Ghost Serpent

They followed the saleswoman down a cellar as another man took over her position.

Round and round, they kept going down, stepping over moldy stairs. A thick whiff of rusted iron hit Kai's nose as the witch took out a large key, puffing for air meanwhile. The metal creaked quizzically when she opened the door.

The noise of a million insects stridulating deafened Kai's ears. The sound was so harsh, and yet enchanting, that Kai felt himself losing his mind in search of pleasant dreams. But when his eyes fell on Petyr, this sensation turned into horror. The character, who hadn't been affected by anything so far, was blurring in and out of existence like a specter. If he wasn't standing behind the witch, she would have seen right through him.

"These rascals!" the witch cursed, taking out her wand. "Stop!"

A tap from her wand on one of the wooden crates followed her shout. Kai felt the fluctuation of Mana and the buzz stopped. Petyr looked pale as if someone had taken a bucketful of blood out of him. He looked at Kai, and Kai understood one more unfortunate incident like this, and the character would have to return.

"Pardon, young men," the witch said apologetically. "I need to store many insects for the Potion-masters."

"I… I understand perfectly well, my lady," Petyr managed to say, though his one hand was still blurry like mist trying to become water. "Insects. Wonderful creatures for the strangest of the Potions. I thank you from all the Potioneering Community."

"Oh…" the saleswoman hid a giggle. "Come. Here, let me light it up. Lumos!"

The witch chanted and flicked her wand. Kai gawked like a boy as the tip of the wand lit up like a white bulb. The dim surrounding presented itself to them, then. Big, heavy wooden crates were lined up against the walls. The floor was full of wet straws and the smell was just short of retching.

"Serpents…" the saleswoman trailed off as if she would talk about anything but serpents. "Well, they are not the most sought-after creatures. And that's the nicest thing to say about them, with all the dark tales that revolve around them. I have only one magical serpent and a few ordinary serpents for milking."

Kai took the lead, then. "Show us the magical one."

The witch gave the nastiest look to Kai. Even Kai's Charisma seemed lacking to counter her aversion to serpents, and to those who talked about them with odd enthusiasm and eagerness.

She looked away from Kai, staring at Petyr. Her loathing calmed down, seeing Petyr frowning at the crates lying in front of them. "Magical one?" she asked, confirming Petyr's will at this.

Petyr nodded. "If it's possible, my lady," he said. "Non-magical serpents won't last the process."

"Oh, yes," the witch agreed, taking out a smaller key. "I remember now. Very well."

'What the actual fuck?!' Kai cursed, gritting his teeth. 'This bastard is spitting nonsense one after another, and the slut thinks he is a master of potions or something. Tch!'

Under the incredulous gaze of Kai, the witch opened the smallest rectangular crate. A sudden hiss resounded, echoing off the walls of the densely stuffed cellar. Kai felt complete hearing the hiss. The hunger within him was on the verge of exploding. Even the sheer Will didn't seem enough to hold Kai back.

A hand gripped Kai's wrist. Kai jumped out of his trance-like state and saw Petyr looking at him. The character let go of his hand, and Kai licked his lips, approaching the crater silently, slithering with every next step.

When Kai leaned over the witch's shoulder, he saw a thick silver rope.

'No,' Kai thought, not believing his eyes. 'A white serpent!'

The serpent was coiled inside the congested box many times, and its white scales glistened ghostly silver under the glow of the witch's spell.

"Ghost Serpent, a white cobra from India," the witch introduced. "It's a 3-months-old hatchling, and 1 ft long. We have to keep it in an enchanted box. Otherwise, it changes into its specter form and passes through almost all things."

Kai had never desired something so beautiful before. As if sensing his presence, the hatchling lifted its bulky head and stared at Kai. Its eyes were red, peeking into one's soul. A tiny black forked tongue slithered out before it yawned, opening its mouth wide.

Even the insides of its mouth were spectral white, Kai noticed.

Kai stared at Petyr. The stare was enough. He would get this serpent, no matter what.

Petyr meaningfully shook his head. "It's quite young," he said, hesitating. "I will have to rear it myself. And that can be a strenuous task, my lady. You know the times. A potioneer rearing an albino snake in his backyard. What would the people say? I don't want the Ministry wizards knocking on my door."

Kai knew what Petyr was doing. A play of words and emotions. But there was too much at stake for Kai to appreciate Petyr's efforts. The anger was just hanging by the back of his throat.

Fortunately, the witch replied in time. "No, no," she said, licking her lips. "They are highly venomous, and would need regular milking, but they are the quietest of their kind. Look at it. If it was another serpent, it would have raised its hood menacingly by now. It's no pet, I know. But you won't find a better deal anywhere else."

"And what is that deal, my lady?" Petyr asked, kindly. "For this hatchling."

'Just pay her already, I don't give a fuck,' Kai's soul screamed, but he said nothing.

*

*

Morning, November 6

Leaky Cauldron

The awaited day had come.

Kai was sitting in a meditative position on the floor, steam rising off his glistening red body. There was a small box in front of him, with a key in its lock, just waiting for someone to turn it and let the being inside come out.

60 Galleons was the price they had paid for it. Not a single knut more or less. It was a monstrous amount, considering that the common pets were around 10 galleons each or less. But Kai would have paid up to 100 for it. Not that the witch hadn't asked for it. Kai wondered if it wasn't for Petyr's glib tongue, how much he would have needed to pay for it.

Or if he would have been able to buy it at all. The thought shuddered Kai, and his eyes snapped open. They were two serpentine slits, hazel and moist.

