Chapter Text
The desert wind howled low against the sand as Valir stepped up to the edge of the ruins. The golden sands had nearly swallowed the structure, burying pillars and carving out shadows beneath the worn-out stone arches. He adjusted the belt around his waist before brushing away some grains of sand on his cheek. He summoned a small, flickering flame, dancing at the tip of his index finger. The fire cast a warm glow on the markings carved into the walls beside him, mostly eroded after centuries of wind and sun.
Valir passed under a half-collapsed gateway, the flame on his finger shrinking to a narrow flicker of light. His boots echoed faintly against the smooth temple floors, oddly untouched considering the state of the structure. There were murals still, faded but persisting, scenes of serpent-like figures with golden eyes and crowned heads, tail wound through cities, hands raised in blessings, or, perhaps in judgment. He paused in front of them only for a moment, a small frown on his face.
He then continued on, stepping cautiously into the heart of the ruins, the corridor narrowing until it opened into a vast chamber, the ceiling so lost in shadows it wasn’t even visible. He raised his hand, the flame at his fingertip flaring brighter, casting a flickering orange glow across the pillars and crumbled stone.
And then, he saw it.
Coiled around the base of a broken throne. Massive, silent, and gleaming faintly in the dark; it was something almost too large to be real. Scales, smooth and pale as moonlight, on a colossal form curled lazily through the chamber. The faint luminescence of its body shimmered like the finest of silks, and for a moment, Valir couldn’t even find it to breathe.
A snake.
No, a titan of one, easily four, maybe five times his own size. It seemingly slumbered, curled upon itself in loose, heavy loops over the ruins like a slumbering god. Which, now and in better judgment, it might actually have been.
From the outside, the place had resembled a temple. The murals told stories of reverence and authority, of something divine. But, had he misunderstood? Had he wondered not into a holy place, but the lair of something ancient and monstrous? His breath caught.
The creature opened its eye. Just one.
A slit-pupiled gaze of pure gold, glimmering in the dark like a jewel. It fixed on him with such a depth that made the flame on his finger tremble. And then..
Darkness.
A sudden, suffocating wave of darkness, as though the very room had folded in on itself. A mere second later he was slammed down into cold stone, breath stolen from his lungs. The weight that pinned him down felt like a mountain, the heavy coils of the serpent’s tail tightly wrapped around his torso, chest, and thighs, in a grip so powerful one more squeeze felt like it would shatter him.
He couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. A cough rattled out of his chest.
But worse, stranger than all of it, was what Valir saw when he finally forced his eyes to look up.
It was a face.
Human, and beautiful.
Dusky skin adorned with gold, a mane of white hair flowing in waves, nearly reaching the floor. A collar of gold adorned a strong, toned chest that loomed just above his pinned body. The creature’s long, clawed fingers rested beside him on the stone, and that same golden eye, so close now, watched him intently beneath heavy white eyelashes. It didn’t move, but that eye tracked his every motion; calm and unblinking, as though a spider studying the insect finally caught in its web. Despite its beauty, its face was unreadable.
Valir twisted his arms, muscles straining beneath the crushing tail around his ribs. He tried to force some space, to ease the pressure even for a single breath, but it felt like he was pinned under stone. There was no shift, none at all.
His vision edged with red. With no other choice, he called on his magic.
The flame sparked at his fingertips, then flared brilliantly. In seconds it swallowed his hand, a searing blaze hot enough to melt through metal. He drove the fiery fist forward, aiming for the creature’s chest.
But, it never landed.
The fire vanished; snuffed out before contact, dissipating into thin air like a candle blown by the wind.
Valir’s breath hitched. ‘’What-?’’
He had no time to speak further. Instinct overtook him, and his very body lit up with fire. Flames fanned outward from his skin, expanding towards the massive tail binding him.
And yet again, the flames died.
This time, he had felt it; a warm gust, rising from the creature and sweeping outward in a current. It didn’t even ruffle the creature’s long, curtain-like hair. But, it broke apart his fire like mere leaves caught in a storm.
Wind. This.. thing, controlled the wind.
Panic clawed up in his throat. It wasn’t just a beast, then. It was something else, something more ancient than that. Valir coughed, body heaving, and managed a rasp of air past the tight tail wrapped around his chest. It wasn’t enough, nowhere close.
His vision began to blur. The serpent watched on, unmoving, as if testing how long Valir could endure. But Valir’s body was already slackening, head tilting as the edges of the chamber blurred. His limbs felt like stone, weighed down by more than just the creature’s tail.
Clearly, force didn’t seem to cut it. This.. thing, whatever it was, was clearly stronger, faster, and far more powerful than him. If strength wouldn’t save his life, then his only choice at survival was..
‘’..D-Do you understand me?’’ Valir rasped, voice cracked. The words barely made it past his lips, groaned out with the little breath he had left in him.
The serpent didn’t respond. But, something in its expression did shift; a small, flickering gleam in its golden eye. A pause. So small, Valir wasn’t sure if it was real or the haze overcoming him had created the image.
