Draven and Zenash were left alone, so they remained silent for a few seconds.
Draven waited, and Zenash stayed motionless for three seconds, until her expression completely changed.
"Draven!"
She walked quickly toward him, and Draven barely had time to react before Zenash hugged him.
"Hello, Zenash..."
"Hello?"
She tightened the hug.
"Is that all you’re going to say?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"You could start by explaining why it took you so long to come."
"I was busy."
"You’ve been saying that for months."
"Because I’ve been busy for months."
Zenash pulled back just enough to look at him.
"You know I’m your fiancée, right?"
"I remember."
"Doesn’t seem like it."
"Believe me, they don’t let me forget it."
Zenash narrowed her eyes.
"That doesn’t sound very romantic of you."
"I never said I was."
She hugged him again.
"You owe me a lot of visits."
"You’re keeping count now?"
"Of course I am."
Draven sighed.
"I came for something important."
Zenash ignored the comment.
"You could have just come to see me."
"I’m here, aren’t I?"
"You came to ask me for something."
"That sounds worse than it is."
Zenash looked up at him.
"Did you miss me?"
Draven stayed silent, and she smiled.
"Draven."
"A... little..."
"A little?"
"Yes."
"Not enough."
"Fine, I missed you a lot."
"That’s better."
Draven looked at her.
"Can we talk about the reason I came?"
"After."
"Zenash."
She finally pulled away.
"Fine, let’s talk about it."
Draven breathed.
"I need a permit."
Zenash tilted her head slightly.
"For what?"
"I want to enter a restricted zone of Fernus."
"Which zone?"
Draven indicated it, and Zenash’s expression changed immediately.
"Why do you want to go there?"
"I’m going to hunt a creature."
"Which one?"
Draven said the name.
"I want to hunt a demonic vocier."
Zenash remained silent for a few seconds.
"I won’t let you go."
Draven blinked.
"I didn’t even finish."
"It doesn’t matter."
"Zenash."
"It’s dangerous."
"I know."
"Then no."
Draven sighed.
"I need to defeat it."
"You don’t need to do that."
"Yes, it’s necessary."
"For what?"
"I want to enter the capital’s magic academy."
Zenash looked at him.
"You can get in without doing that."
"I’m not sure."
"I am."
Draven already suspected where the conversation was heading, so Zenash crossed her arms.
"Are you going to hunt it alone?"
"No..."
Her gaze grew more serious.
"Who are you going with?"
Draven hesitated for just an instant.
"With Taliah."
Zenash fell silent, and Draven knew that expression all too well.
"Zenash...?"
"Now my answer is an even stronger no."
"Why?"
"Because you’re going with her."
"That doesn’t make it more dangerous."
"To me it does."
Draven closed his eyes.
"We’re talking about the creature."
"So am I."
"No, you’re talking about Taliah."
"Who will be with you the entire trip."
"Because she’s strong and can help me."
"I’m strong too."
Draven looked at her.
"Do you want to come?"
Zenash stayed silent, and for a moment she seemed to seriously consider the idea, but then she shook her head.
"I can’t disappear from the capital to go hunt a creature with you, not with my mother in poor health."
"Exactly."
"But I can send people."
Draven frowned.
"What?"
"I’ll send my best demons from the berserker clan."
"That won’t work."
"Why? They can capture it and bring it to you."
Draven watched her.
"I need to defeat it myself."
"Then we capture it, weaken it, and hand it over to you."
"No."
"You could deliver the finishing blow."
"Zenash."
"You’d still be the one defeating it."
"It doesn’t work that way."
"Who decides?"
"The academy."
Zenash thought.
"Then I can talk to the academy."
Draven immediately raised a hand.
"No, stop that idea."
"You don’t know what I was going to say."
"Yes I do."
"I could send a letter."
"No, I’m serious."
"An official recommendation from the royal family of Fernus should be more than enough."
"Are you listening to me?"
"I could directly request that they admit you."
"I said no."
Zenash frowned.
"Why do you keep saying no?"
"Because I want to get in on my own merits."
’Besides, getting in that way would have a negative effect on the characters I’d need to form bonds with.’
"That’s unnecessarily complicated."
"For you."
"For anyone."
"I don’t want everyone saying I got in because my fiancée pressured the academy."
Zenash shrugged slightly.
"You’d be in."
"That’s not the point."
"To me it is."
Draven stepped a little closer.
"I need to do this."
