The Demon Lord And His Hero

"Tea," Salem calmly informed the electrified group of people. He placed a few cups on the table and began pouring out hot water gracefully.

"Thank you, Salem," Rowan told the half-elf with a smile.

Enkansh and Riha were still facing off while Red looked on with a glint in his eyes. His life had been too boring without Syryn. Not even a quarter of an hour had passed since Syryn's arrival but the house was already so lively. Red admitted to himself that he did miss Syryn. His big brother was always followed by excitement and drama, and had delivered as soon as he'd arrived home.

"Gentlemen, what's the disagreement?" Salem asked the two denizens of the ocean.

"I have none," Riha answered in a low voice. His body language showed defensiveness, Syryn noted.

"And you?" Salem asked Enkansh.

The siren was silent. He had no enmity with the selkie but sirens and mers weren't known to peacefully cohabit with each other nor with other sentient species that lived in the ocean. He was more shocked than antagonistic about coming face to face with a selkie, a creature that was supposed to be extinct.

"None," he replied, still keeping his eyes on Riha.

"Then sit down and drink some tea," Salem told them both.

Riha warily looked at Enkansh. He wasn't convinced that the siren wasn't going to hurt him. After everything his species had gone through, the selkie was wary about everyone wanting a piece of him.

"Riha, please. Take a seat," Rowan said with calm authority. Whatever was going on between the selkie and the siren had to be settled now before Enkansh got settled in.

Salem placed the kettle on the table and pulled a chair out for the selkie. When he looked expectantly at Riha, the selkie sighed. He took the seat that Salem offered him.

Enkansh too righted his chair and sat down. He was face to face with Riha.

Enjoying the drama, Red went behind the seated Syryn and wrapped his arms around his big brother's shoulder. They made for a happy picture together as loving brothers, and it amused Salem.

"Let's try this again," Rowan began. "Enkansh, meet Riha. He is a selkie who Syryn rescued out of a blood mage's prison. Riha likes seashells and reading books." Then he turned to Riha. "This is Enkansh, a siren from Silisia who came with us to see the world and broaden his horizons. I don't know what he likes but I'm sure we'll find out eventually since he'll be living with us for the indefinite future."

The two marine creatures looked at each other without warmth. Neither hated the other but it felt disconcerting for the both of them. Salem had never seen the apathetic Riha look so animated.

"Shake hands," Salem suggested.

Twin looks of revulsion were exchanged. Enkansh did not want to touch the seal man, and Riha wasn't very keen on shaking hands with the folks who ate humans on a daily. Living so long amongst humans had made the selkie gradually identify with them. It felt like cannibalism to him.

"Great idea," Red said from behind Syryn. "Come on, stop acting like children, you two."

It was rich coming from a child himself. Enkansh stood up again and stuck his hand out, a human custom he knew about. All eyes then turned to the selkie who had his arms crossed.

"Riha, any problem?" Salem asked. He was eager to facilitate a peaceful transition for the siren because he hoped that Enkansh would bring changes to Riha's reserved nature. A siren wasn't exactly the kind of house guest that most humans would welcome but since Syryn had brought him home, Salem had faith in Enkansh getting along with everyone.

"Sirens eat humans," Riha coolly said to Salem.

Rowan found it funny since Riha was living with two half-demons and having reservations about a siren.

"And selkie are supposed to be extinct," Enkansh shot back. "What's your deal, selkie? Afraid of me?"

Riha's nose flared in anger. He narrowed his eyes at the siren and stood up. "I had a run-in with your kind before. Saw him tearing a human baby out of her mother's womb. Forgive me if I can't help but be wary of sirens when they've never given me a reason to act otherwise."

Syryn sucked in a breath. It was getting heated between the two.

Enkansh fixed his jaw and glared at Riha. "You're a small-minded selkie if you're going to judge me based on the actions of some other siren."

It seemed to hit a chord with Riha. Syryn and Lucien had proved themselves different from the other demons that had hunted his people to extinction. So why couldn't he give Enkansh the benefit of doubt?

"Riha, give him a chance," Rowan told the selkie. "You trust Syryn, don't you? He would never bring home a siren who can't control his appetite." The words were said not just as an assurance to Riha but also as a reminder to Enkansh himself.

"I suppose you're right," Riha relented. "I apologise." The selkie stuck his hand out and offered it to the siren.

Enkansh took the proffered hand and they shook. Red's amused laughter rang out in the kitchen. He had never seen Riha look so constipated.

"Now that that's out of the way, why don't you show Enkansh to his room, Salem?" Rowan told the half-elf. "Riha, go on along with Salem."

They all understood that they were being dismissed from the kitchen. Riha wanted to protest but Rowan's tone had sounded very final. He reluctantly looked at Salem whose gaze rested on Syryn and then Red, the only one who hadn't been asked to leave.

"We'll return after helping Enkansh settle down," the blond alchemist graciously informed the others.

"Thank you, Salem," Rowan said as the half-elf led the other two out of the kitchen.

Once they were left alone, the blond anti mage turned to the redhead who had gleaned that something was wrong.

"Take a seat, Lucien.. We need to talk about your brother," Rowan told the child.