One month later

Nyx wasn’t completely healed by what happened previously.

But she was determined to not let it stop her.

She knew it was risky, reckless even but she just wanted to go back and see if he could help her with her eyes. Based on what Griff said, he could help her. She would need to persuade him to help her.

This time she needed to be smarter. If Len or Drac knew what she was doing she knew that they would never leave her out of their sight again.

She would still go about her normal day, while plotting how to get back to the west side.

Next morning she decided that today was the day.

The air in the forest was thick with anticipation, she has been plotting how to get back to the snake’s territory for a month now.

Her plan was to tell Len to go before her to the others and then lie to Drac that she’s going to the Griff’s cave.

“Len,” she said, trying to sound casual, “I think you should go before me to the others, I’ll be there once I finish with my work.”

Len looked at her curiously. “Are you sure? We usually stick together and I don’t mind waiting.”

Nyx forced a smile. “Yeah, I just… need some time alone. You know how Griff can be—always wanting things done a certain way. I’ll be fine.”

Len hesitated but eventually nodded. “Alright, if you’re sure. Just be careful, okay?”

“I will,” Nyx promised, hoping her voice didn’t betray the nerves she felt.

After that conversation Len went to the others with the intention of waiting for her once she’s done at Griff’s cave.

Next, she found Drac in the training area, his intense aura filling the space. She approached him carefully, knowing she had to play this just right. “Drac, I’m heading to Griff’s cave for the day,” she said, keeping her tone light. “I’ll be back later tonight.”

Drac glanced at her, and his eyes seemed to sharpen. “You spend a lot of time in that lazy griffin’s cave. Don’t let that interfere with your training.”

“I won’t,” Nyx assured him, not letting on at all how unnerved she was. “I’ll be back in time for our evening session.” Drac grunted and turned back to his training.

Nyx quietly sighed in relief. That was the first step of her plan; the rest just depended on making it out without anyone noticing her leave.

As soon as she was out of view from the cave, Nyx inhaled deeply and focused her thoughts on the domain of the Snake God of Pride. She felt the teleporting skill tugging her, in a most odd manner, towards her wishes. She concentrated on the memory of the entrance to the cave, on the intensity of the Snake God’s aura, and before she knew it, the world around her shifted.

And she was there, at the cave entrance again, in an instant, back to dark swirling auroras that welcomed her like old friends. The air was heavy with that same oppressive energy, but Nyx didn’t flinch this time. She had come prepared.

The moment she had arrived, Nyx felt his presence.

There was a thickness in the air from the energy that felt oppressive, sending a shiver down her spine. Aurora in this place seemed to be even more shadowed, colors swirling with one another in a way that almost bled into the night. Her heart raced, but she took a deep breath and stepped forward, her feet carrying her into the mouth of the cave.

“Back again?” The Snake God’s voice sounded so booming in the cavern. It was chilling and unwelcome. He slithered into view, his lithe body coiling around the jagged rocks, fixing his gaze on her. His eyes were like two burning embers in the dark.

His voice slithered through the darkness, filled with irritation. “I told you to leave me alone.”

Nyx swallowed hard, her heart pounding, but she stood her ground. “I want to know why you’re like this towards me,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “Why won’t you help me?”

The Snake God narrowed his eyes, darkened his expression. “Help you?” he hissed, dripping with contempt. “Why would such a being as I lower myself to assist a simple child? You are nothing compared to me.”

Nyx’s resolve wavered in the face of his cutting glare, but she schooled herself to keep talking. “I’m not asking for much. Just your help, and I promise it won’t go in vain.”

The Snake God growled out in a menace, his huge body still writhing into an even tighter coil. “You think you’re clever, don’t you, girl?” he sneered. “But your begging is pathetic. I do not squander my power on those who are beneath me. My pride isn’t something to be trifled with.”