‘’..If you.. If you can understand me..’’ He coughed again, this time harsher, and wet. ‘’I’m not here to harm you. Or to rob or desecrate your.. home.’’
A moment’s silence.
‘’I’m just..’’ He swallowed, hard. ‘’..An explorer.’’
A beat passed.
And then.. a shift. The pressure around his chest lightened, just barely. The coils didn’t unravel, but the crushing weight relented. Valir gasped, a sharp, broken sound, as the first real breath of air filled his lungs. It was warm and dry, filled with this temple’s scent. The air made him dizzy, and he collapsed back against the stone floor, chest rising and falling in sharp, quick bursts. He blinked the blurriness from his eyes, dazed and panting, and looked up.
The serpent had tilted its head. Not like a beast, but like a man watching something new. The gold in its eye continued to gleam, now with evident curiosity. Still, it said nothing.
But, that look.. That was no mindless creature, that much was now certain.
Valir stared up at the half-human figure looming above him, lips parted, unsure what to even say next. Still, this much was progress. Small, certainly, but good enough. At least his life wasn’t hanging by a thread anymore. But the creature’s eyes were still on him, watching his every move. If a speck of dust was upset in the room, he felt like the creature would immediately notice even that.
He didn’t dare move too quickly, not when it still had him in its grasp, despite it being looser now. The way it observed him, so still and unblinking, got the point across fairly faithfully, without the need for words or gestures. One wrong move, and he was done.
Still catching his breath, Valir lifted his gaze again. Now that the haze of suffocation was lifting and his heartbeat was returning to normal, he could take a better look, and truly look, at the being before him.
The tail wasn’t purely white. Flecks and lines of gold adorned its length, curving in elegant shapes. They glimmered faintly under the minuscule light streaming in the room through a few cracks in the walls, leading upwards, to a torso that was very much not one of a beast’s. Smooth, bronze-tanned skin stretched over a broad chest, lean yet undeniably strong. A heavy gold collar rested against its collarbone, fitted seamlessly as if made for no one else. Its arms were human as well, sculpted like those of a warrior, also adorned in golden bracers.
And then.. the face.
Smooth, elegant, impossibly calm.
Golden earrings hung from pointed ears, and its snow-white hair cascaded all around its body, nearly touching the floor. At least, Valir assumed it was snow-white in color. He couldn’t be certain at this point; it seemed like it hadn’t been brushed in years, maybe decades, matted and filled with dust, dirt and other small debris.
Its eyes.. golden and beautiful, tucked underneath white, heavy lashes.
This.. this wasn’t some wild creature that had taken up residence in a forgotten ruin. It wasn’t a beast that had claimed this sacred ground. It was the sacred ground. The realization hit Valir all at once.
He’d seen this before. Once, in a forgotten corner of a crumbling library, while half-interestedly going through a tome too old to remain intact. The sketch in the tome had been stylized, barely human, but the idea..
A Naga.
Divine, half-human, half-serpent. Proud, wise, terrifying. A deity of wind and knowledge.
This was the guardian of these ruins. And Valir had strolled into its temple as he pleased, like a rogue bandit drunk on arrogance. His breath caught again, though this time from realization rather than pressure. Had he offended it, was it angry? Did it want something? His gaze flickered down, uncertain. Did it demand.. an offering?
An offering.. Valir had prepared no such thing. How could he? Even if he’d known that a god slumbered in these ruins, what would he have brought? Some deities demanded sacrifices and blood, others demanded gold, rare treasures, ancient scrolls. Some were said to hunt only truth, or silence, or suffering. What could a Naga want?
What did this Naga want?
He lightly frowned. Even if he did know what it desired, Valir knew he had no way to fulfill its request. Apart from the few belongings hanging off his belt, he owned nothing more. He had no gold, and possessed no rare treasures. His gaze dropped, scanning his own body. A few meager things rattled in his belt’s pouched as he moved; some medicinal herbs and cloth for wounds, a few crumbling pieces of pita bread from earlier this morning, a half-emptied water pouch filled with goat milk that was already beginning to sour in the heat.
And then, tucked carefully in a leather wrap, he remembered; the incense.
Three small sticks, earthly, dark-scented. Meant to be burned at sundown, in honor of his father. He’d planned to light them atop one of the ruins, and let the wind carry their scents through the vast, endless desert.
It wasn’t much, it was barely anything. But it was everything he had.
‘’..If you want it, I do have something to offer to you.’’ Valir mumbled, voice rough and low.
He could barely look up. It was absurd, offering scraps to a creature like this. But it was all he could give. Usually such offerings were given at a designated part of the temple; some altar, some sacred pedestal or whatnot beneath the light of the sun or moon. But this place.. this room..
Nearly swallowed whole by darkness and long-crumbled stone, there was no such place. No shrine, no ceremonial basin for tributes and offerings. Just a broken throne, half-consumed by the ivory coils that were tightly wrapped around it. Apart from that, there was only dust and ruin.
Where should he..
He exhaled. ‘’..Here.’’ He muttered under his breath. ‘’Might as well.’’
