I watched Apollo carefully.
I might have released him, but if he tried to take off again, I wouldn't be so rciful this ti.
However, Apollo just eyed warily before curling up to lick his wounds. And I began to wonder if he could be convinced in so other way.
|[No matter what you think about Ophelia or Typhon, the truth is you would've been much worse if it wasn't for them.]| I started to say. |[They taught you skills, kept you safe and kept you fed. Without them, you would have regressed to more…primitive instincts...which could still happen.]|
Apollo looked up from his wounds. [What do you an?]
|[There are other serpents out there, who won't approve of our living situations.]| I ominously hissed.
[What? Other serpents?] Apollo asked confusedly.
I scoffed at him. |[Did you think we were the only ones?]|
Apollo continued to look puzzled, so I decided to reveal a few more things.
|[I have co to learn of the existence of serpent clans that threaten our safety because we deviated from so old tradition. We were all ant to battle amongst ourselves until only one survivor remains, who will then be welcod into one of their clans. If our cave had gone in the sa way, all of you would be dead soon after being born.]|
I studied Apollo's face, and his reaction was exactly what I expected – shock and fear.
I knew he could realize I would've been that sole survivor, and I wanted him to understand how different everything would've been.
|[Now do you understand why leaving the cave is extrely dangerous? I chose to stay with all of you instead of joining the serpent clan, so I hope you choose to stay as well.]|
I could tell Apollo wanted to say sothing but was stopping himself, and I sighed.
|[Don't ever say you don't belong here.]| I continued. |[This is your ho – everyone of you belongs here, so these aningless grudges have to stop. We are already up against too many dangers from every direction and I don't need rifts from the inside too.]|
Apollo looked away dispiritedly. [You... really won't kill ?]
I frowned at his quivering form. Why was he still asking that question after everything I just said?
|[Although what you did is not a small offence and you deserve harsh punishnt, there's enough things trying to kill us already. I would rather not kill one of my own but at the sa ti, I also won't restrict your freedom.]|
Apollo now looked conflicted.
|[Just… wait until Ophelia wakes up, and apologise to her. Do that and you will get your wish.]|
[My wish?] Apollo muttered.
|[You want to leave, right. I will let you go after you apologise to your Captain.]|
[You'll really let go?] Apollo asked.
|[You have my word.]| I replied.
After Ophelia's incident, I was feeling especially generous. However, his survival would depend solely on his instincts as all his mories of my Pit or this cave would be gone.
Apollo looked suspiciously at . [What if I don't want to?]
|[Hm? Then you will have to face your punishnt.]| I nonchalantly replied.
Apollo slithered back in fear. [I thought you said you weren't going to kill ?]
I scoffed at his suspicious look. |[I could have killed you a long ti ago, but I didn't. Besides, you've broken my trust. How can I keep you if you don't earn it back?]|
Apollo still looked anxious, but he stopped retreating. [I've seen what kind of punishnts you give. I'm not as strong or reckless as Morgana – I can't take down any scorpion Queens for you.]
I chuckled at him. |[I don't expect you to. I have a different task for you.]|
Apollo looked wary, yet he was still curious. [What sort of task?]
|[When the ti cos, I want you to find the other serpents and report everything they do to .]|
Apollo seed to freeze in terror, his eyes wide, like he couldn't believe what I just said.
[Didn't you just say they are dangerous! How can you ask to go to them?]
|[You don't have to get close to them, you only need to spy on them from afar.]| I clarified. |[Don't you think your bottom feeders are perfect for such a task?]|
Apollo was stunned. [Why are you so sure I can do it? What if they attack ?]
|[Bottom feeders are nurous, and you can control them from a distance. You can easily monitor their surroundings with them. You won't even need to get close.]|
Apollo was stunned. [Why are you so sure I can do it?]
|[Bottom feeders are very small and nurous, and you can control them from a distance. You can easily monitor their surroundings with them.]|
However, Apollo remained unconvinced. [What if sothing goes wrong? I'll be all alone out there.]
|[I won't let you go unprepared.]| I replied. |[Besides, I will know where you are at all tis, so I can find you if you're ever in trouble.]|
Apollo still looked suspicious and I sighed.
