A great wave of lethargy and tiredness washed over Anton, his new Dragonoid hands and feet completely relaxed. Though it passed the next moment he was extremely glad that he was not standing. Verona, still holding his arm, noticed and shot him a worried look.

“I’m fine.” Anton gently patted her arm. “I think it’s just me still getting used to this…Latest change.” He found himself chuckling. “It’s been less than a year and I’ve already changed so much. Some people spend their entire lives without leaving their village, barely even a mile from their home. And yet…”

Verona sighed and smiled. “At least that’s still the same. But I think that we should just take everything slow. Okay?”

Verona’s soft, warm hands wrapped tight around his. Normally he would squeeze hers back but he dared not. His dragonoid fingers were admittedly softer than the scales on the back of his hands but still far harsher than his normal skin. He felt the frown twist his face as she maneuvered her fingers so they would not hurt or pinch themselves on his scales. His eyes fell upon the cracked and darkened white crystal embedded in his hand. He touched the skin at the edge of the crystal, now rough and leathery, then tapped the crack on the crystal itself. A tiny jolt ran through his hand, his dragonoid fingers twitched but he quickly forced them shut.

He could still feel his normal magic, the heaviness, within him. It felt normal but he was slightly hesitant to use it. He knew his body, at least his old body, did not contain any magic and he was simply using the gemstone to utilise any magic, and this new one didn't feel any different.

“Right. Right.” Anton nodded. “The...The longer that I look at this the more it’s starting to sink in. I was fine a few minutes ago but, but not so much now.”

Anton’s eyes wandered from those he knew well, all of whom were looking at him with no small amount of concern, until they rested upon Longinious.

She was nothing like he expected. Anton’s mental image of her, not that he did give it much thought in The White Realm, was closer to a pint-sized angry child, wildly flailing her arms at everyone while they held her back with a firm hold of her head. Certainly not what lay before him currently. Clearly an aquatic inspiration…

I did make her from a slab of that fish fountain… I would be annoyed if anyone said that about me, yet she announced it to everyone without even trying to hide it.

Longinious noticed his attention and smiled, resting them against her stomach.

That armour looks like it came straight from the White Realm. Certainly wouldn’t just be ceramic...Right? No. That would be too fragile, especially if she has my memories. But...But I can’t see any of those strange markings that those Armoured Goblins had.

Longinious’s bright orange eyes flicked down to her chest, a slight frown from her hairless brows.

Seems she’s not happy...Clearly she doesn’t have all that much control over what she looks like. Considering the figure of just about everyone that I’m bedding…

“Are you alright?” Kal asked softly, worry clear on her face.

“I’m feeling better.” Anton replied. “Much better already. Of course I’m still getting used to everything.” Anton raised and dropped his hand. “I think it’s pretty obvious why.”

“Any disorientation or lethargy should pass in time, Anton.” Longinious’s deep voice carried the same faint crackle as his own did now. “Despite everything, your body has changed considerably and, if nothing else, your mind requires time to adjust.”

She raised her lower left arm towards the wall and rotated her wrist. The large golden bracelet, something he did not remember from his time in the White Realm or from Earth, glinted in the light. The raised rainbow jewel at the centre intrigued him the most.

“Just as I am still becoming used to mine.” Her expression faded somewhat. “I could not imagine what it would be like to be thrust into a completely alien and foreign body. Everything that one had learnt and memorized would be completely worthless.”

“Does that mean you too?” Rasha asked. She stood to the side of the bed, her normally soft eyes were narrowed and focused solely on Longinious.

Of course they’re going to be incredibly distrustful of her… Hopefully Longinious can forgive us for having to use a Truth Prayer on her.

Anton’s eyes flicked her long mermaid body, specifically the long thin tail that floated in the air as if it was submerged in water.

I wonder just how strong she actually is?

Anton’s first instinct was to prepare a set of Fire and Lightning Bombs. It was slightly harder to form than normal, the cracked and blackened embedded gemstone hurt slightly but he felt the magic bubbling away within him. At a moment's notice he could bring them into reality and attack. Longinious gave no sign that she knew, but if she knew of any tiny change in his expression, given her having all of his knowledge, it would be easy to fake.

“I…” Longinious flexed her fingers of her lower left arm, scratching the underside of her fingers with the claw of her thumb. "I don’t think so. I know of how legs work, but not if I could actually use them properly. Like you if you had toes instead of hooves."

Rasha glanced at her hooves, tapped one against the floor but said nothing.

Anton gripped the wooden floor with his own dragonoid feet, scratching and digging against the smooth wood. “Even if it just went back to the way it was...Has it spread far from my tail?”

“Not too far.” Kal’s claws gently stroked his back. “But it has spread. Just like everywhere else.”

"I see…" Anton gently slapped his thighs. "I suppose we should get going. Can’t just wait in this person’s home. Longinious… How… How are you going to move as you are right now?"

Anton gestured to her tail, Longinious flexed the bright fins.

"Do you have to turn back into a spear… If you can? Or are you stuck like you are now?"

Longinious ran a hand along the edge of her head crest, pinching the very tip of one of the horns. “Being carried by you wouldn’t be bad…” She quickly smiled and shifted forward. “But I can crawl. But it’s easiest to swim.”

“Swim.” Kal muttered flatly. “Swim?”

“More float.” Longinious chuckled nervously. “And only a meter off the ground at that. I don’t think I can abuse it...”

