As you stood alone in the courtyard, a whisper warned of the Serpent of Shadows guarding the ancient well. The ground trembled beneath you as the beast slithered closer, its ominous hiss filling the air. Choosing to confront the creature head-on, you steeled yourself for the impending battle, ready to face the Serpent of Shadows with courage and determination. As you raise your sword, the Serpent of Shadows lunges at you with lightning speed, its scales glistening ominously in the moonlight. With a swift dodge, you manage to avoid its deadly strike, but the impact shatters the stones around you, creating a barrier between you and the exit.
Before you can catch your breath, the Serpent coils back, preparing for another attack. In that moment, a voice echoes through the courtyard, 'Stop this madness, brave one! I am Marzanna, the Guardian of Secrets, trapped within this beast's cursed form.' The revelation shakes you to the core, the realization dawning upon you that the Serpent of Shadows was once a protector turned monstrous by dark magic. Now faced with a choice that may shape the fate of both Marzanna and the village beyond, what will you do?