I knew there was only a slim chance of him being accepted into the Serpent clan as an outsider. They were more than likely to kill him if he was discovered, creating another incentive for Apollo to remain hidden at a distance.
However, all of this was based on the words of the Nymph and I didn't know how much I could trust her.
I also didn't know if the Serpent clan was truly as powerful as she led to believe, or if it was all fabricated so I would keep relying on her.
And that was what I intended to find out.
If the Serpent clan was weak, it was possible they would make an exception for Apollo and take him in because of his abilities. But if they were truly strong, they were likely to kill or imprison him.
One of three things could happen.
Apollo could betray and never return or I could find out whether the Nymph was lying to , or it could all go well.
Either way, I would know if the Nymph could be trusted or not.
As for Apollo, I planned to mark him like I did to Typhon, so I would always know where he was and if he was alive. There was also no telling if he would stay faithful or betray the first chance he got, but at least I could track him down at any ti.
I could have sent soone more trustworthy but in the end, I was more willing to risk Apollo's life, than say Typhon or Ophelia's. So perhaps, I was a hypocrite and not fit to lead them.
I watched Apollo think things over before looking at . [Will you really co to my rescue if I'm in danger?]
|[As long as you have my mark, I will know.]| I cryptically replied.
[Will you also know if I betray you?] Apollo asked with a mischievous look.
And I gave him a knowing smile. |[I'm sure you can figure that out on your own.]|
Apollo's face fell imdiately, and he beca rather anxious. [I promise I won't!]
It looked like he wanted to say more, however Morgana just happened to rush into the underground at that mont, causing Apollo and I to turn to her.
[I'm not interrupting anything, am I?] She asked, staring awkwardly at the two of us.
Apollo glared at her suspiciously without saying anything and I frowned at her sudden arrival.
|[Is it about Ophelia?]| I asked. |[Have there been any changes?]|
Morgana nodded and broke into a wide grin. [Yes, she is awake! She's asking for you!]
|[Really?!]|
I was thrilled to hear the good news, but I was still unhappy to be crept up on. I had to wonder just how much Morgana had heard of our discussion.
[I didn't an to barge in on you.] Morgana worriedly added when my eyes lingered on her. [I was just so excited to tell you that I couldn't wait.]
She did seem out of breath, so perhaps it was a coincidence. However, I soon noticed another figure by the entrance which made frown.
[I will co with you too. I have to apologise to her.] Apollo spoke up as he looked at .
It sounded like he was agreeing to my task, and I glanced at the two troubleso nestlings.
One, a potential spy and another a possible assassin.
They were both determined and equally confident in their abilities, I was just worried how these would affect them when everything was said and done.
I was almost out of the underground when I noticed Morgana trailing behind.
|[Aren't you coming?]| I asked.
[I will, in a while.] Morgana replied. [A certain spider wants to talk to first so I'm hanging back.]
|[Spider?]| I asked confusedly.
Surely, she didn't an Typhon.
But Morgana seed to tremble even as she replied. [It's okay. I will be fine.]
And I wondered if I needed to have a word with him too?
Eventually, Apollo and I made our way over to Ophelia's room where we found her curled up among the nestlings.
There were no significant changes in her appearance aside from her pale feathers looking slightly ruffled. Her stats were also full, and her serpentine form brimd with power from her new core.
But as I approached, Ophelia opened her eyes and turned to and I was shocked by their colour.
One was her usual icy blue but the other was now a brilliant red, giving her a unique aura.
The red eye must have been the product of the Abyss and her new core, to replace what had been destroyed. It looked beautiful and seed to function properly but for , it was a constant reminder that she would never be the sa again.
I imdiately dismissed the nestlings to allow us to talk and I made Apollo wait with them.
He could apologise to her later, because I owed Ophelia the biggest apology of all.
However, my Captain didn't listen to a word of it.
[Why are you saying you're sorry?] Ophelia asked with a flustered look. [Did sothing happen?]
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