Longinious’s tail body shuddered and she spun around, quickly rising to hovering a meter off the wooden floor. She tried to lift her body higher but could not. She gripped onto the wall and easily lifted herself, Anton doubted she was that light but her relatively thin arms belied a tremendous strength. When she let go her upper body rapidly fell back down, slowing until it returned to her previous position, bobbing ever so slightly, like she was swimming.

“I’m sure that I could climb onto a building by using both…” Longinious folded both sets of arms. “I just hope, sincerely hope, that I will be of more use than a mere builder.”

Her eyes flicked to Rasha. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

Rasha let out a single grunt.

“Regardless, when they see you they’re going to be confused and more than a little worried. You clearly aren’t a normal Beast-kin.”

“I do not believe that will be an issue. Besides, someone would have to carry me everywhere.” Longinious gently ran a hand over her tail body. “Not to mention they would eventually see me in this Form and ask the obvious questions. Questions that would be best dealt with now and not after having time to fester. Besides, I do not wish to be carried everywhere. I want to see Atros with my own eyes. Memories are one thing, but to actually see it for myself…”

"So let's get-"

Anton was interrupted by Cetina throwing a cloak around him.

Cetina’s ears turned a faint pink as her armoured hand dragged across his chest. “It’s cold right now.”

“Cold?” Anton stopped. “It doesn’t feel that cold.”

“It is a little bit.” Verona raised a brow.

Is this a side effect of the transformation? Temperature doesn’t affect me as much?

If Longinious knew anything she was not sharing.

"Boots." Verona liquefied her blood and stored it in her clay pots. "Boots so you're not walking through the snow. Rasha? Any chance you can give us a hand? Might need your strength given how heavy he's become."

Rasha and Kal began to put on his boots, Kal even swatted away his hand when he tried to help. It barely moved his hand, not that she had any force behind it, which pricked something at the back of his mind.

"Why am I so heavy now, Longinious?" Longinious’s crest perked up at her mention. "The first time something like this happened I didn't gain any weight."

He ignored Cetina's shuffle.

"I am not entirely sure." Longinious rose off the floor and slowly moved towards him, her tail body swaying back and forth exactly like a fish. "You would suffer restrictions to movement if your body increased in density without an associated increase to muscle mass, beyond what you already have. But you are correct in your assumption. Your first transformation-"

Longinious’s eyes flicked to Cetina, something she clearly regretted doing as her head crest fell, she bit her lower lip and mouthed a silent apology to her.

"Your first transformation allowed you to begin to accumulate and utilise Essence." Longinious lowered her human torso close to the floor, Kal and Rasha gave her a glance but remained silent. "But… I honestly don't know why. Your normal magic relies on your mana, which you have previously referred to as an all-encompassing sensation of heaviness. But it is a metaphorical heaviness at most. It does not impede your ability to move…"

"I don't understand how it works myself." Kal murmured. "But he had that… Essence stuff before."

"Indeed." Longinious nodded and righted herself. "I simply do not know, Anton. Unfortunately I fear this is permanent. At least… For now."

Rasha managed a single chuckle. "Don't think Anton's going to be riding horses anytime soon. Or one of those Chiroks."

She smiled and gave his boot a final pat. "Don't think those beasts are strong enough to lift you right now."

"I did enjoy flying." Anton mused. "Something about seeing the world from so high. Rather a pretty sight… Oh well. If we ever get to making planes or airships I'll be able to see it again. And this time not as cold either…"

Anton flexed his dragonoid hands. "Not that it appears to be a problem right now."

"All good." Kal ran her hand over both boots' buckles. "Let's see how you go."

Kal stepped back and beckoned him towards her. Anton wanted to smile, that it almost seemed as if she was treating him like he was a child, but he remembered that he didn't know if he could actually walk. He slowly stood up, his new splayed out inside his boot to take the weight, and took a step. The claws were not twisted and piercing his underside. However, it was still very uncomfortable. After a few steps he reached out and took Kal's hand.

"No good?"

"Once I've got boots big enough… Give the Dwarves something to do."

"I'm sure they'll make time." Kal squeezed his hand back. "We've also got those fancy rifles to check out. Probably what we'd be doing right now if things hadn't happened, as they did."

Longinious tried her best to keep a straight face, as did Cetina.

"Time to go!" Verona slapped her thighs, leapt off the bed and took Anton's other arm. "Longinious? We'll do that questioning thing once we're somewhere better." Her face pulled out grimace. "Sure the Beast-kin living here would like their bed back… If it's not bent."

Calo and Sheso quickly raced to the door as Anton took slow steps. Everyone slowly followed, except for Longinious, as she did not appear to know the correct order to follow. When Cetina waved her forward she was positively ecstatic, at the very least her tail swayed happily. Given the sheer length of it no one could immediately follow. Cetina subtly held Mezot back and whispered into her ear, Mezot's grip of her staff tightened and her face hardened.

At the very least it'll take Longinious a few moments to turn around…

"Thanks, you two.” Anton’s small smile elicited the same from the two young Dark Elves. “Whatever you have planned… I think it’s going to have to be put on hold for a little while.”

Anton flexed the hand not holding his cloak tight.

"Definitely has put a dampener on things." Calo chuckled, running a hand through her wavy and snow speckled dark hair. "Just this morning we were gallivanting around Bebbezzar. And now you're...This.”

"And you, Anton, making some sort of light version of a brothel. Raking in a fair amount of coin too." Sheso smirked and pointed to Cetina. "But she was the most popular out of all of us."

Cetina shrugged. "It was only one…"

The Dark Elf twins shrugged and pushed the door open. When Anton stepped out into the diming afternoon light he saw many armoured backs, belonging to Humans, Dwarves and Dark Elves, all forming a large perimeter around the house. Some Dark Elves had even taken to the rooves where they trained their knocked bows on anyone that dared to get too close. He spied Eider amongst the perimeter, wearing a very thick fur coat, discussing something with Jeff.

