Don't Give Up Hope

"I can't." Arthur pushes Soleil off his arm as he grabs the contract and leaves the tent.

Soleil glances at the flap swaying back and forth from where Arthur had left as she flicks her tongue in silence. She then slithers over to Mikhail, her faintly golden scales reflecting the light of the oil lamp on the desk. 

Mikhail holds his head and grimaces before blinking his eyes, slowly making out Soleil's presence as he sits up straight. He stares at her for a moment before glancing at his hands that were tightly restrained by some thick ropes.

"Shall I get you out?" Soleil slithers up his arm as Mikhail shakes his head, unlike what she expected him to do.

"No. I need to show my sincerity and that I truly wish to help him."

"Is that so? But would that require you to be restrained like so?" Soleil wraps herself around his neck, dangling loosely like a jewellery as Mikhail sighed to himself.

"Tigris showed me a memory of young Arthur. He woul