Then, with a subtle shift, she turned her attention back to the white snake which was still coiled elegantly in the center of the circle.
Its violet eyes blinked slowly, intelligent, watching her as intently as she watched it.
"But right now," she said smoothly, redirecting the group's attention, "what really matters is this little one. Let's focus on Cass's summon. What do you all think it is?"
The barrage of questions about Astra's magic halted almost instantly as every gaze shifted back toward the creature.
Whispers broke out among the girls, their voices low and curious.
"It's beautiful…" Lora murmured softly, staring in fascination. "But also strange. I've never seen a snake like this before."
"Those eyes…" Melinda whispered, unease slipping into her voice. "It feels almost… alive in a way that's more than just animal."
The others subtly nodded in agreement.
There was something deeply unnatural about the serpent.
Not monstrous.
Not hostile.
Yet not ordinary either.
It carried itself with an indescribable presence as though it possessed awareness far greater than any beast should.
Cassia didn't care about any of that. Unable to suppress the excitement of succeeding in her first summon, she slowly stepped forward toward the creature.
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation and nervous curiosity as she cautiously approached the white snake.
"Let me try to get closer," she murmured, reaching out a tentative hand.
The instant she crossed a certain distance, The serpent moved.
Its previously relaxed body abruptly coiled tight with tension, slender muscles tightening beneath its gleaming scales. In one swift motion, its head rose high into the air, elegant yet threatening.
Its violet eyes sharpened instantly.
The once serene glow within them transformed into cold vigilance, gleaming like polished amethysts beneath moonlight.
Then–
Hissss— —
A low, chilling hiss escaped from its mouth.
The creature bared its fangs without hesitation.
Not just at Cassia, but at anyone else who dared to approach.
The oppressive hostility radiating from the tiny serpent caused the girls to instinctively stiffen.
Even Lora subtly reached toward the hilt of her sword.
Cassia immediately halted in place. The excitement that had filled her moments ago slowly faded, replaced instead by visible confusion
She stared blankly at the tiny white snake that continued glaring at her with unmistakable wariness.
"…Is it really my summoned beast?" she asked quietly, her voice filled with uncertainty. "I mean… I summoned it, but why does it act like it doesn't even recognize me? "
Her brows furrowed further as she glanced helplessly toward Astra.
"Isn't it said that summoned beasts are supposed to be quite obedient to their summoner…?"
A brief silence followed her words.
Lily tilted her head, eyes fixed on the coiled creature. "Well... It doesn't seem obedient in any way to me, though."
Cassia frowned, unease flickering behind her earlier excitement.
"But even if it's not obedient… it shouldn't be this hostile. Since I summoned it, it should at least be somewhat… responsive to me, right? In a positive way, of course."
"It's extremely hostile," Lora said cautiously, hand drifting toward the hilt at her waist. "Not just to Cassia—anyone who gets close."
Astra's eyes narrowed as she studied the snake's defensive posture.
"It's wary," she said after a moment. "Which means it's highly aware of its surroundings… and quite intelligent."
At those words, the others instinctively took another step back. The realization settled heavily over them.
This might not be some gentle familiar, but possibly a hostile beast.
Astra's gaze sharpened as she silently observed the snake's features. She searched her memory for any knowledge of this kind of creature.
Nothing familiar came to mind at first, no bestiary entry or tale matched exactly.
Then, a faint possibility surfaced.
Could it be… a Lunaris Serpent?
She had read about it once, barely more than a footnote in an old beast compendium.
The Lunaris Serpent is a lower-ranked beast. It has no notable abilities, no offensive magic, and posed no real danger. Its only unique trait was its glowing, translucent body that shimmered under moonlight.
It never grew beyond a certain size—always small, delicate, and considered more decorative than useful.
More like a pet than a partner.
[Beasts and familiars are categorized into twelve ranks: Low, Intermediate, Advanced, King, Emperor, Saint, Archon, Divine, Legendary, Mythical, Primordial, and Supreme.
Supreme beasts sat at the very peak of existence—spoken of only in ancient records and hushed stories. No one had truly seen one until now. Even if they had, they wouldn't remain alive to say it.
