The grand flames upon the altar gradually died down, leaving only dark-red chunks of charcoal and twisted snake bones still crackling as they gave off grayish-white smoke with an exotic fragrance. The fervent fire in the girl's eyes seemed to cool along with them, and she finally turned her full attention to the uninvited visitor.
Barefoot, she stepped across the warm ashes, silver bells chiming softly, and stopped several paces before him. Her gaze held scrutiny and a hint of amusement.
Amon gave a slight bow, his movements elegant and proper, in stark contrast to his somewhat bedraggled appearance.
Other than his relatively clean face, his clothes were soaked with large patches of congealed, blackened snake blood. A few tiny scales gleaming with a ghostly light still clung to them.
He smiled and said in a tone as casual as if discussing the weather:
"On my way here, I killed a few little snakes. I hope I haven't offended you."
The girl waved a hand casually. The layered silver bracelets around her wrist clinked together with a crisp, pleasant sound, matching her indifferent tone. "A pile of useless crawlers. The greatest value of their birth is serving as kindling for the ritual."
As she spoke, she stepped closer, nearly entering the faint bloody scent surrounding Amon, and asked in a soft voice almost like a whisper:
"Then... are you an envoy sent by her? Do you represent that Monarch's will?"
"In a sense, but not entirely." Amon shook his head, his expression open and composed. "Before coming here, I did not know of your existence. I merely happened to pass by... It is a great honor to witness such a beautiful dance and such a grand ritual."
He paused, his smile deepening as he added:
"Of course, I am even