Skales x Pythor: My Loyal Number Two

Chapter 11: Secret lair

Skales looked shocked at Pythor, who seemed entertained by his surprise.

"After you," Pythor said, gesturing for Skales to go in.

The Hypnobrai was unsure, but he couldn't help but be curious about what Pythor was leading him to. With that, Skales went over to the entrance and jumped in. There was a short fall, but otherwise, the ground was flat and sturdy. Ahead, he could see that the light he had seen outside was in fact torches, stretching down the tunnel.

As he started slithering forward, a sound from outside caught his attention.

"*AHEM*!" Pythor loudly uttered.

Skales could already guess what the Anacondrai wanted. He rolled his eyes and went back to the entrance. He stretched his arm out apathetically, with Pythor taking it and using him as support as he descended.

"Remind me to teach you some manners in the near future, hm?" He commented with a teasing smile, before slithering down the tunnel.

After their argument at the Fire Temple. Things hadn't exactly been the same between them. Or rather, Skales felt so. The few times they were alone, Pythor would still make comments to him and say sweet things. He even still called him to his chamber a few times, and the Hypnobrai accepted the invitation each time, but Skales had stopped doing it on his own. Even if things seemed fine on the surface, he felt an underlying tension. His mistake still hung heavy on his head, and he imagined that Pythor hadn't forgotten about it, not yet. But for some reason, it was as if Pythor wanted to act like it didn't happen. Skales could barely even guess what was going on inside the Anacondrai's head, let alone his reasons for doing so. Which perhaps was why he felt so compelled by him.

"You must excuse the architecture, this tunnel is still due for some renovations," Pythor explained, as he led Skales through the tunnel. "The ones connected to the tombs are far more superior, not to speak of, less cramped."

Pythor looked with apprehension at the walls of the tight tunnel. There was barely room for two Seprentine to go through it, side by side. But in reality, the rocky and sharp walls meant only one could go through, with the rest going behind them.

"Wait, did you sssay thisss was connected to the tombsss?" Skales muttered as the sheer scale of Pythor's 'little' project started dawning on him.

"Indeed, yes. But wait a moment, and then all shall be clear, I assure you."

With that, they continued to go down the tunnel, silently. Contrary to Pythor's claim, it took a little longer than a moment. At first, it went downwards for a while, before the curve became flatter. Soon enough it straightened out and they went in a straight line, for what felt like miles. In the end, Skales was rather interested in where it was leading.

His wish was granted, as they finally reached the end of the tunnel. He was first met by a myriad of voices echoing through the tunnel. Then a greenish light became clear on the other end. As they slithered to the end, the sight Skales was met with was awe-striking. What he saw was a giant underground room, which seemed to be a few hundred meters tall. Its shape was round and tightened the further up it went. Skales could see that along the walls were several entrances to tunnels like the one they were in. Though most were much wider and lightened by green lamps in the ceiling. The tunnels were connected to the ground floor by a path that went around the room, carved into the walls.

All around there were Serpentine, the ones that Skales had thought disappeared. Most were just standing about on the ground floor, but a few were seen hauling mining equipment in and out of the tunnels.

"Construction is still underway, but it shouldn't be long before our new base of operations is finished!" Pythor explained with a prideful tone, as he looked over his work.