The serpent slithered up my shoulder and perched itself around my neck like a shimmering scarf of obsidian. Despite its intimidating look, I felt an odd sense of comfort.
"My name," it hissed softly, "is N'Zerath."
The name rang in my ears like an echo from ages past. I felt warmth pulse from the mark on my palm, as though the blood pact had etched more than just a symbol—it had carved a bond into my soul.
"I'll teach you," N'Zerath continued, "but you must earn it. Each technique requires unlocking your body's compatibility with the ancient language... and surviving the trials."
Great. Trials. Exactly what I needed after almost being crushed to death and branded by floating scripture.
I sat beneath a twisted tree near the edge of the cavern's exit, pulling out the martial arts books. Their covers were frayed, and the titles had almost faded into obscurity. One was marked_ Vessel of Eternal Flow, and the other _Shadow Step Through Chaos. I opened the first, its contents shimmered briefly before fading into unreadable glyphs.
"These require attunement," said N'Zerath. "You must meditate within the river's energy. Only then can you decipher them."
I glanced toward the river that had snaked beneath the cavern. Now, out in the open, it shimmered with a glow not found in normal sunlight. The vines that hung above pulsed slightly, like veins carrying the lifeblood of the forest.
"Fine," I muttered. "Let's do it."
As I sat beside the water, the rusty blade caught my eye. Its hilt hummed faintly, as if responding to the symbols that once burned into me. I unsheathed it carefully and noticed runes along its edge—runes that matched those now invisible on my skin.
"This blade once belonged to him," N'Zerath whispered, eyes narrowed. "To the one you succeed. You must mend it."
I dipped the blade into the river. A pulse surged through the current, shooting up my arm. My vision blurred. Suddenly, I wasn't at the river anymore.
I was standing in a field of ash. A lone figure stood ahead—tall, robed in black, with glistening scales wrapped around one arm. His eyes glowed with a golden hue, and the sky trembled above him.
"I've waited," he said, his voice shattering reality around me. "Become more than mortal. Claim the truth. And do not falter. We'll meet again..."
Before I could respond, I was back by the river, coughing water from my lungs.
"What... what was that?" I asked N'Zerath.
"Your first memory fragment," the serpent replied. "You're awakening."