The deity hadn’t crushed him yet. That had to count for something, right? Might as well try, while it was still in a decent mood. Slowly and carefully, always watching the glint of gold from the Naga’s eyes with every motion, Valir leaned forward. Not all the way to the ground, but enough to reach the pouch tied at his waist’s belt. From it, he pulled a small, chipped ceramic bowl, one he used to scoop water from desert oases when his flask ran dry.
He uncorked the waterskin and poured a small stream of goat milk into the bowl, the sound faint and soft in the otherwise still air. When it was done, he set the bowl down with careful fingers, as if any little clatter could offend the being watching him. Then, came the incense.
He plucked a stick from the leather wrapping and pressed its end to a new flame dancing at his fingertip. It caught easily, a thin red ember crawling along the edge, smoke curling into the air. It was rich and heavy, with the scent of cedar and ash.
This time, the Naga made no move to snuff it out. No wind stirred.
The scent reached Valir’s nose, a quiet, mournful note that tugged at his heart. He kneeled down, and lodged the incense upright in a narrow crack in the stone floor, right next to the bowl. It was primitive, but it stood. His makeshift offering was done.
Still kneeling on the ground, Valir glanced up.
The Naga hadn’t moved. But, something in its expression had shifted. The eyes that studied him like prey now held something gentler. Not quite warmth, but a recognition. A mellowed out curiosity. The golden slits of its pupils narrowed slightly. Not threatening, but focused. As if seeing the things that Valir had offered, not simply looking at them.
Valir swallowed. He resisted the urge to speak again; something told him he should instead remain quiet, and still. The smoke curled upward, dancing towards the ceiling. The milk in the bowl remained untouched.
One long-fingered hand reached forward. It did not touch the offering. It touched him.
The back of the Naga’s finger ghosted along Valir’s jaw. A feather-light touch, just beneath the bruise beginning to darken at his cheekbone, from where he hit the ground earlier. It was a soft touch, and it seemed to deliberately avoid touching the wounded area.
The god did not speak.
And then, suddenly, the pressure began to ease.
Bit by bit, the tension coiled around Valir’s chest lifted as the thick, scaled body that pinned him gradually unwound. The Naga’s tail slid back in slow, almost graceful motion, almost like silk drifting against the stone floor. It no longer bound him, and no longer kept him trapped and breathless.
Freed, Valir let out a low breath. He didn’t scramble away, that would show fear. And he didn’t exactly feel like appearing fearful before a being like this was a very bright idea. Still, he carefully rolled his shoulder, stretching his arms, testing his limbs. The ache would last a while, but he’d survive.
The Naga, meanwhile, had shifted its posture; lowering its upper body to the floor, lithe arms braced on either side. The serpent’s eyes, glowing faintly golden in the low light, stared downward, towards the humble offering Valir had lair before him.
A chipped bowl of goat milk. A single burning stick of incense, thin trails of some rising from its tip. That was all.
And yet..
To Valir’s disbelief, the Naga’s expression changed.
Not dramatically. No overly broad gesture, no theatrical show of its potentially divine powers. But the corners of its lips lifted slowly, barely noticeably, into the faintest of smiles. His eyes softened, crinkling just slightly at the corners, golden gaze steady on the two humble items on the cracked floor as if they were the most precious gifts ever offered.
Valir blinked, unsure what to make of it. The smile wasn’t cruel, it wasn’t mocking. It was.. pleased. Earnest even. Content.
He stood slowly and quietly, careful not to disturb the deity. As the Naga remained low and contemplative, Valir cast his gaze about the room. Even with a weak flame at his fingertip, there wasn’t much to see, much like he had initially noticed. A broken throne, some ancient, dull carvings near the entrance, faded cloth hanging from cracked pillars. No relics, no artifacts, no wisdom left behind. Just the Naga.
This temple held no answers for him today, and there was nothing here that would aid him in his journey. He had more ground to cover, and couldn’t remain here needlessly. Perhaps he would return one day. Most likely, he wouldn’t.
He straightened his posture, brushing dust from his knees. ‘’..Well.’’ He murmured to himself, uncertain if he was addressing the Naga or simply the silence. ‘’I suppose I’ve overstayed. I’ll take my leave now.’’
The Naga didn’t stop him. Though, unbeknownst to Valir, its gaze never left his back.
He walked the path back through the temple, the sound of his own footsteps echoing softly through the crumbling halls the only one he heard. He passed by the same ancient murals he met on his way in; the cracked mosaics, the half-erased imagery. He noticed none of them with any real interest now as his thoughts were elsewhere, caught on something he couldn’t quite put into words.
An odd feeling, a tug in his chest, quiet but persistent.
Was it regret?
He frowned at that thought. Regret over what? He was alive, wasn’t he? He offered what little he had, escaped with his flesh and bones intact, and the strange serpent hadn’t pursued him.
So, why did it feel like he’d left something unfinished?
Should he have bowed? Said a prayer? Acknowledged it, before turning his back on it? Valir shook his head. None of it mattered now.
