It didn't take long for Cadmus to return in a flurry of activity, he grinned over at his brother that still sat next to Novalyn.
"Moving quite fast aren't you, brother?"
Novalyn glanced at Kallis to catch him rolling his eyes at his brother's declaration.
"I processed the prey, brother. We now have meat and furs available."
Novalyn looked at his empty hands, a question on her lips. "Where did you put it?"
Kallis spoke up, "Novalyn is Level 50."
Cadmus's crimson eyes widened before he flashed her a grin, "One of the rewards I won for a mission was a frozen stasis space."
"That is handy. Winters must have been not as hard due to that."
Cadmus shrugged, "We used to hibernate before Level 50 but one of the upgrades after it allowed us to be awake for winter if we decided to. We had no need for this but now that we have you it will be more convenient."
"The rainy season before the hot season is soon to arrive. We have plenty of food for now." Kallis spoke up.
"Do you perhaps have vegetables and fruits too, I can eat meat but it has to be cooked. And I still need a balanced meal to stay healthy."
Both brothers nodded.
Kallis spoke in an undertone, his breath against her ear. "We will make sure you and your little ones stay healthy."
Novalyn felt a blush rising in her cheeks. She tucked a loose curl behind her ear, trying to regain her composure. "Thank you. Truly. I didn't expect either of you to take on so much so quickly."
Cadmus slithered closer, coils rustling lightly over stone, clearly pleased with himself. "What kind of males would we be if we let our female starve?" He leaned down as if to kiss her cheek again but hesitated—just enough for his eyes to flick toward Kallis.
Kallis didn't miss it. "Restrain yourself, Cadmus."
"I am restrained," Cadmus insisted, flicking his tongue in mock offense. "I only kissed her once."
"One time too many," Kallis muttered.
Novalyn let out a soft laugh, surprising both of them into momentary stillness. "It's okay," she reassured. "Just… maybe warn me next time."
Cadmus brightened instantly. "So there will be a next time."
"Cadmus," Kallis growled under his breath.
She hid her smile behind her hand. Somehow, despite the strangeness of the world, the danger, the system, and her impossible circumstances… this felt oddly warm.
A soft chime echoed in her mind.
[Affection Update:
Cadmus +5% → 20%
Kallis +3% → 28%]
She tried not to react, but Kallis tilted his head. "Your eyes changed. The system spoke?"
"It did," she admitted. "It… updated something."
Kallis's gaze softened the slightest bit. "Then it must be pleased with us."
Cadmus leaned in, voice lower. "Are you pleased with us, Novalyn?"
Before she could answer, her stomach fluttered—not painfully, but noticeably. Her hand drifted down on instinct.
Kallis straightened immediately, all seriousness. "Are the little ones stirring?"
"No," she said quietly. "I just… remembered everything that needs preparing. A home, food, safety… and Camel Hump Valley isn't exactly peaceful." She looked up at the two snake beastman, "I was warned of the arrival of a female named Bai Qingqing who arrives in sixty days. Her story brings chaos."
Both brothers stiffened, expressions sharpening.
"She attracts trouble, everywhere she walks." Novalyn continued, "And males." She sighed, "Which is why I need to be prepared," Novalyn said. "For myself. For the babies. For anyone who joins us."
Cadmus perked up at the wording. "Anyone? Does that mean you plan to accept others?"
She hesitated but she would tell them the truth - honesty mattered to her. "If they court me well, respect all of us, and accept the children… yes."
Kallis nodded slowly. "Good. Then we will court you properly. Not just protect you."
Cadmus slithered closer again with a grin. "Starting now."
Before she could ask what he meant, the floor beneath her shimmered. A gentle pulse of power welled up from the stone ground.
A system alert flashed:
[New Arc Triggered: "Founding of the Qilin's Household"
Goal: Establish a stable home before Bai Qingqing's arrival.
Time Limit: 30 Days
Primary Tasks:
• Create a spiritual hearth (0/1)
• Select your first bound mate (0/1)
• Gather resources to sustain a family of 5+ (0/200)
Rewards: High-Grade Qilin Artifact Egg + 5,000 Coins]
Novalyn blinked, startled. "It gave me an entire arc just… for starting a home?"
"Of course it did." Cadmus puffed up proudly. "You're a Qilin."
She looked in surprise, not sure how they could tell and Cadmus answered her, "The system notified us of what kind of female you were as soon as you arrived."
Kallis tapped a claw thoughtfully against the stone. "The giving of the arc by the system spells out danger arriving sooner than expected. The system does not assign arcs without reason."
A subtle rumble echoed deep in the cave—as if the world itself agreed.
Novalyn swallowed. "Then we prepare."
Both brothers turned to her, their bodies coiling protectively on either side, their eyes glowing with a new, burning focus.
