Chapter 1: Tempting Fate

16 Years Ago

It was purely by chance that he found them. Or was it fate? Knowing his own circumstances that could be highly possible. He was on his ninth life now and has witnessed many things. This time however, he had absolutely no idea how to handle the situation.

Young Yunan stared at what was a scared little girl with a jet black juvenile basilisk. This wasn't very uncommon, A clan known as The Tanith or The "Serpent Lady" had a history of their females being able to tame the ancient beasts. Yunan watched the serpent, even though it was only a decade old still had a massive size. Not as big as those sea monsters but in time could be if it continues to grow. However, something was obviously wrong as the snake had coiled itself protectively around a trembling child.

There were three reasons why the Magi was frozen in surprise.

Reason One: The basilisk must be highly close and acknowledge a person to bow to any command from one. Here the serpent was guarding the child.

Reason Two: The girl and her pet were covered in blood.

The Final Reason: behind the two was a massacre of died bodies that were both stoned and ripped apart in the most brutal ways by the beast.

Yunan's eyes widen at the slaughter that painted crimson everywhere. He couldn't believe that a child and her basilisk had done such a thing. The Magi scanned the frightened girl, seeing the innocent and afraid expression that proved evil intentions were not made, by her at least. However, the serpent already on the defensive hissed at Yunan in warning.

The Magi quickly closed his eyes, knowing the powers of the snake. He withdrew his own fear and replaced it with confidence and a smile. Knowing how sensitive a basilisk like this one could be.

His lips parted, "I'm not going to harm you", he insured in a soft voice to the guardian. It must has worked as the basilisk stared at him before moving its body, allowing access to the trembling girl.

Yunan, feeling a strange instinct to unshield his eyes, that the basilisk wouldn't turn him to stone. Carefully and slowly, the young boy opened his eyes to see piercing yellow ones staring at him. For a split moment, the Magi felt pure fear. Fearing that he might turn to rock in a second. Nothing. Nothing happened, no stone. Nothing. Yunan remained untouched but it wasn't because of him. Suspecting it had something to do with the girl, he took the invitation and walked into the care of the serpent with caution.

Being closer to the child now, he could see the trauma in her golden yellow eyes. The poor thing, clothes were a mess with rips and crimson. Her black hair was soiled with blood as well. There was even some on her fair skin. The magi felt for the child, in ways he hadn't for most. He knelt down in front of her as the snake closed the entrance into the circle.

"Your name, its Dahlia right?", the smile still planted on his lips.

A nervous nod confirmed her name, but only caused the girl to pull her knees closer to her chest.

"Dahlia, do you know what happened to those people?", his sweet voice asked daring question. Seeing how she flinched, her breath paused in her little throat and eyes darkened. The girls' head hung in shame and fear of what the stranger might do if he knew.

Yunan saw this and shifted closer towards the girl, "it's alright Dahlia, i won't harm you". He swore to her.

In his surprise, she rose her head. "you promise?" Dahlia asked, her piercing yellow eyes seemed to look into him with a stunning bluntness he never knew. It was like she was scanning him, making sure it wasn't lying. That he was truthful in his words.

"Yes, i promise", he answered instantly with that smile.

Dahlia glanced nervously at her pet, " Delmar... he did it".

"And why?", Yunan asked, noting the name of the creature.

The girls' expression darkened with a frown "Because they wanted to kill us... they wanted our eyes".

Her statement brought a kind of unsettling feeling to the Magi. He knew the Tanith clan had a reputation of placing females and basilisks highly valuable for their most precious asset. "Your eyes? but why?"

"Because... Because they're special!" Dahlia exploded in an outburst. "Dad and Mom said so! Delmar isn't bad! He was just protecting me! Those people are the bad ones! They killed my parents so he killed them!" she blurted with the same confidence and sureness while pointing at her now died parents just steps away from them.

Yunan knew somehow the girl wasn't lying, she was truthful with every word and emotion. It went past the innocence of being a child, no there was more to this. He knew what sort of people the Tanith clan was, or now were cold blooded killers.

Waiting desperately for an answer from the stranger had her anxiety at its highest. His smile turned all the more gentler, "I believe every single word". He honestly did, Yunan did hear everything.

Dahlia, feeling relief from the burden of being labelled a criminal started to shed sobbing to herself in despair of the events and loses. Delmar gently nudged his cheek against hers in comfort, careful not to poke the girl with the spikes that lined the top of his snout. "T-thank you Mister" she said in a cry, hands whipping away the salted water.

Yunan giggled at her words, he looked just as young as she does. Perhaps it was those eyes? They seemed able to be unclouded by falseness and lies. The girls' tears soon stopped as she felt a warm body embrace around her. The warm body felt different from her pet and its hard cold one. Yunan's arms gently wrapped around her, he felt so soft. Yellow orbs looked at him in question, cheeks dam from crying.

The magi, unconsciously picked her up. She stared at him in shock, he was a kid just like her and yet picked her up without a sound of difficulty.

"Yunan, that's my name", he said while turning to walk away. The serpent obediently allowed the man to escape with his master as it followed the two.

Dahlia blinked at him, "where are we going Yunan?" she asked in a cutely scared voice of a child, her hands clinging onto his fabric nervously.

He smiled, feeling something nice inside that told him this decision won't be a regrettable one. "I'm taking you to my house, where you will be living from now on".

Dahlia's expression lit up, never taking those eyes off Yunan. "Really? Delmar too? All three of us?", her frightened voice was replaced with one of excitement. The Magi couldn't help but begin to feel a love for the child.

"Yes, we'll all live together", he answered the girl.

A bright smile widened her face, she knew this boy wasn't lying to her. The girl could tell in her own way that he could be trusted. Childish innocence kicked in, she turned to her serpent with a new found joy.
"Did you hear that Delmar! We get to live together with Yunan!", she said with enthusiasm, her small arms now wrapped around the Magi's neck.

The basilisk slithered next to Yunan as he walked. It gave Dahlia a hiss but it wasn't like the one like earlier but more. Seemingly, the two mirrored the same childish aura.

Yunan hummed to himself as Dahlia giggled at Delmar who was tickling her with his tongue. "First we need to get you both cleaned up", he stated to them, taking in just really how much blood had gotten on the children.

She gasped "Yay! Bath with Delmar! Bath with Delmar!", she chanted in a cheerful knowledge of being about to have a bath sounded extremely delightful to the girl, even Delmar seemed to be excited for the news as he nodded.

Even though the two were now in better hopes, Yunan knew the two didn't grasp the reality of their situation.

This child and her basilisk, are the last of their kind. The last of her clan and possibly linage, unless she bears a female like herself. It weighted heavily on Yunan's shoulders, this fate, a gamble of yet another life. Would Dahlia's future turn out the same as the other? or different? Could he direct her? or would she be tempted by destruction as most are.

Only time can tell. However, he could set things right by choosing her. He'll do it this time, make her something great. A Queen or even a King. Hopefully, this time, he made the right choice.