Adder sat in the lavish hall waiting, he was seated within the recently rebuilt hall of the Vash family. Waiting for Emily to return with their guest, though In truth Adder was happy to savor the peaceful autumn afternoon.
Yesterday the Emperor in all his wisdom had banned the use of pitch weapons forever more. And demanded the removal and complete destruction of any surviving weapons, much to the dismay of Arkann.
The Emperor had, along with that edict, chosen Emily to lead the next imperial campaign to New Pagal. With the Serpent King happily making it known that he would be at the forefront of the war effort.
A serene smile found itself on Adder's face, the serpent finally having a chance to breathe since the passing of his grandfather. But like all tranquil moments, it ended abruptly as Tyrin bursted through the door along with a tired Emily.
"What is your aim, Adder? I didn't know serpents could feel pity."
The Serpent King was instantly confused by the older man's tone and demeanor. But he answered all the same.
"What aim? Are you talking about the proposal?"
The dragoon laughed at that, as he made his way to the bewildered Serpent King. With Emily being completely ignored, Adder rose from his chair to speak only to be grabbed by the collar from the angry and indignant Tyrin.
"You want to use my dragoons, why? To throw them to the wolves and have them take as many blows as they can so that your forces are spared the brunt of the so-called rats?"
Adder simply stood there while being faced with Tyrin's anger and unfounded accusations. The Serpent King only fixed his posture as he spoke.
"We only asked if the Dragoons could join us in the New Pagal campaign, not to serve as meat shields. Tell me did you even listen to Captain Vash's proposal in its entirety or did you even listen to three sentences before you angrily searched for me."
Tyrin's grip loosened as Adder spoke, the Serpent King fixed his clothing as he continued his explanation.
"We need them, As an ideal to look up to for our people…"
The Serpent King gestured to Emily Vash who had spearheaded the proposal. Who diligently took over Adder's pitch.
"With the army already shattered and the Capital Guard having a similarly damaged reputation. The returned Imperial Dragoons would serve as an excellent focal point for the campaign, especially because of their ties to the Empire's golden age. Of course the Dragoons would be led by the person of your choice, and they would be happily compensated both monetarily and in recognition."
The unimpressed Tyrin raised an eyebrow to the two's attempt of flattery, simply pointing to the Serpent King as the proof of their need for the Imperial Dragoons were not needed to play show pony.
This wordless rebuttal from the old dragon, made Adder lose himself to a torrent of laughter. The serpent's laughter grew until it filled the entire hall, Tyrin was unimpressed but Emily quickly pulled out the latest news paper and showed it to the stubborn old dragon.
[Danger! Be wary of the serpent who stalks our streets!]
With that title came an illustration of a monstrous shadowy figure covered head to toe in serpent regalia, all while thousands of snakes of all shapes and sizes surrounded him. The most eye catching feature was the eyes that seemed to bore into the viewer.
Yet the Newspaper article itself was somehow the most condemning. The article itself was written by Denis Crow, a name Tyrin knew all too well. The older man sneered as he then started to read the article.
"Hark! For a mad serpent has made its way back to Kalynn! The last of the Serpens family and this lost mad son had found himself with more power than anyone should wield let alone one with such a troubling history. Now listen as I recount to you Adder Serpen's history of mania and delirium..."
Tyrin scoffed as he tossed the newspaper onto the table, uninterested in hearing more of that Crow's fearmongering. Denis Crow was always responsible for pieces such as this, as he did with anyone who got in the old Arkann's way.
That was the way of the old spider and civil protection, always preparing daggers in part of every day life. Tyrin had already been lambasted by Crow's paper, him being accused of building up his own forces in the name of the Empire.
This was a clear attack on Adder's image and well being, but shockingly to Tyrin Adder didn't really seem to mind. The Serpent finally stifled before he finally started to speak in a more confident manner than he had before.
"So you see, my reputation and standing as it is for now is on thin ice, I still would have still brought up and supported the idea of the Imperial Dragoons helping us in ending this cancerous 'rebellion'."
The Serpent King then stood and made a salute that Tyrin hadn't seen in years. Adder bowed while grabbing his right shoulder with his left hand, this strange salute was the same as was made by the first Imperial Dragoon Artush Auger. He made it after the charge of Churru, which while victorious robbed him of his dominant hand. After that it became the official salute of the of the prodigious Dragoons, an honored tradition which was forgotten along with the Dragoons.
It was the that they came to the old Tyrin, the memories he had tried his hardest to forget.
…
A platinum blonde child sat in the Imperial Library, his small and pitiful form just skin and bones, quietly reading book after book smiling the whole time. His droopy brown eyes quickly devoured every word, his mouth moved along with the words. The epitome of a young scholar, very unlike the child slumped over sleeping next to him. Taking a step closer made Tyrin's existence known as the child turned to him and smiled.
"Hi Uncle Tyrin!"
…
The boy grew, as much as he could as the sole bearer of a nation slaying calamity. But unlike many who were given such a life, the boy was unyielding in trying to better himself. Even begging Tyrin in teaching the way of the spear, which to the shock of the aging man the giant boy had an incredible talent with. Though once more Adder's always poisoned body held him back from truly unleashing the potential of Humanity's oldest weapon.