The light from the ruined entrance washed over him. The sun had sunk low while he was inside, lower than he expected. By his guess, he had two or three hours of good daylight left. After that, the desert would turn cold, dark and deadly. He’d need to find shelter for the night. A rocky outcrop, maybe a caravan if luck favored him. Sometimes the more merciful bandits let him share a torn blanket beside a fire, if they’d had a profitable raid and were in a celebratory mood. Sometimes.
But as he stepped past the stone threshold of the temple and into the open desert air again, the breeze caught on his cloak and stirred something behind him. He froze.
It wasn’t the wind.
Slowly, Valir turned his head to glance back.
There, half-shadowed in the temple’s entrance, white scales catching the sunlight like silk, was the Naga. The very same one. It hadn’t stayed behind, after all.
The deity stood just outside the entrance of the ruins, leaning lazily against the worn stone wall. The afternoon sunlight bathed its form, and what had only faintly shimmered in the temple’s darkness now blazed to life. The breeze teased at its long hair, sending it trailing behind it in soft waves, almost like a billowing cape. A very dirty, matted cape, Valir still noted wryly. In the sunlight it was even easier to notice the dust that clung to the ends, the strands that were tangled with bits of debris from the ruins. But, the Naga didn’t seem to mind.
It held its head up high, chin tilted towards the sun as if greeting it for the first time in decades, perhaps even centuries. Its golden eyes were closed, and the smile on its lips was subtle, but peaceful.
Liberated, even.
Valir didn’t say it aloud, but the thought pushed quietly to the front of his mind.
How long had it been since it left the temple?
Valir looked away, brows faintly furrowed. He didn’t like the way that thought sat with him.
‘’..Are you planning on following me?’’ He asked instead, trying to keep the edge out of his voice.
The Naga cracked one eye open. No answer came, at least, not in words. Just that same flicker of curiosity, the corners of its lips tugging into a half-smile, one fang peeking slightly from underneath.
Valir frowned, then clicked his tongue. So this deity really was intending to follow him. But why? And why him? Had he broken some kind of ancient seal that kept it bound to the temple, unknowingly setting it loose upon the Drylands? Or worse, had he, by making that meager offering, entered into some kind of pact? A deal he didn’t even realize he’d made?
He shook those thoughts off. No, that was ridiculous. Maybe the Naga was just curious about the outside world after so many years of being locked away, and decided to tag along for now. Simple as that.
‘’Whatever, do what you want.’’ Valir muttered under his breath, turning back towards the open sands ahead. As long as the deity didn’t cause him any trouble, it was fine. Probably.
He started walking again, with no clear destination in mind. But behind him, something kept pulling at his attention; odd, repetitive sounds in the sand. He ignored it once. Then again. And again. But the fourth time, curiosity finally won. He sighed, and glanced over his shoulder.
The sight made his eye twitch.
The Naga was slithering smoothly across the dunes.. Almost smoothly. It had no problem gliding through the sand, but its absurdly long hair was another story. Every few seconds, the cols of its tail snagged on the silken strands, pulling them beneath its body and forcing it to stop and shift awkwardly to untangle itself. It kept happening over, and over. The deity, for its part, seemed completely unfazed, still wearing that peaceful little smile even as if fumbled its way forward.
‘’For Gods’ sake..’’ Valir sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Even so, the Naga remained undeterred, determined to follow him; tripping over its own hair the entire way. Valir groaned, then turned around fully, and marched toward it. With one hand, he reached behind to unhook a small knife from his belt; one he typically had used only to peel fruit, thus far.
‘’Stay still.’’ He instructed, stepping up to the Naga.
Surprisingly, it obeyed immediately, golden eyes watching him with quiet curiosity. Carefully, Valir gathered the tangled, matte strands and began slicing through them, one rough cut at a time. The locks fell fast and heavy, pooling in the sand below until the ground was nearly buried beneath them. His technique was clumsy, it wasn’t as if he’d cut anyone’s hair before. By the end of it, the Naga’s hair barely brushed its shoulders.
Valir stepped back, inspecting his handiwork. It wasn’t great, definitely not, but it wasn’t terrible either. At least it was functional. ‘’All done.’’ He muttered.
The Naga tilted its head to the side, then glanced upward, to the left, to the right. Assessing itself, maybe. The gentle smile hadn’t wavered, and when its gaze returned to Valir, it was clear it was ready to keep following him again.
And that’s when the thought struck Valir. A sudden, and rather unsettling thought.
He had given it an order, and it had obeyed.
He’d pulled a knife out of nowhere, and it hadn’t even flinched.
It hadn’t defended itself, it hadn’t been afraid. Somehow, it had known his intent. Was it really that intelligent? Or, had the offering, those scraps of incense and a mere splash of milk, somehow earned its trust?
Two or so hours later, Valir finally spotted something on the horizon; two things, in fact. A patch of green surrounded by the glimmer of water, an oasis. And farther off, just barely visible through the shimmering heat, a small settlement. His shoulders sagged with relief. At the very least, he could drink his fill and refill his waterskin. As for sleeping arrangements.. that was a problem for later.
