Chapter 247: 247: The Queen Mother's Spies

Somewhere in the Nymph's forest, it was very the picture of spring.

Pink leaves fluttered high in the trees, carried on by strong winds, and below the boisterous canopy, tall, elegant flowers bloomed from every vacant stretch of soil.

Intertwined between the network of crisscrossing roots, their plump petals covered the ground like a vibrant carpet, filling the air with a wonderful scent that concealed the faint trace of blood.

Sitting silently among these flowers was a group of elf-like women with pale pink-hair, whose features were even more attractive than their surroundings.

Concentrated in one area of the forest, the figures looked towards an intricate throne formed by woven roots, where a stunning figure sat with her eyes closed.

The Nymph stood out among the numerous tree spirits, her frosty white hair shining under the glow of lights, their fine strands spreading across her throne like silk.

Her flimsy dress composed from living flowers, exposed much of her pale skin, the contrast of colour making her appear several times more beautiful. And when she finally opened her eyes, thick silver lashes fluttered across red irises that shone like the brightest ruby.

Appearing to be dazed, the ethereal creature blinked several times to become more alert, but this sleepy expression only made the spirits around her sigh. 

When the Nymph saw she was surrounded by several of her spirits who eagerly waited to hear the news, her limpid eyes watered, unable to keep them in suspense any longer.

Her voice was filled with gloom as she announced. [They don't want more reinforcements.]

This statement immediately caused an uproar among the spirits as several of them gasped in shock. Her words made several of the spirits murmur in discontent, and the Nymph looked across the gathering of her children, wondering what she had done wrong.

The spirits gathered around her were equally disappointed, they too wanted to visit the serpent's lair after the things she had told them about their activities. But it seemed the few she sent would be the only ones needed.

'Why don't they want my assistance?' The Nymph thought with a pitiful expression on her face. 'They are just as stubborn as 'she' is, if not more!'

She thought dealing with her children would be easier, but this was not the case at all.

Maybe they thought she was disingenuous for not going herself?

She would have gone in person, but how could she leave her forest unattended?

The child she sent to be her eyes, was one of the strongest she sired, a reason she was comfortable sending her to observe that unusual lair.

The Nymph expected her to find a few weakened, fearful serpents, and purposely didn't pay them a visit for a long time so they would be doubly desperate. However, when she noticed the scorpion horde heading their way, she knew she had to act.

And even then, she had no intention of helping them fight. 

She envisioned offering them shelter in her forest and having them all agree. And once they were all under her 'care', that unruly serpent would be eternally grateful, and have no choice but to apologise to her for her rough treatment.

But who would have thought the child she sent would meet such difficulty?

The serpents were stubborn, unruly, and impossible to charm! 

It seemed leaving the cave wasn't even an option as each of them were determined to defend their home - the mere suggestion was quickly shot down, and her child had no choice but to remain. 

Not only did they refuse her, they also refused her suggestions for defence, leaving her no choice but to work strenuously according to their plans. 

They ordered her around like she was one of them, confined her in solitary places, refused to remain in the same room with her, and even separated the three other Veladrys she sent from each other, without giving any explanation.

It was like they didn't trust them enough to leave them together.

The Nymph watched these developments unfold through each of her children's eyes, with pleasant surprise. More so, because when she agreed to help, she never expected to find this many serpents alive.

She was even more perplexed to see the strategies of these serpents, and their coordination together. 

None of the serpents were weak, and neither were they afraid at the thought of being attacked. Rather, they were far more intelligent than they should have been, completely unlike serpents that hatched recently.

Some of them could even use magic!

How was it that they all survived and had become this smart this quickly? When it took a serpent many years to reach their stage?

By her knowledge, they were a complete set, but how could that be?

Was it because of that strange serpent?

The Nymph already knew 'she' was an anomaly, but only now did she realise that she was simply the most exceptional anomaly out of many.

The first time they met, she looked very different from a serpent, but what surprised her more was that her [Charm] was completely ineffective. A problem she'd never faced before.

The second time, she was surprised when her [Charm] worked – albeit only lasting for a few seconds, before it was abruptly severed by something sinister and powerful, resulting in a backlash in the form of a severe headache that disoriented her.

