The Apprentice of Ouroboros [Monster Evo LitRPG Adventure]

“I think you’re cursed, Cassia.”

Syra’s stark assessment at dinner soured Neska’s mood instantly. “You really think that?”

“Name one other reason why bad shit follows you everywhere you go, regardless of your actions. Can you ever catch a break?”

She hoped that would be the case…eventually. Right now, she had far, far too much to do.

“Do the Varadur or all our other foes take days off?” Juni retorted. The water elementa shook her head. “Then, no. We don’t, either.” Her ears flattened at the obnoxious crunching sound coming from beside her. “Brent, could you not do that right now?”

Juni aimed a death glare at the wolfling, currently crunching down on a chicken drumstick, biting into the bone, then licking his fingers clean. “I said it before, I’m a messy eater. A guy’s gotta eat.”

Syrona took the opportunity while Brent was distracted and snagged an egg off his plate, gulping it down so fast that it left even the wolfling stunned. "Hey. That was mine!"

The familiar shook her head and flicked her tail at his muzzle, irritating his whiskers. He stared at her. "You're a bold little thing, aren't you? Must take after your mother or something," he added, chuckling as he elbowed Neska.

Neska wagged her finger in front of the coatyl. "Hey now, manners, both of you." The familiar let out a descending trill and drooped her snout. "Nope, we must cherish our friendships. You need to get him an egg as a replacement."

She let out a wailing hiss in response, but Neska cocked her chin, peering down at her. "I stand firm on this. It's an apology."

To her amazement, the familiar flew off toward the food station. A few startled shouts later, the familiar glided back with her tail wrapped around an egg, gently placing it on Brent's plate.

"I want one," Syra cooed.

"Let's not have a repeat of what we just went through," Neska sighed. "It's a lot of work to be a familiar's companion."

"On that note," Syra interjected, "why are our teachers so sus? Are we sure the Varadur are our worst enemies? At least Kalloway’s opening up a little.”

“That’s a plus. I mean, can you imagine that?” Brent asked, his tone severe. “He was in Arivol when things went cataclysmic and got out of there alive. He is a tough son of a bitch to survive that and then come here to continue the fight for twenty years.” Neska had left the part out where Risha was in Arivol. She was still processing that part and her contributions to the state of the world.

For the first time, she wondered if Risha had in fact omitted this information, not claiming to know Lachmir in the days preceding her own Awakening.

Brent had continued, gesturing to her. “You have that look. What's up?”

“Solving puzzles,” she said abstractly.

He let out a grunt. “Story of the month. So, basically, we’re at a dead end with finding our enigma lizard. He’s a higher level than everyone at this table and has been toying with us. We need to get levels to at least Tier three, which means a whole lot of killing monsters.”

“Is that the only way?” Juni narrowed her eyes, unable to comprehend this. “You know that's not the only way we can get experience. Supporting others and the creative use of abilities also factor in. Not as much, mind you, but training does anytime where there's danger, it'll contribute.”

“Or in my case, doing witchy things.” Neska was currently studying various alchemical components in her notebooks, including Risha's old alchemy book. “If we're to assume that this guy is one step ahead of us, then we need to be two steps ahead of him. That means surveilling Kasfew, and keeping a close tab on Trevor.”

“I can make an introduction. Though maybe that'll look a little bit suspicious," Brent admitted.

“What can you tell me about him anyway? I need to sell it to be believable; I need the bare essentials. How’d you two meet?”

“I interrupted his peers from a friendly pastime of dunking his head in the toilet bowl a few months back.” Brent’s sour expression deepened. “Kasfew’s family is one of the founders of the academy, and almost all of those rich, high and mighty pricks send their kids here. Sometimes, to arrange courtings of convenience. Sometimes it’s to humiliate and settle grudges between families, like it's a sport to them. As if they don’t have anything else better to focus their efforts on, like mutual assured survival,” he snorted.