Nyx shivered at this, but she wouldn’t back down. “I’m not trying to challenge you,” she said, her voice wavering slightly. “I just need—”

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“ENOUGH!” boomed the Snake God, its voice resonating across the cavern, now with a cold, deadly gleam in his eyes as he stared down at her. “Dare you ask me for favors, treating me as though we stood on equal ground? I am a god, a constellation of pride and power unlike any other! You are nothing but a child, so insolent.”

Nyx felt her courage begin to crumble under the weight of his words, but she managed to stammer, “I… I just thought—”

“Did you think so?” the Snake God cut in scornfully. “Did you think that such a god as I would indulge such folly—such foolish requests? Your ignorance amuses me.”

With terrible, inhuman speed he came at Nyx, his great serpentine body slithering forth in a show of dominance. His intentions were clear; he was going to crush her spirit, show her just how infinitesimally little she really was.

Overwhelmingly fearful, Nyx acted on instinct and turned on her teleportation skill. The surroundings all around her twisted out of view, and the next thing she knew, she was standing at the entrance of Drac’s cave, feeling her heart thumping in her chest.

Drac, inside, felt the presence and was up at the entrance in an instant, his face torn between puzzled and anxious. “Nyx, what brings you here?” he started, somber in tone. “Aren’t you supposed to be in Griff’s cave?”

Nyx hesitated, panting. “I… I forgot something,” she quickly spoke. The lie had slithered out before she could stop it.

Drac narrowed his eyes, feeling that something was off, but before he could press her further, Nyx abruptly took a step forward and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest. Startled, Drac stiffened because the action came out of nowhere.

“Thank you,” Nyx murmured, voice muffled by his chest.

Drac blinked, and his stern expression relaxed a bit. “For what?” he asked, and his tone was less harsh. “For everything,” Nyx said and cut him off again before he started to speak another word. She flashed him a quick smile then turned and walked quickly away toward Griff’s cave. Her heart still pounded from the encounter with the Snake God.

When she tiptoed into the place he called a lair, the lazy griff was lying as prone as ever, his great wings neatly folded in at the joints for convenience. With the first step Nyx took, his keen eyes snapped open and his beak twisted in a quizzical frown. “’Ello, you smell like the Snake,” Griff rumbled low, suspicion sparking a deep concern. “How did Drac not notice?”

For a moment, Nyx hesitated, and then she sighed. “I went back there,” she told him, knowing there was no sense in lying to Griff.

His usual lazy expression darkened as he straightened up slightly, his round form going tight with an unusual sternness. “Nyx, what the hell were you thinking?” he chastised, unusually sharp for him. “I told you not to go back there! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?”

Nyx looked away, down. “I know… but I couldn’t help it. I just needed to understand—”

“No!” Griff snarled, his voice roaring. “You can’t go back there again, Nyx. I mean it. He won’t be as lenient if you push him too far.”

Nyx nodded, her expression solemn. “I understand,” she replied quietly.

But there was a small, rebellious corner of herself that knew she was lying even as the words passed her lips. In some way she couldn’t define, she didn’t believe that the sum total of the Snake God was his anger and his strength.

What she didn’t know, that when she left after hugging Drac. He knew she was lying and he was furious. She was actively disobeying his orders.

He picked up on the scent of the Snake. He was going to confront her about it but needed to wait until she least expected it.

Nyx lied again. She was planning to go back there and try to persuade the Snake to help her.

A week later

She went with the same plan as before and it worked.

She teleported to the Snake territory.

This time she decided to take in the scenery of the place.

The western part of the Dark Forest, ruled by the Snake God of Pride, is a strikingly beautiful yet treacherously deceptive garden.

As Nyx enters, she's immediately struck by the vivid colors and lush greenery. Flowers bloom in vibrant hues, almost too bright to be real, and the trees stand tall with their trunks twisted in unusual patterns. Their leaves shimmer with a magical light, and thick vines coil around them, their thorns hidden beneath soft, velvety foliage.

