Inside an old inn, within an unknown town, was a lone snake, sitting alone looking outside the window at the dark cloudy night. The rain didn't seem to improve his already rotten mood as he cursed to himself
"Damned fool! For the last few weeks, he's been going on about the importance of a life changing opportunity, and the first time within days that he finally contacts me, it's to meet up here within this poor excuse of an inn, and he's late! By ten minutes at least"!
As the snake rambled on, he had not realized that the door of the inn opened, revealing a much smaller snake. An asp from first glance, wearing a poorly forged bronze helmet covering all but his eyes and lower jaw. The rest of his body had little protection and was soaked by the rain outside. Still, it didn't stop or hesitate him from scanning the room until his eyes fell upon the lone snake which still remained glued to the outside world. Slowly he approached the unknown serpent until he was all but five feet away. He opened his mouth to speak but the larger snake beat him to it.
"You're not the one I was expecting". He hissed softly as he kept his eyes trained through the window. "I trust you have that old Gazelles scroll"?
"Yes Captain Jùrén (Chinese for Titan). I have it with me here".
The Asp presented the serpent with a cylinder porcelain casing coloured red. This got Jùréns full attention as he studied the casing before finally slithering off the chair. The asp looked in surprise as the serpent revealed his true size. The little snake had never seen the captain in person before, but from a guess, he believed that he had to be over fifteen feet long. It was a surprise that the chair had not collapsed given the large snakes suggested weight. Getting over the brief distraction, he passed the scroll over where Jùrén opened the porcelain cover and grabbed the scroll inside and opened it.
Inside was a painting of a grey python. Judging from the painter of the picture, he had fangs, black spots and red symbols coating his back. The two yellow eyes of the painted python seemed to stare right back at Jùrén with something of a friendly look. After a good long look, he began to read the Chinese wording underneath, growing more and more curious by the second. Even after he had finished reading, he took a few seconds longer to swallow the importance of what had been written. Was the gazelle truly serious? This sort of thing he would have passed off as an old story. He would have believed that too if it wasn't for the signed signature underneath belonging to someone he knew to be very very important.
"I trust that the... witness, that saw him has been questioned"? He asked, looking at the scroll a second time in thoughts of missing something he shouldn't have.
"Yes Captain. Shūdāizi (Chinese for Bookworm) took him into custody at once".
The captain grumbled something under his breath and begun to think. He thought and thought for as long as he needed. The asp watched nervously, unsure of what Jùrén's response would be. Thankfully he didn't have long to wait.
"How long ago did Shūdāizi find out about this witness"?
"Three days ago".
Jùrén raised an eye.
"And he's waited this long to tell me"?
"Shūdāizi claimed to be busy, finding out everything he could about this python. A rather hard thing to do when he has very little past".
The captain stared at the little asp with an unamused look, causing him to flinch.
"In... Shūdāizi's word of course, Captain". He all but stuttered.
"All and all, this doesn't answer one particular question. What has this to do with me? Why not someone of a higher authority"?
"Well, Shūdāizi thinks that you would be the best suitable candidate for this campaign due to, in his words, your biology and... species"...
Jùrén sighed angrily. He was chosen all because he was also a snake? If the scroll he had just read hadn't stated that Shūdāizi was an important part of this mission, if you could call it a mission, then he would have wasted no time in tracking the gazelle down and crushing him into dust. Still, if one was strong enough to take down a gorilla war lord and encounter a demon, then perhaps it wouldn't have been a total waste of time to find this python.
"Understood. A diplomatic peace offering should be enough to at least gain his confid"-
"I'm afraid that's not an option, captain". The asp spoke up, earning a surprised look from the large snake. "Shūdāizi claims that there is little time for suppeltey until he is within his care".
Jùrén hissed angrily. Could the old fool go more than five minutes without testing his patience? Retaliating with force would not go well for either parties.
"Idiot"! He finally yelled, hitting the wall with his tail. His heavy breathing was all that could be heard until he calmed himself down. "Very well... I suppose I have no choice but to do things his way for now. What's my support"?
