Tai woke up, his body heavy and disoriented. His vision blurred as he scanned the room, slowly focusing on the familiar faces of Sai and Shi standing by his side. He could feel the weight of their gazes, but his mind was elsewhere, overwhelmed by the memories flooding back into his consciousness.
He sat up abruptly, his heart racing. The memories of the tournament came crashing down—vivid, unsettling images of the man he had killed. His breathing quickened, and his pulse thudded in his ears as he recalled the moment when everything went wrong. He had lost control. His body had transformed into something monstrous, and in that frenzy, a life had been taken. A life he never intended to end.
His tail, still coiled around him, twitched with an instinctive urgency. Without thinking, Tai pushed himself up and leaped from where he had been lying. His form was still that of the beast, his tail strong and agile, propelling him forward. He had to leave. He had to go back to the one place he knew would give him answers—the Snake Kingdom. His father would not forgive him for what he had done, but Tai was determined to confront him. He knew the consequences, but he could not ignore the pull to face his destiny.
"Tai, wait!" Sai's voice called after him, a note of desperation in his words.
"Tai!" Shi's voice followed, filled with urgency. But Tai was already too far ahead, running at full speed toward the kingdom he had once called home.
Sai turned to Shi, his brow furrowed with concern. "Where is he going?"
Shi sighed, his expression grim. "Back to his kingdom."
Sai clenched his fists. "We need to go after him. We can't let him face his father alone."
Shi nodded reluctantly. "Fine, but remember, we do not attack at the Snake Kingdom. We cannot risk provoking the King of Snakes."
Sai hesitated but ultimately agreed, knowing the risks of angering Zarathiss, Tai's father. The King of Snakes, a tyrant who ruled with cruelty and venom, was not to be underestimated. Still, he couldn't ignore the pain and turmoil he saw in Tai's eyes. The boy needed help, and Sai was determined to provide it.
Meanwhile, in the Snake Kingdom, Seraphina, the Snake Queen, stood atop a high tower, gazing out at the horizon. Her emerald eyes, once filled with pride and determination, now held a deep sorrow. She had watched Tai grow, her son, her legacy. But her heart was heavy with the weight of his actions. She knew that the war with her husband, Zarathiss, had taken a toll on them both. Yet, nothing could have prepared her for the pain of seeing her own son struggle with his identity and his place in a world tainted by violence.
As she looked up at the sky, her sharp eyes caught sight of a familiar figure descending from the clouds. Tai. He had returned, and his presence sent a shockwave of disbelief through her. Tai landed gracefully in front of her, his serpentine form glowing under the dim light of the evening. But this time, something was different. His eyes, once filled with hope and ambition, were clouded with regret and shame.
"Mother," Tai said, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm sorry."
Seraphina's heart sank as she gazed at her son. "Sorry? For what, Tai?" she asked, her voice gentle but confused.
Tai lowered his gaze, his expression tormented. "I promised you that I would never take a life," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "But I broke that promise. I killed a man."
Seraphina's eyes widened in shock. "What? How could you... Tai, tell me everything."
Tai took a deep breath, his tail twitching nervously behind him. "I joined the martial tournament, the one where warriors from all over come to prove their strength. I made it to the second round, but the opponent I faced... he was stronger, faster, smarter. He almost killed me. He said terrible things to me, insulted everything I cared about, and I... I lost control. In that moment, I couldn't stop myself. I didn't mean to, but... I killed him."
Seraphina felt a pang of sorrow for her son. She stepped closer to him, her eyes softening with understanding. "Tai, my son... it was not you who killed him. He killed himself. You lost control because of him, but the responsibility lies with him, not you. The anger he stirred within you caused you to lose control, but that is not your fault."
Tai's eyes filled with tears as he looked up at his mother. "But I promised you I would never take a life. I failed you. I failed myself."
Seraphina placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You did not fail. We all have moments of weakness, moments where we lose our way. What matters now is how you move forward. You cannot change the past, but you can choose to do better in the future. You are not your father, Tai. You are not Zarathiss."
Tai looked at her, his heart heavy with guilt but also with a glimmer of hope. "I don't want to be like him," he whispered.
Seraphina smiled softly, brushing a lock of hair from his face. "I know, my son. And you never will be."