Days passed, and Flage and Dawn settled into their routine. Flage continued his hunts, and Dawn accompanied him, fully content with her role by his side. Over time, Flage began speaking to her more frequently, managing a few sentences each day. Though not much, Dawn saw this as a significant improvement. However, each time she asked for his name, Flage remained silent.

Two months had gone by since Flage had arrived on Earth. One morning, like every other, he prepared for his usual hunt. As he stepped outside, he saw Dawn sitting on the front steps of the cabin, sharpening wood as she often did. She noticed him and greeted him with a smile.

"Morning," she said warmly. "How was your night? Oh, and did you hear about the snowstorm on the news yesterday?"

Flage paused, a slight concern crossing his mind. "Do you not have a family that worries about your whereabouts?" he asked.

Dawn's smile faltered for a moment as she refocused on the wood in her hand. "I did," she said quietly, slicing the knife along the plank. "Until I found out they were scumbags running a fraudulent business my whole life."

Flage could sense the pain in her words. "What did you do?" he asked, curious.

Dawn stood, turning to face him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Since I love them too much, I couldn't report them to the authorities," she said lightly. "So, I did what any decent person would do. I cut them off completely."

She tossed the sharpened wood aside and smiled again. "They can both go to hell," she added, her words in stark contrast to her expression.

"That's not how it works," Flage muttered under his breath as Dawn turned to get ready for their outing.

A quiet respect stirred in Flage for Dawn as she readied herself. Her story only confirmed what he had assumed from the beginning. Her origins were from wealth, evidenced by the expensive clothes she always wore. Her explanation made sense and clarified why she had been lingering in the forest, avoiding a return to the life she had left behind.

But a new question surfaced in Flage's mind. "So, where have you been sleeping all this time?" he asked.

Dawn's voice softened. "Oh, well… it doesn't really get that cold out here at night."

She smiled, but Flage could tell it was forced. Her words only confirmed that she had been living uncomfortably ever since cutting ties with her family.

During the long hours of their hunt, Flage suddenly turned to Dawn and asked, "Do you want to take the next target?"

Her face lit up with excitement, a wide smile breaking out as she eagerly nodded. Dawn hadn't used her rifle in weeks, but now she prepared it, a sense of anticipation in her movements. They ventured farther into the forest, navigating through the dense trees until they spotted a wild boar in the distance. Dawn took aim, steadying her hands, and after a moment of focus, pulled the trigger. The boar fell instantly.

Flage watched, a slight flicker of admiration crossing his face. He was impressed by her steady hand and sharp aim. As the sun began to sink below the horizon, they made their way back home, walking in their usual silence.

When they reached the cabin, Flage stepped over the threshold but left the door ajar behind him, an unspoken invitation for Dawn. She hesitated at first, surprised by the gesture, but before she could ask, Flage turned and clarified.

"You can sleep on the couch," he said simply. "It's better than staying out in the cold. I'll get you a blanket."

Dawn's lips curved into a smile. "So you do care," she teased lightly. "Maybe I'll even get your name while we're at it?"

"Don't push your luck," Flage replied, disappearing into the back room.

"Fair enough," Dawn muttered, settling down on the couch. Moments later, Flage returned with a blanket. He handed it to her without a word, but the silence was thick between them. Dawn accepted it, her smile lingering, which only made Flage sigh in mild frustration.

"Orion… Woods," he said finally, offering her the name he used on Earth.

Dawn's smile widened. "Nice to meet you, Orion," she said, but he had already turned away, retreating into the back room.

In the days that followed, they fell into a comfortable rhythm. Flage did most of the hunting, with Dawn joining in occasionally. It seemed to suit them both; Flage in his silent efficiency, and Dawn, content to accompany him and take part when she could. Every morning, Flage would wake to find Dawn seated outside the cabin, sharpening wood with quiet concentration, a routine she had adopted.

One morning, as the sun began to rise, Flage stepped outside and called, "Dawn."

At first, she didn't respond, too absorbed in her task. Flage called again, and this time, she turned around with a puzzled expression. "Me?" she asked. "Oh, I thought you were talking about the time of day."

She gave him a curious look, the question forming in her mind. "Though why do you keep calling me that? Is it your nickname for me?" she asked, her smile playful.

Flage's face remained impassive, his eyes betraying a slight hint of disappointment. Slowly, her smile faded as she realized what he meant.

"That's the name I gave you, isn't it?" she asked, her tone revealing she had forgotten.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Flage didn't answer, but his silence spoke volumes. Dawn sighed, embarrassed by her own lapse. "I'm sorry," she said, setting the wood aside. "It's just… I didn't know who you were at the time. I was just being cautious. Thought maybe you were some kind of predator, you know?"

"I am," Flage responded, his voice calm as ever.

Dawn raised an eyebrow, momentarily thrown by his reply. "I… don't think you know how people use that word these days," she said, a hint of amusement creeping into her voice. "But it's Amy. Amy Baldwin."

Her smile faltered slightly as she continued, more softly this time. "Though, I don't really want to be that person anymore."

Flage remained silent as he started down the steps toward the forest. "I like Dawn better," he muttered briefly before continuing onwards.

His words brought a smile back to her face, and as usual, she followed him into the wilderness for their daily hunt.

It had been over two and a half months since Flage had settled in the forest, living and hunting alongside Dawn. Over time, he found himself surprised by the connection he'd developed with her. Their routine hunts bonded them, though as the weeks passed, the forest's wildlife grew scarce. Either they had hunted most of the creatures, or the remaining ones had fled. With the dwindling numbers, Flage had no choice but to slow down, realizing that if he continued, he'd soon have nothing left to hunt.

