Cassian lay on his bed, and beside him was a mid-sized box that contained the snake he had bid for.
After paying the required amount and bidding farewell to everyone, most had hurried home to bond with their newly acquired beasts.
Cassian, however, had yet to open the box.
Sitting up on the bed, he placed the box in front of him.
He thought back to his earlier reaction upon seeing the snake, his face flushing slightly with embarrassment.
Shaking off the memory, he decided to focus on the present and opened the box.
"Which fool locked me in here?? I'll kill youuuu!"
A female voice echoed in Cassian's ears as he stared curiously at the white snake with piercing red eyes.
'So this is the Snake Tongue ability,' Cassian mused silently.
As the snake adjusted to the light, she blinked and turned her attention to the figure before her.
Just as she was preparing to strike, the snake stopped. Her gaze lingered on Cassian, and an odd feeling overcame her....an undeniable closeness, as if he were one of her own kind.
What struck her even more was how much Cassian resembled someone she once knew. 'He looks like Master, though Master was a woman... and he's just a boy,' she thought.
Despite this, she hissed at him with annoyance. 'Who are you?' she demanded, not expecting a reply.
Cassian calmly answered, "Hmm, me? I'm Cassian, and now.... your master."
The snake slithered out of the box, her expression shifting to shock. "You can understand me?" she asked with a hiss.
"Of course, I can," Cassian replied nonchalantly.
The snake, now intrigued, nodded slightly before hissing again, "What master? Rea has only one master."
Cassian's lips curled into a smile. "So your name is Rea, huh? A very cute name... just like you."
Gently, he rubbed his thumb against Rea's head. The snake, to her surprise, found herself closing her eyes, enjoying the affection.
Realizing her reaction, she hissed angrily, "Rea is not cute!"
Cassian chuckled softly. "Okay, okay," he said in a placating tone.
"So," he continued, "who is your master anyway?"
Rea hesitated, then smirked.... or at least attempted to smirk. Letting out a proud hiss, she replied, "My master is the Queen of Serpents."
She added, with a touch of sadness, "I used to be big and powerful, but I don't know how I ended up like this."
Cassian's smile deepened.
Rea tilted her head, now suspicious. "Why are you smiling?" she demanded.
"Are you making fun of Master?" she hissed indignantly.
Cassian quickly waved off her accusation. "No, no, I'm not making fun of her," he reassured her.
He paused briefly before saying, "I was just about to tell you... I'm the heir of the Queen of Serpents."
Rea looked utterly shocked by Cassian's declaration. She blinked a few times before bursting into laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHA... You're saying you are the heir of Master?"
Still chuckling, she added, "Though... you do look like her.... white hair, pale skin. You even kinda smell like her, and your presence is as comforting as hers..."
Her laughter faded as realization struck. "Wait a second.... you have way too much resemblance... but still, I don't believe you."
Cassian sighed, realizing he needed proof to convince her. Unfortunately, none of his current abilities could validate his claim.
'Tattoo,' he thought suddenly.
Maybe showing her the tattoo would help.
Without saying a word, he began removing his shirt.
Rea's eyes narrowed, and she hissed, "W-what are you doing?"
Ignoring her protest, he removed his shirt and pointed to his right arm, where a tattoo of a snake coiled around it stood out.
The snake's head, with its mouth wide open, rested at the base of Cassian's neck.
Rea's expression changed immediately. She slithered closer, staring at the tattoo with a mix of intensity and disbelief.
"Wa...wait, that mark?" she murmured, inching even closer.
She examined it closely, her earlier defiance replaced by awe. "So... you really are the heir of Master."
Cassian smirked. "That's what I said at first."
Rea, now subdued, spoke weakly, "Th-then I can form a bond with you... I guess."
Cassian smirked inwardly. "What? I didn't hear that."
Rea raised her voice slightly, "I said, I can form a bond with you."
Feigning confusion, Cassian replied, "Sorry, still didn't catch that."
Rea glared at him, realizing his game. "You're bullying me!" she accused, her tone indignant.
Cassian chuckled. "Sorry, sorry. It's just that you're so cute."
He reached out and gently rubbed his thumb against her head again. This time, Rea didn't protest, instead, she closed her eyes, leaning into the comforting touch.
After a moment, Cassian removed his hand and spoke.
"Rea."
The snake opened her eyes and replied, "Hmm, what?"
"Can you tell me more about the Queen of Serpents?" Cassian asked gently.
Rea's gaze dropped, her mood darkening with sadness. "I don't know," she whispered.
Cassian asked, confused, "What do you mean you don't know?"
Rea lowered her gaze and replied, "My memories are blank, except for fragments. I remember how Master looked... her presence, her tattoo... but not her face."
She paused before continuing, "And... her last words."
Cassian leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "What were her last words?"
Rea recited softly, her tone carrying a hint of longing, "'Come back with the fated one, Rea, to save me. I'll be waiting for you. And you will get your memories back with each evolution.'"
Cassian sighed deeply, already piecing together the implications. "So, who's this fated one?" he asked, though he felt like he already knew the answer.
Rea looked at him in silence, her gaze steady but saying everything.
Suddenly, a system notification broke the tense silence.
[Ding~]
[Quest: Save the Queen of Serpents
Time limit: None
Rewards: ???
Penalty: Death]
Cassian groaned inwardly. 'Ughhh... Fuck.'