In the dimly lit chamber, Eddie marvels at the Serpent Queen's long, jade-like tail, finding an unexpected elegance in its serpentine form. He admits to himself that human-like legs would be more appealing, just as her six, willowy arms, while fascinating, seem excessive compared to the ideal of two.
Grasping one of her delicate hands, Eddie jokes with a smile. The golden-haired Serpent Queen, confident and amused, corrects him, "Not at all. I'm Vivien, the most beautiful Serpent Queen in the world!" Eddie, playing the part of a gentleman, greets her with exaggerated politeness.
Vivien, with a twinkle in her eye, advises him to add 'the most beautiful' before her title to please her more. She then inquires why a young man like Eddie, already an Innate, would venture into this sealed dark abyss. Eddie, unabashedly naked and unbothered by their mutual state of undress, quips, "I can't help it, I'm a genius!"
Vivien's brow raises in agreement, labeling him a 'unique' genius, the likes of which she's never seen in her thousand-year slumber.
Despite her entrapment in this void, where all life is usually extinguished, Eddie stands before her, unharmed and inexplicably resilient to the black hole's devouring force.
Eddie is dumbfounded, not by her praise but by the realization of his own extraordinary nature. Vivien shares her own arduous journey to Innate status, taking decades to achieve what Eddie seemingly has at such a young age.
This revelation leaves Eddie wide-eyed in wonder, pondering his own unique destiny in this strange and ancient world.
Eddie, captivated by the revelation of Vivien's thousand-year slumber, marvels at the ancient enigma before him. His curiosity piqued, he questions the paradox of her seemingly tangible form, despite her claim of being consumed by the void.
Vivien, with a touch of melancholy, explains that her presence is but a phantom, a fragile echo of her once formidable self, still far from healed despite the passage of millennia.
Driven by an audacious curiosity, Eddie reaches out, his hand ghosting through her form like a breeze through mist, confirming her spectral state. Vivien swiftly chastises him, her stern rebuke reminding him of the respect owed to any being's personal space, queen or otherwise.
Yet, undeterred by her reprimand, Eddie's fingers graze her arm, finding a surprising softness, more substantial than her elusive form.
As he ventures towards her face, she deftly evades with a gentle reproof, revealing that her neck and above remain as vulnerable as any flesh and blood creature.
She then jests about his bravery, questioning whether he fears her potential for deadly retribution.
Eddie's response is a radiant smile, unmarred by fear.
He shares an inexplicable conviction that Vivien, despite her formidable past and power, harbors no ill will towards him.
This peculiar intuition, a silent whisper of safety amidst the surreal, lends him a tranquil assurance in the presence of the ancient Serpent Queen, weaving an intricate dance of intrigue and trust between them.
Eddie, feeling an ineffable connection, ventures, "I don't know why, but it feels like you're closer to me than anyone ever has been. Like we're one and the same, you know?"
Vivien, slightly bemused yet earnest, sets him down and taps his head, saying, "I might have wanted to end you, little human, but I can't. This soul-blood pact... What are you, really? Your blood woke me from an eternal slumber and forcefully bound us. How peculiar you are!"
"What's a soul-blood pact, anyway?" Eddie asks, genuinely clueless yet intrigued.
"It's a divine contract, usually beyond the reach of mortals. You, a human, have somehow forged it. Can you explain?" Vivien's curiosity shines through, a rare glimpse of vulnerability in her regal demeanor.
Eddie shrugs, "Beats me. Since arriving here, it's been one wonder after another. But hey, as long as it's not bad news!"
Vivien sighs, a shadow crossing her features, "But this pact... if you die, I perish too. What a dreadful bond to share with a mere mortal!"
Eddie grins, "Well, I don't mind having the most beautiful queen by my side. But just so you know, I plan on staying alive. So, any divine artifacts you have that might help?"
Her gaze darkens, "Maybe I'm bound here forever, my ethereal form trapped by this seal. If you fall to an enemy, I can do nothing but join you in death."
His smile doesn't falter, "No worries, I'll take good care of us. And hey, about those divine artifacts..."