Page 149 of The Wishing Game

"We will not miss it. It has a flower with white petals and a black pistil. The stem is a light green, but if broken, it oozes a black liquid and the inner tissue is a dark blue."

"That is...very specific."

"Finding the plant itself was never the hard part."

"How do you think Thea and Cer are doing? They need to find two plants."

"That are just as easy to find. Do not worry about them, human. Cerenios is my most skilled warrior. He will not let anything happen to Erithea."

Nowthatis high praise coming from someone like Ze.

"But who will protect her from him?" I joke. "I've never seen two siblings fight the way those two do."

Ze's lips flatten.

"They are indeed...unusual."

"Thea mentioned you've known each other for a long time?" I probe, curious about their acquaintance—especially after her warning.

He frowns.

"She said you used to go to her house when she was younger," I add.

"Rubbish," he huffs aloud. "I have only ever been to her home on official visits. I do not simply go to people's houses."

"But you're friends?" I ask tentatively.

"I am her brother's superior. Nothing more, nothing less."

Why is this so complicated? Thea tells me they're friends but that I should be careful with him. Now he's saying they are not friends. Just what the hell is going on?

"What about Cer?"

"He is"—he pauses—"agreeable."

Well, I guess that's as much of a praise as I'll ever get from him.

"Cerenios exhibited abilities similar to mine from a young age. His parents wanted him to have the best training, and they beseeched me to take him under my wing," he continues to explain. "Of course, I initially refused since I do not like people around, nor am I good with children." At my confused expression, he clarifies, "He was only a few hundred years old at the time. Around seven years of age in your human biology.”

Oh, wow. I didn't expect him to be that young.

"I gave him a series of tests in order to accept him, and he surprised me by passing them all. Although it wasn't the most ideal situation, I could see potential in him, so I decided to take him as my apprentice and protégé."

"How long was that?"

"Our kind matures differently than yours," he notes. "He was a juvenile for hundreds of years. He reached his majority when he was three thousand years old, after which he was allowed to return home."

"You mean you spent three thousand years with him? You basically raised him!" I exclaim.

"Indeed. Which is why he is such a good warrior," he adds proudly, a smile playing at his lips. "He has displayed the highest degree of skill. Soon after he was finished with his training, he was voted to represent his family in my army, and he's been my subordinate ever since."

"I see..."

"As for those visits"—his lips curl—"they were merely official meetings with Cerenios when he was on his break at his home. My acquaintance with Erithea is merely a by-product of my association with her brother. But whereas Cerenios is cool and disciplined, Erithea is the opposite. She has quite the reputation, and it is unlikely she will secure a good mate—or any at all," Ze comments, his biting tone suggesting he disapproves of Thea. Even without telling me that, I could see that there's some undercurrent between the two of them. I wonder what exactly happened that made him dislike her so much.

Sure, she's bubbly and energetic, but she's also nice, kind, and thoughtful. I don't see why she would not be able to find a mate.

"You don't seem to like her very much."

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