Chapter 52: A Confrontation Beneath The Stars

Chapter 52: A Confrontation Beneath The Stars

Sakura

The usual way one bonded with a companion, whether spirit beast, spirit, or just a regular old creature, was to show it you meant no harm. And then to have it associate you with good things. Like free food, or belly rubs in the case of my brother's celestial hounds.

At least, that's what all my teachers, the books, and my parents all said.

But how was I supposed to do that with a snake?

I guess I could give it a belly rub, I thought.

King swung his head back around towards me and glared at me with a single, head sized eye. He snorted his disapproval. I agreed, but I couldnt think of anything else.

You could try talking to it. It might be intelligent.

Have you met a Sky Snake that could talk?

No.

Exactly.

But you could try.

I sighed. Fair enough.

I stepped forward, cycling my chie through my whole body just in case I had to make a quick get away.

Hello there, snake. I felt dumb even saying those words. But to my suprise the snake's eyes locked on me, and he squinted in my direction even as he began devouring the eagle again. Uh . . . I dont know. King, what am I supposed to say to a giant sky snake I'm trying to befriend?

Try telling it you want to be its friend.

I wanted to roll my eyes, but I fought my teenage instincts and gave it a try. Hello snake, uh . . . I would like to be your friend. I took another step towards it. I was nowhere near striking distance, but it was closer. And the snake's eyes watched me closely.

What would you have said to the tasty bird?

It clicked, and I felt very foolish.

Right. Ritual words.

Lets see, snake. There are three elements to forging a relationship with a beast like you. I mean, short of being there at its birth, hello King. King rumbled happily.

Or, I chuckled. Being a total moron and devouring your core without cleaning it first.

I nearly started laughing at that absurdity. It's not like someone would be THAT stupid. Right? I mean, theyd be fighting the creature's spirit for dominance over the body at every turn. Sure it would mean increased power, and speed of growth. But, who would be that desperate, or that dumb? Perhaps it was just the tension in the situation that brought that unbelievably foolish cenario to mind.

But cleansing this creature's core would take way too long, I thought. Best just become friends.

First is, provide an offering. Well, I guess that bird counts. I did distract it for you, so you could catch it.

The snakes eyes narrowed and I felt an oddly distinct sense of annoyance at me as I spoke. So, youre welcome. I took another step towards the creature. That food is yours. Consider it my offering. The second is the ritual supplication . . . Let's see.

What would I have said to that bird again? Right. Ill just replace Bird with Snake, and hope for the best.

Sighing at the indignity of it, I raised my hands above my head, showing I was holding no weapon, and began to chant. Filling the words with mana and chie. The words really didnt matter, but the intent and meaning behind them, as well as how solemnly one had prepared and said them often conveyed deeper meaning than just the words themselves. It usually meant a higher chance of success.

The original words I had prepared were: Cristaline Eagle. Creature of sky, earth, and moon, hunter of prey, and beast of beauty. I present myself and this offering as a gift to you. Let us become allies, friends, and companions. Let our fates intertwine.

But that didnt really seem to fit this creature.

Snake of . . . Sky, Snow, Rock. And . . . scales. The snake's eyes locked onto me with an intensity I hadnt seen in it before. It seemed to try and speed up its eating of the bird.

Maybe it thinks I'm going to try and take its meal. Ill try and make it feel better. . . but how?

Hunter of . . . Birds? Beast of slithering and . . . and venum. The Snake hissed, but the noise sounded . . Well, not really angry with me. It sounded almost pleased.As if it were happy something other than itself was recognizing its own glory and purpose.

Okay little guy, let's see if I can make the rest of this up on the fly.

Say something about its shimmering scales. I always like it when people compliment my shell.

Slitherer, stealthy one, with . . . ever shimmering scales. This is absurd. I present myself and this offering as a gift. That we might become allies, companions, and . . . and friends. Given enough time.

Given enough time, anything can grow on you. Right? I hoped so.

What say you?! I raised my voice, and the last words echoed around me. The moon was bright high overhead, as the snake finished its meal. I stayed there frozen, waiting for an answer.

Kill the turtle. Thatll make sure the lesson is learned.