Cadmus grinned. "Tell us what you need, Novalyn."
Kallis bowed his head. "And we will make it so."
And for the first time since arriving in this world, she felt the weight on her chest loosen—just a little.
She wasn't alone anymore.
Novalyn smoothed her palms over her dress's skirt, grounding herself as the system window faded away. "First… I think we should eat. I haven't had anything since before I...ended up here."
Cadmus jolted upright. "You're hungry? Why didn't you say so sooner?"
He practically launched himself toward the cave entrance. "Stay here! I'll bring something immediately—"
"Cadmus," Kallis said, voice taut but calm. "We already have prepared meat. Use it."
The silver-haired twin paused, blinked, then nodded with fierce determination.
Kallis remained beside her, posture disciplined but touchingly attentive. "If you are tired, you may rest. Cadmus and I will handle everything."
"I'm… okay," she said softly. "Just thinking."
"About what?"
She hesitated, fingers brushing her slightly rounded lower stomach. The glow from the cave's new hearth cast warm light on Kallis's scales, making his crimson hair shimmer.
"My babies. This world. You two. Everything that's coming."
Kallis was silent, but the air thickened with the quiet intensity of his attention.
"I do not want to repeat the patterns of this world," she said finally. "In the stories, females treat their males as servants or stepping stones. And males… some of them are so desperate they accept anything."
Kallis's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
"But I want something equal. I want respect in both directions. I want… love, eventually. Not just instinct."
Kallis studied her for a long heartbeat. Then slowly—very slowly—he reached out and touched her hand. His claws were carefully retracted, his palm warm.
"Novalyn," he murmured, voice deep and low. "If you choose us… we will not treat you as fragile or foolish. We will not worship you like an idol. We will love you as a partner. A real one."
His eyes softened. "A mate should stand at the other's side, not above them."
Her throat constricted unexpectedly. "Yes. That's exactly what I want."
Footsteps—well, slithers—returned then, and Cadmus burst in with a wide grin and two dishes of sliced meat neatly arranged on carved stone plates. He'd even garnished them with wild herbs and berries.
"Dinner!" he announced brightly. "For our beautiful Novalyn."
Kallis gave him a flat stare. "You were gone for only one minute."
"I work fast." Cadmus puffed up proudly as he set the stone plate on Novalyn's lap. "Taste it. Please."
She took one bite—and the smoky, savory flavor surprised her. "This is delicious!"
Cadmus let out a hiss of pure joy and immediately coiled closer until his shoulder pressed against her hip. "Then eat as much as you want. I'll make more."
Kallis arched a brow. "She doesn't need to eat that much. Females cannot consume an entire leg of prey."
"Well, obviously. I made portions." Cadmus huffed.
Novalyn smiled into her food. Somehow their bickering was soothing—normal, even.
After a few minutes, Cadmus watched her with a soft, curious expression. "Do they move yet?"
He nodded toward her stomach.
"Not yet," she said. "But soon, I think."
"We will build you a proper nest before then," Kallis said. "The bed will do for today, but you deserve comfort."
"And warmth!" Cadmus added. "Your skin is too cool."
"Females don't regulate heat like scaled beastmen," Kallis corrected.
"Exactly! Which means she needs blankets. And pillows. And—"
"And space," Novalyn gently interrupted, hiding a laugh. "But I appreciate both of you."
Cadmus practically glowed. Kallis looked away, ears slightly red.
Another chime sounded.
[Affection Update:
Cadmus +4% → 24%
Kallis +3% → 31%]
Cadmus blinked. "Did we do something right?"
Novalyn chuckled. "You're both doing fine. Better than I expected, honestly."
Cadmus preened. Kallis looked thoughtful.
Outside, dusk tinted the sky lavender and gold. The waterfall glimmered like liquid amber. The cave, once empty and cold, now felt warm—lived in, almost inviting.
Novalyn set her empty plate aside. "Tonight… can we just rest? Talk about small things? I don't want to rush anything."
Kallis nodded. "We will go at your pace."
Cadmus hummed. "And tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," she said, "we begin preparing our home."
A new system window flickered briefly behind her eyes:
[Arc Progress:
• Establish a spiritual hearth — 0%
• Select your first bound mate — Pending
• Resources gathered — 0/200]
Another line slid into place:
[Optional Bonus Task:
Strengthen your bond with the Serpent Brothers before Day 5.
Reward: +10 Affection Cap for both]
Novalyn exhaled slowly. "We'll have our work cut out for us."
Kallis's fingers brushed hers again—accidental, or maybe not.
Cadmus rested his chin lightly on her shoulder.
"You won't face it alone," they said in near unison.
And for the first time since arriving in this unpredictable, dangerous world, Novalyn believed it.