Ahead, nestled between the rocks, was a massive structure—no, not a structure. A nest. Woven together from thick branches and broken tree trunks, it was so large it could have been mistaken for the ruins of some ancient place.
And inside, coiled around itself in a slow, rhythmic motion, lay a giant white serpent. Its pale scales gleamed faintly in the sunlight like polished marble, its length wound into a mountain of flesh. Each slow exhale from its nostrils sent the grass bending under its hot breath.
But what drew Astrael's eyes even more were the three massive eggs lying between the coils, their golden shells gleaming like buried treasure.
His breath caught. "...That's…" He didn't finish the thought.
The moment hung heavy in the air, the oppressive presence of the beast making Astrael's chest tighten. Even in sleep, its aura was suffocating.