The sun had dipped lower in the sky by the time he reached the edge of the oasis, its fading light casting long shadows over the sparse vegetation. Valir made his way down to the water’s edge, and without hesitation, uncapped his waterskin and dumped out the bit of stale goat milk remaining inside, watching it mix with the san. Then he crouched by the water, dipping the container into the crystal-clear pool until it was full again.
He dipped his cupped palms in the water, filled them, and drank. The water was cool and clean, and he gulped it down in greedy mouthfuls. Another handful followed, then a third, until the parched tightness in his throat and chest finally eased. With a sigh, Valir leaned back on his hands, stretching his tired legs out in front of him. Finally, a small moment of respite.
Before heading toward the distant settlement, Valir figured he might as well take a quick dive. Opportunities to wash the sand, dust and sweat off his skin were rare, and wasting one would be plain foolish. He unclasped the cloak around his neck and folded it into the greenery, then unfastened his belt and set it down carefully. His boots came off next, then his pants, stripped without hesitation. There was no one else around so there was no shame, no need to care. The Naga was the only one nearby, and from what little Valir had gathered, it didn’t seem the type to concern itself with the sight of a naked human.
Without testing the water, Valir stepped right in. As expected, it was comfortably cool; not cold, just enough to soothe. The sun had warmed it all day, and the heat still clung to the surface. He walked until the water reached his chest, then took a deep breath and submerged himself entirely. For several long seconds he stayed underwater, letting it soak through his hair and seep into his every pore, washing away the remnants of the long day.
When he surfaced, he exhaled with relief. With a few careful scoops of water in his palms, he began scrubbing the dirt and sweat from his skin. He did the best he could without soap; rubbing his arms, neck, even combing his fingers through his hair in place of a proper wash. It wasn’t perfect, far from it, but it was more than enough for now.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, movement drew his attention.
Turning his head, Valir spotted the Naga again, now closer than before. It had silently slithered up beside a nearby boulder, settling itself just beneath the trees, right next to the pile of his belongings. It hadn’t moved to approach the water at all, nor made any indication that it intended to. Instead, it leaned leisurely against the stone, eyes half-lidded in the evening light, watching him with that same unreadable gaze.
Valir raised an eyebrow. ‘’..You need a wash-up much more than I do.’’ He muttered dryly, eyeing the matted state of the Naga’s hair and the dirt clinging to the half-lustrous scales.
The only response was a slow tilt of the creature’s head, eyes blinking once in quiet interest.
‘’You don’t want to?’’ Valir tried again.
That earned him a brief glance from the Naga towards the water, but its gaze returned to Valir just as quickly. Valir sighed, sliding a wet hand back through his hair. Maybe it wasn’t as smart as he thought. Or maybe it was just stubborn. He motioned toward the water with a beckoning hand, more firm this time.
‘’Come here.’’ He said.
The Naga didn’t move, at least not right away. It glanced between the water and Valir again, its golden gaze still blank and unreadable. Valir didn’t repeat himself. He merely stood there, arms at his sides, his expression as flat as the surface of the water. His lips were drawn down in a slight frown, water dripping from his jaw and brow, eyes fixed on the creature before him.
Ten seconds passed, then twenty.
Finally, the Naga shifted. Once again, it obeyed.
It slid forward, gliding effortlessly through the sparse greenery and low bushes, its long form moving with steady, fluid motions. It paused at the water’s edge, head lowering toward the surface, then slipped inside without a sound. The water barely rippled as its body submerged, first its head, then its shoulders, then the endless trail of gleaming white and gold scales, until the tip of its tail finally dipped beneath the surface.
Two or so seconds later, the Naga surfaced beside him, rising in a single graceful motion until it towered over the shallow waters, droplets cascading down its sleek form.
‘’Sit down.’’ Valir instructed, craning his neck up. ‘’I can’t reach you. Or.. just lower yourself.’’ He added, realizing something without legs couldn’t exactly sit down, could it.
There was no hesitation this time. The Naga complied, sinking lower until its waist peeked from the surface of the water. Valir sighed, low, tired, and somewhat annoyed, and quickly got to work.
He began by rinsing the creature’s hair, lifting water by the handful and letting it rain through the strands. Then, he started working on detangling it. It wasn’t easy, riddled with knots and mats from years, maybe centuries of neglect. Valir worked patiently, fingers slipping through the mess again and again, loosening each tangle one by one. He didn’t speak, nor did he complain. Not out loud, at least. He just worked, muttering under his breath occasionally when a particularly stubborn knot resisted him.
Once the hair was free of tangles, he scrubbed the Naga’s scalp, his fingertips moving with steady pressure to lift away grime and sand. He rinsed it all away with more cupped water, again and again, until the pure white locks began to shine under the dipping sun. He had no soap and no bathing oils, just persistence and his trusty hands.
The Naga tilted its head a few times mid-process, golden eyes flicking up at him curiously. Valir had to grumble out a sharp ‘’Hold still’’ before it finally obeyed again. It closed its eyes when told, tilted its chin back when asked.
