The room fell into silence, only broken up when the Grandmother cheerfully laughed at Fleur's expression.
"Look at you, so focused! Well, anyhow, almost everyone knows that gaining too much knowledge is dangerous. No one is really researching about the Song nowadays, only crazed lunatics do.. That crest on your body can be used to harness the Song."
The Grandmother flickered her tongue as she made her way towards a soft pillow.
"Think of it as an extension of your body. If I were to compare it to a real body part then I'd say it'd be an amygdala or some sort~"
Fleur matched her gaze with the moving snake, looking like a chicken focusing on one point yet not moving their body.
"Amygdala?" she curiously asked.
The snake tilted her head sideways "Didn't they teach you that in the Academy? Basic human body parts?"
"I never went to the Academy.."
"Oh right.."
Fleur stood up, covering her petite body with a blanket.
"Clothes are that way, dearest granddaughter.." the Grandmother guided, pointing her snake head towards the exquisite closet door.
Fleur rummaged through the various dresses and luxury clothing hanging inside the closet. There were frilled blouses, long gowns, sun dresses, and many more!
Clothes never seemed to intrigue Fleur as she only needed to wear ragged and casual clothing in the past. She never found purpose in designing oneself to look good.
Now, however, she wanted to try something new.
After 5 minutes of deciding, she turned around and looked at the pearl-scaled snake.
"Yes, dearest granddaughter? Have you any more queries?"
"No.. Well, you are my Grandmother now, correct?"
The Grandmother giggled, "Why yes of course! I'd do anything for my sweetest darling!"
"Then teach me how to dress.."
*
An hour later, when the sun struck high up in the sky, marking the time of noon, a petite girl sat down on one of the longer ends of a rectangular dining table ornamented with gold lining and various jewels.
She wore a black double-breasted suit maxi dress paired with black heels and black cotton socks.
Her hair was laid down, its onyx glamour reflecting the light of the amber candelabras in the dining room.
Circling around her neck was a pearl-scaled snake flickering its tongue every now and then.
"Heels are so uncomfortable, can't I wear something different, Grandmother?" the petite girl's head leaned down, addressing the snake on her neck.
"Elegance comes with a price, darling~ You'll get used to it."
"Ugh-"
Fleur focused on the food in front of her, served by doll-like maids. It was a T-bone steak cooked to medium. A peppercorn sauce was glazed on top, complimenting its richness and tender flavor.
She reminisced back on the moments of rummaging through garbage and searching for rotten leftover food. Compared to that life, it could be said that she was too lucky!
"Why me?"
"Hmm?"
"Why did you choose me?" Fleur said in a somber tone.
"Because you are special~" the Grandmother teased, "Even though you are forgettable, and mediocre, among the humans that I've seen on that day were all.. substandard. All of them could not wash off my allure.."
Fleur leaned back.
"So it was you in that silhouette under the bat after all?"
"Naturally!" she proclaimed, "Out of all humans that I tried to entice, you were the only one who had a willpower strong enough to break free~"
"Then why didn't you choose me?" Fleur queried.
The snake extended its slender body to meet with Fleur's face, "Because you are much more than a source of semen, dearest granddaughter.."
"Yeah, because it is better to have my soul devoured and absorbed by the Grandmother of Succubi.." Fleur pouted.
"Exactly! That's in the past now though.. Circumstances have changed. Hey aren't you going to eat?" the Grandmother smiled.
"Later. Why change?"
Fleur tilted her head upward, staring at the pristine ceiling and chandelier above.
The Grandmother turned silent for a while, then ultimately replied in a serious tone:
"Because the era of the longest Grandmother, the 8th Grandmother, is ending. And you, dearest granddaughter, will be my successor.. In a week, I will grant you everything I possess and you will learn to harness my soul. Ultimately, this will change your physique, turning you into a fully-fledged succubus to lead our race!"
Silence ensued.
Fleur reached for the silver utensils and started eating. Juices flowed in her mouth as new unfamiliar tastes introduced themselves to her.
She should be delighted but Fleur remained expressionless.
After finishing her meal in a few minutes, she remained seated as the doll-like maids cleaned her plate up.
"I've always wondered.. Dreams, are they granted or achieved?"
"Eating such exquisite meals was one of my dreams in the past. Yet, now that I have achieved it, it feels.. dull. I could not even feel a sense of excitement, my eyes are as cold as usual, holding no feeling of fulfillment. My clothing, this house, this new successful life, all of it feels unreal.."
"Do you dislike it?" The Grandmother asked with a sincere tone.
