Host.I was sleeping for a very long time.Then your voice came, and I could not sleep anymore.
"My voice?"her brows furrowed.
You called, and I answered.I expect I am not the only one that woke up.But I don't know where the others are.
"The others?"
The creature's eyes closed, head nuzzling into her clothes.Host, it is best if you don't call them again; I am here.
"Eh?"Azul found herself confused.Could it be the other things she called for are dangerous?"Wait!Don't sleep!How do I not call them then?"She couldn't help but feel anxious.It should've been alarming to see a snake with six eyes in the first place; she just thought it was a strange anomaly of this world.From her memories, multiple eyes on creatures weren't new.
Host, just don't pick up any strange animals anymore… I need to sleep.
"This is not the time to sleep!"She hissed, wanting to take the thing and shake it.
I can only sleep; I don't have much energy in this state.
Azul calmed down, looking at the thing; its eyes were still closed."I suppose you are a little small."
I am very small,the snake agreed.That is a problem.
"For whom?"
The world is large.There are birds.There are larger snakes.There are children with sticks.The snake sounded genuinely concerned.I can eat many things, but I cannot eat them if I am eaten first.And I cannot protect you from other Kings when I am this small.
Kings?she questioned but got no reply.Azul pursed her lips, studying the creature more carefully.It was adorable—if one could call any snake adorable.The way it spoke, the way it tilted its head, the earnestness in its voice.She had woken a baby spirit snake.Was it a spirit?Was it just a different snake species she had yet to hear about?
"What do you eat?"she asked.
Anything.But some things are better than others.
"Better how?"
More nutritious.I grow faster when I consume spirit energy.
Azul paused; all things contained spiritual energy.Beings with higher consciousness contained more, perhaps it ate humans?Or did it mean spirits?Though how was she meant to catch a spirit?"Define spiritual."
Charms.Amulets.The power in blood lines.Living beings with strong spirits.The snake's voice grew almost dreamy.A Shaman would be very nutritious.A Djinn is also good.I can't consume otherworldly entities, so I can only settle for physical bodies.
"You want to eat people?"
It opened its eyes, as if watching for Azul's reaction.
…I can survive on items too.
"But people are better."
It nodded, apprehensively.
Azul was silent for a long moment.The snake coiled and uncoiled lazily on her arm, seemingly content with her silence.
She wanted to ask if it could find its own food; the idea of killing someone for the little snake seemed troublesome.But the creature was weak; it might really be killed before it had a chance to grow.
"Fine."She stood, and the snake tightened its grip instinctively."I will have to find someone for you to eat."
Something nutritious?
"We'll see what the palace offers."Azul moved towards the doorway, then paused."Do you have a name?"
