Pain.
A pain that ripped through the very root of the soul tore at Kaelira's senses.
She did not know how much time had passed. It felt like years to her muddled mind. The only constant in this void was the pain that wracked her body.
Her blood was boiling within her veins. At times it felt like molten metal searing through her body, only for that sensation to shift into a new form of torture. Her blood began to revolt within her, like thousands of tiny knives as it seeped into her muscles.
She could feel every tissue and sinew melting to mush as her blood traveled throughout—only for a cocoon of energy to wrap around her deteriorating body and painfully put her back together.
This process of destruction and reconstruction continued endlessly, over and over again, as she felt her sanity begin to slip.
She couldn't scream.
Couldn't cry.
All she could do was endure this torment again and again. The only thing keeping her fragile psyche together were her thoughts of Vairon.
Was he safe? Was he dead? She did not know. She had lost her grip on him when they had fallen into this hellish torment.
But she never lost hope. Never gave in to the torture. She would not rest until she found him.
And so time moved forward ruthlessly, until the pain suddenly stopped and she finally slipped into blissful unconsciousness.
-----------------------------------------------------
When Kaelira opened her eyes once again, she felt… different.
She lifted her arms, bringing her hands in front of her face as she lay in shock. Her senses had undergone a huge qualitative change. Her eyesight felt sharper, her gaze holding a majesty it never had before.
Her skin was slightly red, but the soft paleness made it seem like she had never known filth her entire life. Any scar or imperfection she may have had was completely gone—erased, as if they never existed.
Clenching her hands into fists, small explosions of air echoed around her. Her body was brimming with power and vitality.
She felt like she had been reborn. Her new body felt infinitely more powerful than it had ever been, exceeding the prowess she wielded at her previous peak using only her body's raw strength.
Before she could revel in her changes further, she suddenly remembered something important was missing. With a jolt, she bolted upright, her eyes frantically searching for the figure within her heart.
When she spotted him, her entire body went rigid.
Vairon had also changed. His skin was fairer, his hair had taken on a silky green luster. The weariness had vanished from his face, replaced by a peaceful ease as he lay on the ground.
The gaping hole in his abdomen was closed, the skin fresh and new. The only trace of the wound was the bloody scraps of cloth from his robes around where it once had been.
Kaelira's eyes grew misty, her lips trembling as the weight of their ordeal lifted from her shoulders. As she placed her hand down to brace herself to stand, a loud crack resounded around the space.
She looked down at her hand, completely speechless. Below her, a small crater had formed from the movement, spiderweb-like cracks spreading from the epicenter.
She brought her hand to her face in amazement, her mind buzzing with fear and excitement.
"What happened to me? Am I dreaming?"
Just as her mind began doing mental backflips of joy, a sudden, grating voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Finally awake, eh? Took you long enough, ape."
Kaelira's soul nearly left her body. She reacted instinctively, flashing backward in an instant. But she clearly misjudged the strength she put into her movement.
Before she could stop herself, she slammed into a solid wall.
"OWW! Dammit!!"
She slid to the floor, clutching the back of her head in pain and embarrassment. Blinking through tears, she slowly lifted her head to take in her surroundings. Suddenly, her body froze in shock before beginning to tremble violently.
It was the chamber.
The same chamber that had held the egg in her vision. The same silver flames, the same pedestal, the same altar.
Her eyes were drawn to the altar on top of the pedestal, and tears of pure elation flowed from her face. There, sitting on the altar just as before, was the egg.
Her child.
"Baby… m-my baby, you're here!"
"Sigh… so I am completely ignored, I see. What a pitiful existence I have become."
Hearing the voice dripping with mock sadness, Kaelira finally noticed the old man sitting in front of the altar. His body looked stiff, almost as if he had been turned to stone. His eyes were murky and clouded, devoid of any light or life.
Clearly, whoever he was, he had been here for a very, very long time. He must not have moved for what seemed like centuries.
He began to stand slowly. Every joint and bone creaked and cracked as he moved. His movements felt stiff and unnatural, as if he wasn't used to motion at all.
As Kaelira watched him, she placed both hands on the ground, extremely careful to control her strength as she slowly pushed herself up. She twisted her joints and flexed her muscles, trying to get a feel for this new body she had found herself in.
She quickly gained a basic understanding, taking slow, precise steps forward as she moved toward Vairon.
The old man's eyes shone with appreciation at the sight.
'Truly a genius. To gain such precise control over her new body in mere moments… what a monster.'
Unaware of the stranger's thoughts, Kaelira knelt beside Vairon, expanding her senses toward him to ensure he was healthy. Seeing that he was, she let out a breath of relief.
She then refocused her gaze on the old man, her eyes narrowing.
"Now who are you, geezer? And what are you doing in front of my ba— the egg?"
Correcting herself, Kaelira questioned him. A small smile touched the old man's lips, clearly amused by her slip.
"Let's wake your friend first before we continue. The two of you are essential for the following steps."
Ignoring her puzzled, cautious gaze, the old man picked up a small pebble from the ground and flicked it toward Vairon. Kaelira couldn't even see the attack—her body couldn't react at all to his movement.
"YOOOWWW! KAELIRA, YOU CRAZY—!"
Vairon jumped up, clutching his forehead in pain as his eyes watered. Before he could begin chewing her out, he noticed her kneeling in front of him in a defensive stance, her back drenched in cold sweat.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he swallowed his complaints and tried to assess things—only to freeze as his eyes locked onto the smiling visage of the man before them.
"I-It's you… the man from my vision…"
"Oh ho? At least one of you shows proper respect. The youth…"
The old man rolled his eyes, annoyed by Kaelira's wariness, though the smile on his face never faded.
Waving his hand, both Kaelira and Vairon suddenly couldn't move as their bodies were lifted from the ground, hovering behind him.
"H-Hey!? Let me go, you old bastard!"
Once again, the old man ignored Kaelira's shouts and curses as he brought them to the altar. As they approached the egg, Kaelira's protests went silent.
"Now, I'm sure the two of you have many questions. Fortunately for you, I have answers. But you must earn the right to hear them."
Placing them back on their feet, the old man returned to sitting, his eyes closed.
Vairon's gaze drifted to the egg. A strange feeling welled in his chest. Before it could cloud his mind, he turned to the chamber around them.
"Where are we?"
"Hehehe… you ask that a lot, don't you, ape?"
Vairon's eyes narrowed as he turned toward the old man.
"You've been watching us?"
The old man shrugged.
"I have been observing you since the moment you entered our small world. Quite the adventure you two have had. I must say, I am impressed—not bad for humans."
Hearing this, Vairon didn't flinch. Instead, his gaze grew colder, his hands balling into fists.
"What game are you playing? I didn't think a member of the great Primordial World Serpent Clan would be a schemer."
The old man's smile remained, but the air grew heavier—like an entire world pressing down upon them.
"Careful, ape. I like you and appreciate your grit. But that does not mean you can insult me or my people."
As the old man opened his eyes, his serpentine pupils gazed straight into Vairon's being. Vairon trembled faintly before hardening his will, refusing to back down.
The tense silence stretched until Kaelira's voice broke through.
"Why did you bring us here? For what purpose do you need us?"
The old serpent's eyes shifted to her, an appraising glint within them. He remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"Because you two were chosen. You are the inheritors of our legacy—the ones who will ensure the survival of not only my people, but all of creation."