Eben awakes groggy and sore. He groans as every cell in his body seems to protest as he rises from his bedroll.

The half-elf rubs the sleep from his eyes as he contemplates how much he still has to do today. He would need to limit himself this time, there could be no repeat of what happened yesterday.

Eben sighs, exiting his little room and entering the main chamber of the cave. To his surprise, the space was now well-lit by torches, revealing a somewhat cozy living space.

Eben's eyes study the area. There was a short table on top of a large sheepskin rug, a large cooking spit over an extinguished fire pit, and even some pots and pans on top of a metal wood stove. Eben couldn't believe how homey the cave looked with just the introduction of some light.

As he approaches the table he spots a few leaves of aloe, some shredded willow bark, and some dried meat.

Eben is bewildered, this wasn't for him, was it? Had Adder really gathered these things after the way the bandit had behaved yesterday?

Eben uses the kettle on the stove to make some willow tea, eating his breakfast quickly as he applies the aloe vera to his ruddy cheeks and ears. He sighs with relief as his body starts to feel a bit better.

Feeling energized, he exits the cave to start on his chores. The sun was already halfway through the sky, Eben notes. However, as he approaches the coop, the sound of bells and a deep voice stops him in his tracks.

"Eben."

Eben froze, squeezing his eyes shut. What would the gorgon say to him?

There was a pause and a jingle of bells before the creature spoke. Eben imagines the gorgon tilting his head, causing the bells decorating his horns to sway.

"I apologize for yesterday," Adder said, his voice hesitant. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Eben was taken aback by the monster's sudden apology. "I uh... it's okay."

There’s an awkward pause as Eben waits for the gorgon to continue.

"...Did you find what I left for you on the table?"

Eben nods. "Yes... thank you."

"Good. You are not required to do as much as you did yesterday. I only really need assistance when I am incapacitated."

"Oh..."

"Except, maybe, with the chickens..."

"The chickens?"

"The roosters always attack me..."

Eben couldn't help but release a little bark of laughter before he quickly stifled it. Thankfully, either Adder didn't notice or he didn't care.

The gorgon continues. "I've completed everything else for the day. After you feed the chickens you can rest." Adder pauses. "Ah, and...there's a stream to the north you can use to bathe."

"Okay..."

There was another awkward pause before the gorgon spoke again. "Okay. Goodbye."

The sound of bells retreats and Eben opens his eyes. .

Well, that was unexpected. He’d been prepared for confrontation, not this a show of remorse. And had the gorgon just implied Eben smelled?

The elf sniffs his shirt, retching at the scent of blood, dirt, and sweat. Okay, yeah. He needs a bath.

After feeding the birds, Eben heads towards the aforementioned stream. The babbling brook was a welcome sight.

Eben strips, wading into the refreshingly cool water with a dramatic groan.

He lays back in the river, focusing on the sound of rushing water and the gentle sway of branches above him. Minnows dance around his prone form as his hand once again traces the pattern etched into his throat.

What would it take for Eben to be free of this curse?

What little he knew about elves told him they were supposed to be masters of magic, but Eben took after his father. His whole life, there hadn't been even a spark of magical ability. The only thing he inherited from his elven side was his pointed ears and red hair.

So he had absolutely no idea where to even start with freeing himself. His closest guess was he had to kill either Sheppard or Adder.

His monthly supply runs into town would give him a chance to kill Sheppard, but who knew what powers the high priest was hiding? If he had the power to curse Eben, he most likely had other tricks up his sleeves.

Not to mention, for this to plan to work, Eben would need to kill the priest without the villagers alerting Adder with the church bells. Eben knew from experience that the gorgon was deadly fast. If he killed the high priest and those bells rang— they would be tolling for him.

Killing Adder was just as dangerous. Eben would most likely have an opportunity the next time Adder was 'incapacitated' but gorgon was still easily 300+ pounds of pure muscle— and that was if you didn't factor in his venom and petrifying gaze.

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Even if Eben was able to pull it off, the curse might still kill him. Daisy implied the curse linked his life to Adder, so what would happen if the gorgon died?

Eben sighs. He just would have to wait until he had more information.

For the next few weeks, Eben falls into a pattern. He wakes up, eats his breakfast, tends to the chickens, and finishes his chores in the garden.

With the gorgon doing his part, it's not that difficult to get everything done before 3 pm. So Eben often has time for whatever he wants to do.

Today, he's decided to make some paint. It's been a long time since he's had access to real art supplies. When was there a better time to take up a new art form than when you were cooped up?

He gathers up the sun-dried blueberries he's set out. In a mortar and pestle, he grinds the fruits into a powder before adding the yolk of an egg to act as a binder. He repeats this process with some spinach, strawberries, eggshell, and charcoal. The result is some purple, yellow-green, red, white, and black paint.

They're not as vibrant as some of the paints made by professionals, but they're good enough for what he needs.

Eben sits down, cross-legged, and begins to paint with his crudely crafted paintbrush. He's chosen the petrified deer as his subject.

