Well, even as they said that "mother" will be glad to see me... it is not looking like i am able to politely refuse ang go my way.

I didn`t mind it actually, for i was thinking about what i did. Every time i was under influence of sin i could more or less control myself. This time i was a slave to gluttony. I couldn`t hear what Wrath, Pride, Greed nor Codex were telling me. Is that because every sin i get will be more and more powerful? Or because lamia were consider as extremely powerful? They completely outclassed some wolfs or boar i have killed so far.

I was about to be "escorted" to so called mother. Taking my leave i took a glance at the girl that i almost killed. Is she still a monster? Or should i treat her as barbaric and savage nation?

Depending on it i will fell more or less guilty. I have killed 21 humans so far. 1 because of mercy and 20... to stay alive? Why do i truly kill? 

The little girl has red mark on her neck made by hand. My hand.

For heaven and hell... i almost killed a child! Monster or not, everything has right to grow...

She had fear in eyes. Looks like she used to think about herself as about some being on top of the food chain. And here i almost devoured her.

Now she was being offended by her sibiling for her idiocy, irresponsability and so on.

I was not able to here everyrhing, for very soon i have passed another corridor and lost vision of two snake-kin.

The passage was wide and tall. About 6x6 meters? Why would you even require driling such a tunel? I have to say, that those lamias don`t look like a kind that is focused on makeing anything more then needed. No idea why i am thinking about them like that... maybe because of their lazy movements...

Another passage, another tunel, another corridor. As the time was passing, the insides of the dungeon was getting more and more sophisticated. No, there were no paintings, but the colums appeared. 

First those were but a piles of earth. Then, further in the dungeon, those were slowly getting more decent. And as shape was really good-looking, the primitive words and marks start appearing.

-"look at those, traveler, for there is non one on the world who would both saw those and lived long enought to tell about `em"

-"this is a path of mother. First snake and mage that was awoken from the darkness. She made them by herself. 2 eras ago."

Two what?! How old is she? Is a dragon or behemoth really the strongest beast in the forest?

Yet those... pictures. The snake that was devouring other beings. First she was small and kept eating spiders, small birds... then it was bigger and bigger, till the time when she was as big as house... or the guardian that was in front of den.

And then it met a strange creature. Head of the bear, body of deer, tail like whip... and the snake bowed head to the creature.

And together with it, they were devouring. Their company was getting bigger and bigger, there was a giant battle, and the creature died.

And snake ran back to forest. And the history repeated. The only thing that changed, was both the skill put to made those... and snake. Second time it met another strange creature was twice it size, third time was looking like lamia and forth time... no wait... why does it looks like snake again... castle sized snake?

And there is still few colums left untouched. I have a bad feeling about it.

There was a gate. Huge one. It was left open wide.

In a huge chamber... that could fit small village the sick amount of treasures was hold. The piles of gold, helmets looking like ages ago those belonged to wealthy knights.

The sea of gold moved, and from under it a white snake with blood-red eyes rised its head.

Size of castle? Forget about it, she looked like a small mountain.

It was a first time i was astonished and terryfied to verge of loseing sanity.

Haha! I am smaller then one of her eyes! I would not be able to hold edges of one of it scales...

-"we think that he is the one... mother." 

Oy! Have some pride! Don`t bring mama to kids fight! But what could possibly be her level? Nope. Better not check. I doubt that i would be able to get but one info from appraisal... the only thing that can happen, is that she would nottice and get pissed off.

So... i am supposed to do something? After i invaded her home and killed over dozen of her... family? Saying "hello, i just wanna use your home to perform magic, kill some snakes and walk away, so don`t mind me. Oh, i almost choked your doughter to death." will not be a best idea.

-"he smells similar... but he is useless... too young... too stupid... inexperienced... weak..."

That s right! Lemme be! I ll grow a little, get more tasty, then you can try your luck? Give me one or two millenias? Pretty please?

-"even if, he avoided guardian, killed many brats as he was outnumbered and surrounded, and then as he was half alive because of venom, he menaged to almost kill Hirja. If me and Hashir were not there she would be dead..."

NO! SHUT THE FUCK UP!

-"hooo? She is youngest, as i recall... but such a young being... how old are you? No, don`t answer.... you are... 4 months old, are you? Your body grow was accelareted.... but you are barely a hatchling... prooomisiiiing. I will ask you few questions... if i would not like anserws...lie to me... give a wrong answer... you will die... noooow... do you know who i am?

What a question it is? sure that you are... no, wait. She is playing with me... she told me a question and what she wants is not a name...

-"Yes, i do" the trick - she did not asked what she is. The answer on queston like that is yes/no. Describing her would kill me.