“Ah.” Jeff caught sight of him first. “He’s alive.”

Nearly all of the guards turned to see if the news was true. They only managed a glance before being angrily reprimanded, those doing the reprimanding had no such issues with focusing their attention elsewhere.

“How do you feel?” Jeff asked. His eyes narrowed as he looked Anton up and down. “Did...Did you get taller? I feel that you’re taller.”

“You smell different too.” Eider’s long forked tongue licked at the air. “I don’t know if it’s better or worse.”

Anton pulled the cloak tighter, careful to ensure his Dragonoid fingers did not show. “I am. To both of your questions. Something’s happened to me, I really don’t understand what, but I am alive. Which is a good start.”

“Good.” Eider laughed. “Then I’d be without a job. I’d have to go back to… What is that?”

Eider pointed at Longinious. Though she had yet to emerge she was visible, her stance clearly not normal, and then there were her eyes. They had no aquatic Beast-kin in Atros but the few that Anton had seen during his travels looked nothing like her.

Some guards looked again, their attention drawn by Eider’s words, and immediately readied their weapons. Longinious shied away and retreated inside. She looked back, behind her stood Rasha and Cetina.

“It’s complicated.” Verona sighed. “Very complicated. But she seems-”

“The Spear transformed?” Jeff raised a brow at Anton, a hand resting on his weapon. “I heard you were unconscious, not gathering more Beast-kin.”

“Never seen or heard of one like that!” Eider clicked her tongue, an unusual noise, as she moved her head to the side to get a better look. “Nothing like a Shark or a Turtle Beast-kin.”

“You can come out.” Anton beckoned Longinious forward. “Just move slowly. And no one loose an arrow at her. Like the last time we had someone different in Atros.”

Most of the guards looked somewhat confused, a few Humans slightly averted their gaze.

Longinious took a deep breath and slowly emerged. A few of the guards and onlookers let out tiny gasps of surprise but no one said a full word. Longinious moved fully outside and lightly coiled her long body around itself so her human torso was slightly higher than if she was standing. The long fins lay flat against her body while snow gently fell upon her. None melted or stuck to her body, only those caught in the folds of her fins. They too did not melt.

“Hello.” Longinious spoke loudly but with a gentle tone. “My name is Longinious, Anton’s Avatar. It is a pleasure to meet you beyond a memory.”

Jeff let out a strange grunt. “...And it’s a woman too?”

“Of course it is.” Eider grumbled. “What else would it be with him?”

Longinious smiled awkwardly, unsure of what to say, if there even was anything to say. Cetina, Rasha and Mezot emerged, both keeping a firm eye on Longinious, for different reasons.

Eider took a step forward. Her snake eyes raked over Longinious’s armour, focusing on the golden dragon marking at the centre of her chest, then finally focusing on her head crest.

“But you’re still you?”

“I am.”

To the best of my knowledge. That’s a troubling thought, that I might be under some sort of mental coercion spell, like that Strega Witch smoke, and not even know it. Guess that’s how Cassius and Umbris felt when they heard the news.

"Don't know how permanent this all is yet, but we're just taking this one step at a time."

"Definitely only one." Verona softly added.

“And the Fire Elves?” Jeff asked. “They’re going to be pissed when they hear that you’ve transformed one of their relics into a woman...Fish...Person. And brought it to the surface.”

“They let us out.” Rasha said as she lent close to Anton. “But it’s not like they had much of a choice. Least that’s what Verona said.”

“We can leave but they can’t.” Anton slowly nodded. “It really puts them in a bind, if they turn hostile. One step too far and Nithroel comes crashing down upon them.”

Jeff folded his arms. “I seem to recall that she’s not allowed fifty miles south of Surdon.”

“Because they wouldn't fall under her sway she destroyed an entire kingdom, created the Conflagration while fighting Esprit and forced the Fire Elves into near extinction. It's nothing short of a miracle that they've survived so long. Also, Nithroel doesn't seem like the type of person to care all too much about our little agreement.”

Longinious muttered something too faintly for anyone to hear. Mezot apparently did and raised a blonde brow, something he never expected to see from her.

"Not to mention the fact she helped push Qaiviel into a civil war just to crush us."

Jeff slowly nodded. “Yes... I do recall my father saying something like that.” He quickly smirked as he continued to nod. "About Nithroel, of course."

“As soon as I am well enough I will return to their caverns.” Anton took a deep breath, hoping the cold air would clear his lungs but he could not feel anything. “Sort things out as best we can. I still plan to honour our agreements, such as they are, but I don’t think there’s going to be an easy way to get Nithroel off our backs if she discovers the existence of the Fire Elves. We don’t even know if bringing Longinious to the surface has alerted her and a massive Wood Elf force is already on the way.”

“I’ll make sure that everyone’s on alert then...” Jeff pursed his lips, worry drenched his face as he looked to the south.

Anton looked to his hand beneath his chin.

Unless there's something we can use from the White Realm. Nithroel's certainly wasn’t what she is now. Bringing that up might just royally piss her off though. Best be cautious.

Eider’s posture softened. "Word of what happened had already begun to spread. Not that we could do anything to stop it. You, and your actions, tend to be what quite a lot of people talk about." Eider shrugged lightly. “Not much else to do with all this snow, other than talk and gossip.”

Longinious folded her arms and nodded. "Rumours are the fastest thing in existence."

