"Can we help you?" Orlo asked the group, completely keeping their calm.

"Yes you may, we would like to ask your group about the destruction of a dungeon." One of the Seekers said.

I looked behind us just to ensure that the dungeon was still there and not crumbling away. The ironic part was that the actual translation point between the real world and the dungeon was maybe 40 feet into the cave just behind us.

"That is a rather serious accusation, would you have proof?" Orlo asked.

"We have witness testimony of a mana reordering by multiple trusted sources. This is enough to interrogate any person we see fit." The lead Seeker said.

"Whatever happens don't get violent, I don't want blood to be spilled over this…" I whispered, knowing only Root and Turnip would hear in our group.

"Nicole, what are you doing?" Root whispered back.

"Something very stupid no doubt." I whispered back.

I then stepped forward in front of my group by a few paces.

"Umm hello again." I said to the Seekers in front of me. The leader nodded his head in reply.

"Are the others aware of my origins?" I asked.

"Those that needed to know were informed." The lead Seeker said.

"Alright so what is your interest in our group?" I asked.

I at least felt a little bit more sure about myself this time, I wasn't high off my ass on some weird drug cocktail.

"Again we are investigating the destruction of a Dungeon. Were you involved in the destruction of a Dungeon?" He asked.

I let out a long sigh.

"Yes" I said, which they were a little surprised at someone admitting to.

"It was not for personal gain." I added while they collected themselves.

"Then you best explain yourself." He said.

"It was the reason why I was brought here." I said.

"That is an incredible claim. How do you expect to prove that?" He asked.

"Honestly I can't I have no control over what the world or system or whatever that is tells me to do." I said.

"So your defense is that the would told you to destroy a dungeon?" He asked.

"Yes" I said.

"I was told by the quest that if I did not destroy the core the evil invading it would destroy the world." I said, it was admittedly a bit of a paraphrase but that was how I understood it.

The other three Seekers didn't know what to make of that response. They seemed a bit nervous however as I don't think they knew how to handle the situation precisely.

"You believe you speak the truth and nothing more. What other evidence do you have to defend this claim?" He asked.

This demeanor told me he was a zealot within his beliefs. He saw me as a disease that needed to be removed because of what I had done.

"Would others that were aware of this be enough proof?" I asked.

"That would depend on their character." He said.

"This guy is really starting to get to me…" I heard Root say and Turnip agreed.

"Alright and a demonstration of an unusual skill?" I asked.

"It… could help in the argument." He said grudgingly.

"This is going to feel super weird..." I whispered to my friends.

Then I changed one arm to look like a Kobolt's and the other to look like a Harpy's.

"Have you ever seen a skill that allows one to change their body?" I asked.

His eyes widened in shock as he looked at the transformation.

"Is it an illusion of some kind?" He asked, turning to another Seeker.

"No, I could see the flow in her body, the feather and scales are her." The other said in astonishment.

"I got this skill through the world as a reward for destroying a core. A core that was infected by an invasive root." I said.

"The feathers are me, the scales are me. The talons, claws, muscle, fat, blood, and bone are all me." I said.

I paused for a moment to let them take it in.

"So do you believe me now?" I asked.

"What are you?" The leader asked in a whisper.

I thought for a moment.

"I am me I guess." I said with just a hint of sarcasm attached to the reply.

"Are you done bothering our friend and companion?" Root asked.

The lead Seeker paused for a moment to think. They seemed to be having an internal debate.

"Very well… we are not done with this discussion. Find us back at town tomorrow, we will be at the same inn you have used previously. If you do not show then we will be forced to hunt you down." He said, then indicated to the entire troop to follow him.

After there group got some distance I let out a relieved sigh.

"I guess I get to live another day… sorry for taking such a risk." I said as I turned to the group.

"A necessary risk this time." Root said.

"That could have gone far worse… by the way just so you know we would not have let them do anything to you." Turnip said.

"I know, and I love this group for it." I said with tears in my eyes.

I paused to take it all in for just a moment. Then I took a deep breath to collect myself.

"Hey Orlo, how the hell do you deal with the feathers? They are all stuck in my shirt sleeve." I said.

That completely took the group back, I think they were expecting something more profound.

"This is why Harpy fashion does not do sleeves. Also please change your arm back, I unlike Iser do not find it particularly attractive… it looks weird." They said.

"Actually wait a second, I need to see your arm." They said after a second.

"Here and now? Can't we wait to get to the Inn?" I said a bit embarrassed "I would have to almost completely undress my upper half to get it out of my old leather armor." which I still had parts of it on.

"It would take me 5 seconds to check something." They said, then found an exposed feather and yanked it out.

"Ouch… that stings." I said rubbing the spot.

"Oh so it's not just an illusion." They said in surprise.

