The Last Serpent: Part I

This is a story based on various legends of Ireland, especially those found in the Libellus de Fundacione Ecclesie Consecrati Petri, an ancient manuscript written by Irish monks living in Regensburg, Germany. It also acts as a prelude to our upcoming comic book that will be released later this year.

Here below is part 1, with the remaining parts to be released every other week.

A long time ago on the emerald isle of Erin, there lived a holy man who was known by all as a miracle-worker. People near and far came to him, seeking his intercession in hopes that the triune God would be merciful to them and grant their petition.

His name was Patrick and for decades he traveled from coast to coast, allowing God to work through him as a humble instrument. Yet, he was not always kindly received and there remained areas of the land where local magicians actively worked against his preaching and continued to worship pagan deities while practicing a dark and unholy magic.

One Sunday afternoon during the holy season of Lent, Patrick was in the midst of prayer when he saw a great darkness move over the south-western coast of the island. What exactly it was, he did not know, but he knew he must investigate and expel it.  Gathering his assistants, he set out on foot to discover the source of this new evil.

After several days of travel, Patrick drew close to a village near an ancient place of pagan ritual. Almost immediately he saw a man running out from one of the circle huts. The man was running straight for Patrick with sword in hand.

Patrick stopped with his shepherd’s crook and motioned backwards to tell the priests and deacons to stay behind. He would handle this himself.

Stepping forward Patrick shouted to the man, “The Lord be with you! Put down your weapon! I come in the peace of the triune God!”

The man continued sprinting and did not lay aside his sword. Then Patrick noticed his face was clearly troubled and looked more afraid than fierce. He came within a few paces of Patrick and then kneeled down in front of him.

Gasping for breath the man looked up at Patrick and asked, “Are you the miracle-worker that we prayed for? The one who casts out snakes and dragons? We need you NOW!”

“What is it?”

“Come with me and I will show you the hideous serpent we are fighting against!”

Rising to his feet, the man beckoned Patrick to follow with him. The two raced through the small village and up to the top of a great hill nearby. A short distance away Patrick saw a most terrible scene.

In the valley below a small company of warriors were fighting a massive beast on the shores of a long lake. The unholy creature was as black as midnight before the noonday sun. Its long tail was twice the size of its body and the entire beast was covered in rough scales that deflected any weapon. On the crown of its head were six horns and inside its mouth contained rows of razor sharp teeth. At times it would use its great wings to fly above the heads of the warriors to taunt them and display its might.

The group of men in front of the beast were darting here and there, hopelessly trying to inflict any type of damage to their formidable foe.

Past the serpent in the distance Patrick noticed a cloaked figure running to the top of the opposite hill. Was that the magician he had heard so much about? What kind of fell beast did he conjure up this time?

Coming back to the scene before him Patrick held out his worn and weathered shepherd’s crook and called out to the beast in a loud voice, “Be gone accursed one! Go back to the shadows from whence you came!”

The black beast stopped immediately and looked up at Patrick. Snarling it flew up the hill towards him as fast as it could. Patrick held out his staff again, while also holding a bronze crucifix in his other hand and proclaimed, “Behold, the Holy Cross is my light! By the power of the Most High I cast you away from here into the sea!”

Suddenly a beam of resplendent light shot out of the crucifix and passed through the scales of the monster. The beast reeled backwards and like a whimpering dog, flew to the opposite hill.

Overjoyed the man standing next to him said, “Thanks be to your triune God! You have done it! You saved our village!”

Patrick replied, “This only the beginning. Let us pursue this beast and make sure it and its master do not come back to plague this land ever again!”

Check back for Part II on February 4.

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