Gilgamel cleared his throat again, eyes darting hopefully to Dean, "I don't want a reward, but I do need Senior Dean to do me a little favor."
Dean's eyebrow lifted a fraction. "A favor?"
Gilgamel nodded eagerly, his head bobbing like a pecking bird, "I want Senior Dean to accompany me to Eversnow Mountain in three months."
"Eversnow Mountain…?" Dean echoed softly, sifting through his memory.
After a pause, his cool gaze flicked back to Gilgamel, "If I recall correctly, that mountain is far in the north — buried in snow year-round. Plenty of ice-attributed magical beasts inhabit there. It's hardly a place for a First Circle Wizard to wander around in."
"Exactly why I need Senior Dean to come with me!" Gilgamel leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with hope.
Dean stared at him in silence for a beat too long, the tick-tock of the wall clocks filling the gap. Finally, he asked flatly, "And what exactly are you planning to do there?"