"There…" Eider smiled but it quickly faded. "There were some strange things happening when you were… Um… Down. People acting stranger than you would expect." She looked towards the centre of Atros. "I've been told some people were gathering around the armouries, some of the guards even…”

"I think we both, all of us, know what it means." Jeff spoke softly. "Things aren't as good as we'd like."

“Make sure everyone knows that I am alive and recovering quickly.” Eider straightened her back as Anton spoke. “Anyone that doesn’t comply with orders to disperse needs to be arrested and interrogated, with a Truth Prayer to ensure that we discover anyone and anything that’s more organised than people… Dicking about, trying to shit-stir the moment they think I’m dead.”

Anton took a deep breath. “I need to figure out what’s happened to me, and that’s going to take some time. Longinious?”

“Yes, Anton?” Again Longinious hesitated before saying his name.

“Ancient Magic. Do we need a lot of space? Or just privacy?”

“It does not require significant space.” Longinious uncoiled herself and floated closer. Even when stationary her tail continued to sway back and forth, fighting an invisible current. “But privacy would be desired but not necessary, especially since you will need to have your...” She looked at Jeff and Eider. “They don’t know about that yet. Yes. They don’t.”

Not about my tail, no.

“Where did you get that armour?” Eider asked Longinious. Her frown deepened as she licked at the air. “Doesn’t look like anything… Not even those dresses and suit that you bought in Graterious… Most of the strange smell is coming from you, only a bit is coming from Anton.”

Longinious’s stance softened slightly as she gently raised her left upper arm towards her. “You...You must be Eider. The Cobra Beast-kin and commander of Anton’s personal retinue.”

But I only know one Cobra.

Verona, Kal and Cetina shared the same thought.

“I am.” Eider’s eyes narrowed as she placed a gloved hand on a small sword hanging from her waist.

“Then you’re also the only Beast-kin in Atros that Anton could trust with leading a Personal Retinue.”

“R-Really?”

“Of course. Since you are one of Kal’s most important friends." Longinious straightened her back. “Not to mention that you understand what Anton is fighting for, greater than many of the Beast-kin here. And especially for a cold blooded Beast-kin, to keep working outside in winter, shows just how strong and committed you are.”

Eider’s thick tail began to gently sway back and forth. “Well, when you put it like that, I guess I am...” Her smile quickly faded. “How do you know any of that?”

Longinious looked at Anton. Though he could not see her face he knew that she was greatly troubled.

“She has my memories, in a sense.” Anton began. “But without any of my thoughts or prejudices. Like she’s looking at my memories as a picture book, at least that’s how I imagine it.”

Eider raised a hairless brow. “I see. Well, you... You definitely seem like you belong with them, don't you?”

Jeff laughed, so too did Eider. Longinious smiled awkwardly and allowed the invisible current to move her backwards.

It’s hardly embarrassing. We’re all a little odd.

“But she seems fine.” Eider swatted away a particularly large snowflake from her scaled nose. “For now at least.”

“I’m hoping that she is too.” Verona said softly. She muttered something under her breath. “But we need to head back to our house. We’ll be safe there while we work everything out.”

Longinious raised a shaky hand. "Actually, if I may say so, perhaps it would be best if we went somewhere a little less… Important? Though it is unlikely that anything untoward will occur while practising using Ancient Magic, the consequences would be extremely dire for your home. And anything and anyone inside."

"Not exactly filling me with confidence." Verona chuckled. "But we've always practiced outside so it's not that strange. Mezot, did you practice your magic inside?"

"Sometimes. But the training rooms were always very large and protected from…" Mezot trailed off and glanced either side, to where her daughter usually would have stood. "Right… I just ran off without…"

"We'll send someone to get her." Anton's words caused immediate relief to Mezot. "Oh, and Zuhura too."

"Is she going to document everything alongside Mezot?" Kal asked. "I know she can read and write very quickly. Faster than me, a lot faster than some of us…"

Verona pointedly refused to acknowledge Kal in any sense.

"Some of us slackers, after all." Kal said slyly, Verona finally cracked a smile.

"In a sense. There's also some things that I need her to start thinking about. Put her expertise to good use." Anton softly sighed. "Things that we were going to address before… Anyway. Jeff? Can you send a dozen of your best and most loyal men to guard our house while we're gone? I really dislike the idea of Axia and Zuhura being alone, especially after all that's happened."

Jeff returned a curt nod and began to distribute orders.

Cetina loudly tapped her pommel. "The Training Field would be large enough, but there will be considerable attention." She looked at the Dark Elves on the roofs. "Perfect for a stray arrow."

"If Anton's memories are accurate," Longinious pointed southwards. "There’s an empty expanse beyond the plantations. Nothing but snow covered grasslands. It would be an ideal location to begin training and experimentation."

"At least everyone would see you travelling through the city." Rasha smiled and tapped the tip of her horn. "Or… More likely they'll probably see this first. But at least they'll know Anton's alive and moving. So that's good. Right?"

"Depends who you are." Anton answered dryly. "Depends on whether or not they'd like to see me dead."

---[]---

A chill wind whipped around Anton's body, rustling his clothes before he patted them down. At least he presumed the air was cold. He still couldn't feel any cold, at least from the environment. Verona and Kal's hands were still warm, as was everyone else's, at least his mind was telling him that, but it was rather concerning. But the white expanse before him was anything but concerning. It was as beautiful as it was peaceful, a near unending field of white tinged with the deep orange of an almost set sun. That alone brought Anton some comfort. At least he had not returned to the White Realm.