But even with stamina rivaling that of a newborn, and strength closer to a fly. Adder continued to wield the spear with majestic grandeur that even a veteran like Tyrin himself envied. After the last Serpens finished the training set, he turned to Tyrin triumphantly standing tall and radiating with pride.
"So, what is next? Uncle Tyrin"
…
Tyrin walked up to the spot he was given to by the terrifyingly apathetic messenger, uncaring about the rain that wished to drown Kalynn. And made his way to the old dilapidated armory once used by the Imperial guard before the split happened. The old man found the boy there, huddled up and shaking. His once prideful presence now broken and small, the old man carefully made his way to the boy whose will was finally broken by Them.
Though his attempts to carefully make his way to the boy failed the moment Adder raised his head, as if he already knew he was present. His face was bruised and his lower lip swollen, but the worst part was his eyes.
Physically his eyes were unharmed, but the soul behind those eyes was shattered. Tyrin was forced to a stop by those eyes painted in despair, in all his years of service during his time as a Dragoon and his later years as the Captain of the Imperial Guard. Tyrin had never seen such complete despair before, unable to even think of a way to help the poor boy.
Adder, seeing the old man's reaction to his own sorry state, couldn't help but laugh before telling the kind old man of his life changing discovery. Needing someone to confide with him, not wanting to lose himself to despair forever more.
"Uncle… Tyrin. Do you know what it means to name one's child Adder?"
Tyrin's face fell before that soul crushing question, for he already knew the horrible and painful answer.
…
Tyrin shook himself from his bitter memories of the past, He knew he failed that boy. When he brought the battered Adder to the Emperor, he could have taken him in as his ward. Kept him safe and gave him a place he could feel safe, but like everyone else that knew about the poor boy. Those who could have saved him didn't, their reasons were all different but the result of their inaction was not.
The poor child, barely a teenager, banished to a far corner of his homeland left to rot alone. There was no official announcement pertaining to the Bearer of the Basilisk, but all had learned of his fate in one way or another.
Some were happy of his removal, others angered at his treatment, few thought this was the action that would unleash great evil onto the Empire. But nothing happened, no disappearances, no great upheaval, no vengeful son. Somehow that made Tyrin feel worse, the lack of consequences or ripples from their cruelty made it seem that even the very world herself had given up on the lonely boy.
But against all odds Adder did return, and not as some turncoat or beast solely existing for revenge. But as the Serpent King, the sole being who rose in the Empire's darkest hour and with his great strength turned the tide of this wretched war completely on its head. Old man Tyrin, still lost in thought, was jolted back to reality by a simple comforting gesture.
Adder had put his hand on Tyrin's shoulder, the Dragoon recognized the serpent's demeanor as worried and concerned. And then the great Serpent King said something that shook the old Dragoon to his very core. The Serpents's tone was warm and his smile heart breakingly genuine.
"Are you okay? Uncle Tyrin."
…
Adder followed Captain Emily with his head held high, the meeting with Tyrin went great. Even if its start was incredibly shaky. With Tyrin agreeing to lend out the Imperial Dragoons who would be put under the command of Tyrus, Tyrin's oldest grandson.
The best part of the whole ordeal for Adder was that he and Emily had somehow done it without any help from his judgement. A fact that brought a great smile to his face, much to Emily's confusion.
Soon the Captain and the Serpent King made it to their destination, what would be Emily, and the others who agreed to help in this campaign would make their final plans before their march to New Pagal. Unsurprisingly they were not the first there, for at the head of the table sat Prince Reemus who had been patiently waiting for them.
"You both are fifteen minutes late."
The eldest prince said dryly, Emily brushed off her fiance's banter as she made her way to him. For she had long ago grown accustomed to her beloved's warmonger persona, but the Serpent King happily played into her fiance's performance.
He bowed before the Prince and performed the same archaic salute he gave Emperor Douglas.
"I apologise Sire, time has gotten away from us but our efforts have not gone unrewarded."
Adder gestured to the expressionless Emily Vash, who simply gave the signed proposal to her needlessly dramatic fiance with no flare or spice. Which the first prince only shrugged before starting to read the okayed proposal.
It was during this time of respite that Reemus decided to tell Adder about what had recently transpired. His tone was the same incredulous and pompous one he used before most, though Emily felt that he was doing to better hide his worry.
"They are going to hold a ball, before we leave for New Pagal, to better make the remaining noble families more 'comfortable'..."
Emily immediately interrupted Reemus during his explanation.
"They were bored, and they wanted an excuse to throw an elaborate ball. My brother has been complaining for months about nothing happening in the middle of this civil war and what could be the end of our homeland."
The Prince coughed and motioned for Emily to wait for him to finish. Which stuck for both Adder and Emily as odd. Before he said five simple words that drained the Serpent King of all his vitality and pride.
"Victoria Gol is attending the Ball."
Five words, five unassuming words drained Adder's color breaking out into a cold swear as he collapsed into a chair. His face twisted into worry as he removed his glasses. His pupils focused so much that they were lost in the great sea of red.
Victoria Gol, wife to Fredrick Gol, mother to Alexander Gol, and much to her shame the person who bore the last Serpens into the world. Adder could only utter one word, he trembled as he did so.
"Skatá."