I continued cultivating for some time, keeping my breathing slow and steady as I guided the flow of energy through my body. Even with Camose wrapped around my hand, its small weight and occasional movement pressing against my focus, I forced myself to remain composed. I drew in the surrounding nature energy little by little, directing it along its path and letting it settle where it belonged.
Gradually, the familiar calm returned.
After a while, I opened my eyes and released a slow breath, allowing the gathered energy to stabilize within me.
My gaze lowered to my hand.
Camose was still there. Its small body remained loosely coiled around my arm, shifting slightly in slow, idle movements. There was no tension in the way it held on, only a quiet ease, as if it had already accepted that this was where it belonged. It looked completely comfortable.
I let out a quiet breath, my eyes still lingering on the small creature coiled around my hand.
"Charlie," I called.
A moment later, he stepped in from the adjoining space, his posture as composed as ever. "Yes, young master?"
I lifted my hand slightly, drawing his attention to Camose, then looked back at him. "I think we will have to practice like this. We do not have any other choice."
Charlie's gaze shifted to the little snake. He observed it for a brief moment, taking in the way it remained comfortably wrapped around me, before giving a small, understanding nod.
"Understood, young master."
We stepped outside and made our way toward the usual training area near the pond. The morning air was calm and cool, carrying a faint freshness that lingered from the night. The surface of the water lay still, reflecting the soft light of the early sun in gentle ripples. It was a familiar place, one we had returned to countless times for practice, and the quiet surroundings helped steady my focus.
Charlie moved ahead and took his position across from me, standing at a measured distance as he always did.
I stepped into my usual spot and adjusted my stance, grounding my footing firmly. My left hand lifted slightly in preparation, fingers relaxed but ready. Camose remained coiled around my arm, its small body resting comfortably, its head still and quiet as if observing everything without interfering.
"Are you ready, young master?" Charlie asked, his voice steady as he fixed his attention on me.
"Yes," I replied, tightening my focus.
Without hesitation, Charlie raised his hand and formed a small fire shot in his palm. The flame flickered briefly, gathering into a compact sphere before he released it toward me.
I reacted instantly.
My left hand rose, and I focused, drawing the energy forward. A translucent shield formed in front of me just as the fire reached striking distance. The flame collided with the barrier, and for a brief moment, the two forces pressed against each other.
Then both dissolved.
The fire scattered into faint sparks, and the shield rippled once before fading into nothing, leaving the air between us clear once again.
At the sudden movement, Camose stirred.
Its small head lifted slightly, the calm stillness in its posture shifting as its attention turned forward, following the direction of the attack.
Charlie did not pause. He formed another fire shot, this time lowering his aim before releasing it toward my leg.
I adjusted instantly.
My focus shifted downward, and I formed another shield in front of my leg. The translucent barrier appeared just in time, intercepting the incoming fire. The flame struck it directly and, as before, both the fire and the shield dissolved into nothing.
But in that brief moment of concentration, I overlooked something important.
The weight around my arm was gone.
As I steadied myself for the next attack, my gaze remained fixed ahead, anticipating the familiar flicker of another fire shot forming in Charlie's hand. My focus was sharp, my body ready to respond.
But something felt off.
A subtle shift in the scene pulled my attention away. My eyes moved forward, and instead of the expected attack, something else caught my sight.
Camose.
It was no longer on my hand.
The small snake had already slipped away without me noticing, its pale body gliding swiftly across the ground. It was already halfway between us, moving directly toward Charlie with alarming speed.
My eyes widened as the realization struck.
I instinctively glanced down at my arm, as if hoping I had been mistaken.
It was empty.
"Camose!" I shouted. But the warning came too late.
The little snake had already reached Charlie. In a swift, fluid motion, it launched itself forward, its small body striking with surprising speed. Its mouth opened wide as it lunged, a sharp hiss cutting through the air as it aimed to bite.
I reacted immediately.
Focusing sharply, I pushed the energy forward and formed a shield directly in front of Charlie. The translucent barrier appeared at the last possible moment, intercepting Camose's strike. The small snake collided against it and was knocked back onto the ground.
But it did not retreat.
The moment it landed, it coiled tightly and lunged again, its movements quick and aggressive. A sharp hiss escaped from it as it struck the barrier once more. Again and again, it hurled itself at the shield, trying to break through, its small body driven by fierce intent despite its size.
I rushed forward while maintaining control of the shield, keeping it steady between Camose and Charlie as I closed the distance.
"Camose, stop!" I called out.
In a few quick steps, I reached it and bent down, carefully scooping it up. I held it firmly enough to restrain it, yet gently enough to avoid causing harm. Its small body was tense in my grasp, coils drawn tight, its head still turning toward Charlie with clear agitation.
I began to stroke its head softly with my thumb. "Calm down, Camose," I said in a steady voice.
At the same time, I released my focus on the shield. The translucent barrier flickered once before dissolving completely, leaving the space between us clear again.
But Camose did not calm down right away.
Its small body remained tense in my hands, the coils tight and unyielding. A low hiss continued to escape from it, steady and warning. Its head stayed turned toward Charlie, its golden eyes fixed on him as if it still perceived him as a threat.
Charlie took a cautious step back, keeping his movements slow and non-threatening as he observed the situation.
"Young master," he said carefully, "I think it misunderstood our practice. It must have thought I was attacking you."
I considered that for a moment and then nodded slowly.
"That makes sense."
Lowering my gaze, I looked at the small snake still coiled in my hands, its body still tense despite my attempts to calm it.
"Let us stop for now," I said. "We will continue later. You go inside. I will calm it down."
Charlie gave a respectful nod. "Yes, young master."
He turned without another word and walked back toward the house, leaving us alone by the pond.
I remained where I stood, holding Camose carefully in my hands. With slow, steady movements, I continued to stroke its head, my thumb brushing gently along its smooth scales. I kept my voice soft and calm, trying to reassure it.
"Calm down… it is alright…"
For a while, there was no change.
Its body stayed tense, its coils firm, as if it was still prepared to strike at any moment. The faint hiss lingered, low and persistent.
But gradually, as Charlie's presence faded and he disappeared from view, something shifted.
The tension began to ease. The tight coils loosened little by little, and the hissing slowly faded until it stopped completely.
Slowly, it began to move again.
Its small body slid from my hands and made its way upward, coiling around my arm before continuing toward my shoulders. With familiar ease, it wrapped itself around my neck once more, settling there as if that place belonged to it.
I let out a small breath, the last of the tension leaving me, and a faint smile formed on my face.
"You do not have to worry about me," I said quietly. "He is family. He will not hurt me."
Camose remained still, its presence calm now, no trace of the earlier agitation left in its movements. Its golden eyes shifted slowly as it looked around, taking in the surroundings with quiet awareness.
I watched it for a moment, studying its expression. A thought lingered in my mind.
Did it even understand what I said?