A shout cut through his mental musings. Behind him, some distant away, his usual entourage, waiting just beyond the edge of the plantation, along with almost fifty Atros guards. Their attention was focused almost entirely at the further group that had followed, curious and bored onlookers who had little to do with winter enveloping Atros, those who wanted to know what had happened in the caverns below.

"It is a true shame that you have yet to create a radio." Longinious said loudly. Instead of floating normally she swam back and forth around him. Lazily and without intent. "Or some sort of loudspeaker system, and the electricity to power such devices. Though I doubt many would recognise you through voice alone it would be reassuring for them to hear that you are fine."

Anton glanced at his Dragonoid hand. Neither he nor Longinious made any comment.

"You don't happen to have knowledge on how to make one? Electricity you just mentioned. It would tremendously accelerate our development."

Longinious shook her head, defeated, as she stopped in front of him.

"I am afraid not. Though I have yet to completely and thoroughly analyse every facet of your memories, I did search for technology. And, unfortunately, you do not have knowledge beyond the superfluous." Longinious shrugged. "The general idea of how an internal combustion engine works but not the specifics. Unfortunately, movies and television are not a valid source of intricate technical information."

“Indeed…” Anton managed a chuckle. “Feels like I’m almost talking to someone from Earth. I wonder… I wonder how they’re doing. The others.”

“From the incident that brought you here?” Longinious nodded once. “I’m sure they are doing fine. Considering they died alongside you. Nithroel was very eager to brag about their relative strength to yours. Though how true that is, is clearly up for debate.”

She looked to the south, placing her right arms on her side while running both left over her head crest, wiping away the accumulating snow.

“I’d like an umbrella. Later, perhaps. After we have actually begun practice and explore Ancient Magic.” Longinious almost looked smug when she turned to face him. “As well as my own abilities.”

"Even though we're not there anymore you can still use those blasts of light?" Anton pointed to the small medallion hanging from her neck. "And the energy shield? We… We really didn't get time to do much else."

Longinious almost scoffed. "Instead of allowing me to collect Essence to improve myself you were more concerned with returning here."

She looked over his shoulder. "But I can see why. Not many have as much to return to." Longinious flicked at the snow with the end of her tail. "Regardless, I know that I now have a few extra abilities that I'm sure you will find more than a little interesting."

"Before we go any further I think we should call over Mezot and Axia. And Zuhura too, probably. Just to document everything."

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

Longinious folded her arms, not in a dismissive or defensive manner. "Of course."

Anton waved the three over, even though they were close enough to hear just about every word. Mezot hastily collected a bundle of blank papers, which looked suspiciously similar to those in his study, while Axia and Zuhura quickly followed. Axia had incorporated the red headscarf into her normal winter attire, Zuhura remained much the same as normal.

"Hey Anton!" Axia waved frantically as she approached, a beaming smile on her face despite the cold. "Are you alright? Mum was dragged away by some guards saying… Is that the Longinious Verona was talking about?"

Longinious moved to the side, unfolded her arms and bowed her head.

Axia murmured and tilted her head. Normally her expressions weren't too difficult to read, but he couldn't quite make out what she thought of her. Her quizzical expression quickly returned to her normal, happy smile.

"Huh." Axia slowly skipped around Longinious, who kept her long tail body roughly in a circle. "You don't have any armour on your back. Why not? Surely you could be hit there and it'd go through those clothes. Like an arrow?" She tapped her staff as she returned to the front. "Or magic."

"It would." Longinious nodded. "But I am not concerned about damage caused to this Form." She smiled at Anton. "At most any damage caused to this shell is but a mild inconvenience… Which I shall demonstrate at the appropriate time, I can assure you."

"She seems very peculiar." Zuhura added softly. “But hopefully not dangerous.” A tiny gust of wind brought snowflakes to land on her face, swiftly brushed away by her blue cloth gloves. She ran one over the bridge of her nose, almost appearing to be missing the face veil. "And with all your memories too?"

"Some that even I couldn't recall…" He fought the urge to recall the memory, both Axia and Zuhura looked on, clearly worried, while Mezot tried to arrange her papers. "But we'll deal with that at a later time. I want you, Zuhura, along with Mezot, to document everything that is said. To the best of your abilities."

"I will do my utmost to keep up." Zuhura deftly took the sheets from the bottom of Mezot's stack without her noticing, much to Axia’s amusement.

Longinious happily held her hands in fists, bouncing them back and forth. “Oh, it’s so wonderful to see it all for myself! With my own eyes. There’s such a wonderful difference between memories and reality. So much more… Vivid.”

Mezot remained blank faced, Zuhura raised a single brow while Axia cracked a smirk.

"Regardless, I should start from the beginning." Longinious ensured that everyone was watching a listening, Mezot readied her pencil. "Ancient Magic is an extremely old form of magic that uses Fundamental Energy, what Anton referred to as Essence or Charge, to create and destroy. Exceedingly similar to Glyph or Principle Magic in general application. For the most part. However, Ancient Magic-"

“Slow down please.” Mezot’s fingers furiously wrote, the sound of scratching charcoal almost as loud as her voice. “You’re speaking too fast.”

Mezot barred her teeth as she tried to catch up. Longinious waited patiently until she stopped.

"However, Ancient Magic can be extremely dangerous if used incorrectly." Longinious pointed to Anton's wrist. "Such as how Anton used it in Qaiviel. Brutal, but horribly inefficient and self-destructive."

"I didn't have much choice at the time." Anton gently rubbed his wrist. Thanks to the Dragonoid changes extending further along his arm it had disappeared, along with any of the grinding sensation, but part of him still remembered. “I had no weapons, and I couldn’t use any magic. That Ghlyirl helmet stopped me... Why didn’t it stop this?” Anton coughed. “Sorry.”

