Spartari College of Psionics:

It was early in the morning and Yacob was performing his rounds of the exhibits like usual. "Morning Jim!" He shouted towards the ice sculpture that suddenly began to crack and break before its spectacular body became animated with life.

"Are you hungry bud? Echemus, feed him." He declared to his apprentice.

Echemus flinched from writing down something in a data pad before it clicked in his brain what was just said. He then put his data pad to the side before reaching into the small waist bag he was wearing. His hands then reached inside up to the shoulder as he struggled to find something before a few seconds later, a large white rabbit was in his grasp.

He was prepared to throw the creature, but before he could.

*Chomp*

"Ow! Bitch!" He yelled and the rabbit broke free and began to make a run for it. Yacob turned around seeing this and rolled his eyes. "Incompetent..." He said casually before a high pitch cry rang out through the exhibit.

A moment later good ol’ Jim had the rabbit in its talons and returned to its perch to devour the morning meal. "Thanks Jim. I can always count on you!" Yacob declared, getting a playful chirp from jim before his beak proceeded to peck the rabbit in half.

"Come on, numb nuts." Yacob said to Echemus, who was nursing the bit on his hand. "You have had worse injuries than that, now hurry up. We have work today and later on, if you do a good job, we can begin to go over the family gift? Hmm?"

Yacob watched as Echemus’ eyes went wide. "Really?!? Thank you uncle!" Yacob smiled as Echemus continued on with his task. His methods were cruel, but tough love was the only way to break a right stinking cunt.

For the rest of the day, Echemus didn’t complain once. From doing data collection to feedings to shovelling shit. The young Petrotis did not complain once.

Eventually the duties mostly ended, just some trial tasks that were more a luxury than a chore.

Entering a room wearing nothing but a towel, Uncle and Nephew sat down and let out a sigh as the steam enveloped them. "Good work today, Echemus." Yacob declared with his eyes closed.

Echemus said nothing, but Yacob could tell his nephew was smiling.

The two of them sat in silence for a moment, allowing the Pyresnakes to come out and say hello.

Yacob smiled as the snakes did their deep cleaning before suddenly frowning. Opening his eyes he looked round confused.

"Uncle? What’s wrong?" He heard from his right.

"I just realised, the room is nowhere near as steamy as it should be..."

He then stood up and walked to the waters edge of the enclosure. He then took a breath before sticking his hand in.

...

"Huh? It’s barely, ow!" He pulled back after a few seconds. "The water should be much hotter than this... It’s just like a warm bath as it is now..." Concern was on his face. It had been weeks since he last saw the Matriarch. Was she sick?

"Lady Sithrik? Are you in there? It’s me, your keeper. I know you enjoy your privacy, but your climate is not reading correctly. Can I check that you are well?"

...

...

...

"Sithrik?" He asked one more time, panic set in quickly before turning to his Nephew. "Echemus, get in there and make sure she is well."

"W-What? Isn’t this snake highly territorial about her den? If I go in there... Won’t I get bit?" Echemus asked, concerned.

"Yes." Yacob said before pointing to the water.

"So hurry up. We need to check on her, she might be ill."

Echemus gulped before sighing, resigning to his fate. His body hit the water and he immediately sucked his teeth. "Hot hot hot."

Echemus waded through the water before submerging. Yacob watched as his Nephew stayed down there for a short while before he saw bubbles as he returned.

"Gahhh!" He let out a gasp for air before wading out of the water, looking pinker than before.

"Well? Is she ok? Of course she isn’t, you haven’t been bitten, quick we need to look for Pyresnake illness’ and how to cure their symptoms."

"Uncle, she wasn’t in there. I looked." Echemus proclaimed and watched as Yacob’s eyes went wide in shock.

He then watched as his uncle dove into the water, losing his towel in the process.

His uncle stayed down there for close to three minutes before resurfacing. He didn’t even stop for a breath before running to the enclosure exit screaming at the top of his lungs. "Where is she! She can’t have gotten far! Search everywhere!"

...

After further explaining the plan to my allies, they left the tent. A moment later, Sithrik slithered towards me before wrapping her body around my leg, climbing me before resting her head on the table.

" Oh husband. How I missed you these last few days. I never thought I would pine for a mate as hard as I do for you. My whole view on life has changed. When do you plan to gift me with the warmth of your body? I yearn for you."

"Hhm!" A faint sound of a suppressed laugh came from behind me. I ignored Nerissa and replied to Sithrik.

"Sithrik, we talked about this the other day, remember?"

"Of course, darling. How could I forget? You need time to adjust to my curvaceous body, I understand... But would you just answer one question? Just one? So I can picture my future in more detail?"

Before I could say yes, I felt pressure up against my groin region as Sithrik proceeded to push herself forward, her face directly in front of mine.

"Yes or no Apollo. Right now, at this moment, do you find me attractive? Do you find me desirable?"

"Yes." I spoke instantly without thinking, catching myself by surprise. I also seemed to catch Sithrik by surprise before her tongue flicked out and caressed the edge of my lips.

"I sssee~ Then I can wait for as long as you need to come to terms with your desires. I will be ready for you..." She then got closer to my face, squeezing my body tighter as she whispered to me. "I will ruin you for limbed creatures..."

She then released me and began slithering away. "I will return to your quarters, I’ll keep your bed warm until you are ready to sleep. Like a good concubine~"

Once she left the tent I just stood there for a moment before suddenly saying. "Zip it, Nerissa."

Nerissa, her voice laced with amusement, replied. "What? But I said nothing."

I then turned to her and shook my head. "No, but I don’t need to be a telepath to know exactly what you are thinking. So zip it."

"Of course, of course... Of course."

The two of us just stood there for a moment, staring. I found my eyes narrowing as I could tell she was smirking under her helmet.

I then stood to the side as she reached out with her finger. I dodged and she gasped like I just betrayed her.

"You are becoming predictable, Ness. I can tell when you are about to go in for a boop now and-"

*Smooch*

I felt the gossamer of her face covering give way as it allowed me to feel her lips against mine, for just a moment. She then took a step back and confidently declared.

"Looks like I have something else to fall back on now then, don’t I? Look, you are even slightly stunned."

Not taking her taunt lightly, I replied. "Oh I am stunned alright. As if this is you taking things slow, I am excited about your pacing. I mean it’s only been a day since the end of that ritual and now you are kissing me again? By the end of next week we might be married if the pace continues."

I smiled, knowing I just made her blush under her helmet as she grasped onto her spear and stood up straight trying to make herself a little bit taller.

I smiled before bringing the conversation back down. "But in all seriousness, my surprising attraction to snakes aside, what do you think of my plan? I know it has some flaws, such as relying on past battle data, but I think it is solid."

Nerissa then took a few steps forward and activated the data pad, looking at the holographic image of the fortress and its surroundings.

"The current codex of war encourages rigidness. Tried and true methods that have kept the empire alive as long as it has. It is the crutch of many generals. Only true generals with tactical brilliance forgo its teachings. Though I know you haven’t even looked at it... But you don’t need it. Your mind is brilliant. Allow it to flow freely during this war. Trust it, your gut and your instincts and you will achieve the impossible like you already have."

Her hand then reached across the table and rested gently atop mine before whispering warmly.

"I believe in you."