I’ve lived my whole life in the shadows of this village—unseen, unheard, unwanted. No one knows my name. To them, I’m nothing but a ghost, slipping through the streets to steal what I need to survive. Being a thief isn’t a choice; it’s the only way I can eat.

But when night fell and the world went silent, I’d pull out my flute and play. That music was mine alone, a small comfort in a lonely life.

One evening, the old storyteller came to the tavern, his voice low and filled with wonder. He told of a golden female cobra, enormous and radiant, hidden deep in the desert. They say if you play your music just right, it will appear—and if you please it, it will transform into a human and grant your deepest wish.

I didn’t fully believe the tale, but a tiny spark of hope ignited inside me. Before dawn, I slipped away, clutching my flute, determined to find that cobra.

The desert stretched before me like an endless sea of sand, scorching by day, freezing by night. I walked for hours, my feet sinking with every step, but I didn’t stop... After hours in the harsh desert, I finally saw it—half-buried in the dunes, the crumbling remains of an ancient pyramid. Its stone walls were weathered and cracked, but the serpent carvings winding up its sides told me this was the place.

I squeezed through a narrow gap in the broken entrance. I moved deeper inside until I reach the large chambers and then I saw it—a huge golden cobra, its eyes burning like fire. Fear gripped me, but I raised my flute and played.

The melody trembled at first, but grew steady, weaving through the desert air. The notes floated, soft at first, then stronger, weaving a melody I hoped would calm the great beast.

The cobra’s fierce gaze softened. It lowered its hood, swaying gently, submitting to the music. Slowly, scales shimmered and shifted, the massive snake shrinking and changing shape until before me stood a tall, graceful woman with golden eyes that held ancient secrets... I was so captivated

I stood frozen, my lips parted, eyes wide in disbelief... She's majestic "Y-You're really real..." I said in awe.