Longinious continued to smile. "There are some slight differences between it and the other two, just like Principle to Glyph Magic, but the most important thing, at least for now, is how to gather Essence. For there is no point in explaining what it can do if you do not have any, or utilising and depleting what little you have and causing serious and potentially debilitating consequences."

“Beyond simple exhaustion?” Mezot asked without looking up. “Passing out is the worst result if Principle Magic is overused. I believe the same is true for Glyph Magic. It won’t kill you…” Mezot frowned as her writing slowed. “Of course in a battle that could be disastrous… I seem to recall that we tested your ability to use mana in Graterious, and it was essentially nothing. Do you think that has changed? Perhaps you could learn Principle Magic if you have.”

Mezot almost smiled. “We don’t have those here. But we do have an alternative that you created. I shall-”

“Wait.” Axia gripped her mother’s hand, stopping her from leaving. “You don’t even know where it is, and they’re not just going to wait while you go. Right?”

Mezot silently stared at her daughter for a moment. She gave a quick nod before returning to her notes, her eyes returning to Longinious.

“Ancient magic is no different.” Longinious folded both sets of arms. “Now, there are two ways to gain more Essence. Active and Passive. Passive is what you would be most familiar with, a very slow trickle that naturally recovers completely over a day or so. The second is active, stealing it from others.”

Mezot and Axia tensed, sharing a worried glance.

“Not like that.” Longinious chuckled, trying her best to assuage their immediate concerns. “Not like that at all. But first, Passive. It is similar to your normal mana, except it isn't recovered like strength, rather dependent on the strength of the Earth Mana in your surroundings-"

"I thought Earth Mana was essentially unusable." Anton didn't see any sign Longinious was upset from being interrupted. "Everywhere but essentially useless… Except for plants."

"Plants?" Axia raised a brow.

Anton nodded. "Makes them grow extremely quickly. At least compared to where I come from."

"Not just plants." Longinious softly began to speak. "But what you would call monsters. Goblins and Ghlotsm you are most familiar with."

"Yes… There's… I'd already guessed they were some sort of holdover from The White Realm, but." Anton looked to the ground. "You aren’t suggesting that it's beneath our feet? The land we're on is just plastered on top?"

"I am rather confused as to what is happening." Zuhura said softly.

"I'll explain later. When we have more time." Zuhura returned a curt nod. "But… It would make a lot of sense, considering what we saw there."

"Indeed." Longinious moved closer, as if to draw attention back to herself. "Now, Anton, I know it is difficult to properly quantify, but can you feel if there's any Charge building up your tail? I doubt it will be large or even comparable to your normal mana…"

Anton closed his eyes and held his bound tail. The rough spines pushed harshly against his thin shirt, but it was difficult to feel any change. Even at the best of times it was difficult to determine it exactly. To make things even worse he always received more in bursts when Goblins were slain in his presence, which obviously diverted his attention to the vile slathering deadly creatures from the slight tingle in an additional and unwanted limb. Anton sighed and raised his shirt to remove the simple bind to free his tail.

"Doesn't feel normal just taking this outside…" Anton couldn't hold back the smirk. "I suppose that could be interpreted in a number of ways."

In order to unbind his tail he needed to lift his shirt, involuntarily revealing his new body. Axia’s jaw dropped, Zuhura raised her brows while Mezot barely looked up from her papers. His exposed skin did not feel the cold, but he could feel the stares.

“I…” Zuhura blinked hard. She even nudged Axia, who shrugged it off and returned to her normal expression.

“Something that just happened.” Anton removed the thin binding and patted down his shirt. “Although, I would like to say that I had a decent build before this. Far better than most mages, I would presume.”

“Indeed.” Longinious curtly nodded. Her orange eyes flicked to Mezot then back to Anton, obviously holding back from making an obvious statement.

Anton felt some slight relief as his tail came free. It was still strange to have it visible in public but he put such childish thoughts aside. Thankfully it still followed his every whim and thought, just like a regular arm. As he held the hardened scaled limb in his hand he was glad he didn’t often think about it, even when he was travelling and the spines poked into his stomach.

“It’s going to be even worse dealing with this outside of Atros…” Anton glanced to Longinious. “I take it that I can’t just cut this off and everything would be fine?”

Longinious looked thoroughly disgusted at the thought, especially as the four smaller ends twisted and turned around one another.

“No! Don’t even think that!” She appeared genuinely distraught by the thought. “Not to mention that it probably wouldn’t even work. Do you remember that it simply regrew after it was cut off? Not to mention it would be excruciatingly painful. Not to mention-”

Anton raised his hand. “It was just a thought… Before we go any further, what would have happened if the Essence, my charge, had actually reached the base of my tail? I always had the feeling that something terrible would happen.”

“Nothing.” Longinious smiled sweetly. “Absolutely nothing would have happened. The Essence that you had gathered simply would have dissipated once you reached your limit, best signified by scales on the ridge of your tail all glowing bright. Should they have all reached capacity you would have felt some mild discomfort. Imagine water being forced from your mouth because you were laughing too hard.” Longinious frowned. “That’s not the best description...”

“Well... That’s a relief.” Anton laughed nervously. “I was so worried that I was going to transform into something like King Harold…”

He stopped speaking when he saw the look in Longinious’s eyes. Not sadness, but worry. Worry about herself. He blinked and the expression had completely disappeared.