Thankfully, he only had to deal with hair. The rest of the Naga’s body seemed to clean itself just fine with the water alone, glimmering scales repelling dirt far more easily than flesh ever could. When he was done, Valir leaned slightly back, muscles a little sore from the repetitive motions. The Naga remained beside him in the water, hair now sleek and smooth. It looked.. strangely satisfied.
Valir narrowed his eyes at the faint, smug curve of the serpent’s lips.
‘’..What are you looking so smug about?’’ He asked. ‘’Do you think I’m your retainer now? Your personal servant?’’
The Naga didn’t reply, of course not. It merely tilted its head to the side, blinking slowly, golden eyes full of something that might’ve been amusement.
Valir clicked his tongue. ‘’There won’t be a repeat of this. I just showed you how it’s done, in case you didn’t know how to do it yourself.’’
A single blink, another tilt of the head.
Valir resisted the urge to splash water in its face.
Soon, it started to get chilly. Valir quietly stepped out of the water, droplets running down his skin before vanishing into the sand below. The sun had dipped low behind the horizon, bathing the oasis in a dusky orange-gold. Without a word he made his way to where he’d left his belongings, picking them up one by one and re-dressing. First his pants, cloak next, then belt, then boots.
The Naga remained in the water, still and quiet, letting the last of the sun warm its scales. Only when Valir cast a glance back and said a ‘Let’s go’ did it stir. With that same quiet grace it emerged from the oasis, no words, and no protest.
They were soon back on the road, though it was only a road in theory. There were no paved stones or carved paths out here in the Drylands, just endless stretches of golden sand. Valir trudged forward, boots sinking with every step, sand clinging stubbornly to his heels. He couldn’t help but glance back once or twice. The Naga moved with its lazy sort of elegance, coiling and gliding across the sands with ease. It didn’t leave prints, nor did it seem to struggle at all.
Must be nice not having legs, Valir thought to himself. It probably didn’t even feel half the strain he felt. The only thing that might’ve been an issue, he supposed, was the heat of the sand. But, given the way the Naga wore that same soft smile whenever he looked back, golden eyes half-lidded and content, he figured the warmth didn’t bother it at all. If anything, it seemed to enjoy it.
The walk stretched longer than he expected. The desert had a cruel way of distorting distance, and he was familiar with it by now; what looked close might be an hour away, and what felt near might be not reachable at all. Valir didn’t complain, though. He simply adjusted his pace, pulled the edges of his cloak tighter around himself, and pressed on.
By the time the settlement finally appeared in full, the sun was gone entirely, swallowed by the horizon. The sharp desert wind brushed across his face and Valir hunched his shoulders, tugging the cloak even closer to his body. He could see faint lanterns glowing in the distance, marking the settlement’s edge. Small buildings, a few tents, perhaps a market or two like usually, half-covered but still open for the night.
However, that was also when Valir came to a sudden, sobering realization.
What exactly was he supposed to do about the Naga?
The settlement ahead was his only option. So far he was unlucky to meet no caravans, and no passing camps. If he wanted any hope of surviving the night without freezing his limbs off, he had to get behind those walls. He most likely wouldn’t have a bed, or even a guaranteed roof over his head, but any shelter was better than none. At least the stone buildings would block some of the harsh winds.
But the Naga?
Valir’s steps slowed as the thought settled in his gut, then stopped altogether. He couldn’t bring it inside, that was out of the question. The thing was massive, clearly non-human, and so otherworldly it would send any sane person into a panic. One glance, and he would most likely be denied entry altogether, or even have spears launched in their direction. And sneaking in? Laughable. There was no angle or route through which this thing could just ‘slip’ inside.
Valir had clearly underestimated it. When he first saw it trailing after him, smiling like it had all the time in the world (which, it probably did), he thought; fine. Let it follow. As long as it didn’t cause trouble, he didn’t care. Little did Valir know, the Naga itself was trouble, and he had only just realized it.
He sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face. Even if by some miracle, he found someone kind –or foolish- enough to offer him a small room, how the hell would he explain this Naga? Dragging it through the front door? Scaling a wall and hoping it squeezed through a second-floor window. The image alone made him snort aloud. Ridiculous.
And even more ridiculous, he didn’t have the coin for a room anyway. ‘’No chance.’’ He muttered low under his breath. ‘’Pockets are dry.’’ They’d been that way, for months.
He stood still for a long moment, cloak tight around his shoulders, the night pressing closer and closer. Valir’s jaw tensed.
He could just ditch it,
That was the easiest option. Tell it to stay here, right where it stood. He had a feeling it would probably listen. He could walk into the settlement alone, and find some corner to curl into for the night. Between crates, behind someone’s stable, maybe under a staircase. Wasn’t like he’d never done it before.
That was option one.
Option two, was to stay right where he was, outside the settlement, with the Naga beside him. And, well, freeze. The desert cold would blow the cloak off him like a leaf, and there was practically no chance he would still be alive come morning.
Suddenly, Valir flinched.