Brent frowned, tapping his claw at the table they were dining at. “Trevor is a little shy, and I can tell he’s quite uninterested in class warfare. Mostly because he’s not a snake like the rest–oh, sorry, Cassia.”

“Old sayings die hard,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Continue. I need to build a profile of his personality."

“He's a bookworm, he spends more time in the library than he doesn't in class, and that's saying a lot because he spends a lot of time in class too. He's typically asocial, doesn't talk much about his family, but with me, he's revealed a little.”

“Such as?”

“He feels his father's a little controlling, and his mom died two years ago. It's really sad, though; apparently, she was running an experiment, and it kind of went wrong. Everything in the name of arcanistry.”

“Does he have any specific likes or dislikes? Hobbies? Maybe fashion styles? What does he do for fun when he's not in class?”

“Well, he does have a thing for fashion. When he's not doing his lessons or holed up in his dorm or the library, he makes charms, bracers, protective items…hats,” Brent said, shrugging softly.

Juni nudged Neska, awash in delight at this last mention. “Brent, you broke her. Never mention words that begin with ‘H’ and rhyme with rats,” Juni sighed.

Neska ignored the commentary. They did have a few things in common. “Interesting.” She had half a plan now; the other half, she'd make up as she went. "If nothing else, I certainly don't mind having a peer or a fellow caster as a friend.”

Brent let out a hardy chuckle. “Yeah, I should also mention that the gender ratio is pretty skewed with casters in general, as it were, yeah? Now, if a lovely snake lady starts coming on to him, he might keel over and die from shock. Try to be subtle.”

“Snugs are supposed to be comforting, not traumatizing,” Neska responded with a click of her tongue.

Brent raised a brow. “Please don't snug my friend to death. Death by snug-snug is not a good way to go.”

“Debatable,” Juni muttered. She pointed subtly over Brent’s shoulder. “Is that him?”

He glanced over and nodded subtly. “Yeah, that’s Trevor.” Neska focused on the long-haired boy with a tall, thin body, zero facial hair, and an almost lanky gait. He had a book bag slung over his shoulder and a tray with a few food items on the other.

Worse, Kasfew had just intercepted the boy and was talking to him. Neska let out a low hiss, and Syrona made a cuter, less menacing hiss on her shoulder.

“Oh no, go gentle, go subtle–”

She had to give Brent credit: he tried to rein in his friend's impulsiveness. She didn’t think it was convenient as she slithered toward the wizard and the giant terror bird looming over him.

Neska had one simple plan: befriend Trevor Marisano. Playing into her delight in ruining this rude bird’s efforts was a bonus on top.

Right on cue, she heard Kasfew being the bold, arrogant…protective bird?

What?

She listened in while diverting to get another tray of food for cover. The two of them were at a table near the protein station, talking in a low tone.

“--Heard about your sister. Is she alright?”

“She’s fine. She’s strong.” Trevor had a softspoken, higher-pitched voice than she’d expect for a teenager, compared to Kasfew’s broodier, deeper tone. The boy lowered his gaze. “F-forgive me. Didn’t mean to trouble you.”

“Nah, you’re not troubling me. We gotta look out for each other, all the families, yeah?” Kasfew put a reassuring arm on Trevor’s shoulder. Neska had a low-level worry that the bird might cause the poor boy’s uniform to smolder.

This was absolute garbage timing. What was Kasfew up to? She aimed a piercing gaze at the bird, who glanced her way but then returned his gaze to Trevor. “See, there are others that are…well, slithering their way in. Those who are not contributors. They’re takers. They slither in from the dark of the night.”

Mood. Neska noticed that her Coatyl was no longer on her shoulder–when had she taken off to? She could feel the little critter’s presence nearby, having spent a few days acclimating to her new familiar.

The first thing she’d told the familiar, under no circumstances should she ever mess with birds. So that should mean that the coatyl was likely wrapped up near Juni or possibly Brent.

