Hemira and the Six Companions

Chapter 9

The tiny hoblins weep in shadow's shroud,

A warrior rises, fierce and unbowed.

Against Serpiant's dark and merciless might,

Will she save their world or fall into the night?

*

Nyebe and I were heading to the Kobal Forest to find Serpiant’s lair. The sky remained dark as dawn had not yet broken.

As we entered the forest, I pulled on Nyebe’s leash to bring her to a halt. I dismounted, facing her and holding her head gently in my hands. “Nyebe, you must stay here until I return. If there are any enemies, find a place to hide, but you must come back to this very spot. When I call your name, you must come to me immediately. Do you understand?”

“NEEHEEEEE!” she responded, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that gave me hope.

A smile spread across my face, and I felt relieved. It seemed she understood the language of humans.

I stroked her face one last time. I couldn’t take her into the forest with me; the danger was too great. So, I left her there, at the edge of the trees.

“I’ll be back, I promise,” I said, giving her a reassuring pat before stepping deeper into Kobal. The charred dry trees loomed around me, while the ground felt damp from the earlier rain.

As I ventured further, I keenly sensed my surroundings, trying to locate the cave where Serpiant resided.

The path ahead appeared untouched by fire, indicating that I had reached the forest’s heart. Suddenly, an overwhelming presence washed over me. I froze, sensing something enormous nearby.

I heard the crashing of trees and the hissing of shadowvipers.

“That’s her, Mother. She is the one who killed some of us,” whispered a tiny voice from the shadows.

My heart raced as I scanned the area. Just then, an enormous serpent slithered into view, crushing the dry trees beneath its massive body. I looked up to see it.

It resembled the shadowvipers but was far larger and broader, hissing loudly as it flicked out its long, forked tongue. “Did you kill some of my children? Ssssss…”

I couldn’t believe it spoke. Its voice was feminine, and its bright green eyes glinted with malice, revealing its razor-sharp fangs.

“Yes, I did! You must be Serpiant!” I shouted boldly, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

A wicked smile stretched across its face. “Indeed. Sssssss…”

My heart swelled with relief; I no longer needed to search for it. It had come to me.

“Introduce yourself!” Serpiant demanded.

“I am Hemira, a warrior of the kingdom of Gemuria! I am here to slay you so that this forest can be returned to the hoblins you took it from!” I declared, trying to project confidence despite the fear gnawing at me.

Serpiant paused, then burst into sharp laughter, the smaller shadowvipers echoing their mockery. “What did you say? You will slay me? Are you losing your mind? It seems you do not yet know what my abilities are. No one can defeat me. Sssssssss... Unfortunately for you, warrior woman of Gemuria, your arrogance will be your downfall! Prepare yourself, for I will end your foolishness!”

Before I could react, it lunged at me, its massive jaws wide open. I leaped aside just in time.

I dodged its attack as its face crashed into the ground, creating a thunderous sound. Trees around us ignited, turning to ashes, leaving a massive hole where its head struck.

As I drew closer, I spotted a shadowviper crawling nearby. Without hesitation, I stomped down on its head with all my might, relishing the satisfying crunch. I quickly grabbed my sword, ready for the next wave.

With a swift thrust, I plunged my sword into the ground, skewering another shadowviper that dared to crawl toward me.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain as one sank its teeth into my leg. I swiftly severed its head with a clean swipe, adrenaline fueling my movements.

But then, another bite pierced the back of my leg. I whirled around to find a shadowviper clamped down tight.

Before it could escape, I seized its head and forced it to bite my arm. This was Elderly Orum’s method for counteracting its venom—using its poison against it.

"Igghhhhhhh…" I groaned, overwhelmed by the burning pain in my leg and arm. Strangely, no blood flowed from the bites.

Dizziness threatened to engulf me, but I shook my head fiercely; I couldn’t afford to lose focus. In just a heartbeat, thousands of shadowviper could swarm me.

I hurled the biting shadowviper to the ground and drove my sword through it. It cried out, but its life was extinguished quickly.

I surveyed my surroundings. shadowvipers swarmed around me, their menacing forms closing in, but our attention shifted to Serpiant, who had finally lifted its massive head.

It was seething with rage.

Even as I observed its size, I noticed its movements were sluggish.

"You!" it roared, glaring directly at me.

As it lunged again, I sliced through the smaller shadow-viper beside me and dashed away, narrowly avoiding its grasp.

I fixed my gaze on it, now visibly irritated, but its annoyance twisted into a mocking grin. “Ssssssssss… Did you come here to slay me? Sssssssss… Why are you dodging my attacks? Is that your strategy, or are you just a coward with nothing but empty words?”

I smirked defiantly. “You’re all talk! Quit your rambling and attack already!” I shouted back.

Its fury ignited further due to my taunting, and it lunged at me once more.

I braced myself as its head came down to bite me. Timing my jump perfectly, I leaped into its open mouth, retrieved my other sword, and stabbed both weapons into its eyes.

“GAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!”

Blood gushed forth, splattering my face as I yanked both my swords free and leaped down, narrowly escaping its violent thrashing.

“GAAAAAAAHHHH! MY EYES! I CAN’T SEE! I CAN’T SEE ANYTHING!” it screamed, thrashing wildly in agony.

Its rampage caused it to crush the smaller shadowvipers nearby, along with the dry trees around us.

It continued its chaotic flailing, swinging its body toward me. I dodged quickly, sprinting away to avoid being crushed.

BAAAAAAAAMMMMM!

The impact shook the ground, sending shock waves through the forest.

Its screams echoed in the air.

“You foolish Serpiant! Did you think I was unaware of your weaknesses? I know your skin is nearly impenetrable, but you’re not just a tough hide! You have two eyes that I could easily injure! And let’s not forget your sheer ugliness stemming from your evil! You stole the home of the hoblins, who never did you any harm, just to make yourself comfortable. Now it’s time to reclaim this forest!” I charged at it, but the smaller shadowvipers blocked my path once more.

Their hissing filled the air, drowning out my thoughts as they closed in around me again.

I considered using the magic I had summoned earlier, but I feared the resulting explosion would ignite a massive fire, destroying the entire forest. If that happened, the hoblins would have nowhere to return.

Instead, I swung both my swords fiercely, cutting through the mass of shadowvipers surrounding me.

I ran, continuing to slice downward, stabbing any that dared to bite me.

The sharp pain from their earlier bites throbbed painfully in my mind.

"AHHHHHHHHH!" Serpiant was still in a frenzy. When it swung its neck toward me, I jumped onto its head, clinging tightly to its scales to avoid being thrown off.

The smaller shadowvipers were crushed beneath its massive weight.

With its head momentarily still, I stood above its mouth, staring into its now-bleeding eyes, the wounds glaringly visible. "How does it feel, Serpiant, to be the one in pain now?" I asked, my voice steady.

"Ahhhh! Help me, Hemira!" A tiny, desperate voice pierced through the chaos. I turned to see who it was...

"Eriza!" I gasped, spotting her small form ensnared by Serpiant's thin, scaly tail.