XIX - Revenge of Wyrm

The Temple of the Pit Vipers remained silent, except the sound of dripping water nearby, five breaths echoed through the darkened environment.

Though they could see the surroundings dimly, thanks to the glowing fungus.

Charlotte looked around at the dark surroundings, despite everyone, especially herself. 

She needs a light source to guide them out of this temple.

Then, her boots accidentally step something slithering while she explored the darkened area, making her startled. 

She looked down and realized it wasn't a viper—it's just a sturdy wooden branch.

She stared silently at the wooden branch lay on the damp floor.

Then an idea struck on her mind.

Wait... so if I create a torch out of scratch, the flame guides us towards the right path? she wondered to herself, resting her hand on her chin.

She snapped her fingers. Aha! I have a great idea!

She knelt, then picked up the sturdy wooden branch from the damp stone floor to make a makeshift light out of scratch.

Reaching to her pack, she pulled out a strip of cloth, her old clothes that she never used anymore that soaked in tree resin before the portal led them in this chamber, tightly binding the tip of the wood.

"What are you doing, my paladin?" Aurora asked, tilted her head while her mismatched eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Charlotte gave her a confident grin, pulling her out her flint and steel.

"I'm making a torch."

"—A torch?" Sarah repeated, before she could finish her sentence Aurora interrupted.

"Oh, really? How were you supposed to make that?" 

"Well… I learned it back in my squire days." she said, striking her flint against the steel.

Aurora stared at her, watching a spark ignite the resin-soaked fabric, then a warm flame flickered to life at the tip of the branch, her mismatched eyes widened in awe.

"Impressive…" she breathed, watching the dancing flame shifting shadows across the damp stone walls.

Charlotte held the torch high, illuminating their path ahead.

"A paladin's training always comes handy." she said softly, her brown-golden eyes narrowed at the darkness ahead.

"And now we can finally search this mystery cave!" Aria cheerfully held her light source.

Though it glowed faintly like cave fungus, it squirmed against her grip—it was one of the hatchlings of the wyrm.

"Aria, put that thing down." Aurora warned, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared at her sister.

"But sister, look! This thing is so adorable!" Aria protested, instantly hugged the hatchling to her chest as if she's afraid to let this thing go.

"Aria!" the four of them shouted in unison.

But Aria refused to lower the hatchling, only her grip tightened like she's protecting something precious treasure.

"What? It looks so cute! I want to pet it so badly!"

Four of them took sudden steps back.

"Huh? G-G-Guys?! W-w-why are you moving?"

"Because, Aria…please… put. That. Things. Down. Now."

"Why?" 

"I-I-It's definitely not a pet."

"What—"

Aria looked down, her own mismatched eyes widening in horror as realization hit her— it was one of the hatchlings of the wyrm. 

Her older sister Aurora facepalm, shook her head in sisterly disagreement.

"Oh…" Aria squeaked, the tiny hatchling in her arms tilted its small head, it unhinged its jaw and let out a piercing sound.

KREEEEEE—SKRITCH!

"Sighs… we're absolutely doomed." Aurora mumbled under her breath, Quincy and Sarah stepped closer, swallowed nervously as the surrounding darkness answered.

Kreeee?

Squeee-chrrp!?

Grrrr…Crrk!!?

Aurora's ear perked up at the multiple sound echoing from nowhere, stepping beside Charlotte, her one arm immediately linked on the paladin's staring anxiously at the darkened surroundings.

"Umm… w-w-what's that sound?" she whispered, glaring at Aria, letting out a low hiss.

"What did you do?!”

"—I-I-I didn't mean to—"

Dozens of high-pitched chirps and clicking claws echoed from the crevices, alongside the temple walls.

"Aria." Charlotte whispered, raising her torch slightly while Quincy and Sarah hid behind her in fear as they stared at glowing eyes open around them.

"I think you've woken the whole nest."

Before Aria could put the small creature down, the hatchling let out a soft wet squeak.

"Wha—!?"

Kreee-chrrp!

It scrambled up her with surprising agility, pouncing onto her shoulder before pressing its smooth, scale snout against her cheek.

She squeaked in surprise, then she let out a soft high-pitched gasp, completely freezing in place as the little monster kept clung to her shoulder, purring loudly against her ear.

"Wha—hey! That tickles!"

Aurora's jaw dropped in disbelief, but within the heartbeat, her posture shifted into regal authority.

She folded her arms, while her both war fans remained between her sides, casting a sharp unimpressed glare at both her sister and the small monster.

"That's a wild beast, Aria, not a palace hound." she said, voice dripping in royal dignity.

"Ugh… could you just put that thing down before it bites you harder?"

The hatchling didn't understand what she said, instead it let out another loud, wet squeak.

Aria refused, she kept giggling as the hatchling gave her a sequence of enthusiastic, rough licks. Just like a common tameable dragon from the other village, very eager yet happy as it nests into the crook of her neck.

"But sister, see?" Aria squeaked, patting the crown of its small head as the small hatchling rubs its snout against her chin.

"It didn't hurt me like—I-I think…it thinks…I'm its mother?"

One of Aurora's eyes twitched in sheer annoyance, remaining glaring at her younger sister.

"Oh, please… could you just set it free before it reports us to their mother."

"And eat us alive." Quincy added, giving Aurora a firm nod, glaring at both Aria and the hatchling.

"With nowhere to escape, leaving us to perish in this place." Sarah finished, adjusting her glasses and tightening her grip on her staff.

Aria gulped nervously, looked down at the innocent hatchling clinging to her shoulder.

Then a loud guttural roar echoed through the darkness, shaking dust and pebbles above, the hatchling's pupils slitted into thin lines, its small body freezing instantly.

"…No…the mother…" Charlotte whispered, her hand dropping to the hilt of her blade.

"And… our trial as well." Aurora corrected her, her mismatched eyes staring at the glimpse of two piercing eyes, snapped her both war fans, the feather-shaped blades catching the dim light of the fungus.

What should we do…? I-Is it starting right now? she thought to herself, her gaze sharpening in sudden determination.

She glanced at four of them, giving a firm nod.

"Girls, get into formation!"

Four of them nodded firmly, Charlotte drew her sword and stepped in front of Aurora, her armor catching the flickering light.

Sarah raised her staff, while Quincy began to cast a spell—a translucent shield blocking any lunge from the wyrm dragon and preventing falling debris from hurting their party.

The trial had been starting…