Solar Blood Masters

After some time soaking in the Fire Pool's essence, the little green serpent slithered onto the solid bank and looked around with trepidation. His once marred scales and bite marks, now displayed a renewed vitality.

"The heat… its soothing. My bruises, gone? Sssthank you, spirit of Fire."

But just then he noticed a shadow above which mirrored a terrible fear.

"Are you okay, little guy?"

Hearing that familiar deep growl of a bull Calamity made him cringe.

"Oh god…" He quickly recoiled behind a nearby rock, hoping to become invisible, to blend with those shadows.

Even though he had just been helped and brought to this place by that powerful bull to soak in those fiery essence, all of this good luck just didn't add up. In his eyes, it wasn't possible for a powerful Calamity to be this kind. And now the terrible realization of the real reason his scaly back had gotten some reprieve from death was dawning. He was a late lunch for his rescuer.

"I was meant to die. Sssthat bastard tricked me!" He sobbed quietly behind that rock while peeking over cautiously, hoping that the monster has simply moved on, but alas, that was not to be.

"Don't be scared, little one, I won't harm you." Raphael spoke in a softer tone, attempting to put the little serpent at ease. He was still adjusting to this new reality. Helping those who looked, smelled, acted, felt just like himself earlier… well, it wasn't exactly what Shao Jin would have done. The bull most likely would have crushed the serpent as soon as it saw him get tossed about.

Slowly, the serpent slithered out from behind his shield of safety and fearfully gazed at the enormous figure that had given him reprieve from death moments before. Its dark shadow wing were folded neatly upon his back, and the intense golden glow had faded a little, leaving him almost vulnerable, yet those blood red eyes still terrified him immensely.

"Thanksss for… saving me from those… bulliesss," He managed to stammer as he bowed his head. "My name isss Lu Jade." His emerald eyes studied the bull's features with an unsettling chill.

"Lu Jade, cool name," Raphael replied with a casual shrug. "I dislike bullies. They ruin good meat with their poisonous antics, how uncivilized." He then gave a wide golden smile before adding:

"My name is Raphael. Nice to meet you."

Raphael extended a hoof to Lu Jade, in a human gesture of goodwill but instantly regretting this as he saw the serpent scurry back behind his safety shield with renewed terror as hisssssses fill that cold, peaceful morning.

"Could it be a trap?" Those were his thoughts. This was the norm after all when it came to stronger and more potent Calamities, or so he had heard from elders of the past.

"No, no, no. Sorry. It was just reflex." Seeing his failed attempt to make the serpent feel less scared amplified his concerns because those blood-soaked jaws of the bull that now were his to command were just inches away, if he wanted well, death was guaranteed.

He hastily withdrew his hoof. "How are you feeling now? The bullies really messed up those pretty scales." As those words tumbled out of his maw he realized that maybe this was too much affection, even for a human soul trapped inside such a powerful beast.

What to do?

Lu Jade had a hard time swallowing all that kindness and as such began speculating quietly.

"Why is this creature being so nice? Why help me? I'm only a Great Ordeal Stage Copper Earth serpent. This Calamity could easily swallow me whole. But maybe he is toying with me. Fatten me up before the big slaughter?"

Those scenarios had a hint of logic but lacked the urgency of what to do now that his saviors was waiting for an answer. And so he decided to respond, even though it was filled with lies, at least to him, in that moment.

"I'm… I'm much better, sssthank you," he mumbled, hoping his lies wouldn't offend this Bull Calamity, for it seems there was a tiny possibility he could make out of this place alive.

"Are you thinking that I'm going to eat you, Lu Jade?"

Lu Jade flinched and squeaked, "Huh...? W-what… H-how…? Are you a… a mind reader?!" His tiny head frantically scan Raphael's massive size in disbelief, wondering what he had gotten himself into this time. It would appear as though things were going from bad to much, much, worse.

But before those thoughts could bloom into actions.

"No… Don't worry. I wouldn't do something so barbaric."

"Hahahaha!" A guttural chuckle escaped Shao Jin's monstrous throat which sounded even more monstrous from a gentle heart of a scared young man. It shook the ground which in turn made Lu Jade slither backward instinctively before calming himself as a comforting sentence washed away all of his fears:

"My belly is still full from my last meal, and that…" He didn't want to reveal that his last meal was composed of a garrison of human knights so he simply mumbled something else to confuse and appease the tiny snake in hopes of getting answers to a questions that kept ringing in his head.

Those bats, they were so efficient. He wondered how far they had gotten with consuming the remains, such barbaric entities, even as food he understood how those knights must have been terrified, helpless as their blood soaked everything and bones snapped like twigs, truly barbaric!

"My last meal was rather… heavy, hahahaha."

The sounds of this booming, scary and thunderous laugh that shook the trees and terrified nearby insects for good measure caused him to cringe slightly then think.

He'd be better off laughing when alone.

Hearing that honest reply and how full his savior's belly was, Lu Jade dropped his guard even further and slithered a bit closer towards his rescuer. Then, cautiously asked a question he hoped didn't insult or annoy this beast, but he had to know.

"Say… You're very friendly. How come I've never seen you here before? Are you good friends with Hellphet?" He hoped that he had worded the last part respectfully because a wrong statement might just send his rescuer back into a mood that wouldn't end well, for him.

"Hmm? Hellphet…" Raphael pondered briefly on that monstrous creature he almost had to kill before it showed respect, or rather a survival tactic worthy of those snakes earlier. Perhaps there is a hierarchy here he must observe too. He'd have to get used to this new reality.

"You could say that." His hooves stomped on the mud as a casual reply that was more akin to Shao Jin's arrogance then a meek human one, "We… had a… disagreement earlier. But it's resolved now."

It was more than resolved because Hellphet was probably hiding, or escaping with his scaly tail tucked between his legs. That was fun to think about.

Lu Jade's curiosity wasn't satisfied as he began asking more questions, after all, who doesn't enjoy gossiping, especially about those of a higher social and power level, and now that he was alive, who was he to deny himself such trivial joy.

"You must be really powerful to boss around that stingy old grump. I've never seen anyone talk back to Hellphet, let alone bathe in his precious Fire Pool. And get away unharmed too, but this is not my concern. What concerns me now, is that, for someone with so much raw essence… how come I've never heard of you? You should attract loads of attention and perhaps even a mate… No? Ah… I talk too much…" He stopped himself mid-sentence realizing how many insensitive questions he was spitting, which could cost him dearly. He shut up and tried to hide behind that rock again.

"Calm yourself, it's fine, no harm here." But Raphael's tone sounded a bit forced even to himself, so he quickly added something he thought might change the awkward moment into something casual.

"You're the first 'creature' to ask these questions, especially, not to mention that I've only just gotten here from the North."

Raphael decided on a gamble. He was alone here after all. He had no companions except those dumb ass bats that wouldn't say no to anything he did.

"New arrival…? I see, then as such, you're a long, long way from the North, are you not?"

"Sure. So, tell me Lu Jade. What do you have to show a newcomer that might help me acclimate myself to this barbaric land you call home? Perhaps a tour to those wondrous places your small eyes has witness?" Raphael asked with a snort.

"Oh, I would be happy to help." Lu Jade immediately replied with unyielding pride because nothing was as thrilling as exploring, teaching and adventuring! What a wonderful opportunity he had been given today!

He then quickly told Raphael, "My expertise, the groovess and cragsss, the mountain topsss and watery pathsss… those are… well…" He puffed out his thin chest and continued, "My home! They are my scales and I am those thingss. Follow me!"

With those words he then turned around and began leading Raphael deeper into Yama Yaguai's secrets.