"That's cruel, Ze," I lightly admonish him.

"It is not. It is just the way of our world. Nereids, too, know that death is everywhere. Not even a god is spared from the ravages of injury or disease. We may be immortal in a timeless sense, but we are not impervious. Save for the Primordials, no one is invincible."

"That doesn't make it better," I protest. Humans may be mortal, and death may be a part of daily life, but we spend our entire lives avoiding the reality of death.

Ze shrugs again.

If it were any other person, I would have been more disturbed by this blasé display. But I've gotten used to him and his particular way of seeing the world—through a rather amoral lens. Does it make it better? No. But at least there's a logic to explain his actions—though I may not agree with them.

"I made the golden chain, though," he suddenly adds, his voice echoing with pride.

"Do I want to ask where you got the gold for it?" I raise a brow.

He swallows hard and panic flares in his eyes.

"I do not think you want to know."

"Good, let's leave it at that." I sigh, glancing once more at my bracelet. It's so pretty, though. I'll overlook its unusual provenance this time—and this time only.

I make to move, but he moves with me, blocking my way.

"Now let us talk about my boon," he says eagerly. He places his hands behind his back—his usual stance—as he glances down at me expectantly. He's almost like a kid waiting for his reward, though in this case Ze didn't do much for it since I got swindled out of ninety-one points for him merely not harming other people.

I sigh as I shake my head.

"Fine. What do you want?"

I'm almost afraid to find out what he wants. Although I've gotten to know him better recently, there's still that part of him that's unreachable, that human part that he's only discovering too. If he barely knows his wants and desires, then who am I to guess them? But that makes him unpredictable, too—dangerous even—because he could want the most outrageous thing.

I could refuse, of course. But I gave him my word, and that matters to me.

I'll just have to hold my fingers crossed that he won't come up with something too outlandish.

"It is rather simple. I would like you to give me permission to speak to you inside your mind."

"What?" My eyes widen.

"It will make things easier in the future, especially when you shall enter the temple. Otherwise, I will have no way to communicate with you."

"And you need my permission for that?"