Queen of the Ashes

Chapter Twenty-Three

Gelsemium Sempervirens:
Separation
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«H-how's your d-day been?» Ethan asked, biting his lower lip as he looked over at Ankai.

He felt a pang of guilt for having stormed off like he had yesterday, but was pleasantly surprised as the demon held no grudge. In fact, he treated the incident like it didn't even happen in the first place.

«Ah you know, it's been good. I've been watching reality trash, got my brains fucked out, and then I ate some tomato soup» After a while of silence Ankai turned to look at Ethan.

«And you?»

Ethan's smiled shyly.
«Erm...I-I ate a sandwich for lunch»

Ankai nodded.
«So, you wanna play some cards or something?»

«Y-you've got c-cards here?»

«Well duh,» Ankai winked, causing Ethan to blush.

«S-sorry» he apologized causing Ankai to roll his green eyes.

«What are you apologizing for now?» The demon asked and Ethan bit his lower lip.

«I-I don't really know»

«Well, you need to stop apologizing about your existence. Learn to take up some space. You're quite small so I promise you: there is plenty of room for you in the world too»

After a while Ethan smiled genuinly as warmth spread inside of his body and he whispered a low and hesitant «O-okay».

Ankai smiled and snapped his fingers, a stack of cards appearing in his palm. He began to shuffle the stack and Ethan felt nervousness overtake him as he suddenly remembered one vital thing about the situation:

He did not know how to play cards as he hadn't ever owned a stack, nor did he have many friends that he could play cards with.

«A-Ankai?» The human begun, biting his lower lips. The demon looked up at him with a questionable look, anticipating for him to continue. «D-do you think we can play chess instead?»

«Chess?» The demon repeated. Ethan looked down as he scratched his nape awkwardly.

«W-we don't have to. I-I just don't...I-I really want to learn chess»

After a brief moment of silence, Ankai snapped his fingers and the stack of cards vanished and a chess-board appears on the small table.

«Alright,» the demon shrugged. «You'll be white, because you start»

Ethan bit his lower lip as he watched the pieces. He vaguely recalled Maze moving the small pieces that stood at the front first. But he couldn't remember how many steps they were allowed to make and in which pattern.

«You know the rules right?» Ankai asked. It would be odd if the human suggested chess if he didn't even know how to play.

«I...I seem to have forgotten...» Ethan lied.

«Lying isn't your strongest suit» Ankai smirked at the human, who's cheeks reddened by the statement.

«I'll refresh your memory,» Ankai said before he began to explain the basic rules. After a while of trying and failing a lot, Ethan seemed to have successfully managed to integrate the knowledge into his memory, but that didn't mean the human wouldn't question Ankai every two seconds about if his move was right or smart. Ankai didn't mind though, he didn't have many -or any- friends around the castle. So it was refreshing to have this new type of energy around him.