The Bag, the Eye, and the Deal

Arun's eyes blazed with unrestrained joy as he surged to his feet, the serpent's eye necklace catching the light like a trapped flame. His fingers trembled—not with fear, but with the raw emotion of receiving his first true gift from a friend.

"What a ferocious-looking piece," he breathed, his voice thick with wonder as the silver chain settled against his throat. The serpent's eye seemed to pulse with dormant malice, its surface scarred by ancient hunts. "Does this eye truly come from the beast itself?"

The modest silver felt weightless compared to the crushing loneliness he'd carried for years. Monetary value meant nothing—this was friendship forged in metal and memory. His mind already raced with possibilities: his father's enchantments could transform this symbol into something far more potent, something worthy of the bond it represented.