BOOK 1, CHAPTER 9 – The Contract

Artien slowly stood, feeling something amiss. He felt the cave room’s pressure had somehow lessened. He took a step towards the door and knew something was wrong when he didn’t hear the swoosh of water.

Rumble.

Behind him, the rock door opened. Little Green lay at the entrance, looking inside. When the door cleared her vision, she saw inside and hissed in surprise. She looked up at him, then down at his feet. She did this several times.

Artien followed her gaze, seeing his feet on bare stone. No water lay behind.

“I’m sorry!” He said, knowing how much the magic spring was treasure.

“I didn’t know I could use it all.” He explained.

After a moment, Little Green slithered towards him and climbed around his hand again. She tugged her head forward until he began walking. She led the way down the cave tunnels back towards the mother snake. Once they were back inside the original cave, she climbed down.

Artien faced the mother snake mutely. They all eyed each other. The tension in the room between him and the mother snake built. She knows, he thought.

“I didn’t mean to take the spring. My body just sucked it up by itself.”

The mother snake’s eyes narrowed.

“The mana spring, it’ll eventually restore itself.”

Her eyes narrowed even further and her mouth slightly opened, showing a bit of fang.

“G-given enough time.” He stammered out, sweat building on his temple.

The mother snake tilted her head at an angle, showing both giant eyes focused on him. Little Green looked between the two of them repeatedly.

“Don’t eat me! It’s not my fault. In fact, the mana spring was kind of small. It wasn’t enough. My body could have made more improvements.”

The mother snake’s jaws opened.

“I’m sorry, already! Don’t eat me!”

“Hiss-ss-ss-ss. Hiss-ss-ss-ss.”

Artien shut his mouth, having heard that sound before and knowing what it means.

“Why are you laughing?” He asked, dumbfounded.

“It has been ages since I’ve laughed. Hiss-ss-ss. Ah, young boy, you are different.”

“What?”

“That spring was birthed from the mana condensed in my breath. The previous owner left a barrier at the entrance that gathered mana inside. I suppose he used it to train.” She eyed him again. “Hss-ss-ss.”

“Can you stop laughing?”

Little Green’s eyed narrowed and she let out short bursts of hissing.

“Not you too!”

“Alright, enough,” mother snake said. “Now that you have somewhat strengthened, you should be able to enter into a contract with Little Green.”

Little Green bobbed her head as she hissed.

“Contract?”

“Yes. It is something we beasts avoid doing even unto death. However, to properly journey, it is best you both make this connection.”

“What exactly is a contract?” He asked, a little miffed from being laughed at. “Why do it if you hate it?”

“Good questions. For a beast to enter into a contract, there are only two reasons. The first is if her mate is for life. Depending on the beast, this can be a mortal life, or an immortal one. The longer living a beast, the more careful on contracting.”

“The second reason to contract is to survive. Usually as subordinate to a stronger, fiercer beast. Beasts in past times have also been coerced by weaker outsiders and chose death as alternative to serving a weaker being.”

“To survive.” He frowned. “The world is harsh.”

“Indeed. The contract will help ensure both of you survive past leaving this place.”

The mother snake nodded to Little Green. Little Green climbed up Artien and settled around his shoulders. She leaned her head against Artien’s forehead. A swift glow emitted, flashing quickly. She licked his cheek.

Artien felt a connection between them form. Something indescribable. He felt they were close friends. He clearly felt her presence. “This is a contract?”

The mother snake snorted. “The basic of forms for a contract. Nothing particularly important. At this level it only proves a bit of trust and liking, not a real benefit. The contract you will complete is something which has not been seen between human and beast.”

Artien suddenly felt uneasy. “Just what kind of connection are we talking here?”

“You will understand once it is complete. It does not matter. You have no choice. Now, do as I say. Feed little green a drop of your blood.”

Little Green climbed down. She curled up and lifted her head, opening her jaws wide. Two pointy fangs curved outwards, ready to grab and swallow. Artien shivered a little, imagining the mother snake trying to do something similar.

He found a sharp stone to poke his finger. A single red droplet fell into Little Green’s mouth. She swallowed quickly. A soft red aura coated her scales and sunk in, disappearing. She looked up at Artien, waiting.

The connection between them strengthened. He sensed her rough location. Along the connection and feeling of closeness increasing, he became aware of her emotions. A joyous feeling was shared. He looked at her squinty eyes, realizing that she was smiling.

“You have a servant-master bond. You will take it one step further.” The Mother snake demanded.

Artien nodded. “What’s next?”

“Cycle your mana through your blood and feed her that. One drop will suffice.”

“My mana?” Artien, unaware of where this was going, began meditating in place.

Little Green waited eagerly, watching with avid attention.

