The nightmare of the serpent beast had left me shaken, and I knew I needed to find out more about it. I started my search in the small collection of books we had at home, hoping to find some clues.
I pulled book after book from the shelves, flipping through the pages quickly. There were stories of hunters, adventurers, and various creatures, but nothing about the serpent beast I had seen.
"There's nothing here about that serpent," I muttered to myself, frustration creeping into my voice. "It wasn't in the tales of creation either."
Just then, Silver jumped onto the table, her curious green eyes watching me. Storm and Shadow were playing with a piece of string nearby, oblivious to my search.
"I need to find out more, Silver. Maybe the village library will have something," I said, scratching her behind the ears.
I grabbed my satchel and headed out the door, determined to get answers. Zed met me on the way, his serious expression mirroring my own.
* * *
The village library was a quiet, peaceful place filled with rows of bookshelves and the faint smell of old paper. The librarian, an elderly woman with kind eyes and a gentle smile, greeted us as we entered.
"Good morning, boys. How can I help you today?" she asked, adjusting her spectacles.
"Good morning, ma'am. I'm looking for information on a serpent-like beast I saw in a dream. It's not in any of the books at home," I explained.
"Hmm, a serpent-like beast, you say? Let me see... I think we might have something in the encyclopedias of beasts," she replied, leading us to a section at the back of the library.
We found the encyclopedia of different beasts in the Land of Mu, a large, heavy tome with intricate illustrations and detailed descriptions. I carefully opened the book, my fingers trembling with anticipation.
"Here it is," I said, my eyes widening as I found the entry. "The basilisk."
"Basilisk? That sounds familiar," Zed said, leaning in to read with me.
The entry described the basilisk in detail, matching the serpent beast from my nightmare almost perfectly. It was known for its enormous size, dark iridescent scales, and piercing yellow eyes. The basilisk was highly territorial, cunning, and a master of ambush.
"This is it, Zed. This is the beast I saw," I said, my voice filled with a mix of fear and determination. "It says here that the basilisk is extremely dangerous and protective of its territory."
I continued to read, absorbing every detail about the basilisk. Its weaknesses, its habits, and how it could be defeated. The more I learned, the more determined I became to protect my village and loved ones from this threat.
"We need to be prepared. If the basilisk ever comes near the village, we have to know how to defend ourselves," I said, turning another page.
* * *
Time flew by as I studied the encyclopedia, my focus unbroken until Zed tapped me on the shoulder.
"Keyn, it's getting late. We should head home," he reminded me, his tone gentle but firm.
"You're right, Zed. Thanks for staying with me," I replied, closing the book reluctantly. "Let's go."
We thanked the librarian and left the library, the sun beginning to set as we walked back to the village. My mind was buzzing with everything I had learned, and I felt a newfound sense of determination.