Walker was awoken from his nap by something cold wrapping around his hand. Rubbing his eye with his opposite the blurry black form took shape.

A small black snake was curled around walkers left hand. It’s head not even the size of a gold coin. It’s black scales shimmered with a faint amount of light. It’s small forked tongue flicked in and out of its mouth and its gold eyes focused on walkers face.

Walkers spun his head to where the egg was to find only shells.

“You hatched!!” Walker let out an excited Yelp. He had been eagerly awaiting this little ones birthday. He could feel through their connection that the little black snake was cold and had decided to wrap itself in the warmest place which was walkers hand.

Walker was trying to contain his excitement as he slowly stood up. He didn’t want to frighten the little abyssal serpent. However it didn’t even flinch as it was comfortable being near walker. The blood contract had made a perfect connection. The serpent could feel walker intention and knew it was not in any danger. It could feel the warmth of the excitement in walker and was resting easy.

Walker went to collect the shell shards but seceded to use his skill first curious if he should just throw them out. Especially since the shell which had been black was not pure white which made him more curious.

‘ abyssal serpent egg shells

Once the abyssal serpent has hatched the energy within the shell is absorbed in to the newborn creature. The leftover shell can be used as a stabilizer in antidotal potions. It gives an enhancement to the potions ability to absorb poison due to its new lack in energy.’

“Huh interesting.” Walker mumbled out loud while mentally scolding himself for almost throwing something important away. He picked up the shell and brought it to the alchemy lab finding a place on a shelf so that it could be used at a later date.

Walker had an extra bounce in his step as he walked inside. All this excitement was invigorating. He knew Gil was away and Remey was at the orphanage. He didn’t want to interrupt Su and her family anymore today since they were celebrating Helena’s healing. His father was likely still out and distracting Lisa from her work could anger her. His mother had left to deliver some breads to the guild so she could get fresh air and out of the kitchen which was understandable. Walker thought in the very least he could head to the kitchen and show the little serpent it’s sister so it wouldn’t be afraid of midnight when she was awake and moving about.

Upon entering the kitchen the same grey and black whisks of energy were softly flowing around midnight scales. She was breathing slowly deep in slumber. Walker lifted his hand so the little serpent could see “that’s midnight, shes be your big sister. We found her in a forest and got her away from some dangerous people. She’s part of the family just like you are now.” As walker spoke he realized he hadn’t even thought of a proper name for the little serpent. Through his connection with it he could tell it was a male which made him happy because he’d never had a little brother only two little sisters Lisa and midnight.

“Hmm a name…venom?” The serpent recoiled a bit. “That’s a no…how about slithers?” More recoiling “another no…hmmm onyx?” Walker knew there was once a family with the onyx name but it had long merged with another and given up the name. The little serpent relaxed its slight coil and almost seemed to nod. Walker felt it was accepting this name. “Then onyx it is, my name is walker, that is midnight and you are onyx. Later I’ll introduce you to my sister Lisa, my mother Hilda, my father Garet….” walker began rambling about everyone the little serpent would meet in the mansion. It would be a big day.

As walker chatted in the kitchen Lisa who had grown hungry having skipped lunch to keep working found him on the floor talking to his hand like a nutcase. ” oh no my brother broke his mind!” Lisa was convinced Walker had gone crazy from training.

” Pfft boo I’m fine you’re the crazy one locking yourself away to work. I remember when you didn’t want to practice.” Walkers witty response was just as an older brother should. ” no I’m here talking to little onyx who just hatched today. Onyx this is my little sister Lisa, Lisa this is onyx our new little brother.”

Lisa did not expect a little black snake to be curled around her brothers hand and instantly became infatuated. “He’s sooooo cute and tiny!” Lisa carefully stretched a finger out to pet the top on onyx’s head. Onyx rubbed his head in to her finger obviously enjoying the warmth. Him and midnight would get along very well hanging out by the oven.

Lisa had known they found an egg as walker had explained it at dinner the night prior however she did not expect it to hatch so soon. For her it was almost like it happened in the blink of an eye. ” you’re going to have to be a good big sister and make sure you help me show him around the mansion.” Walker was just as excited but decided to let Lisa take the lead for the tour.

Springing up from the ground “I can do that! We can take a tour right now!” From that moment on the spent a whole hour touring the mansion telling onyx where everyone’s rooms were and what other rooms were used for. They even visited the library which seemed to peak onyx’s interest greatly. Maybe onyx was a bit like walker and craved knowledge. He had just hatched after all. Being in that dark egg for much longer than it should have before finally being able to meet the right conditions to be born in to the world. Walker made the mental decision to show onyx the world!