...
"A young noble of some kind," he deduced. "Elf, by the look. Unbelievable. What are such tender girls doing here, alone with only two guards?"
Aurelian shifted, coiling more tightly. His scales brushed a fallen twig, cracking it. Instantly, Selina's head snapped around. Her hand dropped to her sword, her eyes narrowing.
She stared right at the bush concealing Aurelian. For a moment, he was certain she'd spotted him.
Grace looked at her with her lavender eyes clearly intrigued by her behaviour.
"Probably just a small creature. A hare or a squirrel, my lady. Nothing worth worrying about." Selina replied.
Aurelian didn't dare breathe.
"Their perception is terrifying. If I'd moved even a whisker more, she'd have skewered me through the leaves."
Once they'd moved on a little, curiosity and an ego still recovering from the last days of boredom pushed Aurelian forward. He slithered out from his hiding place a little and let his head be seen clearly trying to act like a curious little snake, a flash of gleaming white scales under the filtered light.
He fully expected their eyes to widen, for gasps of wonder at his beauty. After all, he was a rare, pristine white snake, small and sinuous, scales catching glints of green and gold.
Grace did notice him. Her gaze drifted down, a mild spark of interest flickering in her eyes.
"Oh. Look at that, lyria. Isn't it rather pretty? A little white snake, out here of all places."
He fully expected their eyes to widen, for gasps of wonder at his beauty. After all, he was a rare, pristine white snake, small and sinuous, scales catching glints of sunlight.
Selina didn't even bother. She kept scanning the trees. Lyria gave a gentle smile but was more fascinated by some flower she'd plucked.
Grace's attention was gone almost as soon as it arrived. She turned back to chat with her maids, laughing at something Lyria said.
And just like that, the proud little white snake was utterly ignored, his heart broken.
Aurelian could only stare, stunned. Inside his mind, indignation swelled.
"What is that bland reaction, that was the kind of offhand compliment you give to a patch of moss. I was sure my scales would make them gasp, stare in awe, maybe even want to study me but they barely spared me a second look!"
It stung more deeply than any wound. After everything his careful grooming of scales, his posture, the regal way he coiled his neck it amounted to nothing.
"Maybe… I'm not as breathtaking as I thought."
He tightened his coils until they almost squeaked against each other. Then his mind darted to his unused free points. Five of them, just waiting.
"I was saving them for some emergency, as a trump card. But maybe charm isn't so useless after all."
It felt petty. But he didn't want to loose such opportunity to get close to such important character, and an elf beauty at that.
With a mental snarl, he shoved all five points into Charm.
His stats shifted instantly.
Charm: 4 → 9
It was dizzying. There wasn't much changes to his appearance but there was an aura to him like a royal beast among commoners that makes one notice and admire him, the beauty of his scales which seemed to catch the light, rippling with subtle iridescence. His slightly more luminous eyes, fringed by delicate muscles that gave them a softer, almost soulful quality.
He waited until they had slowed near a cluster of some beautiful flowers. Then he slithered out again, this time moving deliberately, slowly, head raised just enough to look cautious yet curious like a tiny, beautiful creature uncertain whether these towering beings were friend or foe.
Grace's gaze drifted over him again. But this time she stopped. Her lips parted in a soft, surprised breath.
"…oh. Lyria, look. Now that i notice him closely, Isn't he… lovely?"
Selina looked unimpressed but didn't immediately pull her blade. Lyria gave a delighted little clap.
"He's darling, my lady. Such a striking creature. I've never seen scales catch the light quite like that."
Grace knelt, her dress pooling around her like spun leaves. Her lavender eyes fixed on Aurelian with new interest.
"I want him."
Selina frowned.
"My lady, it's just a wild snake. Likely harmless, yes, but still"
No... see how it watches? It isn't preparing to strike. It's curious. Like it's... studying us. He's harmless and beautiful. I want to take him back. Think of it a pet from me to play with before Academy starts. He'll remind me of home."
When Selina hesitated, Grace's shoulders slumped in an exaggerated pout.
"If you truly cared for me, Selina, you'd let me have a tiny harmless companion to keep me company in these boring days!"
Selina sighed, rolling her eyes toward the canopy.
"Fine. But if he so much as hisses at you wrong, I'll turn him into a rather fine belt."
Grace extended her hand. Aurelian didn't resist. He let her scoop him up, coiling slightly so that his smooth body fit into her palm. Her skin was warm, smelled faintly of lavender and old forests.
She stroked the top of his head with a gentle finger. The touch sent a shiver through him, a surprisingly pleasant one. He leaned into it without thinking, letting out a tiny content hiss.
"See? He likes me already."
Grace beamed, cradling him close.
Seeing her act without any fear and wariness. "Seems like someone educated and she probably knows of my species, that explains why she didn't bother to give me second look and does not fear me for poisoning me as she thinks my species is not venomous but she doesn't know I'm mutated."
Lyria peered over.
"What will you call him, my lady?"
"Call him? I'll think of a beautiful name later. But look at how he watches me. Aren't you curious, little one?"
She spoke in soft, lilting elven. Aurelian only caught faint musical tones. The language of this world still meant nothing to him, it was all gentle syllables and flowing sounds. But he tilted his head, played along, hoping his intelligent eyes might deepen her fascination.
Grace stood, Aurelian curled around her wrist like an elegant living bracelet.
Selina kept a wary hand on her sword, but even she allowed a small smile when Grace giggled as Aurelian nuzzled against her sleeve.
Lyria, ever the scholar, already rummaged through her satchel for a small booklet.
"I'll sketch him. Such creatures might be a mutation and have interesting magical properties."
Aurelian wasn't sure about being anyone's magical specimen but for now, he was content. "Better to be mystery than a lonely snake in the woods. I'll learn their language, know more about this world and I'll grow stronger.
Selina finally stepped forward with a firm hand, pulling Grace gently back.
"That is enough fun for today, Your Highness. We will return to camp before your father's watchers grow concerned."