Chapter 6 Abyssal Celestial Horned Dragon Serpent

Valerie's POV

Lily has a special gift she utilizes to the maximum. She easily cries and can fool people with her pretty face and innocent smile but I have seen through it since the day she stretched her hands towards me and asked to be sisters; how can I believe the bastard daughter of the mistress who collided with my father to kill my mother?

Lily charmed her way into binding with my dragon and Aldric? He was bewitched by her, just like the others. When I took the black serpent, I pried into its core and found an injured core, almost collapsing but as I looked deeper, inside the collapsing core was another core, being refined.

It then dawned on me that the serpent was hiding his true identity, just like I was. As I retired to my room, I tended to his wounds and fed it healing pills and potions, even channeled some of my mana so it would heal faster.

I spent the entire night practicing new moves and stabilizing my core, mastering the act of masking my powers as I got stronger. The next day, I got my portion of resources from the academy, to help train and feed my serpent.

By the third day, the wounds had healed and the collapsing core was fixed.

“Little one, I know you hid your true core for a reason and as you can sense; I am at the Soul tempering level of Soul transformation, if you wish to bond with me then go ahead but if not, you can walk away now and there'll be no debts between us. I am not interested in winning this contest, I am here to hunt for treasures and become stronger.” I explained to the serpent as it slithered on the silk cushion I made for it as a bed.

I was exhausted as I had spent all morning trying to search the vast academy for areas with high concentration mana levels and traces of spiritual artifacts that will be useful to me. I collapsed on the bed and slept off. I woke up to a warm surge of energy around me, like a source of energy was pulsating outside of my body.

My eyelids fluttered as my stomach growled, hunger pangs hitting me but the fog of sleep cleared off my eyes as I caught sight of a long giant circular serpent beside me. I almost fell backwards in fear but I suppressed the scream and looked up to see the serpent's head touching the high ceiling of the room.

His scales were like waves of iridescent silver mixed with deep sapphire while a liquid gold rippled across its body causing a starlike reflection to dance on his tail. His pupils narrowed, dissolving entirely into a swirling nebula of silver and blue. His aura was all over the room, streaks of golden mana surrounding his body.

“By the gods.” I muttered under my breath, amazed by the beautiful spectacle in front of me.

“Miss Valerie.” A voice sounded in my head, it was calm and soft but impossible to dismiss.

Telepathy! The serpent was communicating to me through telepathy, a skill only a peak high level spiritual beast possesses.

“You're not just an ordinary serpent are you?” I asked, fascinated.

“No.” he replied, softly.

I exhaled softly, taking in the breathtaking beauty and magnificence in front of me. We were both silent until I broke the ice.

“Do you have a name?”

“No I don't, would you like to give me a name, mistress?”

“How about Kael? It's a royal and powerful name, just like you.”

“Kael it is then, thank you mistress.”

“Mistress?” I asked, taken aback by the sudden title. I was not bond with him yet, how am I his mistress and lord?

Kael slithered, lowering his head and I instinctively reached out and placed a hand on its head, Kael didn't flinch and a drop of blood slid from my fingertips onto his scales. The moment the blood touched, I found myself standing in a sea of darkness, a colossal serpent stretched across the void, larger than the mountains or what I saw in my chambers.

His body was covered in ancient golden ruins, two horns protruded from each side of its ear, a pair of wings also flapped behind it.

“You're an Abyssal Celestial Horned Dragon Serpent!” I exclaimed.

He is from a race of extinct powerful serpents that have reached the stage of celestial cultivation level. Kael's golden eyes settled on me and for a moment, I felt the overbearing pressure of his aura washing down on me, forcing me to my knees and blood pooled in my mouth.

The pressure was raw since I was in his stream of consciousness. Then, as if realizing that I'm hurt, the aura dissipated and I was able to breathe well.

"I seek revenge from the cultivators who ruined my home and slayed my entire race for our core, stole it to become stronger and left me half-dead. Stuck as a lowly serpent for centuries." Kael spoke, I finally heard his voice as his mouth moved.

"I want revenge on those who murdered my mother." I confessed too. At least we had that in common.

"How far are you willing to go?" He questioned.

My expression darkened and I tightened my jaw, remembering how my mother cried and begged for mercy but was brutally murdered.

"Even if the heavens stand in my way, I'll destroy the heavens itself and climb over their corpses." I hissed, my tone laced with poison.

"I willingly bind my soul to you, you are my mistress in life and death, I only live to serve and protect you." Kael pronounced, sealing the bond.

Golden light exploded through the darkness and a streak of light gleaming with blood from Kael's core surged through me, connecting us both. I felt my bones cracking as torrents of ancient energy eroded my body, Kael stood there, mighty and powerful.

When my eyes flung open again, I was back in my chambers and Kael had reverted back to his little serpent form. I chuckled, satisfied at this new gain and began to caress his head.

"You showed me a glimpse of your true form didn't you?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"My life is now in your hands, Mistress Valerie." Kael replied, telepathically.

I inhaled softly and nodded. This is a blessing in disguise. Now, I have to hunt for more treasure for both Kael and I. We have to become stronger together if we are to achieve our goals.

“How about we go on a little treasure hunt Kael? My spiritual senses picked up a deserted area in the academy with rabid low tier spiritual beast, their cores may be weak but it's still a snack, isn't it?” I told Kael.

He nodded his little head and I stopped him into my arms, letting him slide into a magical pouch which had infinite space on the inside. I wore a cloak to completely mask my presence and faded into the night.

The low tier grade beasts were feral and though they posed little threat to me, I had to exert force and use mana in order to get rid of many at once and gather enough cores. It was also an opportunity to finally practice on living beings since there are no constraints here.

The entire night, I slayed beast after beast, gathering cores and whatever artifact I could find, some had strong spines which I cut out to make a good armor while others had poisonous pouches which could be refined into poison potions.

Kael didn't join in the fun because though he carried a powerful bloodline, his core was damaged and he needs all the resources he can get to repair it. It was a long shot but worth it.

I returned back to my chambers when it was almost dawn to avoid any sort of suspicion, I hid all the treasures in the pouch and Kael informed me that he could refine them there while concealing his scent and presence. Exhausted but excited, I collapsed on my bed once more. Three months was long enough for me to get what I want and I wont be walking out of here with a Prince but rather with a Celestial beast.