His eyebrows shot up, and his eyes were wide as he whipped his head around. Something icy cold had brushed his arm, and when he turned, he found the Naga standing directly behind him. It had approached without a sound, one hand extended to lightly touch his arm. Its fingers were spread, careful to let only the pads of his fingers make contact, as if trying to avoid even the slightest accidental scratch from its claws.
‘’..What is it?’’ Valir asked, frowning.
The Naga withdrew its cold hand, bowing its head slightly. Then, with slow movements, it reached for one of the golden braces around its own forearms. It slipped it off with ease, and then held the ornament out to him with both hands.
Valir’s brow furrowed, though it took only a moment to realize what the gesture meant.
‘’What? No, keep that. That’s yours, there’s no need for that.’’
But the Naga insisted. Its arms extended more firmly now, urging the gold brace into his hands. For the first time, Valir noticed a faint crease between its eyebrows, a slight downturn to its lips. Was it.. frowning?
With a reluctant sigh, Valir took the brace, turning it over in his hands. As if an ancient deity wearing it wasn’t enough proof, just from its weight alone and the way it caught the moonlight, he could tell it was pure gold. Selling this alone would fetch a pretty fortune, more than enough to carry him on his journey.
A soft clink snapped his attention back up. The Naga was now removing one of its large, golden hoop earrings from its pointy ears.
‘’Stop that!’’ Valir snapped, stepping forward. ‘’This is already more than enough.’’
Was it planning to hand over everything it wore? The idea of walking through the Drylands with that much wealth made Valir shiver. He’d practically be a walking target. ‘’Seriously, cut it out.’’
But yet again, the Naga didn’t listen. It gently slipped the earring free, and offered it to him with the same insistence.
Eventually, Valir gave up arguing. Grumbling under his breath, he snatched the earring from its hand. ‘’Fine, I’ll take it. Just in case I ever need to sell it too. But that’s it, no more!’’
Thankfully, the Naga gave him a mellow smile, and made no further move to strip itself of its remaining ornaments. Valir gave a quiet sigh of relief. He held the hoop up, then reached for his own ear; he had pierced them as a young boy, though they were unused in months. He hadn’t worn earrings in ages, not since he’d sold off every last jewelry or trinket of worth just to keep going. The earring was large and the hole was a bit stiff, but after some effort, he got it in.
He didn’t worry too much about finding someone willing to buy the golden brace. Settlements like this one always had their fair share of treasure seekers; whether appraisers, bandits, or simple jewelers with a sharp eye for profit. His only real concern was getting swindled, but he trusted himself enough not to fall for some amateur’s scamming tactics.
Still, one thing remained obvious. The Naga couldn’t follow him into the settlement.
‘’Wait here, okay?’’ He said, turning to face the towering creature. ‘’I’ll be back soon. Don’t follow me.’’
With that, Valir turned and began heading towards the buildings ahead, the golden brace securely at his side. Just to be sure he cast a glance over his shoulder, and to his satisfaction, the Naga remained exactly where he’d left it. Unmoving and quiet, wearing that same small, content smile. Its golden eyes tracked him as he walked away, and in the dark, they almost seemed to glow faintly.
Relieved, Valir pressed on. A few minutes of walking brought him to the heart of the settlement. He tucked the golden brace out of sight the moment he spotted some rough-looking locals loitering near the entrance. His gaze swept the streets with practiced precision, scanning every stall, building, or passerby with focus.
The first man who showed interest in buying the brace tried to outright cheat him. Valir had to stifle a laugh at how boldly the man lowballed him; the offered price wasn’t even a tenth of what the gold was worth. Without a word, he turned on his heel and walked away, ignoring the man’s increasingly desperate shouts and new offers.
The second buyer was more reasonable. Not the fairest, exactly, but not a blatant scam artist either. He offered a sum roughly seventy percent of what Valir estimated the piece to be worth. It was less than ideal, but still enough to make the deal. With a resigned sigh, Valir accepted. Because he knew that if he walked away now and couldn’t find anyone else, he’d have to return to this man and probably be met with a new, even lower offer than before. Better to take the deal now, than gamble and lose later. Valir was no fool.
Once the trade was done, and a pouch full of clinking gold coins was hidden beneath his cloak, Valir moved quickly through the market to restock. First came a large sling backpack, big enough to carry the supplies he needed, but not so heavy that it would weigh him down, and a wool blanket. Then he bought a large waterskin, along with dried fruit, flatbread, and strips of cured meat that he munched on as he walked down the streets. Finally, he selected a simple white desert tent; compact, easy to erect and take down, and light enough to carry strapped to his backpack.
By the time he reached the end of the street the coin pouch was certainly lighter, but his pack was full and his needs were well met.
A man near one of the alleys called out to him, offering cheap room for the night and promises of warmth and guaranteed safety. Valir slowed, just for a moment. It was tempting, but ultimately he shook his head, and waved him off. A real bed certainly sounded like paradise, but he chose not to indulge. He’d rather make these golden coins last.
