Coming eye to eye with the violet raven, Zack could not help but feel a sense of bond between them. It's as if he was connected on a spiritual and emotional level with the winged creature itself.
If that made any sense to him whatsoever.
The raven then descended from the tree and flew straight right at Zack, now finding itself perching on the boy's shoulder.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but the one who wanted to see me is that raven?" Zack questioned the two ladies while pointing at the bird. The raven then cawed as if it answered his question and proceeded to nudge the boy's neck fondly using its head.
"Indeed. The raven has been waiting quite some time upon your awakening." Alice was the one who answered. "For the past four months, it has guarded you vigilantly while you were asleep constantly as if you were its master to be cared."
"Yeah, that bird sure is strange and kind of creepy too. But I guess it means you no harm since we can see that it's also quite worried about you." Bianca commented with a warm smile, "See, look how happy and clingy it is now that you are all well and awake."
"Haha, I can see that. Where did you come from, little one?" Zack returned the bird's gesture by petting its head with the same amount of adoration, and the raven let out a satisfied caw in response.
"It appears that sums it up, then." Alice announced, "You Zack are no doubt… a St. Raven."
"A St. Raven?" The boy eyed the woman with a confused look, "I remember one of the Wild Witches who tormented us also called me that."
Alice understood the boy's confusion and decided to explain it to him, "Allow me to give you a gist of it. The St. Raven family is one of the prestigious seven Saint families here in the land of Grayhart. The families are descended from each of the Warlock King's seven wives. St. Igna, the family of Fire, St. Flora, witches who specialized in the druidic arts, St. Kanari, the Celestial Thunder from the east, St. Winters, Frost witches of the north, St. Aquarius, The House of Water, St. Lumus, the Light and Beacon of the Empire, and of course your family, the infamous St. Raven… witches who command Divine Darkness at their disposal."
"Divine Darkness? In what world is darkness divine, hmm?" Bianca was flabbergasted by how two contradictory words joined forces with each other.
"Trust me, girl." Alice just smiled playfully at her, "You'll know once you have the opportunity to meet one of their witches yourself."
Zack seemed to have understood Alice's brief explanation and proceeded to his next question, "How are you certain that I'm this St. Raven you speak of?"
"For one, your ebony black hair." Alice pointed to his hair, "Every member of the St. Raven family always has that particular trait without exception. After all, brown is the most common hair color here in our land. And not only that, you having your own raven also solidified that fact as well. The St. Raven family was also infamous for having their raven companions at their disposal. However, not every St. Raven has the privilege of possessing one either. The ones chosen by their so-called Divine Darkness get to do so. You Zack appear to be one of their chosen, so to say."
"Me, chosen? Huh, can't say I'm fond about that, given how this precious "family" of mine abandoned me in Sanders when I was still a baby." Apparently, Zack was not exactly pleased by the notion of being one of the St. Raven's special members.
"Perhaps, and you being a man means that you are of little to no value to them. Not that they know of your unique fate." Alice stroked her chin in thinking, "Leaving you in that village is what little offer of a mercy is all that they could muster."
"In any event, I won't be actively pursuing them if that's what you are wondering." Zack made his choice, "Bianca and this little guy is the only family I need."
"It's your decision to make and not mine." Alice respected his judgment. "Although I'm still wondering about one thing."
"What is it?" The boy asked.
"Your raven. All ravens of the St. Ravens that I have encountered are black instead of the violet one that you now own." Alice eyed said raven curiously, "Hmm, perhaps it is because of the influence of your magic? Your companion sure is going to attract some unnecessary attention in the future, especially should you have the fortune of meeting some of your family members."
Before Zack could even speak up about his predicament, the raven answered for him with a caw. Then, the raven suddenly glowed slightly, causing Zack to close his eyes at how bright it was. When the light dissipated, they all saw that the raven now sported its common black color instead.
"Well, that's pretty convenient." Bianca made her comment.
"You can do that?" Zack was amazed, "You sure are full of surprised… er… I really should give you a name."
"You're right!!" Bianca said with excitement. "But first things first, we really should check if it's a he or a she. Huh, I wonder how people check on a raven's gender."
The raven's eyes widened when Bianca suddenly lifted its tail. Baffled by how insolent the idiotic girl was, the raven pecked Bianca's hand, causing the girl to wince in pain.
"Aw!!! How rude!!!" Bianca pointed accusingly, "First order of business, you ought a teach that bird some manners!!!"
"Caw!!!!" The raven responded defiantly at her. If that foolish girl were not the master's lover, then it would certainly do more than pecking for how disrespectful she was.
"Sorry, Bianca, but you're definitely in the wrong here." Zack sighed at her ridiculous antics, causing the girl to pout angrily in response. "Really, checking its gender like that? It's like pulling a person's pants off. We could, you know, just ask."
"Fine." Bianca crossed her arms in surrender. As she was about to give up, though, she saw a glimpse of the raven… smirking teasingly at her.
"That little twat!!!" Bianca said indignantly and eyed the bird menacingly, "This isn't over, you literal bird-brain!!!"
The raven of course was having the same thoughts along the lines and did not back down from the challenge.
Zack could only shake his head at this newfound rivalry that he found himself in between while Alice just chuckled from the sidelines at the hilarious scene.
'With them around, I supposed things are going to get lively this time around..... for a change.' Were Alice's thoughts while witnessing the banter between the boy's girlfriend and his bird.