Artien closed his eyes, drawing his flame forward. He pushed the flame through his body and unsteadily focused it down to his veins. It was imperfect with mana leaking out of his control. He focused harder, forcing the mana to climb all down into his hand.

The mana started to fight. He forgot himself, placing his entire mind to the task. He compressed and condensed the mana into his finger tip to a single drop of blood. He used the mana to push the droplet out. With his eyes closed, he felt all his mana drain as the droplet left his finger.

Little Green ate the droplet. Her scales glistened as the mana reacted with her own. Her eyes glowed with an inner flame. Using her connection to Artien, she embraced the mana as her own.

Artien leaned against the wall as he opened his eyes. His body ached without the added mana’s support. He began his breathing technique as he watched Little Green. In front of his eyes, she seemed to grow a little.

“Hiss-ss-ss. One droplet of pure mana was a little much, boy.” The mother snake laughed. “You needed only cycle the mana softly and feed one drop of blood. Hiss-ss-ss.”

“You said,” He thought better of it. “No, never mind.”

As he said that, he felt his connection with Little Green escalate. He felt they would always stay together. They were siblings beyond mere boy and snake. A grander sister-brother bond than mortal flesh and bone. “What is this?”

“You feel it? This is an ancient bond. One that is shared only ever between two. It has no name, but some call it eternal-bond. You will be as such even if you are both reborn.”

“This… is..” He felt tears spring up. Some familiar feeling. Like…

“Boy, why do you cry?”

“Ah?” He raised his hand, feeling wet cheeks. “I don’t know. I think I’ve had this before. Where or when, I don’t know. But, something horrible happened.” His chest clenched tight. It became hard to breathe.

“You are full of surprises!” The mother snake shouted. “This must not be your first life.”

He rubbed his face dry as he gathered himself. Little Green climbed up and licked his cheek. A worried feeling came from her. He rubbed her head.

“I don’t know.”

The mother snake sighed. “It is not time for this. We must move forward. Little Green, come over here.”

Little Green licked Artien’s cheek, then sped over to her mother’s side. She looked at him from a distance, a peculiar emotion coming across their connection. Remorse?

“Little Green?” Artien took a step back.

“Apologies for the trouble beforehand.” The mother snake said, as she opened her giant mouth as much as she could. She spit, a stream of purple spurting out. The liquid shot with extreme speed and accuracy, splashing into Artien's upper face.

Instantly his face burned. His eyesight vanished as he clutched his face and screamed. He fell to his knees and banged his head against the ground. He felt something wrap around his head and pry his hands away. A tongue rapidly lapped up the venom.

He clenched his teeth and pulled at his shirt. Beyond the darkness and pain he sensed Little Green trying to help him. He let her lap up the remains of the venom. Once she was done she crawled off him. He turned onto his back, afraid to open his eyes.

He lay there, his chest heaving. He tried to relax. He forgot about his surroundings, forcefully entering into meditation. He reached for his mana, finding a little ember remaining from it’s use before.

“Hah!” He laughed helplessly. Without the mana, healing the wound in time before permanent blindness was impossible. He grimaced as he realized the meaning of permanency.

He laid there for a long while. The mother snake said nothing, seeming like she was gone. Little Green returned to his side, pouring cool water into his eyes. The first trip was wasted. He sputtered and turned his head to the side.

“Hissss.” Little Green complained, sending impatience to him. Guilt was also present.

“You knew she would do this. Don’t even go there.” He gritted out.

“What’s the point of getting out of here if you’ve crippled me?!”

Silence answered his question.

He sensed Little Green leave his presence and return with more water. This time he laid back down and allowed her to clean first his face, then pour it directly into his eyes. As he opened his eyes, he felt despair set in. It was only darkness.

Little Green returned to her process of watering and feeding him. They both worked through several emotions the other felt. They were careful not to cross any lines, keeping a careful balance. After the second day, Artien got tired of the tip-toeing.

He sat up, feeling Little Green close.

“Hey.”

Little Green froze, her emotions stopping, then sending a multitude of them his way.

“Calm down.” He said.

She panicked, going into a frenzy. He heard her slither back and forth in front of him. She froze, then ran away, leaving him alone.

“Wait!”

He climbed up unsteadily. He rushed after her presence. Before going far, the uneven floor caught against his foot. He tripped, falling forward. He landed heavily.

After a short while of unwilling acceptance, he pushed up, crawling back towards to wall. He carefully sat with his back against the wall. He sat in silence by himself. He waited a long time for Little Green to return. Without her, he felt alone.

He took a breath, pursed his lips, and addressed the mother snake.

“Why?”

Immediately he felt the mother snake’s head shift his way. So, she had been here the whole time.

“Why?!” He demanded again, this time yelling it. Why?!