“So here’s the last glowing scale.” Anton held his tail up. He smiled when he realised he held it like a prized fish. “Seems normal.”

Anton stared close, as Axia stepped closer, and looked at the last glowing scale. Now that he was closer he could see the smaller cracks filled with the golden light. Axia murmured and pointed at a small line. It slowly filled with light, incredibly slowly but it was growing.

“I still can’t feel it recovering.” Anton announced. Longinious floated next to Axia as she pointed a pointed finger at the scale. “Perhaps over the next hour I would be able to feel something.”

Axia looked up, brushing away a large snowflake that landed on her face. “I really don’t want to be out here… For however long that is. I’ll be frozen.” Axia chuckled as she nodded towards Mezot. “Like I’ve been hit by one of my mother's experiments. Again.”

Mezot made no sign she heard or cared.

“It definitely drags when there’s nothing else happening.” Anton said. “Longinious?”

“Passive.” She scratched the partially glowing scale, Anton felt only a dull sensation through his tail. “But given your relative age, the age of your transformation, it is extremely inefficient. Given time it will improve naturally, but there are other ways to improve its recovery.”

Axia softly squeaked and pointed at the partially glowing scale. The glowing section had grown, perhaps a millimetre at best, but it had moved, not that Anton could feel it.

“Not to mention resting in an area with high amounts of Earth Mana, which I will be able to properly determine as we explore and travel the world, in addition to…”

Longinious frowned. She straightened up and backed away slightly. Anton and Zuhura shared a slightly worried glance.

“I… I’m sorry.” Longinious furiously rubbed her temple, hard enough to stretch the tiny scales that formed her skin. “I feel like I should know what it is. It’s… Some sort of building, a structure, that can help increase your passive Essence recovery. But I just can’t remember it. Like some sort of obelisk or tower, but…”

Longinious angrily flicked at the snow, only at the last moment realising it was going to hit Zuhura. Her long tail fin coiled around the lump of snow and throwing it back to the ground. Zuhura said nothing but made a small note.

“Incredibly frustrating. Perhaps there are other things I don’t know? And I just don’t know it...” Longinious pointed towards Mount Aspire, the snow-capped mountain looming in the dull afternoon light. “Perhaps the Fire Elves cavern will hold some clues? Only one way to find out.”

“Passive’s not going anywhere fast.” Anton released his hold on his tail. “And Active?”

“Forcefully taking it.” Longinious began to smile, faintly reminiscent of Verona during her more devious moments. “By destroying Ancient Creatures and absorbing Essence from their corpses. You’ve already experienced it with the death of nearby Goblins, but now it should be improved somewhat by my presence. Very much so.”

Longinious looked rather proud of herself.

Is that true? Or...Just sounds like she’s trying to make an argument where she isn’t just left behind and stuck as a spear. If she doesn’t have complete control over it...Imagine being fully sentient, unable to move and locked in a dusty room…

“I do not know if those…” Longinious’s eyes narrowed as she shuddered. “If those corrupted White Ghlotsm… Things are capable of releasing Essence upon their death, but that’s relatively easy to determine. I’m more concerned that you may decide to create some sort of Goblin or Ghlotsm farm, where you can just harvest them indefinitely.”

“Ghlotsm lay eggs, so that wouldn’t be too bad.” Anton’s words made no one present happy. “But I can see the issue if there was a breakout.”

Anton looked to Verona and Kal. “I know they didn’t like it too much that we kept that Goblin to starve to death. Not because… Anyway.”

“Those are the ways to gain more Essence.” Longinious closed her eyes, folded her lower set of arms and raised her right index finger like some sort of attempt at being a teacher. “It is important to know the fundamentals before going further.”

Anton playfully swayed his tail back and forth, eliciting a chuckle from Axia and even Mezot. “Excellent. Now, onto what I can actually do.”

Longinious clicked her tongue and raised her hand. “Before we go too much further I would like to show you mine.” Longinious held her upper hands to her chest. “Since I am your Avatar, and should be by your side no matter what, perhaps it would be best to start there? Not to mention it will give you more time to accumulate Essence.”

“At least let me start a new paper.” Mezot mused.

Longinious waited until Mezot gave a nod to continue.

“Unfortunately I am unable to use some of my abilities in this form. I must return to my Spear Form in order to utilize them.”

She held out a hand, almost shyly, and nodded towards Anton’s.

“Do I need to touch you in order for you to transform?" Anton clicked his tongue. "Not that I'm saying I have an issue with that." He nodded to Mezot, who had finished sorting through her papers and was figuratively bursting with excitement. "More for record keeping."

Longinious returned an honest smile. "No. But it wouldn't look good for me just to fall over into the snow, right?"

Anton took her hand. It was surprisingly soft in his own but he felt no warmth. Or cold. Obviously there was mass but otherwise it was without temperature. Her body began to glow a golden light, as it flashed a weight near instantaneously grew in his hand. When he blinked he held a spear, identical to the one he wielded in The White Realm.

"Are you still there, Longinious?"

"Of course, Anton." Her voice echoed out of the spear, specifically its head. "I can hear you. Although having three hundred and sixty degree vision is very disorienting compared to what I'm used to."

"Isn't that how you could see in The White Realm?"

"I believe so." The shimmer in the central purple sphere twisted and wrapped around itself, like Longinious's ethereal body. "However, most of my memories are yours, and see through two forward facing eyes, so this is very confusing."

"Fascinating." Mezot muttered.

"Is it?" Axia and Zuhura simultaneously asked.

"...I suppose." Mezot did not look bothered, far from it, judging by the tip of her tongue poking through her lips.