Since the settlement was basically a single long, horizontal stretch of a street, Valir exited from the right side, having entered from the left. Backpack full of his newly acquired supplies, he began to walk back to where he’d left the Naga; twenty, maybe thirty minutes ago.
It didn’t take long for him to spot it. And when he did, he stopped dead in his tracks.
The Naga stood exactly where he had left it. Not a single inch forward, not a single limb shifted. Its head was slightly turned to the left, facing to the west, towards the entrance Valir had disappeared through. Its eyes were locked there, fixed on the very place he had earlier vanished from sight.
Ah, Valir realized. It had expected him to return the same way he’d gone in. And so it had waited, completely still, staring at that empty stretch of sand and road.
A strange thought crept into Valir’s mind.
What if he’d taken longer? What if he had chosen to stay the night at the settlement, tucked away in a warm, safe bed? Would the Naga have stayed exactly like that, all night, staring and waiting?
Another thought followed, a colder, crueler one.
What if he didn’t come back at all?
The Naga still hadn’t noticed him. If he wanted to, he could leave right now. Retreat back into the settlement, purchase a heavy robe, and set out across the desert alone. He had gold. Enough to travel far away, probably go through his entire journey without any further trouble. He owed the creature nothing. There was no pact, or deal between them. They had never even talked to each other, no words were even properly exchanged. It had simply chosen to follow him.
Would it keep waiting? Would it remain there for days and weeks, then longer, months, years, staring at the place it last saw him?
Valir stood in silence, watching it with a blank expression. From a distance, the Naga looked almost like a sculpture. The soft lines of its face were relaxed, its eyes were half-lidded, and its mouth rested in a neutral line. It seemed peaceful, and hauntingly patient.
The crunch of boots against the sand broke the silence.
The Naga’s head shifted. Its eyes found him, and the calm expression brightened once again into a gentle smile. Its tail, which had been still for so long, gave a low, contented sway at the sight of him.
‘’..I’m back.’’ Valir murmured after a pause, and a heavy sigh. ‘’Come on. You’re helping me set this tent.’’
The Naga, of course, had no idea what a tent was or how to erect one, but it obeyed his simple instructions; ‘Hold this’, ‘Move that’, with ease. It stayed still when needed, adjusted its grip when told, and thus, the task came together quickly. By the time they were done, they had a modest tent set up in the cool sands, just outside the settlement. Valir picked whatever few branches caught his eye from the nearby shrubs, and with his magic, lit a small, comfortable fire near the entrance.
He crawled inside first, dropping his backpack down to serve as a pillow. He stripped off his boots and belt, then lay back with a long breath, pulling the wool blanket he’d purchased earlier over his body. The warmth soaked into his skin, doing a decent enough job of warding off the worst of the night’s cold. The ground was far from comfortable, but compared to the open desert, it might as well have been luxury.
It didn’t surprise him when he heard the rustle of shifting fabric, nor when the weight of a long body slid into the tent beside him. Valir had intentionally settled on one side, leaving the other half clear. It wasn’t exactly comfortable by any means, but there was no avoiding that. The Naga hadn’t given him any reason to fear it after they had exited those ruins, and besides, it was technically its gold that had paid for the tent and blanket. Valir couldn’t exactly argue moral high ground and usher it away.
Still, he flinched when a cold coil brushed against his leg. He scowled, muttering something incoherent under his breath, and pulled the blanket higher over his shoulder. Thankfully the Naga didn’t annoy him further. It kept still, quiet and unmoving, settling beside him and probably intending to rest much like him. No words were exchanged between them, none ever did after all, on the Naga’s part, and Valir wasn’t in the mood for a one-sided conversation either. And so, after several minutes, he drifted off.
Maybe around two hours passed.
He stirred, not because of any sudden noise or movement, but simply because he always did. He was a very light sleeper to rest too deeply, especially out in the open desert. You could never be too careful, after all. Before opening his eyes, however, he noticed something strange.
There was a new sensation around him. A firm pressure underneath his back, and something cushioned at his side.
Valir cracked one eye open, and stared.
Somehow, without waking him up, and without even making a sound, the Naga had coiled its massive tail underneath them both. It had looped around and beneath him, lifting his body just slightly off the ground in a loose cradle. A scaly makeshift mattress, thick and surprisingly pliant. Valir blinked in disbelief. He hadn’t felt a thing. No dragging, no shifting, no nothing. How?
The tail, for all its size and muscle, was oddly soft. A little cold to the touch, certainly, but more comfortable than the packed sand and hidden stones he’d be laying on before. His back definitely appreciated the difference.
He turned his head slightly to the side, seeking the upper half of the creature.
There it was, pressed against his side, its arm loosely around his own, and its forehead nestled against his shoulder. Its breathing was slow and even, its long lashes lay like white silky threads across the smooth line of its cheek, and its lips were slightly parted.
Valir thought it looked.. human. Not like a creature, or some ancient deity. Just a person. A man much like he, sleeping beside him.
He didn’t move, and he didn’t shake it off. Valir stared for a second, then exhaled a long, quiet sigh. Turning his head back, he shut his eyes again.
Sleep came more easily this time.