Page 119 of The Wishing Game

Ze straightens his spine, his hands behind his back as he paces back and forth while talking.

"They can only travel between worlds in their spiritual form. Once they become corporeal, they are stuck in that world. But you do not need to concern yourself with demons. They are unlikely to make their home in P'davi because there are no souls to consume."

"One less problem to think about. Yay?" I laugh nervously before I quickly sober up. "But how comeyouguys are able to cross worlds?" I raise a brow. Now that I know they are from a world called Aperion, that only raises more questions as to what they are. I don't doubt that Ze and Cer are part of the military, or that Thea failed some exams, as Ze is prone to point out, but I don't know more than that about them. What's their relationship with the game? Or with the deities hosting the game, for that matter, since they seemed to be familiar with them?

"Wehuntdemons," Ze replies curtly.

I nod thoughtfully. That makes sense, but why do I feel like there's more to it? It hasn't escaped me that they've been quite cagey with their identity aside from a few crumbs that they let drop here and there. It's odd that despite that, my gut is telling me that I can trust them. And so far, all evidence points to the same conclusion. Their origins might be mysterious, but they are on my side.

For now, that's enough for me.

If what Thea said was true and their presence here would endanger them, then I will not force them into revealing their identities. I trust that they will tell me themselves when the time is right.

"Does that mean you don't need the plants?"

Both Thea and Cer turn to look expectantly at Ze.

"That is correct." He clears his throat. "We are, however, a team. Your weakness,ourweakness, isn't that so, Cerenios? Erithea?" he asks in a booming voice.

"Yes," they both answer, amusement brewing between the two of them.

"So it is settled. Rest assured, you will not die, human." Ze gives me a confident nod.

He might be annoying with his supercilious attitude, but heisgood at what he does. That means I have to put my trust in him—well, not that I have much choice considering I'm theonlyone dying here.

"Back to the map?" Cer interjects.

"You may proceed, Cerenios." Ze gives him a nod.

"As I said earlier, we are here. There are two major forests in P'davi. There is one that is located right next to our complex, here." He points to the gathering of trees represented next to our complex. "But there is another one here."

Ze narrows his eyes. Picking up one of the history tomes, he rapidly sifts through the pages, his pupils moving at the speed of light. Before I can even blink, he closes the book, placing it back on the desk.

"One of the plants is endemic to the western forest while the other two are found in the eastern one."

Did he just read the entire book in a matter of seconds?

"That's...impressive," I mumble in awe.

His lips curl up as he soaks in the praise.

"The most efficient way is to split up. Two of us will go to the eastern forest and two will go to the western one. We would then meet again at a designated location to make the brew."

Ze nods.

"It should be a medial location to the two forests. The farther away from the complex the better. We don't want to risk an ambush when we return with the plants," I offer.

"Cerenios and Erithea will tackle the eastern forest. I will take the human to the western one," Ze declares.

"And we have no say in this?" I raise a brow.

"No. You do not." He pins me with his gaze. "This is the optimal division of labor." He doesn't wait for a reply as he turns his attention to the botany books, flipping through them and absorbing all the knowledge.

"I am ready," he proclaims, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet. "I will communicate a meeting place at a later date," he tells Cer.

"Just be careful, Ze. Don't overdo it. Now more than ever..."

Ze gives him a tight nod.

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