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The transformation was astounding.
It was no longer just a snake-like creature but an embodiment of two cultures’ revered symbols.
It didn’t have three heads… but perhaps two would suffice.
I let Seris go, and the now-black creature slithered across the sand, its hissing echoing in the sudden silence of the arena.
Chius, his stance aggressive just moments ago, froze, his deep-set eyes darting between me and the creature.
For a long heartbeat, everything was still.
And in the middle of it all was Seris, the ink-black creature, now basking in the unexpected spotlight.
Chius’s nostrils flared.
His large, muscled body tensed as if he was about to pounce.
Yet, a shadow of doubt crept into his eyes.
I could hear the faint, uneven rhythm of his breath, betraying his internal struggle.
The symbols in front of him clashed with his warrior instincts.
The audience held its collective breath, the palpable anticipation thick in the air.
Their murmurs created a backdrop of sound that was almost hypnotic, punctuated by the occasional sharp cry or shout.
And then, the defining moment.
Seris, perhaps sensing the tension or simply reacting to its surroundings, let out a sharp, sibilant hiss.
The sound pierced the atmosphere, clear and undeniable.
Chius’s reaction was immediate.
The fearsome warrior, who had faced countless opponents without flinching, dropped his weapon.
His face, usually an unreadable mask, was filled with a mix of confusion, reverence, and fear.
Without a second thought, he pivoted and sprinted, making a beeline for the exit of the pit.
The silence that followed was deafening.
The awe and shock evident in every face around the arena.
From the highest stands to the guards at the entrance, all eyes were on me and the small, ink-covered creature making its way back to my side.
In the pits, where life and death danced their eternal tango, symbols and beliefs held power.
Today, a blend of legends, ink, and quick thinking had tilted the scales in my favor.
And as Chius’s retreating form disappeared from view, I whispered a silent thank you to Seris and Grace, the unlikely heroes of the day.
14
GRACE
As the heavy iron door of Tix’s cell closed behind us, an encompassing stillness took hold.