Woh, the lighting boy took a step back. Im all for teaching a bitch a lesson not to spread lies about us. But killing a spirit beast companion? Really?

So shes been pinning her the times shes been caught spreading rumors about her own people on me huh? That explains a lot.

Leave then, if you dont have the stomach!

King, I . . . I dont know what to do.

Dont worry. Ill keep you safe.

Gah! I set my nose, and the blood flowed more freely for a moment before it started clotting. I reached down and touched my ankle. It was clearly broken.

Grow me two sticks please. Can you do that?

Yeah. Hold on.

But Taitha. Theyre broken, look at them. The message was sent. Dont you think killing her companion would be going too far? It was glowy golden boy. He was trying to reason with her. Lightning kid had already sprouted storm wings made from his element and jumped off the mountain. He was gliding down to safety even now. Were silvers. Theyre peak Steel. Facing them in a fight was already one sided. Doing more would be disgraceful.

It is true, the player said. Her voice was quiet, and carried a smokey feel to it. Any one of us could have defeated her. It goes against honor to . . .

Taitha ignited her fist in fire, and started towards us. None of you have the guts to do what's needed! Cowards!

I braced my foot against King's back leg, the ground was slick with my blood. It hadnt yet frozen because of King's heat. Which made what I was planning even possible.

King took a step forward with his other leg, and a moment later I heard a massive snapping sound as his jaws clenched tight on Taithas fire wreathed fist.

Little bastard! That hurts, let go!

I smirked. King might have been a slow mover, but the first thing you learned about snapping turtles was to never put your hand anywhere near their mouth. Theyre faster than you think.

I kicked off his back leg with my working one, both daggers pointed directly at their targets. A heartbeat later Taitha screamed as both blades cut through his thick leather boots and sank into her thigh muscle.

The daggers were hard to pull free, but a moment later I was biting them deeper, higher up on her leg. King opened his jaws enough to let her begin to collapse, before grabbing her torso in his jaws and biting down.

It didnt kill her.

But from the swearing she let loose it clearly didnt feel like a summer's breeze either.

Taitha wrapped herself in red hot fire, and after a moment even King had to relent. He released her like a hot coal, grabbed my foot and pulled me away from the evil princess and back towards safety.

After a few moments, Kings injuries overcame him, and he collapsed. Unconscious. My foot was still in his mouth as he tried to pull me away from the fiery woman. His body began to dissolve back into light, as I recalled him into my Soul Vault.

I felt him, and my heart skipped a beat in fear. Most of his mana and chie had been spent. Normally he took up almost all of the space. And lately he had been pushing against its seams. I had been preparing to have a difficult conversation with him about needing to stay behind until I ascended into the next realm.

But now he felt small, diminished. He barely took up half the space.

My own body was broken. The cold stone had ripped apart my cloths, and shredded my skin during the dash towards Taitha. My spilled blood had only given me the ability to do it, not protected me from the consequences of grating my body against frozen jagged stones.

And I was still bleeding.

My vision began to weaken and swim, the stars overhead wheeled oddly. Beautifully. I felt an odd contentment rush over me. Then, they were replaced with Taithas hateful face. She lifted a fiery fist, about to bring it down and end me.

To snuff out my and King's life in a single blow.

I was ready. I had done my best, fought my fight, and hurt an opponent who had ascended to another realm entirely. I had done all I could, and had done far more than even I expected of me. And besides, there was no use in wasted effort at this point. Might as well go out peacefully.

While watching the stars behind her head.

She pulled back, and the fire burned even hotter. It felt oddly nice on my face and body given how cold I was. I let out a last breath, ready for her to strike.

Only . . she didnt.

Instead a bright blue and white body, with scales wrapped around her arm and shoulders, and sank palm length fangs deep into her forearm.

Bite to protect! Bite to eat! This bite is good! Fire girl die! I bite, she die! Die, die, die!

The voice was alien to me. Strange. And yet, oddly welcome.

I was sure I was delusional from the blood loss. As I thought I saw Sect Leader Wu-zin descending from the heavens, a galaxy of stars swirling in a crown over his head.

Darkness took me, as one of the many stars overhead descended in a ball of bright white and blue light. N0v3lRealm was the platform where this chapter was initially revealed on N0v3l.B1n.