After coming out of the shop, Kai had gotten two notifications at once.

[

Congratulations Contestant Kai Stormborn…

You have achieved a Milestone

Milestone: Buy your first magical creature

Milestone Rewards: Breath +1

]

It had been a pleasant surprise, seeing his lowest Attribute gaining a point.

[

Congratulations Contestant Kai Stormborn…

You have achieved a Milestone

Milestone: Diagon Alley Exploration (30%) - roam through the Diagon Alley, visiting some major and minor shops

Milestone Rewards: A 10% discount on the first 2 Items in the Diagon Alley

]

This one hadn't pleased him, as Kai didn't need a discount. He already had Petyr.

But the serpent wasn't the only thing Kai had bought out of the shop. A syringe was lying beside him, its needle capped. Kai had asked for a syringe that can penetrate the magical creatures with the thickest skin. The stare he had got in return was condemning. Nonetheless, Petyr had negotiated the price down to 10 Galleons.

It wasn't an Item. But it might as well have the strongest Item in his arsenal considering the future.

"You are awake," a sweet voice came from his right. "I thought you have gone to sleep, sitting there like a priest."

Kai didn't have the time for Cersei. Like Petyr, he had left her on the bed, forbidding her to leave it without thinking of a solution for his second problem. But instead of gaining some words of inspiration, all he had got out of her were scowls and sulking shoulders.

"It's time," Kai said to himself. His hand reached towards the box and opened it.

'The witch warned us to not take it out of the box,' Kai thought. 'But I can't let it live the rest of its life there. It's no use to me in a fucking box.'

Petyr had asked him why Kai wanted another serpent when he already had the blood essence of Boa Constrictor. The thing was, Kai hadn't bought the serpent to devour it. Though the Blue-tailed Boa Constrictor was a non-magical beast, Kai had yet to complete the proficiencies of its Elementary Abilities. And devouring this hatchling would put it into the third empty slot, not replace the existing one. Even if he could replace it, Kai won't. The reason was simple.

Kai wasn't sure if he would get the same Elementary Abilities or not. The chances were high, but if Kai had learned something after coming to the Primordial Tower, then that was to not rely on his Luck.

The only reason for him to get a pet serpent was to talk to it. Yes. To increase his Elementary Snake Language Proficiency, was his goal.

The white cobra hatchling slithered out of the box, leaving its enchanted prison. It lazily raised its head, glancing around at its surroundings. It was now or never, Kai knew. Once the serpent becomes a ghost, even he won't be able to find it again.

Hisss!

Kai stirred his blood essence, and a hissing sound erupted from it as the surrounding steam blurred his figure.

The effect was immediate, but not the one Kai had desired.

The white serpent raised his hood, hissing back. Kai saw the scales on the underside of its hood were pale red. It took Kai's hiss as a challenge, he could tell. He could feel the ferocity in its hiss. It was a magical beast, a noble creature. Kai's hiss had come from a non-magical one. How could it ever tolerate the rudeness of such a challenge?

"You dare!" Kai growled.

And for the first time, Kai stirred the thing inside his chest. The terror hiding in his chest churned, sending out deep, hideous pulses on his naked skin, trying to crack it apart. Cersei let out a shriek, then a mortifying gasp. The serpent was no good, either.

It thrashed its tail in defiance, in fear, in the horror of the thing that desired its flesh with such primal desire.

It was enough.

This feeling was enough to make it let go of all its defenses. Under the devouring gaze of Kai's slitted pupils, the white cobra bowed its head.

Kai extended his hand, and the serpent came slithering at it. Its forked tongue kissed Kai's fingers before it coiled itself around his forearm, overshadowing the snake tattoo there.

The stats appeared over its head then.

[

Beast: Ghost Serpent (magical beast)

Grade: E- (growth)

Type: Poison, ghost

HP: 100

MP: 150

SP: 40

Attributes-

Strength: 7

Agility: 12

Stamina: 10

Perception: 20

Intelligence: 15

Breath: 4

Abilities-

1. Intangibility

2. Soul Chill

Skills-

1. Ghost Neurotoxin

2. Earth Vibration Sense

]

Kai stared at it, as it stared at him in return.

Something was happening, something deep. An unseen bond was creating itself, attaching him and the creature with a string. Kai just knew what to do.

Kai's throat twisted, all his muscles screamed as words tried to come out of his mouth.

Yet, what came out was only an intention.

And a hiss surrounded this intention like a mother's embrace.

-Hello!- Kai said, the veins on his forehead popping up.

-Master- the snake hissed out her own intention. Kai didn't know how, but he could tell that the hiss that had come out of its mouth was childish, and full of warmth and that the serpent was a female.

"What a creature!" Cersei approached them, her hand reaching for the serpent.

"NO!" Kai roared, knowing the character must have thought that the serpent had been tamed by him. But it wasn't as simple as taming. The emotions went deeper than that.

Hissss! The hatchling opened its white maw at her, spitting two thin trails of venoms. Kai felt the Mana fluctuation and then saw the same shocking scene again.

Cersei's figure was blurring. But this time, it wasn't solidifying back at all. She was truly being forced back to the Book. The shock on her face was not something Kai had ever expected to see.

She looked at him, her eyes moist. "Bring me out again, if you want to know the solution to the second problem. I've figured it out."

Then she disappeared.

**********

AN: Image reference to the serpent is available on Discord. Tomorrow we will deal with Goblin, and the first hunt. The day after Kai will carry out the actual mission.