chapter 4: to really see

"You're back!" I said, not really knowing if I'm supposed to be happy about it, or the other way around, "did you get that quest you wanted?"

The little snake looked confused, as if it somehow expected me to know something like this without needing to say anything himself. Maybe it does. Far be it for me to understand how that thing's mind works.

It looked no different from before, still small and tiny and thankfully, harmless. Its' body was still mostly green. It still looked like a snake. Did it get the quest? Did it already leveled up, I wondered as I looked at the snake.

Shouldn't it look different if it leveled up? Scarier, meaner, just plain more?

The little snake however, had no idea the turn of Fear's thoughts had taken and just addressed the main issue - Fear's lack of knowledge. If not for the great-elder words, the little snake would have wondered why his little brother doesn't know bisic things like how to see one menu, find the quests, or use skills.

"Ho, that's right, I have yet to teach you about the system!", it called up, as if just having remembered it was it's fucking duty to teach me those things.

Yes, yes you did. You took off on your own, not telling me anything other than fairytales - ones that involve me, of all things. I didn't even know about those level things, that won't let me eat anything other than baby food. I crossed my hands across my chest and frowned.

"Don't be mad little brother" little snake pleaded "I didn't mean to~" it whined.

"I'm not mad" Fear said, but no matter how little snake looked at him, the little human boy looked mad. He was even tapping his right foot impenitently.

"You are" little snake said unhappily "and... you have every right to be"

Surprised at little snake's sort-of apology (he didn't really apologize) I cleared my throat, "well, all you need to do is tell me now"

Little snake nodded hesitatingly, he looked much less enthusiastic than before he left. I wonder what happened to him while he was away from me. It probably hurt his pride some, or else he wouldn't look so thoughtful.

He looked like he was re-thinking things. Re-evaluating things that he took for granted before. Somehow, I'm curious.

"I'm going to tell you what I know, well, what I can tell you as you are now" little snake amended.

I nodded.

"Ok, first thing you need to know is that in this world you can see how the world really sees you and the things you've done. You can do it by saying menu" little snake said.

"Now, you have your name, gender and level in the first row" little snake explained "the second row is about your class – your work, if you will. You will notice yours is still empty – it will stay that way until you reach level 10"

"Does that mean that by level 10 I'll look like an adult?" I ask happily.

"Yes, you will look like a sixteen years old teen. From then on, you will age one year for each 10 levels you gain" little snake informed me.

I frown – little snake this, little snake that. It grew tiring to keep thinking of him like that. It also pains me to even say the word snake mentally each time I refer to him. I need to find a name for the –

"Ok, from now on your name is Salazar, Sal for short" I state irritated. The decision wasn't a hard one. I'm a fan of the book series and the snake is green, so it was either Slytherin, Salazar, Fang or Chibi – what?! He's fucking tiny!

"O-kay…" Sal said slowly.

"You needed a name, I don't want to keep calling you little snake all the time, so from now on, you are Sal" I insisted.

"Sure," he nodded "but weren't we in the middle of explaining the menu?"

I blush and look away, so what if I got distracted, it happens to the best of us, "yes, we were" I agree.

The li- Sal shrugs, "the third row to the fifth row is your stats. The higher they are the better. The second you awoken me, you would have received your stats, but since you are really a snake and not a human, you got it the moment you appeared in the world outside mother's realm"

"Sure…" I rolled my eyes at the explanation. I was done trying to convince this stubborn idiot that the sky was blue. Let time teach him instead.

"Next, after your states are the skill section. You gain new skills through quests, special actions and when your familiars gain a new level. The skill can be a good skill or a bad skill, what you get is random and could be trash, or it could be awesome - you shouldn't have any at the moment"

I nod, that was annoying, but it's not like I was here to win this game, I was here to get over my fear of snakes. It didn't matter what skill I'll get. I just need Sal to level up, grow stronger and have my fear of snakes grow smaller in the same time.

"The last section is achievements and titles. If you do something really grand, or unexpected, you will gain titles or achievements. Both will give you some sort of perk"

So, it's a random perk, convenient.

"Now all that's left to do is look at my menu" I said cheerfully.

As I said the word menu, a floating window appeared before me.

Name: Fear Gender: Male Level: 1 class 1: - class 2: - class 3: - STR: 3 AGI: 5 DEX: 7 INT: 6 WIS: 4 CHA: 5 (+3)

Title: Medusa's favorit

You who for some reason gained the goddess Medusa's blessing, will have easier way to gain a snake's trust, +3 to CHA.

That moment I noticed that there was text button next to the floating screen – quests. I pressed on it lightly and the floating screen switched with another that read:

Sal's first quest!

Survive in the plains outside of begginer's village for three stright days with your summoner.

