The elder walked back into the hall with a slow, heavy gait. This time, he wasn't just carrying his cane. In his right hand, he held a stone bowl and a small, jagged knife made of bone. In his left, he carried a small iron cage. Inside it, a sleek, crimson-scaled serpent coiled around itself. Its eyes were like black beads, watching everything with a cold, predatory stillness.Travis couldn’t take his eyes off the Red Viper. He felt a surge of hope mixed with a crushing weight in his chest."Aubrey, I’m coming home," he thought. "Please, just hold on a little longer.""You’ve made your choice?" the elder asked, his voice echoing in the silent hall."Give me the Red Viper," Travis said, his voice hard.The elder nodded slowly. He placed the stone bowl on the table between them. Without a word, he took the bone knife and sliced a deep line across his own palm. He didn't flinch. Dark, thick blood began to drip into the bowl. Travis watched the drops fall, one, two, ten... until exactly t
Last Updated : 2026-02-08 Read more