"Wait, you thought this was still some sort of illusion?" I asked.

"Well something to that effect." They said, then looked at the feather they just plucked. They then from a very similar spot on there person pulled a feather as well and compared.

"Alright, who wants to tell me who's feather is who's?" They asked, then paused for a second. "That sounded far odder to me than it should have."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Turnip, then Iser, then everyone else took a close look at the two feathers.

"I can't tell the difference." I finally said.

"Yes because I think you are mimicking me." They said with a squawk.

"Well that explains why it's so soft and warm." I said as a form of retaliation.

"I… thank you… I think…" they said in a somewhat confused state.

"Why don't you think of it like your sister's arm than if that helps? I would imagine feathers from different family members would be similar." I said.

"Well… dammit you're even odder than Iser and Lluvia combined." They said.

"Alright everyone settle down let's get back to town… I want to sleep in a real bed tonight." Root said.

The trip back and renting rooms was uneventful. We all got a hot meal from the Inns kitchen which was amazing compared to what we had been eating the last 2 days. Unfortunately none of us were still allowed to drink because we were on high alert due to the Seekers.

I wanted to spend some alone time with Iser, at first I was a bit worried how Lluvia might react but within 5 minutes she found some man from the bar.

It did not take long for Iser and myself to get a room for ourselves.

“It’s been a crazy two days…” I said to him.

“It has, we still need to have a talk about what you did with that bomb…” he said, sternly if not unkindly.

“I know… but that’s tomorrow's problem.” I said, he hummed in acceptance.

We spent the next several minutes just enjoying the privacy of the moment.

"So we finally have some alone time." I said to Iser.

I had my back pressed up to him and he had his jaw resting on my shoulder, arms wrapped around my waist.

"Your scent is very pleasant, if a little mild." He said.

In response I changed my neck and shoulders to scales of fire red. Iser took a deep inhale of breath a moment after the change.

"That… more please…." He said as he started to sniff and nuzzle my neck. It felt both pleasant and sort of tickled.

I let the scales go down to just above my nipples. It was all very pleasant and warm and nice. Even with scales his body felt amazing pressed against mine. Also being horny as hell helped.

Then something in Iser sort of flipped, one moment he was sniffing and tickling me then the next he was biting me where my neck joined the shoulder. For a brief flash of panic I was expecting pain but instead I felt arousal building up in me.

He seemed to snap out of it for a moment, still in a somewhat trace-like state.

"I… am sorry… your smell… your blood… sweet… alluring……. Intoxicating…. Can stop if you want me." He said haltingly.

I was taking ragged breaths myself.

"Ohhh… you started this…. We just need a safe word I think." I said.

"Noooo… you need to understand…." He said. He was breathing heavily and shaking.

"What is it?" I asked as I turned in his embrace.

"My race… becomes… animalistic… no control… no stopping…. You would need to fight me off…" He said.

"Wait… you're serious? Higher order thought goes out the window?" I asked.

"Yes, it happens to both sexes… female comes out first more often… may need to defend herself if unwilling." He said clearly coming down from some sort of state.

"That's… wow…. Biology sucks sometimes…" I said.

"Yes… most interspecies relationships do not last very long due to incompatibility. Females can become very demanding during state as well. Hard on relationships for both sexes." He said. He was becoming much more level headed.

"Well we can spend some time coming up with a solution." I said.

"Several solutions do exist. One have drugs on hand to knock out the individual in question. Obviously not a safe solution." He said.

"Well maybe I can make myself tougher with my abilities." I said.

"Not uncommon from what I have heard but still difficult." He said.

"We will figure out something." I said kindly and pulled him into my embrace. He immediately relaxed.

"Thank you, for your understanding. I almost let myself fall too far into the animalistic side… if I had… I am sorry I should have said something sooner." He said and was shaking in my embrace.

WARNING: This section contains material of an explicit, violent, and/or sexual nature.

We then laid down together in bed and he pulled me into his embrace. The scales were still taking some getting used to even after what almost happened but I didn't mind. There was a comfort there that I had not really felt before as well.

"I will add that initial bite to my neck and shoulders… that was amazing… I expected pain but got pleasure." I whispered to him

"Interesting, many species find that annoying and painful from what I have heard. I have no doubt individuals exist that find it enjoyable but your reaction is far closer to that of a female Kobolt." He said.

"Mind if I try something with my ability? … It might get weird though." I said.

"Sure" he said with excitement and anticipation, I was pretty sure he knew what I was going to try.

I got up from the bed and did a quick stretch in front of Iser.

I focused on my partner but then had to back up because of what Orlo said about mimicking. I focused on the concept of Kobolt and female. Something sort of clicked into place in my mind attached to my shaping ability as I was. I then focused on being that.