It's extremely soothing to just focus on the drag of the brush on the paper against the backdrop of cicada song.

The peace doesn't last long, though, as the sound of bells breaks his focus. Eben senses Adder nearby, watching him.

Eben closes his eyes as Adder approaches. He's become somewhat accustomed to the gorgon's presence by now. They usually ignore each other, with Adder only occasionally making brief comments to Eben.

Eben initiates the conversation, as Adder often seems to struggle with how to begin conversing. "Do you need something?"

The bells jingle, as if scared by Eben's voice. The half-elf wants to roll his eyes at the monster's easily spooked nature. How was he so timid when it came to his 5'9 servant?

"No... why are you sitting in the middle of the path?"

Well, Eben can concede that's a valid question. "I'm painting the deer."

"Can I see?"

Eben was surprised the gorgon was interested in what he was doing. He nods, feeling tense as the gorgon comes near. He feels the paper leave his hands as Adder picks it up for examination.

There's a pause as Adder looks over his work. "When you go into the village for supplies, you should request some tape. We don't have anything to hang this up with..."

Eben flushes at the thought of displaying his art anywhere. "No, it's fine. I'm just gonna burn it anyway..."

There's a sharp jingle of bells. "Burn it?? Why?"

Eben rubs his neck awkwardly. "It's not like it's a professional piece. I just do them when I'm bored."

Adder is quiet before he speaks again. "Can I have your paintings, then?"

Eben is shocked. His works were lazy doodles, they didn't meet any standards for artistic excellence. Then again, Adder probably has no frame of reference. Eben imagines they didn't permit gorgons into the salons where high art was usually exhibited.

"Sure...but why do you want it?"

Scales shift on the dirt. "I don't get to see many creatures without risking ending their lives...."

Eben jolts as he feels the paper being placed gently in his lap. "If you paint any more animals, please give them to me instead of burning them."

Eben is left dazed when the gorgon leaves him alone once again. He pictured the man collecting his artwork, hoarding it in his lair like a dragon hoards precious jewels and gold. The thought oddly makes something stir in his stomach.

As their time together continues, Adder makes it a habit to seek Eben out when he's painting. He asks Eben many questions; "What are you making today?" "How did you make that color?" "Can I have this one too?"

One day, as Eben is painting the petrified rooster, the gorgon says something that makes him pause. "You should bring your works into town. Helia used to sell the toys she carved, she was able to buy some amenities with the funds she made."

"Helia?"

"Ah—" the gorgon paused as if he hadn't meant to let that slip out. "She was... the one who came before you. She raised me."

What?

"Raised you?"

"Yes. She was very creative, like you."

The cogs were turning in Eben's mind. "Adder, how old are you?"

The gorgon doesn't seem too perturbed by the sudden shift in topic. "25 years old, I believe?"

"So you were an infant when you came to Nǣdre Tor?"

"Yes."

So when that slimy priest had been preaching about how the village had been "attacked by one of the Great Deceiver's minions" he'd been referring to when the infant Adder had wandered into town?

Everything suddenly made sense. Adder wasn't some beast who'd been subdued during a vicious attack. He'd been taken in by the cult as a child and brainwashed into obeying their orders.

The information reframed all his previous assumptions about Adder. He wasn't putting on a show of meekness, nor was he waiting for a chance to strike out against Eben or the cult. This village, his isolation...it was all Adder knew of the world...

That made him realize another thing. The gorgon wasn't simply seeking Eben out because he was bored, or liked his art. It was because he was lonely; assumedly missing the only other person who had regularly interacted with the gorgon.

Eben had to hold back a manic grin. He could use this.

"We're the same age then," Eben comments, attempting to smile pleasantly. "We're also both not human. I guess we have a lot in common."

"You're not human?" Adder asks, sounding shocked.

Eben felt his ears twitch. Was the gorgon serious? "Not fully. You didn't notice my ears?"

"No... What are you?"

"My mother was an elf, and my father was a human. So I'm a half-breed, I suppose."

The gorgon hummed thoughtfully. "I have pointed ears too. So... um... we have that in common also..."

Eben paused. He'd never actually met anyone else with that attribute. "Can I see?"

"Oh... yes. i'll put my blindfold on"

There was a rustle of fabric. "You can look now."

Attempting to feel bold, the elf opens his eyes. He studies the gorgon's ears, discovering the man's words rang true. Eben hadn't noticed it during the last time he'd gotten a look at Adder, but the man's ears were indeed subtly pointed.

"Ah, by the way—" Adder shifts nervously, still holding the portrait of the rooster in his hands. "—You don't need to close your eyes every time I get close. I will keep them covered."

That would be convenient, Eben ponders.

"Won't you be bothered going blind all the time?"

Adder shakes his head, bells tinkling. "I have everything here memorized, and I can sense anything with body heat. So I'll be able to tell if you're near."

Well, that fact was slightly alarming. "Okay, that sounds great. Thank you, Adder."

Adder seems to respond positively, clenching the painting as he smiles shyly.

Eben smirks. This was going to work.