"No. But I do not like it either. All of it feels as if something were tugging the strings of my life, controlling me like a puppet. I do appreciate the benefits, but at the same time it comes at a cost doesn't it?"
"Everything comes at a cost, my dearest.."
Fleur sighed and shifted her head to the left, looking at the scenery outside of the luxurious home.
Would this choice anchor her identity to fate? Would she be shackled to live on the footsteps of those that came before her?
Would Fleur truly achieve her dreams?
Perhaps she would need to find out for herself..
"Fine. I'll be the 9th."
If the Grandmother had a body right now, she would be clasping her fingers and grinning ear to ear.
Alas, she imitated the form of a snake.
"Wonderful, dearest Granddaughter~"
"However!" Fleur contested, her eyes slanted downwards, "I'll be the 9th Grandmother, if and only if I get to live as a human first.."
"Granted! This can be easily arranged~ In this upcoming week, I will let you experience being human to the fullest!"
Fleur shook her head, "No, a week isn't enough.."
Surprised, the Grandmother flickered her tongue and hissed, "W-what? Why, dearest granddaughter?"
Fleur touched her left cheek and slowly rubbed her finger downwards. After she was finished, the edges of her mouth creepily moved upwards.
"You say everything comes at a cost, correct? Then my cost would be to live as a human for a year!"
"I see~ To use my own maxim against me, humans are truly crafty ehe- Let me think about it.."
The Grandmother turned silent for a while, leaving the elegant dining room as quiet as the serenity of the night.
Fleur wasn't perturbed by this, rather, she remained still, getting lost in her thoughts as she thought of ways to live her life.
Snippets of her past life flashed through her mind, however, she immediately dissipated them.
She did not let go of everything though, she remembered the drive and the dreams that she once held.
After 5 minutes of silence, the Grandmother didn't speak. She slithered away from Fleur's neck and headed towards the other side of the dining table.
Then, in a moment's passing, a distinct figure appeared in front of Fleur, several chairs away.
'Could this be the Grandmother's true form?'
In front of her, a gorgeous woman rested her head on her delicate pale white palm. She had a pair of white bat wings behind her, tucked and hidden. She had white eyes, perfectly shaped snow lips, a pinkish nose, and spiraling horns protruding out of her temples.
She wore a simple almost see-through white gown that covered her entire body tightly, showcasing her finest curves and sexual figure. One glance would entice anyone to look closely, and never look away.
Fleur only saw a glimpse of her figure. She figured out that if she looked longer, her eyes and nose would bleed.
Thus, she bowed her head and placed her arms on her flat chest, showing respect to the Grandmother of Succubi.
"Esteemed Grandmother, I pay my respects.."
"No need.." her voice, slow and cold. The Grandmother waved her hand, shaking off Fleur's desperate show of fear and respect.
However, deep inside, the Grandmother felt that Fleur was not feeling fear right now..
Nevertheless, she opened her snow-white lips once more and said, "Your proposal.. I'll.. accept it.."
As if slanting her voice, the Grandmother felt forced to talk. It was as if there was something holding her back.
Fleur figured this out too, but didn't dive deeper to the reason.
Once again, the Grandmother spoke:
"We will.. form a contract. A year.. where you will.. experience.. freedom. Become.. a human.. and.. enjoy life.. Do you.. accept.. with blood?"
Fleur lowered her head, "I accept."
Suddenly, the pores in the dorsum of Fleur's right hand opened. Immediately, blood started to pour out like sweat, gradually increasing in speed as it coalesced together into a single red line.
The line headed towards the Grandmother's white figure-towards her mouth.
In a second, the Grandmother consumed the blood, licking her lips of its residue.
Fleur's right hand felt cold for a moment but then trembled uncontrollably for a little while.
She didn't feel pain nor any discomfort. If anything, it felt like her hand was being massaged and all the pleasure spots were being targeted!
Within three breaths of time, a white snake tattoo appeared on the back of her right hand.
It coiled within itself, forming a white spiral.
Before Fleur could even ask, the Grandmother already answered:
"That.. is my gift.. It is called... a Remembrance.. Channel your mana within... call upon me.." The Grandmother's voice weakened, "I grant.. three attempts.. Use them.. wisely.."
Slowly but surely, her voice seemed to have become even weaker.
"Fleur.. my dearest granddaughter.. attend the.. academy.. create bonds... form relationships... fall in love... and.. enjoy your time.."
Then, she faded, the slow and slurred voice vanished as if it were just a memory of the past.
The pearl-scaled snake also vanished, leaving Fleur inside the dining room alone.
Gazing at the spiraled snake on her right hand, Fleur felt as if something innate had changed.