The ground is covered in a carpet of emerald-green grass that feels unnervingly soft. Sparkling streams wind their way through the area, their crystal-clear water reflecting the sunlight like liquid glass. However, beneath this serene surface, dark, shifting shadows hint at lurking dangers—creatures that belong to the Snake God, waiting for the unwary.

The pathways are a maze of deceptive trails, seemingly leading to safety but often twisting into dead ends or deeper into the heart of the territory. The area is dotted with unexpected twists and turns, reflecting the Snake God’s prideful and manipulative nature.

At the center of it all stands an ancient, colossal tree, its bark as black as night and roots sprawling like the limbs of a giant. This is where the Snake God resides. The air around the tree is thick with a sense of superiority and dominance, a palpable reminder that this is the realm of a god.

The garden’s beauty is enchanting but also dangerous, embodying the Snake God’s pride and the hidden threats that lie beneath its surface. It’s a place that demands careful navigation and respect, a place where every step can reveal a new peril.

“Wow.” She whispered in awe.

Slowly, Nyx took a tentative step forward, her heart hammering in her chest. “I know you told me not to come back,” she called into the darkness, her voice wavering slightly, “but I need answers.”

The Snake God’s voice slid through the air, icy and menacing. “You’re either remarkably brave or remarkably foolish, girl,” he hissed, emerging from the shadows with a menacing grace. His enormous body coiled around the rocks, every movement a reminder of his imposing presence. “Did you really think I wouldn’t see through your deceit?”

Nyx stood before the imposing figure of the Snake God, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. “Why are you so determined to keep me away?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

The Snake God, coiled in his lush and deceptive garden, gazed down at her with a cold, disdainful stare. “I’ve made my intentions clear,” he replied, his voice a chilling hiss. “You are unwelcome here.”

Nyx’s frustration grew. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I need your help, and I swear it will not be wasted.”

The deity’s irritation flared. “Your persistence is tiresome. I have no interest in assisting you.”

Nyx’s pleas became more urgent. “Please, just listen. I’m desperate, and I believe your guidance could make a real difference.” The Snake God’s eyes narrowed in annoyance.

“Your requests are meaningless. Leave before my patience runs out.” Fear crept into Nyx’s voice as she backed away.

“I’m not trying to be a nuisance. I just need a small favor.”

The Snake God’s anger erupted, his form shifting as he slithered threateningly towards her. “You overstep your bounds. Leave now!”

Overwhelmed and frightened, Nyx’s resolve broke, and she quickly activated her teleportation skill, finding herself back at Drac’s cave.

When Nyx reappeared in Drac’s cave, he was already waiting for her, his face a storm of worry and anger. “Where have you been?” he demanded, his voice sharp and commanding.

Nyx’s heart raced. “I was with the others at the Silverheart Tree,” she said, trying to keep her tone steady as she moved toward him.

Drac’s eyes narrowed, his gaze unwavering. “Really? I thought you said you were going to Griff’s cave first.”

Caught off guard, Nyx stumbled. “Oh, right. I went to Griff’s cave and then joined the others,” she said, her voice faltering.

Drac wasn’t fooled. “So, you wouldn’t mind if I asked Griff if you were there?”

Panic rose in her chest. “Actually, I—I was at the Snake God’s cave,” she confessed, her voice shaking.

Drac’s disappointment was palpable, his anger barely contained. “You lied to me and put yourself in serious danger. I warned you not to go there. The Snake God doesn’t like being bothered or helping those who don’t benefit him. You’ve only made things worse.”

Nyx tried to explain. “I just needed to—”

Drac cut her off, his tone growing colder. “No more excuses. I’ll find another way to help you with your eyes, but don’t come to me about this again. If you go there once more, I’ll lock you in this cave. You won’t leave, not even to visit the others or Griff. It’ll be just you and me here, safe from whatever trouble you keep finding.”

Nyx’s eyes widened, fear gripping her. “But, Drac—”

“Enough,” Drac said firmly, silencing her. “This is your final warning. The Snake God’s pride means he won’t help anyone unless he stands to gain something. If you defy me again, you’ll face the consequences.”