The changes were relatively quick to occur, it first started with my skin changing to scales. Not too bad as I had now done this a few times with my arms and legs and such. Then my feet and hands started to change. Still not too bad as I had done this before but I could feel bone and muscle repositioning themselves was always weird.

Next surprisingly was something in my lower abdomen and elsewhere in my torso. Again it didn't hurt but it was even more alarming than what I had felt previously. I felt my ribs and hips change and adjust with small pops.

Then I fucking grew a tail which I did not expect I would be able to do. Overall the feeling was far less unsettling than some of the other changes and I could feel it was like having an extra arm or leg. I even felt I could control it but I found it was a bit confusing initially.

Last to change was my face, jaw and head. Feeling my upper and lower mandible change to more of a snout. I could feel my skin stretching, my nose pull in, my eyes change shape and position. My mouth and tongue were by far the most noticeable and things changed to more like what I had seen in Iser's mouth.

I was breathing hard by the end of it. And I finally paid attention to my notifications.

Congratulations! Through repeated actions your Shape Alteration skill has improved and is now eligible for rank up!

Rank C costs One (1) General Skill Point!

Shape Alteration

Rank - D 100%

Greater efficiency in mana usage and changes can be permanent at greater expense of mana.

Rank C costs One (1) General Skill Point!

I greedily accepted the rank up.

"That… felt… no, it feels very odd." I said in his native tongue.

"I was sort of hoping… yes it was odd to witness. You look very interesting as well." He said.

"How so?" I asked, as my tongue explored my altered mouth.

"I see your original features and such but now in the form of a Kobolt." He said.

I began to properly explore my new body.

My waist was now incredibly narrow, almost too narrow in fact, my hips incredibly wide. I had no more breasts or nipples which was a little disappointing but not unexpected. I still had all my femininity, I didn't end up with a cloaca which I should have asked about beforehand.

Having a tail was certainly different as well. If I didn't focus on it and let my body move naturally I acted as a balance. But I had full control over it as well which was almost like another limb.

"How do I look?" I asked Iser.

He had wide eyes as he observed me.

"Your hips are a bit too wide and waist too narrow but I find that rather alluring too." He said.

He pulled me back into his embrace, he was a bit cooler now than I was expecting. Or maybe I was just warmer than I had been previously.

"So… how do Kobolt's kiss?" I asked.

"We don't have an exact match for that particular soft skin custom but you have done it before." He said then he licked the end of my nose.

I then did the same to him and then nuzzled his neck. He let out a sort of happy and content hum.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked.

"Look I can only hold this for several hours now as I just ranked… but I made sure to add muscle mass." I said then I pinned his arms to his sides. I could feel him struggle but he could not break my hold.

He sort of relaxed into my grip then with a flash his jaw was around my neck. The sudden burst of speed and aggression caused my mind to spin but my body was no longer under my full control.

I could direct my body to a limited degree so I forced myself to slowly turn around in Iser's embrace. Then I slowly lifted my tail and bent over just a bit. My own breathing now quicker and excited in my chest.

I could feel him sniffing my neck again no doubt looking for the best spot. Once he found it all thought was gone from my head.

Each pin prick from his teeth felt like needles of pleasure. I responded by positioning myself for entry. I could feel him searching before he finally found something.

Wrong hole…. And I hissed with displeasure. He repositioned and tried again.

He pressed into me and I let out a hum of pleasure. He repositioned his bite then we worked on finding a rhythm.

There was a raw hunger and need within our coupling. I gained back a small part of my own control and I got the impression Iser did as well. I pulled him in even closer then guided him to the bed.

He by this point released my neck and was now nuzzling the side of my face and neck. I turned my head just enough that I could lick his nose, and he returned the gesture.

"Bed" I whispered in our now shared tongue. What little control the both of us still had we moved over and sort of fell onto it.

He slipped out of me during this process and to my own surprise I let out a sort of growl or hiss that sounded almost threatening. I then felt my tail wrap around his waist and pull him in closer.

I could feel his weight on top of me so I buried my face in a pillow and lifted my bottom half a bit more.

I felt him reenter me again and I let out another pleased hum. His own actions started to get more intense going just a little deeper each push. I then felt his tail wrap around my waist and keep me close. Then I felt a warm scaly arm on the front of my chest and an effort to pull me up. I followed my lover's intent, putting my weight on my arms and pushing up.

His own demand and intensity was having a reaction on me as well. I felt a massive buildup of pleasure in my abdomen, I was getting close.

I felt his mouth around the back of my neck again and he gently bit down. Pleasure and arousal flooded through me continuing to grow. I then felt a very warm pulsing coming from my lover and that warmth pooled in me. I came too just as he subsided, pure ecstasy blossoming inside of me. Waves of energetic pleasure bouncing around inside of me. I let out a soft audible hum of pure satisfaction.