On the other hand, Low-ranked beasts were quite ordinary and extremely common.]
Astra wasn't sure this was a Lunaris Serpent, but the appearance matched—the white, almost transparent scales… the faint glow…
But that's where the similarities ended.
The creature before her radiated power. The pressure from earlier hadn't been an illusion and no Lunaris Serpent, no matter how rare, could possibly summon such a presence.
Just as Astra pondered this, the snake's violet eyes locked onto hers with sudden intensity. Slowly, it began to slither forward, gliding gracefully across the grass.
The girls stiffened instantly.
"What is it doing…?" Melinda murmured, voice tight.
Everyone's breath caught in surprise as the creature approached Astra, not with hostility, but with an unmistakable tenderness.
The once-hostile serpent slowly slithered towards Astra.
It didn't leap or strike but paused at her feet, lifting its head slightly before gently nudging against her leg.
Claire blinked, utterly bewildered. "It… seems to... like Her Highness?"
"But it wouldn't even let Cassia near it!" Lora added, still stunned.
"Isn't that her summoned beast though?" Ella asked sharply. "Why is it acting like that toward Her Highness?"
The snake ignored all of them.
Its slender body rose and coiled slightly upward, not in aggression, but as if trying to express something, something close to fondness.
Astra, sensing no hostility, gracefully crouched down.
Her movements were calm and unhurried as she extended a hand, lightly brushing her fingers across the top of its head.
To everyone's surprise, the snake didn't resist.
Instead, its eyes softened halfway shut as it leaned into her touch, still and quiet, like a creature finally exhaling after a long, exhausting search.
"…Is it letting her pet it?" Melinda whispered.
"That's not fair," Lora muttered under her breath. "It hissed at us."
The snake didn't seem to care.
It remained at Astra's side, basking in her touch, its pale body shimmering faintly like moonlight rippling across water.
Then—
"Ah—! Your Highness!" Cassia suddenly spoke up as realization struck her like a delayed spark.
She blinked, eyes widening as if she had just remembered something important.
"I read in one of the books you gave me… it said when a beast starts to cling to someone and shows clear signs of fondness, it means… it wants to become their familiar."
The garden fell silent for a heartbeat.
Then a wave of startled voices rose at once.
"Wait, what?!" Melinda blurted.
"It wants to contract with Her Highness?!" Lily exclaimed.
"But that's so rare!" Ella added quickly. "I thought someone could only bond with one beast!"
"How lucky do you have to be to get acknowledged by two beasts?" Lora muttered, half in disbelief, half in awe.
All eyes turned to Astra, who remained crouched, her fingers still resting lightly on the serpent's head. The creature gazed up at her with its amethyst eyes, unwavering and expectant.
Astra let out a slow sigh.
"I already have a familiar," she said evenly. "I don't need another one."
As if it understood her rejection immediately, the snake narrowed its eyes slightly and it pressed its body closer to her, nuzzling insistently against her arm.
It was practically begging.
Cassia stepped forward again, voice trembling with awe and urgency.
"But that's exactly why it's so strange!"
"Beasts normally won't try to bond with someone who already has a familiar. For one to insist like this… it's extremely rare!"
Lily said quickly, her voice filled with awe. "Since its insisting so much then why don't you just accept it, Your Highness?"
Astra turned her gaze down to the little creature, who now stared up at her with a near-hypnotic focus. Its body shimmered faintly beneath her touch, still gentle, still persistent.
She didn't speak immediately.
It's not impossible. It really must be a Lunaris Serpent… it does matches the records... At least partially. Just a harmless, delicate little thing. Also not very eye-catching. So, it should be fine.
She gently tapped the serpent's mouth with her finger.
Shadow might even appreciate a quiet little partner... right?
"...?"
The snake gave a pleased flick of its tongue, as if it understood the thought behind the gesture.
Just as Astra seemed to consider it seriously, Cassia's voice piped up again, this time softer, more cautious.
"But… Your Highness?"
Astra glanced up at her.
Cassia hesitated, then asked carefully, "If you form a contract with two normal beasts… what will you do in the future?"