Hiss.

Her eyes widened as she saw a slithery, fluffy thing approaching across the floor, their coloration almost blending in with the floor tiles. Neska hadn't seen that before--was it an adaptive scale camouflage? Either way, she sent out an urgent warning to Syrona.

No. Don’t do it. Don’t startle the bird with the fiery temper, young Missy! That is a big no-no! Never mess with something bigger or scarier than yourself if you don’t think you can win a fight!

The familiar darted even faster in from the side toward the oblivious Kasfew, who presumed Neska was staring at him. “Oh, speaking of slithery things, didn’t see you there, Cassia.”

“H-hi,” she said weakly, while smiling proudly. The little critter was all coiled up by his ankles, and she could see Syrona’s venomous green eyes leering at Kasfew, fangs edging out. “Hey, who’s your friend?”

“Oh, just another welcome member of the elite families,” Kasfew said with a grin emerging on his beak. Trevor looked like he wanted to be anywhere but next to Kasfew. “You know there are no serpents in the seven big families of Valos, right?”

“Yeah, we’re too cool to lend our likeness to family crests,” Neska said with a sly smile creasing her face. On the other hand…Syrona, go give him a loving snug.

She was at least seventy-five percent sure that Syrona could hear her thoughts or mental directions. Kasfew babbled on about the great families while her familiar snuck closer like a fluffy little murder pet.

No, no murder. She would likely need Kasfew on her side at some point, as much as that pained her to admit. His powers were potent, even if his personality was a mood killer. But she could have a little fun with him first.

The familiar trilled and wrapped its way up Kasfew’s leg, a startled look crossing his face as Syrona slithered around his body, up his torso, and then settled on his wings. He went beady-eyed and shrilled when he saw Syrona stick her tongue out at him insolently.

How amusing. Kasfew could be startled. He leaped a good half-dozen feet in the air, with Syrona launching off and the bird igniting his wings, with an intent to murder etched on his face.

“Get off, you disgusting little thing! How dare you slither up the body of your superior!” Kasfew clucked, embers forming in his hand. Trevor took the opportunity to sidle away, which coincidentally put him closer to Neska.

Syrona chose that moment to glide and land on Neska’s hat, making a soft trilling sound. “Oh, hey, Kasfew, you found my little cutie! She must have snuck off to go give snugs!” Neska called out, giving the bird a teasing wave.

“It’s a snake with wings! It’s disgusting!”

“It’s a coatyl, and it’s my service familiar,” she said in a dry tone. “I even have a permission slip for one.”

Kasfew took the bait, enraged, and stomped closer to her, leering at her. “That thing attacked me!” he screamed in her face.

This close, she could feel the heat emanating off him. If only she could tame this bird to be conveniently useful as a mobile heater. Maybe later, assuming she didn't use him for aggressive snug therapy. Or strangulation, as most others would call it

“Oh, maybe you needed a good, strong snug. She does that, you know. Do you have tension in your life, Kasfew? Any feelings of loneliness, feelings of inadequacy, desires to be recognized and acknowledged, no matter the method used to get it?”

Kasfew faltered and stammered out a few words. "I-I'm not lonely, you are!”

Neska folded her arms, sign contentedly. "It sounds like you need a good snug. It's okay, we can talk about it later.” She figured, if this bird was going to annoy her with his constant power plays, she would do the exact opposite and give him nothing but the kind of attention he didn't want from her.

Kasfew’s eyes widened, and flames reignited on his hands. "Never would I ever, even if you were the last w-woman on Galwein!” She felt that might be a bit of a hot take, but she also wondered why this method of social engineering came so naturally to her.

She hoped she wasn't the flirtatious type before she was reborn as a snake.

Kasfew spun on his talons and stormed off, fiery embers trailing behind him. Everybody gave him a wide berth as he departed, with the icy-feathered female scolding him on the way out. “Why are you such a hothead, Kasfew?! You just made an ass of yourself!” she heard the icy bird say as they exited the dining hall.