-"haaa..  was that because of instinct? Intelligence? Fear? Very well boy... you have my permission to answer as you wish now... another question... whaaat is hunter`s most powerful tool...weapon... there is no good nor bad answer here... i want to know your point..."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

-"stupid question... it s poison" one of lamias behind me said. A young male. He was looking left and right at his sibiling looking for a praise...

-"patience" as the eyes of giant snake were demanding more, i continued "no matter if you use claws, fangs or knife, if you would atack vital spot even more powerful enemy will fall. To find those weaknesses you have to wait and watch. To execute atack you have to wait for a right moment. Being hunter doesn`t means carrying a bow. When hunter start his fight, his opponent is already dead, for it is only corpse-to-be. Being patient is a key. Next comes stuborness."

Ohhh crap. To long anserw. I was not asked to describe whole process... don`t eat me...

But monster looked pleased.

-"whaaaat are you doing heeeere?"

So now the actuall talk begins...

-"i was looking for mana veins in the ground. I have found one of the dens that is connected with yours... and then my way back was cut by guardian. I could only jump in."

-"whyyyy do youuu neeeed such groooound?"

She started to prolongate the duration of her speech in happy manner. Somehow i felt that she is like cat toying with food for fun. And i am a mouse.

"I am... specific being... not everyone likes me. Humans that wish me to be dead has come to the forest. I can`t peacefully hunt as they are here. I have already killed many of them, but still more than half remains. And forest is big... i would like to..."

-"perfooorm echo of gaaaaia... i see... now..  finall question... why shouldn`t i just kill you... you have body of human, and those are delicious..." 

Okay, easy me. You have been studing the art of negotiation for moment like this. You are a carrot, your opponent want a carrot. You have to promise more carrots, then maybe you will be left alive. (I know it is funny or even makes no sense for someone. On university we were negotiating useing vegetables as goods, we had to trade with one another to collect as many as we could. I couldn`t stop myself to not use it here :-)  )

-"because you don`t want to do so. I mean, if you would really wanted me dead, we would have no conversation like that." The snake moved its head to the side, and opened maw a bit... was that suposed to be a smile? "I have no idea why, i have to admit it, but you have your own bussiness in letting me stay alive. But about your meals... i have an offer..."

The snake began to shake as it was laughting.

-"can you see and hear same thing as me, my children? This boy was dragged here so i could judge if he is worth to be eaten raw or cooked, and here he is talking casually as if we are per... little boy..." the voice of beast from amused became deadly serious. My throat imediatly became dry. "I will hear you know. Think carefully what will you say, for our playtime is over."

My knees are weak, hands are shaking. I keep forgeting what i want to say. This is an opportunity happening once per lifetime, will i catch it? Damn the only thing that i am lacking now is vomit on sweater and mamas spagetthi.

Why do i have stupid jokes in my mind everytime i am under stress?

Kay, show time.

-"sure thing, you can kill me. It is no problem for you, and will not be one for dozens of years... but if you would kill me now, when will be next time when you would taste human?"

I got a sneaks attention. Now, i showed my carrot to be less atractive. Now lets proceed to pointing another option.

-"as i said, there are pretty few humans here. 30, to be precise. The only thing i want, is for you to allow me to use a spell here, then i would kill those humans... and i have no interest in their corpses. If you would give me a way to communicate with you, i would let you know where is the place to find those killed by me... you woudn`t even need to get your hands dirty..." oh fuck, she has no hands.... please. Don`t find it offensive....please... "just collect bodies. This is my offer - 30 humans instead of me."

Please, let it work...

-"we have an agreement." And she start changing. Her giant body started becoming smaller, scales were replaced with snow white skin. She grew legs and hands, her body, out of nowhere, was covered by wonderful silk like cloths.

Atractive mature woman. No, by atractive i mean she was truly stunning, and by mature i didn`t mean old. The way she acted, moved... everything was something that highest class nobility, bah, royality could be jelause.

Natural charisma. All my senses screamed for me to bow my head.

She stopped about meter from me, and raised her hand.

I. Can`t. Kiss. It. Just don`t do it, dear me. I can`t let her show dominance...

I skake hands with her. As our skin touched, black roots shot out from her hand into mine and dug inside my flesh.

It was not painful, yet terror spread through my body.

As those roots finished whatever those were doing, a small snake like mark appeared on my wirst.

-"fear not. When your job will be finished, the mark will vanish. It will also call my children to you if you would like us to know... but before you go..."

I don`t like the way she spoke last part...

-"how am i supposed to know if you are strong enough to kill 30 humans? We will test you..."

As she finished from nowhere another snake came out and took a battle pose.

Well, nice to see you again, Brood Guardian

FINALLY! I have been trying to post it for over 4 hours. I used to think, that thing that shift and switch in the world is womans emotion, than i found wifi in romania