Despite the pause in their daily hunts, Flage allowed Dawn to stay. They spent more time talking, though it was mostly Dawn who spoke, sharing stories of her past while Flage listened quietly, not because he particularly wanted to, but because it was part of the unspoken rhythm they had developed.

One evening, after returning from a brief hunt, Flage's phone rang, a sound unfamiliar in the stillness of his time on Earth. He hadn't used his phone since arriving, having no one to call or care to reach out to. Yet, he knew how to use it, and when he saw the caller ID flash "Sage," he was unsurprised, but not particularly thrilled.

Stepping into his room, Flage answered the call. Sage immediately inquired about the Demigod Project, asking for an update on Flage's progress. Flage dismissed the question with a curt response, making it clear he had no interest in the project.

"Why do some of you have to be so difficult?" Sage sighed, his voice heavy with frustration.

Flage remained silent, letting Sage's words hang in the air until the God of Wisdom pressed on. "Flage, I know humanity vexes you. I know you're tired of their failures, their cruelty. But what was the point of going to Earth if you're not going to see this through?"

Before Flage could respond, a knock on the door interrupted him. Dawn pushed it open, entering without hesitation.

"Yo, Orion," she called, her tone casual. "What do you want for dinner? Should I cook some deer, or just reheat that leftover squirrel stew we had yesterday?"

As she spoke, Dawn noticed the phone in Flage's hand, surprise crossing her face. "Wait, you have a phone?" she asked with mild curiosity.

Flage sighed, his patience thin. "Do you mind?" he said, his voice even but pointed.

"Right, sorry," she mumbled, retreating out of the room.

A few moments later, Dawn opened the door again, sticking her head in with determination. "But seriously," she whispered, "deer or squirrel?"

"It matters not," Flage replied, clearly unamused.

"Gotcha," Dawn said awkwardly before closing the door once more.

Sage, who had been listening to the exchange, chuckled on the other end of the line, breaking the silence that had followed. "I must admit, Flage, I may have misjudged you," he said, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "You seem to already be making progress on the project."

Flage frowned, his confusion evident. "What do you mean?"

Sage laughed, the sound deep and full of knowing humor. "You isolated yourself to avoid contact with humanity," he said, amusement still coloring his voice. "Yet, you've still managed to attract a mortal."

Flage's frown deepened. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Sage's laughter only grew. "Ah, sibling, your disdain for mortals may have blinded you," he said, still chuckling.

Before Flage could respond, Sage composed himself, his tone shifting as he began to ask more pointed questions about the situation.

CONVERSATION

Sage: This woman, does she live in the same abode as you?

Flage: Yes.

Sage: And she does not pay you to live there, correct?

Flage: Yes, that is correct.

Sage: And, if I may ask, is she the closest human to you since you arrived on Earth, perhaps?

Sage's words struck a chord with Flage, making him realize there was truth in them. He paused for a moment, contemplating before offering a response.

Flage: Yes.

Sage: Then, sibling, it would appear that you have found yourself a suitable companion without even realizing it.

Flage remained silent as Sage's laughter lingered for a few more seconds. "Well, it seems my job here is done," Sage said, amused, before finally ending the call.

Irritated, Flage dropped his phone from his ear. "Pathetic," he muttered, realizing Sage had hung up. The conversation had left him in quiet frustration, but he took a moment to collect himself. With a sigh, he moved toward the door. As he opened it swiftly, he caught Dawn standing just outside, clearly attempting to eavesdrop.

She froze, her hand awkwardly scratching the back of her head, a sheepish smile crossing her face. "I was just... looking for something," she mumbled, her eyes darting around the corridor, failing to meet his gaze.

Flage stared at her for a moment, considering Sage's words. As annoying as they had been, they held some truth. Despite his disdain for humans, he had grown more tolerant of Dawn than he ever expected. With that realization, an idea formed in his mind, a plan to meet the expectations placed on him without having to deal with someone he found truly insufferable.

Flage knew that if he returned to Higher World without fulfilling the expectation to produce an heir, he wouldn't hear the end of it. Rather than making a connection with someone else, he realized that he could achieve what Sage expected; with Dawn. While he still found her somewhat irksome, compared to the rest of humanity, she was bearable, even valuable in his eyes.

"Dawn," he called, breaking the silence that had settled between them.

She looked up, her guilty expression softening. "Okay, I'm sorry for snooping," she admitted. "I swear I wasn't trying to..."

"Let's get married," Flage said, cutting her off with his blunt declaration.

Dawn's face froze in shock, her guilt quickly replaced by confusion. "I... I don't understand," she stammered, trying to process his words.

"It was brought to my attention," Flage explained, his tone matter-of-fact, "that we already live like we're married. So, since that's the case, and considering my duties, it makes sense. If I have to marry someone, it might as well be you."

Dawn's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, her mind racing to catch up. "D-Don't you think that's a bit... fast?" she managed, her voice filled with nervous excitement. "Not that I'm complaining! But there's so much to plan. I don't even have a dress! What about the bed? It's kind of small for two people, don't you think? Although, I suppose it could work if we..."

"Dawn," Flage interrupted softly, his gaze steady and unbothered.

She stopped, realizing she had been rambling. "Right... I'm just rambling," she said, looking guilty again.

After a brief pause, her expression softened, and a genuine smile spread across her face. "But yes," she said quietly, "I will marry you."

While Dawn's heart raced with excitement over the proposal, Flage's thoughts remained practical. To him, this wasn't about love or romance. It was simply a solution to fulfill his duty without the hassle of someone he truly couldn't stand.