Interesting. At least one other person was willing to push back on Kasfew. Noricatu, was it? I’ll have to reach out to her later. I’ll have Kasfew eating out of my hand as I peel away his friends from him, and expose him for the annoying bird he is.

She tried to keep her reaction neutral and not indicate how much this outcome pleased her. She'd completely forgotten about Trevor until she looked over to him and saw him standing stiff as a board. “Does she bite?" he whispered.

“Huh? Uh…no.” Syrona had wrapped around his arm, trilling contentedly. "She may give snugs."

"A what, now?"

"Snake hugs?" she asked, hands outstretched as if he should know this. "It's a thing."

Instead of looking fearful, he looked fascinated. “I did not know that was a thing. But, my goodness, a coatyl?” His voice was tinged with awe.

"Yes, she's mine. Apologies for that little disruption; she's got a mind of her own. Though she seems to have taken a liking to you.” She also noted that this wasn't part of the plan either, and she gave the familiar a discerning look. “We're supposed to ask permission for snugs first, Syrona,” she said sternly, wagging her finger.

Her familiar gave her a skeptical glance before examining Trevor in detail, and settling on his shoulder. “Oh my. Usually, they're so shy. Where'd you get her?”

“I hatched her.” Better not to explain her familiar was a mutated Roc with several quirky personality traits. “Though if you have any meat or proteins nearby, watch your plate. It'll disappear.”

To prove the point, she took a hard-boiled egg and offered it to Syrona, who gulped it down in a single bite. Trevor’s expression of fascination only deepened. “Uh, will she let me pet her?”

“Just the top of her head. She gets a little nippy if you stroke her wings. Here, why don't we go sit back down?” Trevor stammered, but Neska took hold of one hand while she pushed back to the table.

“O-oh my! I’m not supposed to sit with a commoner or non-noble Awakened! It’s like…a rule!” It was almost cute how powerless his protest was, though the tension left his voice when he saw Brent, who had been trying very much not to panic. “Hey, Brent. Is this your friend?”

He turned back to Neska, stammering again. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t catch your name earlier. Was it…Cassia? I think I heard it before.”

“Yep, right in one. This is Juni and Syra,” she also introduced, with Syra giving a noncommittal wave. “We have some classes together.”

“I heard about you. I’m in Sakiri’s morning schedule class, and he talks about you,” Trevor said, eyes brightening.

"Hopefully in a positive light? I do try to work hard in that class." She was also moving up to alchemical tinkering with her venom, which she'd done slowly and deliberately. So far, she knew the venom changed properties with each infusion, but she hadn't mapped out what it could be combined with or processed into. Yet.

Neska grabbed an empty chair with her tail and slid it over to the table. He took it in hand, then cautiously sat down, with Syrona nudging his hand with her head and trilling. “Goodness, you are such an attention seeker, aren’t you?” he said aloud, peering at her closely. “Is there anything I should know, things to avoid? I’m afraid I’ve never had experience with a coatyl. Griffins and dracoranths, yes, but this is all new to me.”

“Not really. Just don’t step on her tail, I guess? I’m still learning, too.” That wasn’t entirely true, as she’d read through one of the basic handbooks on witch familiars. The books didn't cover every topic, but enough that she felt confident to bring Syrona with her within the confines of the academy.

“Hey, why was Kasfew bothering you, anyway?” she asked innocently.

“He wasn’t bothering me. He was asking about my sister. I guess he knew her before he got…well, birdified,” he said sheepishly. “I think he means well.”

If that bird ever means well by anything, I’ll eat my tail, Neska thought as she mulled a response. Maybe talk about something they had in common?

She pointed at his wizard hat. “I like the hat.”

“Huh? O-oh, thank you?” he said, looking proud. "No one's ever commented about my hat. I made it myself!"

Yep, I'm in.