Before she could figure out what happened, she was bound by that very serpent, a situation neither she nor her spirits had anticipated.

Yet, instead of destroying her body, the strange serpent gave her an ultimatum.

The memory made the Nymph chortle with laughter, as she sat on her throne. A blush as red as her eyes spread across her cheeks, attracting the gaze of a few curious spirits, which forced the Nymph to hide her face. 

At the time, she was too flattered to be angry with her. 

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It was clear the serpent was young, and she didn't know what she was asking.

A promise like that was a very difficult thing for Nymphs, because their lives were so long, they often outlasted anyone they grew close to. For this reason, Nymphs were very closed off and rarely focused on anything other than their children.

Yet, hearing those words thrilled her for some reason. 

That it caused her to say yes without thinking of the consequences.

Was it because the one that asked had clear eyes without any ill intentions?

Her face felt hot against her fingers.

What was that serpent, that it could be so brazen to her, and yet remain strangely adorable?

And why did she agree so easily, when she'd refused countless others in the past?

Just what was this fluttery feeling in her chest? Had she lost her mind?

Even now, the tendril she placed on the serpent had grown so faint, she could barely trace her whereabouts.

And somehow this made the Nymph worried about her safety, so she immediately contacted her spy.

[Don't let them out of your sight. Continue following them and find out where 'she' has gone!]

----

Back in the cave, although the Veladrys had received her orders, getting close to Typhon and Ophelia was an entirely different matter.

They abandoned her to entertain two curious serpents, before going outside to observe the battlefield themselves. To join them now when she wasn't called would make it obvious she was spying on them, and the frustrated Veladrys could only sob internally.

Meanwhile, a very different type of conversation was taking place outside.

Typhon and Ophelia looked down at the forest that now looked vastly different. Under the ground was riddled with pitfalls and traps, and from above, they could see several open sections where the scorpion creatures had fallen into to die. 

The forest's landscape was now still, but they knew this peace wouldn't last for long. 

[Don't you think this is a little much?] Ophelia asked. She didn't understand why Typhon had created such a large scale death-trap that called too much attention to themselves.

Typhon frowned. [It was unavoidable, if I didn't do it, the cave would have been destroyed already, and all the nestlings would be dead.]

[If 'she' returns to see all this…wouldn't she find us suspicious.] Ophelia worriedly asked.

Typhon remained silent, because she was right. Perhaps he had gone too far.

[Do you think she's like us?] Ophelia asked.

Typhon was thoughtful. [It's possible. She acts too strangely not have any former memories. She's also smart, and she isn't needlessly cruel.] 

[She's nothing at all like the other nestlings.] Ophelia admitted. 

[From what we've seen.] Typhon added. [Yet she's very different from us. I can't decide if she is harmless or if she's simply restraining herself around us.]

Ophelia sighed in exasperation. [You don't still think she's dangerous, do you?]

[It's still too early to tell.] Typhon replied. [We still don't know much about her. What keeps her from turning on us if one of us does something she doesn't agree with?]

Ophelia looked troubled, but she shook her head. [I don't think she will do that.] 

Typhon didn't think so either, but he had to consider every possibility.

[What should we do?] Ophelia asked. [I want to get to know her, but I don't know if she's going to be a danger to us in the future. But, I want to give her more time to understand us.]

Typhon sighed when he saw her dejected look. [This is why I said you shouldn't get too involved with her so soon. You always get attached just because something is cute! You forget she's not some wild creature that needs taming - she's a monster! Look at what happened with Morgana.]

Ophelia glared at him. [You're one to talk. What you did was much worse!] 

Typhon scoffed at her, completely unsympathetic.

[She's saved us, a lot of times.] Ophelia insisted on defending their leader. [I don't think she's bad.]

[Don't forget, she also fed us her venom.] Typhon refuted her.

[Oh come on. You know that was harmless!]

[Yeah...I guess.] Typhon laughed. [That's why it's difficult. Let's just watch her for a while longer.] 

Ophelia nodded, and the two returned to the cave.

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