I decided to rewrite it all over. See character images in the comment section.
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In a realm where magic and desire collide, Aella—an unsuspecting witch, who just went off the territory for the first time—awakens to a strange world.
Surrounded by two ferocious-looking giant beasts, with bloody eyes up on the ceiling making her nerves and neck stiff, she finds herself in an unexpected predicament.
Imagine seeing two predators upon waking up. Who wouldn't have a heart attack?
Stun, scared, forget about breathing!
Aella reckons that she won't even fill the gap in their massive teeth!
Even for just one of them, her meat won't definitely suffice!
What would be left of her if they decided to share her body?
Even her bones would be gnawed to smithereens!
This should be just a bad dream, right?
Seemingly like a cornered mouse, Aella hugged herself, shivering back on the cold wall in front of two towering figures emanating danger ringing her alarm bells and eclipsing her small stature.
At that point, her head was starting to malfunction! Like a robot heating up unable to reboot because of the limitless scenarios popping inside her head which all lead to death.
But what's this?
The first creature, a giant black snake with a hiss that could curdle potions, claims her as its mate.
"Female, you should be grateful instead of whining! I made you my wife after I saved your life with my precious essence," it insists. "We've already united our bodies. You're mine!"
However, Aella isn't having it.
U-United their bodies? Nonsense! Who is he trying to scam?
The only way to unite is when he ate her and put her inside his stomach!
A person and a snake? Then science must be dead!
How can she become a beast's bride? No freaking way!
Who would possibly accept that in a heartbeat? Even if you give her a hundred hearts, she couldn't possibly just accept this!
Who in their right mind would suddenly agree to such a setup?
A witch and beasts?
She's not even a Disney princess who got lost in the forest to find her father! She's a witch, okay?
A freaking witch who wants nothing to do with this wanton and shameless beast!
"Why does it have to be me?" she protests with tears in her eyes. "If you want a wife, why not find a female snake? I may be skinny, but I'm most definitely not a snake! I-I can't! No. I don't want it! I..." whittled with anxiety, she blurted out without thinking but was ultimately silenced in fear of his deadly glares.
See? This is what I am most worried about! How do you expect me to coexist and be a couple with someone giving me death threats by glaring daggers?
Ah, her life is so unfair!
I just turned adult but the Witch God is forcing me to marry. Even if there was a scarcity of male witches, why would you throw me into the mouth of a promiscuous male beast? Not just one but there are even two of them! Isn't this forcefully making a witch turn nun instead? Waah!
Oh please, be honest here!
Who would want to be walking on a tightrope where every step matters of their own volition? Every second of every day, she would have to weigh her actions while being in a constant life-and-death battle of wits with each of them if she get swayed!
Aella swallowed her indignation and clamped her eyes, trembling. "I-I'm not saying that ah... out of... out of spite," oh she does!
Then again, why is he darting her scary looks as if she was the one who did something bad and scammed him of his virginity?
Isn't it the other way around as he claims it to be?!
Bear with it, so you can bear your life, girl!
Aella took a deep breath.
"M-Mister snake," she called with much playing safe, "I'm... I'm not saying I can't be uh, uhm mates with you per se. It's just that... c-can't you please con... consider my situation as well?"
She can only try to explain, hoping he would care, maybe?
"I... am a person, while you're a... unique creature?"
Honestly, she's not even sure what they were!
The famed Library of Witches held millennia of history, records, and recipes about almost everything. Her life revolved mostly around reading the tomes and analects.
However, she couldn't recall anything about these beings!
Encountering beasts with sentience, and even talking, was a first for her and probably within the witch's circle despite living long for centuries.
Those old reclusive grannies would certainly empty out their rooms and potion chambers to downright flock over these two had they known there were strange species that they had never known existed.
But that's them, not her!
She's not even the slightest bit curious at all let alone wants to be their lover!
Goodness!
Just imagine, waking up every day with a big snake coiling around her body or a massive red bear on her side of the bed is enough to give her a heart attack!
That's too much for my weak heart, Mister. Please reconsider your claim and just find a suitable mate of your kind! I'll just be your servant and clean your house if you want!
Don't even start about having babies. Aella's mind was already occupied with her possible mornings and days, to even think about what was ahead.
Luckily she was quite a simpleton and newly weaned witches who just got freed themselves from their clan's strict rules are rather innocent about worldly matters.
If she did, forget about continuing this story. She would've incurred a hemorrhage at the thought of conceiving snake eggs and cubs for bear!
"I will only marry a human—one with two feet and two hands. Y-You know?" she tried to speak firmly but her lips won't just stop quivering.
Cold beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, she could hardly explain what she had in mind worried that he would be offended and strike her neck in anger.
"O-Oh the... that's right… a handsome man too!" she added on an impulse, stalking a quick glimpse of the two beasts.
"G-Good call!" she exclaimed inside her head.
As if relieve just washed her exhausted being after successfully adding that condition without them taking offense.
Forget about having great looks!
Around this time, the least of her worries was them transforming into humans. She had seen spirits taking human forms, but she had never encountered a beast like them morph!
She couldn't sense energy from them likened to spiritual beings and for that reason, she had risked everything in this gamble.
I mean how can a beast transform into a human, right?
RIGHT?!
It's just that, instead of getting angry, the two beasts exchange glances and break into grins, causing Aella to feel ominous with a pounding heartbeat.
Suddenly, the crimson bear leans in. "Is that your only requirement?" he asks confidently.
"O-Of course...?"
Ah! Why does he look so confident and sure about this?
That doesn't sound right at all!
For a moment she felt something wasn't right but brushed it off, not knowing she just shot her feet and dug her own grave.
"You... you can't negotiate with me about it! I will only marry a handsome bipedal male!" exclaimed the girl full of conviction.
"Alright, then. But there's really no need to compare. Trust me, I'm more handsome than my brother."
"Oh, of course! I knew it would be impossible and you can't do it—uh… Huuuuh?!"
Hand—what???
Her eyes popped open but soon her surprised expression turned awry.
She quickly muttered, "D-Don't get stirred, keep your head. Keep calm." immediately chanting narrowly saving herself from bellowing, "Great. Perhaps narcissism is prevalent even in the ranks of beasts." Aella glanced at them and shook her head with a wry expression.
"Y-Yeah. That should be it!"
Well, who would tell her?
As they say, to see is to believe. Even if you choke later and get angered to death after being slapped with reality.
And so begins Aella's adventure in Asteria—a place where myths and magic intertwine, where strength is wisdom, and muscle is the basis of beauty and honor.
Dive into this fantastical world, where desire ignites like a spell waiting to be cast!