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Chapter 37 - The water golem

"I am telling you, I really don't know," Erebus said exasperatedly. "Last time your brother was here, he left with one of my kin. Are you telling me you have not heard from him since? What of my kin?"

The serpent was quite convincing. This time, he did not want to implicate the fairies if he could avoid it. It had not worked out so well for him last time. 

"Why would I care for your kin," the golem asked with a sneer. The more she spoke, the more her features were transforming. Bit by bit, she stopped looking like a water being and started forming hard features, mostly made of hardened ice. 

"What are you not telling me, little snake," she demanded, once she was fully formed. 

"I swear, that was the last time I saw your brother," Erebus said, after all, it was the truth. After that, he went and became food for the fairies, what a letdown. While Erebus could think it, he could not speak it out loud. 

"I wonder how many snakes are in the river, should I freeze them all," she spoke so nonchalantly, as though she was pondering the sky. However, Erebus understood the naked threat. Looking at the water, a sheet of ice was forming, and the temperature was dropping like crazy. 

"I really don't know what happened to your brother," Erebus exclaimed, but he did not stop there, "however, a curious thing is happening in the forest. Fairies have appeared in this part, perhaps they might know."

He did not intend to sell them out, but since he had already done it the first time, without coercion in fact, this time, it came much easier. The fairies were his allies, but he would not let his people get massacred for them. 

"Fairies, how interesting. Take me to them," she said excitedly. 

"I will tell you as I told your brother," Erebus answered grimly, "I don't know where they stay. Must be some place deep in the forest. You and I, water beings, would not make the trek." 

The water golem seemed to agree to this explanation, or more precisely, she did not insist. She caught a certain piece of information Erebus had shared unwillingly, "you told my brother of these fairies?" 

"Yes," Erebus directly admitted. "He kept insisting, just like you have now. Whatever fate he met was his own doing, has nothing to do with me."

The ice golem chuckled as she drew closer to the serpent. Lifting her hand, the golem extended it towards Erebus. At first, the serpent thought it was an attack, so it got ready to run, only to find that it was much worse.

The golem started stroking him as one would stroke a pet. Erebus, and the serpents around, understood, this was an act of affection, but a show of strength. 

"My poor serpent," she cooed as she continued, "Tell me more about these fairies. Are they as scary as you're making them out to be?" 

"They are weak and tiny. How can they be scary?" Erebus retorted. 

"Is that what you told my brother?" She queried. 

"Your brother took one of my own as a guide to find these fairies. As for the rest of us, we have had no interaction with the fairies," Erebus stated. He was hoping that by the time the two sides were done fighting, his little lie here would not matter, regardless of who came out on top. 

The golem listened to the wily serpent without making any comments. Deep down, she was caught in a quagmire. Does she go out and look for her brother, following his footsteps, or simply turn back and report? 

Either option was good, but she remembered the final orders. If she found any clues, she was to turn back and give a report. Master was unwilling to lose a second servant over this. 

"Alright, carry on," she said as she approached the water and dived in. In a few moments, all traces of her had disappeared. Erebus looked on for several moments, wondering if she had truly gone. 

He hated the fact that the water that he once called home was now ominous. Even he had to worry, what was lurking underneath. He now feared diving into that water.

"Have we not found the mother tree yet?" He exclaimed, frustrated. 

"Senior, we have scoured all over the lowlands, and we haven't found any trace of them," one of the serpents came forward and explained. "They must be from up the mountain."

"Why have you not sent anyone up there yet?" He demanded. 

"Senior, there is a waterfall hindering up," the serpent explained. 

"Nonsense!" Erebus angrily cursed, "Find a way up there. I want those fairies found!" He said as he slithered away angrily. Deep down, he wondered. Was that enough? He was not sure where the golem was still around, but if it was, perhaps this would get her search away from them. 

Meanwhile, the fairies were done organizing. After just a week, a very efficient society was formed. Kigen and the five senior siblings formed the council. Nina and Luita had already caught some baby eagles baby owls respectively. They, alongside their faction, were in the process of taming them. 

The other three were still on the hunt, trying to decide which bird to get. Nina had a close bond with Tera, so she had immediately chosen the eagle. Luita loved how silent the owls moved. Moreover, they had identified a nest in one of their hunting escapades. Upon returning, they found the owl's eggs had hatched.

Mistress Kering was also very busy. Every once in a while, fairies would gather around her, some looking for lessons, others looking for entertainment, while others were just idling about. She had become an important member of the family, just like a house help was to the children of the household. 

Day and night, regular patrols were organized, and there was always someone watching the river basin which was home of the river serpents. There were also several sentries set up all around the mother tree, and there was always a fairy keeping watch. 

Manati also managed to find his place in the family. Despite not being able to run, and standing out like a sore thumb, the huge serpent assisted in hunting and sometimes guarding the mother tree. It also loved to fight and hold regular bouts with the fairies. 

Once the fairies discovered the joys of friendly fighting competitions, there was just no stopping them. To make matters worse, they were now divided into factions, so they had to represent their faction with pride.

All in all, a thriving community had formed. As the numbers grew, and the demands of the community increased, the organization of the fairies had been paramount. Now there was a semblance of some governance. 

Unbeknownst to them, in an eerie tower several hundreds of kilometers from them, a pond was boiling. Just like in the serpent's cave, the water golem came out. Only this time, she was much more respectful to the person she was meeting. 

"What news do you bring, Dianah?" A gruff male voice sounded. The pond she had come out of was in the hall of the tower, and several beings were gathered. Among them, one human stood out. 

Sat upon the throne, the others were standing beneath him. The voice that asked was from one of the beings standing below the throne. She ignored him and turned to look at the being on the throne. 

"Master, I do not have any news on our brother's whereabouts since he left the serpent's hole, but I come bearing news of another matter. Fairies have been discovered in the forest," she said, bowing down to the master. 

"Fairies?" The master, who previously had seemed almost bored, actually stood up and leaned forward. 

"Yes, Master," she answered, and then proceeded to explain everything as she learned from Erebus. Once she was done, she bowed once more before stepping back. 

"Good, this is good," the man said while nodding. He then let out a manic laughter that shook the entire hall. The others just remained there, bowing before the throne. 

"This is perfect," the man said when he finished laughing, "Diguin, go with Dianah. Find these fairies and collect all the information you can. Don't forget to bring me some too," he added. 

A powerful-looking and massive bird of prey, standing up to four feet tall, suddenly stood up from its kowtowing position. It then said with a rough voice, "Yes master."

Then, the beast and the water golem took off together. 

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