Reward: 300 XP

Reward: Posion Updrage

Failure: Death

Extra - Sal P.O.V

After Sal and Fear parted, Part one

Little snake saw himself as knowledgeable, he knew a lot of the world outside of his mother's real. This will be easy, he found himself thinking to himself years ago, before he even grew old enough to be one of those allowed to leave mother's realm.

To say that little snake is arrogant is going too far, but he is a sheltered child that never left the good and easy life. He knows not of what it is to be targeted, or even had a passing thought that resembled the desperation of fighting for one's life.

All in all, little snake had no idea what he was going to face when he offered to go to the keep. Still, he wasn't ignorant to the point of stupidity, he knew, on some level, that the world outside was nothing like mother's realm. He knew that he can grow stronger there when he beat others or completed quests – that meant that there will be strong opponents he'll have to face.

Still, it was more like a passing thought. Not a real worry that plugged his every waking moment.

Little snake knew that going to the-keep will not be an easy task, especially so to low level snakes like him, but little snake was determined to help his new-found, cursed sibling.

Spoiled as he was, little snake was still loyal to his kin. In his eyes, it was a sad thing to find a little brother so very afraid of his snake-brothers and sisters. In truth, little snake felt sorry for the little hatchling. No one deserves such a fate, is what the little snake thought to himself as he made his way through the dangerous forest.

Mother had left the hatchling for him to take care of, to look after and to keep safe. He will break little brother's curse with all his might. The little snake was determined. He didn't even entertain the thought that the little human was not, in fact, a cursed-snake, like he first decided.

This was one of little snake's bad virtues – once his mind was made, not even death could change his opinion. One could bring logical facts, testimonies and other such things, but nothing will change.

Stubborn, that was the word, little snake remembered.

As he kept going, little snake grew unsatisfied with his pace. Wasn't the keep supposed to be near beginner village? It was taking too long. Far too long. How come he wasn't there already?

The thing is, while the little snake had the knowledge inside of him, just like all of Medusa's children, today is his first time seeing the world outside for real.

Having never traveled anywhere in his life, little snake is a spoilt brat that doesn't really know how different things are from back home. Now he's starting to understand.

Well, he always knew that the forest is dangerous. It is a known fact that every snake knows. However, it is different to actually live it in the flesh.

The forest itself is filled with all kinds of snakes, but not many of them are Medusa's children. Little snake isn't sure how they will react to his presence, he never actually met a not-kin snake.

Will they be nice, or are they going to be hostile?

Not willing to take a chance with his little brother's safety, little snake made an excuse for little brother to wait for him where he'll be safe from the dangers of the forest. He, himself, is the only one that needs to be in actual danger.

Little snake keeps to the high grass and lets his green scales hide him from the sight of others. His red horns are tiny and the red is not bright, so no one will see it through the dense green.

The forest is filled with animals of all kinds, but snakes most of all. In the deep parts, dwell the monsters, not beings that little snake wants to see at the moment.

He knows he's too weak at the moment, still low level and not yet strong enough to protect his little brother or himself.

Going to the keep is essential, for only there he will be able to get the quests to level up.

A thought crosses little snake's mind – what would happen if little brother leveled up before him? Will it be like with the other humans? Will he get crippled?

How will he be able to protect little brother like this?

He won't.

He never did tell little brother not to level up himself – saying so to humans was forbidden, mother's law.

He was getting worried – he had to get to the keep and fast.

He traveled in this new speed of his for a few minuets and he covered ground fast, soon he'll reach the keep and then it's only going back to little brother.

Happily, lost in his daydreams, little snake marched on.

Speeding up had not been smart in hindsight, the little snake would think to himself later.

It was easier to spot a fast-moving target than a slow moving one. It had nothing to do with his scales and everything to do with the movement of the grass as he raced towards his destination.

From above, a hawk watched, looking for its next meal. When it saw little snake in the grass it didn’t even think twice before going for a steep dive. It readied its' talons and with a mighty battle cry, it zeroed in on the target.

Spooked, little snake rolled to the side in fright and horror. He knew that this is not an opponent he can defeat, not while he was this weak.

Running away was the only best choice he could make. He had to find a hole or some other place where the hawk won't be able to reach. Little snake is small, so practically any place will do!

He kept running, looking, running, trying to get away get-away get-away.

Another war-cry was heard from above and little snake raised his head to look from where, so he could dodge. It was almost too late. The hawk grazed his scales. Just a few centimeters to the side and it would have had him.

No no no no no no no no this can't be- not happening – it can't end like this!

Running had never been as urgent as it was that very second.

X

Little snake had found a place to hide, it was a small hole near the burke of a tree. If it cried his little hurt out, shivering like mad, no one will blame him.