Steth moved his tongue aside as he spoke: "I thought so. If I were foolish enough to release you again, I would give you a bit of advice. Instead, I'll end your life quickly." Setting Pyren down again, Steth wrapped his tail around the man and opened his mouth even wider. At this point he couldn't speak without sounding like the monster some thought he was. Quickly, he lowered himself over the trembling human man and extended his fangs, snapping down on his neck, crushing the bones and ripping skin and muscle, pulling the head from the man and swallowing it quickly.

It took a moment for Steth to be able to move again. He hid the body of Pyren in case some curious villager happened by, but when he could move again, he summoned a heat from within his body and incinerated Pyren's flesh, leaving only clean white bones behind, and with a quick whirlwind of air and water, cleaned the pool of blood left on the ground. As he sighed, content that he'd done away with at least part of the issue surrounding humans, Steth gathered up the bones and uprooted a bush stowed them there, replacing it just as one of the three other priests ran from the church. "M'lord Steth!" He skidded to a halt with a deep bow before the naga. "We've spoken about the new priest, and have a decision in mind."

"Well, what is it?" Steth asked. "Hopefully a good replacement?"

"Indeed, so we think. We would like you."

Steth laughed, almost turning his back and simply leaving the priest to whatever joke he were trying to pull off in light of recent events. "Me? Why would that be?"

"Well, you see, we were... hoping..." He paused, and sighed, regaining himself. "Pyren was a bit of a tyrant. He twisted the word of the Old God to suit his needs, or his views. You recall them so well, and would never try to take anything from us, or anyone else. We've worshiped you as long as we've been here, because you've always been on the mountain. You helped us when we needed it. Pyren decided on the sacrifice this season, no one else. And now that he isn't here anymore, you can change your image in the eyes of the villagers. We know you aren't a monster, the priests and I. And with you near, we no longer have to fear passage through the mountain, and perhaps life can be better." The young man smiled a bit as he spoke, as though already seeing the situation.

Steth studied the boy for a few moments. "I... will think about this. Spread the word to the rest of the village. When they see me coming back, tomorrow morning, I'll have an answer." With that, he turned and started off, back to Lyra and the unnamed naga. He was almost desperate to get back, in case the creature had died while he were off.

Evening had arrived with rain as Steth made it back up the mountain. Already a flood was coming down from the sky, and as he entered the warm confines of the cavern, his hair was plastered to his head and shoulders. The rumbling thunder dimmed as he moved deep into the mountain, and was met by Lyra's face looking through the door he'd left her and the young naga at. He shook his head. "Regrettably, Pyren's status of power had clogged his mind. I had to do away with him permanently. I don't regret what I did, but I do regret that it was your own uncle I had to kill."

He went around her, into the room, moving slowly to the warmed slab of stone. "Although now I've been approached to become the new... shall we call it priest? I think not..." He ran a hand over the forehead of the young naga, and the touch was met with a light hissing sound of breath forced through thin fangs. "The apprentices, I assume you call them, to Pyren, asked me to be the protector and deity of the village. I'm to return tomorrow and give my answer, but... I don't know what it is yet. I don't think I will know by then." He studied the naga's face for a moment, avoiding looking at Lyra. It would be nice to not be feared anymore. But it would give him quite a bit of responsibility. Though perhaps he'd be able to find those responsible for killing and stripping the naga race. Of course it would be more than Pyren. Perhaps he were one of the leaders, even, of the circle of murderers.

Steth finally glanced up to the girl. “The main difference between now and tomorrow is, when I give my answer, should I say yes, I will be obligated to visit the village more often. Today marks the first of many decades I’ve come within half a mile of the farmlands outside the village.” He paused and put his tongue between his teeth, almost biting it. He hurriedly continued: “Since I’ve pulled away the villagers themselves seem to be taking care of what they need. Excluding their most recent escapade. I fear that, if I become a permanent inclusion to their life, they’ll become reliant on me, as their ancestors once were.”

He put his head in his hand and sighed. “However, I have to assume their ability to handle themselves came from Pyren, or whomever captured this naga and began harvesting his scales. Perhaps they do still need a firm leader. One with a clear mind.” He nodded to himself and coiled his tail around him. “I’ve made a decision, Lyra. Tomorrow I go back to the village. This time you’ll be able to see your family again... If you want to accompany me.” He glanced up and managed to smile without showing his teeth. Steth’s fear that the younger naga would die had passed, because it was evident he was beginning to stabilize.

Steth nodded slowly. "Perhaps. It would be better to allow you to go on your own, though not immediately. I feel it best for you not to go on your own until you know the layout and animals of the mountain, and how to defend yourself against them. It might be a good idea to make a handheld weapon until you can control your power in the meantime..." He ran a hand over his hair. Each strand was stiff, the ends acting as sensory devices. Useful at night. He shook his head, focusing again.

"Anyway... I can let you do that. Later on, anyway. Before I feel it safe enough for you to go by yourself, I'll come along with you. It'd be best, I think, to gather some more... homely things when we go back tomorrow, don't you?" He indicated the cavern. "It's not really a comfortable place for a human to live, after all. And a bed of ivy only offers so much comfort in place of a real one, I'd assume."

He turned to the doorway. "I have a feeling that young naga will awaken within the next day. I'll go out to find a bit of food for him---and you." He twisted himself around, starting away. "Doesn't look like he's eaten in several months..." He muttered. The sight of a naga's ribs was a bad one---a sign of near-death starvation. There'd be small animals going about, and it was better to start the young one off small.