It was morning again when Dayesh went to the guild office to inform the receptionist that he had successfully resolved the mystery of the owl.
"You continue to impress me, Dayesh. What is your secret for getting the owl to go with you?" the receptionist said, sounding slightly giddy as she anticipated her share.
"I have no secret. I simply did the work properly," he replied.
"Are you going to leave me here?" the owl asked through telepathy.
"Do you want to be left here?" Dayesh asked in return.
"Is it boring here?" the owl asked again.
Dayesh turned to the receptionist and asked if working at the guild was boring.
"Why do you ask?"
"Someone is asking."
"Yes, it is the same routine every day."
"It is boring," he relayed to the owl through telepathy.
"Then I will just go with you."
Dayesh turned back to the receptionist. "Do you have a place to keep the owl?"
"Yes. It will be brought to another town where there is a sanctuary for unusual creatures."
"May I take it instead? I will keep it."
"That is possible. Just like the shadow stag, since you handled its relocation properly, it can be entrusted to you."
"Thank you. I will take responsibility for the owl."
"Please wait for your reward. And do not forget me," she said with a wink.
Dayesh sat on an empty chair while the owl hopped down onto the table.
"I want to stay with you. I do not want to remain in one place."
"That is fine. You can also help me with things I cannot do. I will provide you with food that suits you."
"I like that idea."
After a while, the receptionist returned carrying a pouch of gold.
"You now have four thousand gold, Dayesh. That is a huge amount," she said, her eyes gleaming as she handed it to him.
He opened the pouch and gave her fifty gold.
"If I combine this with my previous earnings, can I already buy a decent house in town?"
"Of course. You will even have some left. You can visit available houses when you have time. I will accompany you."
"Alright. I will bring my partner and my child so you can meet them."
"You are thoughtful. I am curious about your wife. I would like to meet her."
"You will meet her someday."
"Thank you, then," she replied with a light laugh.
Dayesh did not take another quest for the next two days so he could rest. Instead, he went to the market to buy gifts for Jauna and Lzith. The owl perched on his shoulder drew attention from passersby, along with Dayesh himself because of his striking appearance and strong build.
He bought many things, from food to toys for Lzith.
Finding a secluded spot, he placed everything into his item box.
"Go inside for now. I will change form so we can return quickly."
The owl agreed.
At home...
When Dayesh entered, Jauna greeted him with a kiss. He embraced her briefly before going to the table and taking out everything he had bought. The owl came out last.
"Will it stay with us, my love?" Jauna asked.
"Yes. It has been entrusted to me. I will make sure it does not repeat what it did before."
"She cannot hear what I am saying, right?" the owl asked through telepathy.
"Yes, she does not have that ability."
Lzith approached and suddenly grabbed the owl, hugging it tightly.
"Help me!" the owl cried out.
Dayesh chuckled softly and approached Lzith.
"My child, be gentle. You might hurt it."
Lzith loosened her grip.
"I will tell you something tonight, Dayesh," the owl said.
"Alright. Remind me later in case I forget."
Lzith began playing with the toys Dayesh had brought. While she was busy, Dayesh helped Jauna prepare their lunch and snacks.
As Dayesh chopped vegetables, his mind drifted back to the beginning of his relationship with Jauna. Falling in love had never been part of his plans, but everything changed when he met her. He had never been desperate to have a family. Back then, his only goal was to win every battle assigned to him and his group.
Jauna, though she did not resist his wishes, was someone he respected deeply. She was the one who captured his heart. Because of her, he gradually changed. The cold, sharp, and intimidating presence he once carried had softened. He came to prefer the simple life she lived, and he never wanted to give her a reason to leave him.
The three year period he had given her was nearing its end. Once it passed, his place in her life would be certain. He felt a small regret for ever setting such a condition. If he had been honest from the start, he would not now fear that she might leave him.
"My love, the three years I gave you have not yet ended. But please, do not leave me. Do not cast me away."
Jauna sighed softly.
"You are still worried about that condition?" she said with a gentle laugh. "I would not greet you with a kiss if you were not dear to me. Honestly, I am the one who worries. You are away more often, and I fear you might find someone better than me."
Dayesh was taken aback. He had not realized she felt that way. He embraced her.
"That will never happen, my love. We will stay together until we grow old. As much as possible, you are the only one in my heart. You are mine, and I am yours alone."
Jauna's eyes grew moist.
"This is my first time taking such a risk, Dayesh. Others tried before, but none fought to stay with me."
"Thank you for taking that risk with me. If I pass before you, I will do everything to find you again in whatever I become in my next life."
"Thank you. I cannot love anyone else but you."
"Thank you, my love. It is better that we are clear about our feelings so we do not fall into misunderstandings. I do not want us to argue. I may not be able to give you the world, but I hope you stay with me. I will remain faithful to you until my last breath and even in my next life."
"That is enough, we are getting too emotional," Jauna said with a laugh. "Let us continue cooking."
Dayesh laughed softly and kissed her on the cheek.
Dayesh sat in the living room with the owl. He told Jauna they would talk for a while.
"So, what did you want to tell me?" he asked while eating some leftover boiled potatoes. He broke off pieces so the owl could eat as well.
"I have a family, but I do not know how to return to them. I was taken away. When I escaped, I became a wanderer," the owl said as it pecked at the potato. "I agreed to come with you in the hope that I might find my home during your travels."
"That is a good idea. If we happen to find your home, I will leave you there."
"While I am under your care, you may use me for your missions."
"Understood."
Dayesh gently stroked the owl's head. It blinked slowly in response.
"I will go to sleep now. You should rest when you feel tired," he said before heading to the room he shared with Jauna.
The next morning, Jauna woke early to prepare the medicine she would send to town through Faram.
"Jauna, someone asked me to give this to you," Faram said, handing her a pouch filled with gold jewelry, earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, an anklet, and rings. "He said he is grateful for your medicine. It helped his mother manage her severe lung illness. He would like to meet you if you allow it. He is even willing to come here."
"Is that person a woman, Faram?"
"No. I even told him you were an old and unpleasant woman, but he still insisted on meeting you."
Jauna always instructed Faram to describe her as unattractive and disagreeable whenever anyone asked about her.
"Tell him there is no need. He pays for the medicine he buys. If you see him again, return this to him."
She handed the pouch back.
"Understood."
"That is all I could prepare. I could not make more because I had to watch Lzith. Do not forget the items I always ask you to buy. Also, get me more containers for the medicine. I am running out."
Meanwhile, Dayesh was with Lzith, combing her thick hair and trying to tie it. The child was restless, and it took him ten minutes to finish. Afterward, they stepped outside for some sunlight.
Soon, the shadow stag appeared. They exchanged greetings, and Dayesh was pleased to see that it had adapted to its new environment.
Lzith waved at the shadow in greeting.