"Why?"
"Because the academy has things I need."
"Books?"
"Among other things."
"Relax, my love, I’ll get you those books."
"I told you there are other things, like... teachers."
"I’ll get those for you too."
"Training."
"We can hire the best."
"People."
Zenash fell silent, and Draven continued.
"Just accept that I need to be there."
He couldn’t tell her the whole truth.
He couldn’t say that, according to the videogame, many of the most important events in Valkaen would begin around that academy.
Nor could he explain that his blessing depended on strengthening bonds and that the academy would be full of future important characters.
He could only insist.
Zenash watched him for several seconds.
"Do you want to get in that badly?"
"Yes."
"Even if you have to risk yourself?"
"I don’t plan on dying."
"That sentence doesn’t reassure me."
Draven smiled slightly.
"I’m prepared, and besides, I’m going with Taliah."
Zenash didn’t smile.
"Stop mentioning her like that helps."
"She’s one of the strongest people I know."
"That’s debatable."
"Zenash."
"I’m telling the truth."
Draven sighed, and she approached again.
"I could solve all of this for you."
"I know."
"Then let me do it."
"I’m sorry, but no."
"You’re so stubborn."
"You’re not easy either."
"I’m trying to help you."
"And I appreciate that."
Zenash looked at him.
"But you’re going to go anyway, right?"
"Not without permission."
"That means I can still stop it."
Draven stayed silent, and Zenash smiled slightly.
"I could simply say no."
"You could."
"And you’d have to stay."
"Or look for another creature."
Zenash’s smile disappeared.
"Another one?"
"That’s right."
"More dangerous?"
"And I probably couldn’t guarantee my life."
Zenash stared at him, and Draven kept his serious expression as several seconds passed.
"That was really low."
She said, and Draven replied.
"I only answered your question."
"You knew exactly what you were doing."
"Maybe."
Zenash turned around, walked to the table, and placed both hands on it, so Draven waited.
Finally, she spoke.
"I’ll give you the permit."
Draven smiled.
"Thank you."
Zenash raised a hand without looking at him.
"I’m not finished."
Draven’s smile disappeared.
"Of course."
She turned.
"First, you’ll have to inform me when you arrive at the zone."
"All right."
"Second, if anything unexpected happens, you withdraw."
"That will depend..."
"Draven."
"Fine, I will."
"Third, when you’re done, you come see me directly."
Draven raised an eyebrow.
"Directly?"
"Exactly."
"Why?"
"Because I want to check in person that you’re okay."
"You can check by message."
"No, I want to see you in person."
Draven sighed.
"All right."
Zenash smiled.
"And there’s one more thing."
"I knew there’d be another one."
She approached slowly.
"I’m going to do you a favor."
"That’s right."
"A pretty big one."
"I suppose."
"Then you’ll owe me one."
Draven looked at her.
"What kind of favor?"
"I’ll decide later."
"I don’t like that."
"Precisely because of that."
"Zenash."
She smiled.
"Do you accept?"
Draven thought for a few seconds.
He needed the authorization, but getting it any other way could take too long, and Zenash knew perfectly well that he didn’t have many options.
"Fine."
"Fine what?"
"I’ll owe you a favor."
Zenash looked immediately satisfied.
"Perfect."
Draven pointed at her.
"But it has to be something reasonable."
"That depends on what you consider reasonable."
Draven closed his eyes for a moment.
’I made a mistake.’
But it was already too late.
Zenash returned to her seat, and her expression began to recover that seriousness she used in front of other people.
She rang a small bell that was on the table, and the doors opened shortly after.
An official entered, and Zenash spoke in a formal tone.
"Prepare a royal authorization for Draven Dunvyr and Taliah Valdegrim."
The official bowed.
"Destination?"
Zenash indicated the region.
"Toward the fields of Nerathis."
The man changed his expression slightly.
"My lady, that zone is classified as dangerous."
"I already know."
"Understood."
"Also authorize the transport of weapons, potions, and any materials necessary for the hunt."
"Yes, my lady."
"And notify the nearest military post that they have direct authorization from the crown."
"It will be done immediately."
"You may leave."
The official left.
Draven had gotten what they needed, and Zenash looked at him again.
"Draven."
"Yes?"
"Remember what we agreed."
He already knew what she was going to say.
"Yes, I owe you a favor."
Zenash smiled.
"Exactly."
Draven sighed, since now he owed something to Zenash.