Chapter 133: I Want You As A Surrogate-Mother!
Tessa observed the creature with a mixture of awe and trepidation. Its tendrils, stretching out like roots yet brimming with strange, pulsating life, held her attention. She was fascinated by how this being, resembling a Niöhöggr from legend, might store its seeds in such an odd place. Was it asking her to carry its offspring? To somehow nurture and raise it as her own? The thought unsettled her, yet a hint of curiosity stirred within.
"Does it want me to be a... surrogate? To take on the burden of its legacy?" she pondered, her brow furrowing as she tried to decipher the creature's intentions.
Anwari, sensing her hesitance, let out a low hum that vibrated through the air, filling the space with a strange, melodic resonance. "We are creatures bound by loyalty," it began, its voice like the rustling of ancient leaves. "Our debts are eternal, our grudges longer still. Should you accept this responsibility and take my seeds, nurture them until even one reaches maturity... I can offer you more than mere gratitude. I offer a bond, a formidable ally who would enhance your strength in every battle that awaits you, my descendant would serve you as a loyal soldier, as long as you treat it right."
Tessa's gaze remained steady, yet her mind raced with questions. The creature's promise tempted her, but the risks lingered, whispering doubt into her mind.
Then, Adrian stepped forward, his expression guarded but probing. "And what of its loyalty?" he asked, voice edged with caution. "What if your offspring, after being nurtured and raised, carries your grudges instead of loyalty? You've said yourself, you never forget a slight."
Anwari's tendrils twitched, betraying its discomfort. It had not anticipated such a direct question. Yet it composed itself, a flicker of determination hardening its expression. "Once bonded, my kin will recognize you as their own. They would see you as a mother, their loyalty pledged to you alone."
Adrian's gaze shifted to Tessa, concern etched across his face. A silent conversation passed between them, an unspoken exchange of fears, hopes, and the undeniable pull of the unknown. This choice, they both realized, could change everything.
""What about the blood issue?" Tessa's voice was firm, her gaze unwavering. "You mentioned that your kind needs blood to survive, and if your offspring inherit that hunger, who's to say they won't turn on innocent people? How can we trust that they won't become a threat?"
The Niöhöggr-like creature, mighty and ancient, regarded her with something akin to admiration. It was as though Tessa's caution reminded it of a meticulous lawyer, one who dissected every word with care, prying for any hidden dangers. Anwari exhaled deeply, the sound echoing like a hollow wind through an ancient forest. It understood that this was the crux—the defining question that would decide whether Tessa would accept its proposal or walk away.
"Blood is indeed central to our being," it began slowly, each word carrying the weight of its age-old existence. "We are born with an acute sensitivity to blood—its strength, its essence. The mightier the creature whose blood we consume, the stronger we become, evolving to greater versions of ourselves. In my youth, I had no one to guide me. I obeyed only the raw urges that pulsed within me." Anwari's eyes held Tessa's. "But it does not have to be that way for my offspring. If you choose to guide them, to nurture them on a specific source—say, animal blood—they would bond to that choice. Yes, it would limit their strength, but it would also temper their instincts. I promise you… even if you fed them human blood, they would never turn on you. They would be bound by loyalty."
Tessa and Adrian exchanged a glance, doubt flickering in their eyes. Anwari's words held promises that sounded all too convenient, too well-tailored to fit their concerns.
"So let me get this straight," Adrian interjected, his voice laced with skepticism. "You're asking us to raise what's essentially a predator among those who would be its prey. You want us to feed this predator raw meat and expect it to develop the loyalty of a household pet? You want us to nurture it as if it were our own and somehow believe it will form that deep, instinctual bond—one it's never naturally known?" His tone was calm, almost clinical, tracing the logical fault lines in Anwari's appeal.
Anwari's eyes narrowed, sensing the underlying disbelief, yet it pressed on, its tone softer now. "I know it sounds far-fetched, but my kind are not mindless beasts. We understand bonds when they are forged with intent. If you nurture one of my kin, if you show it the path to tread, it will follow—loyalty woven into its very core."
Yet Tessa remained uncertain. She could sense the gravity of this decision pulling at her, the possibilities veering toward danger or strength, trust or betrayal. She and Adrian exchanged another silent look, a wordless question hanging between them. Could they really nurture this creature and hope to tame the very instincts it was born with?
Tessa's gaze steadied on Anwari, her own blue eyes reflecting the depth of her doubts. "One last question," she said, her voice firm but low. "How do we even begin to tackle the one-in-eighty survival rate for your kind? It seems... improbable."
Anwari's form seemed to waver, the flicker of tension betraying its unease. This was the hardest truth, the crux of the deal it feared would push Tessa away. The creature inhaled deeply, as though gathering the strength to reveal what it had kept hidden.
"My mother was a Niöhöggr, which is why I took this form and look as I do…" Anwari began, pausing as if to let the weight of its next words settle. "But it doesn't have to be this way for my kin. If you raise my offspring as their mother, they would emerge in human form. They would mirror you. You, after-all are Kaelrian; and also the result of the bond between two great Kaelrian beings, the sun god and the moon goddess, our roots share a common source. If they come to life within you, they will bond to you, taking on your essence. My kind reflects the vessel from which we emerge."
Tessa's eyes widened, realization dawning even as unease churned within her. "You're saying… if I carry the seed, it will become human?"
Anwari nodded, its gaze never leaving hers. "Yes. To do that, you would swallow the seeds, and in time, one would find life within you… would grow as your own."
But before it could continue, Adrian exploded, his voice sharp and furious. "You insane, conniving creature!" He stepped forward, practically seething. "You want her to carry the child of an oversized octopus and expect me to stand by while you treat her like a surrogate?"
The sheer absurdity of the request pushed Adrian to the edge, his protectiveness igniting into anger. Tessa placed a hand on his arm, a quiet plea for restraint, even as her own mind reeled. The stakes had transformed, and what lay ahead demanded an answer far beyond anything they had imagined.