zenash held his gaze, and Draven thought for a few seconds.
’What does she want to know?’
Maybe it was a question related to the tensions between Aster and Fernus.
That made sense, since the humans of Aster could be pretty unpleasant toward other races, and Draven knew that from the game.
Maybe Zenash had had bad experiences during some visit.
"I don’t have any problem with them."
Draven answered, and Zenash seemed to relax a little.
"Not even with demon girls?"
Draven frowned.
"Why would I have a problem with them?"
Zenash leaned in slightly.
"So you could be with a demon?"
Draven looked at her.
’What a specific question.’
He figured she was probably talking about their friendship.
"Sure."
Zenash smiled.
"I see."
Draven went back to the board.
"Doesn’t seem like a complicated thing."
Yruza, from behind, slowly lifted her gaze, looked at Zenash, then at Draven, and finally back at Zenash, but said nothing.
Draven didn’t notice that reaction, and that was his first mistake.
A few weeks passed and Zenash continued visiting him, but one day she arrived different.
Draven noticed it the moment he saw her get down from the carriage, since she was far too happy, not simply in a good mood.
Zenash normally tried to maintain a certain seriousness when she was in front of adults, but that day it didn’t work, since she got down from the carriage and practically ran toward the house.
Yruza descended behind her with her usual expression, and the demon queen came out afterward.
Draven was next to Kevar repairing a small fence, but in reality, Kevar was doing the repairing and Draven was holding tools.
"Hi."
Zenash said, to which Draven looked at her.
"Hi."
Zenash smiled, and Draven narrowed his eyes.
’Something happened.’
Kali came out of the house.
"They’re here!"
The demon queen approached.
"I hope it’s not a bad time."
"Not at all."
Kali looked at Zenash and then tilted her head.
"Why are you so happy, Princess Zenash?"
Zenash opened her mouth, and the demon queen tried to say something.
"Zenash..."
But it was too late, since Zenash answered with absolute calm.
"Because I decided I want Draven to be my future husband."
There was a silence from everyone who heard those words.