"Twenty soldiers at your disposal Captain, all briefed and waiting for your command".
"And what of my target"?
"Our spies claim that he, along with one other, has left the Jade palace as of a couple of days ago, and is supposedly heading to the city of Jinzhou".
Jinzhou? That scum hole? Where the Wu sisters were once kept? What did he hope to find there?
"Very well. We will set off at once". Jùrén spoke, taking another look at the picture of the python. As friendly as the picture looked, the drawing had been made to look like a criminals report. The eyes and fangs were almost tempting to hypnotize and bite whatever poor victim stood in their way.
"Make no mistake. This python is a dangerous being". He pointed out to the asp. "Deadly, unpredictable, cunning even... There's no telling how clever and wise this being can be"...
...
SOMEWHERE ELSE...
MIKE POV
"Hey loohk... ai hian touch my gnothe wig my tougnh"!
Well, it's been the second day of travelling and already I'm bored. Bored bored bored... Talking to Viper had its moments, but there were points where I had to make up my own entertainment one way or another. Now I was trying to touch my own nose with my tongue while receiving questionably the weirdest look from my girlfriend yet.
"Mike, would you please stop goofing off? We're only two more days away from Jinzhou, then another four to Gongmen. We need to focus".
I cast an annoyed look before sucking my tongue back into my mouth.
"What? I'm just trying to pass the time".
"I thought I suggested I spy earlier"?
"Yeah, and we played it. For a total of two minutes. Not exactly a thrilling game when the only clue given is green". I deadpanned.
Viper rolled her eyes before continuing to travel along the dirt path we had been following. I followed behind.
"Besides, I still don't understand why we're taking the long route to Gongmen when we can get there in three days".
Viper scoffed in an amused tone.
"Mike, that route is filled with scorching deserts and blistering cold snow storms. Do you honestly wish to tell me that you would find that way easier"?
...
Well that shut me up...
"I thought so". She giggled.
"Okay, fair enough". I grumbled jokingly. "But seriously, would it not be better to camp soon? It's nearly pitch black".
"Almost". Viper replied. "There's a good spot nearby that would be a suitable spot to get some sleep".
I said nothing and played along. Turns out I didn't have long to wait. The spot Viper chose was a smooth rocky area next to a water fall which ran into a shallow river. It was within a wide open area of the bamboo trees we had seen endless amounts of ever since the beginning of our trip. Nice location, I'll say that. Would have been nicer to see it during the day but, I suppose I wouldn't have long to wait then. If it was anything like last night, we'd have seven, maybe eight hours of sleep before moving out again.
It took only a few minutes to prepare to sleep. While out on time sensitive missions, I learned that sleeping essentials like sleeping bags and the like were a burden. Not that this mission was time sensitive, but the sooner we saw the Soothsayer, the better it would have been for me. I slithered over to the warm burning fire that Viper had quickly set up. I almost sighed in satisfaction over feeling the warmth of the fire on my scales. My body instinctively curled up on the spot in front of the fire and I rested. Seemed I didn't have long to wait until I was joined by Viper as she responded in the same motions right next to me, smiling. I smiled back.
"You know, despite my stubbornness, I have to admit, I'm kinda glad you're here with me Viper". I admitted.
"So am I. I don't think I would have ever forgiven myself if you had slithered out through the Jade palace doors by yourself". She confessed. I nodded in agreement.
"Well, goodnight Vipes". I smiled before gently kissing her on top of her head before falling asleep.
"Goodnight Mike. Sweet dreams". Was the last thing I heard Viper say before I managed to fall asleep for the remainder of the night...
...
Hey guys, it's back! At long last! Hope the beginning of the third act is entertaining enough ^^ Also, We've managed to reach 100 chapters! :D Big thanks everyone for helping me get this far!
On a quick note, updates are going to be a little slower this time round probably. Uni work has taken off in multiple directions and I'm having a bit of a hard time chasing it all down, so maybe a couple time a week, or just one a week, might be as far as I can get unless things ease up. Sorry guys ^^ Anyway, see you guys later. Cheerio!