Longinious’s spear tip clicked, the two smaller spheres separated and began to slowly spin around the head.

"Hmm. A little easier than I thought." Longinious chuckled. "Let's show that snow who’s boss!"

The two smaller spheres glowed bright and shot out a tight beam of golden light. They smashed into the snow, instantly vaporising the frozen water and throwing up a plume of steam while still having the strength to gouge a two meter long cut into the frozen ground. Small bursts of flames erupted from the formerly frozen grass, superheated in an instant. Stones cracked and popped, some patches were glowing a faint, dull red when the steam cleared.

The central sphere glowed bright and fired a beam, much larger than the previous two. This cut far deeper and longer, the rocks brighter and some even leaked sickly strands of smoke. Anton heard something shouted from the gathered crowds. A quick glance revealed it to be a yelp of shock, nothing more. Anton’s immediate companions were quite surprised but not concerned. They had witnessed far more destruction without batting an eye. Longinious rattled in his hand, he was unsure if she was upset he was looking away during her demonstration.

"That's both sets!" Longinious proudly announced. "Do you wish for me to attack with everything I have? The smaller ones fire much faster than the larger… I just don't know how much strength I have to expend."

"Whatever you're comfortable with." Anton gripped tighter onto the shaft. "Definitely don't overdo it, okay?"

Longinious began to fire her beams of light at a steady pace; two smaller blasts then a large blast from the central sphere. However, after six rounds something felt wrong. Anton’s Essence was beginning to dwindle at an increasingly rapid rate, as did the strength of Longinious’s attacks.

"Okay. That's enough." Anton gave Longinious a gentle pat. "I told you not to overdo it, remember?"

"S-Sorry." Longinious sounded exhausted. "I… I'm sorry, Anton. I thought I was stronger…"

For a single moment Longinious’s spear began to melt. The perfectly white shaft began to tear apart and a black void seeped out. Deep inside he saw hundreds of tiny orange lights. Eyes staring back at him. Anton’s hands felt impossibly cold and froze completely solid. Anton blinked and the shaft was perfectly normal once more, as were his hands.

"Sorry." Longinious’s Spear Form glowed bright as she returned to her mermaid body. Exhaustion drenched her face and her arms dropped to her side. "I… I got a little carried away there. More than a little."

Her head crest fell. "I depleted my own strength almost instantly and then had the audacity to borrow, steal rather, your Essence to continue to function, to keep attacking. Forgive me."

“It’s, it’s alright.” Anton gave her hand a gentle squeeze, he could still not feel any temperature from her. “This is just like my first time using magic. I was damned utterly useless and nearly killed myself.”

"Really?" Axia's eyebrows threatened to shoot off her face. "After everything I've seen you do. From those huge pillars of fire, those summons and just… Everything else you've done-"

"It is certainly possible." Mezot mused. "As it is highly likely the first magic users were Glyph Mages, given the lack of metallurgical knowledge, there would have been many that injured or killed themselves on their first attempt. Those that did not survive… Well, they are simply never remembered."

Sounds awfully similar to Kal's escape and survival. She's clever and skilled, but how many didn't make it?

Anton glanced at Kal. She and Rasha were discussing something, something that seemed extremely funny.

Well… I'm glad no one's being miserable about my changes. For all the good it would do.

"I should still not have acted unnecessarily." Longinious grimaced before lightly slapping her cheeks. "Please forgive me, Anton. It shall not happen again."

"I…"

This sounds almost like when I was dealing with Rasha; saying everything's fine will do more harm than good.

"Please let me know in the future if you need to." Anton spoke sternly, which appeared to have the right effect. "But this time is fine."

He smiled as he looked towards the smouldering gouge carved into the ground. A large stone near the edge cracked and spurted puffs of gas as it split, revealing a swirling kaleidoscope of colour within, remarkably similar to Longinious’s arm bracelets.

"Utterly devastating." Anton smiled. "Could easily bring down a castle wall… Except for archers… What about that energy shield? Something to protect us while we attack, either you or myself. Can you still do that?”

“Of course I can still use the Energy Fields.” The edge of Longinious’s spear tip glowed a bright purple. “Hmm… It appears that my strength recovers faster than it’s being used. Excellent. At the very least I can use this to shield you while I, or you, recover.”

Longinious made a strange noise. “Of course you could continue to use your normal magic, just throw it over since your hands are only to help guide it."

"How strong is it?" Zuhura asked softly. "Since you asked me to document everything… And someone looks a little bit distracted at the moment."

Mezot was clearly more than a little distracted, so Axia stepped forward. She grabbed a handful of snow and compressed it into a tiny ball. Anton lowered the spear and Axia gently tossed the snowball. As the snow touched the purple edge it perfectly separated into two, the split surfaces steaming while liquid water melted into the snow.

"Pretty good." Axia sniggered. "Oh. What about magic? Do you think it'll do the same thing?"

"Is this a genuine test or do you just want to set me on fire?" Anton raised a brow while Axia continued to smile. "See if this new body is actually fireproof."

"Nothing like that." Axia chuckled, Zuhura threw her a quizzical look. "But only a small Fire Ball. The smallest one I can make. Won't that be good practice, mother?"

"Yes it would." Mezot responded almost immediately. "And should it explode, the consequences should be limited."

Zuhura took two large paces back as Axia created a tiny ball of fire. Despite the cold and falling snow it burnt strong. Axia slowly moved the ball of flame towards Longinious. The purple edge cut through the flickering flames radiating from the sphere and near instantly dissipated. As it pushed deeper and continued to cleanly cut through the flickering flames the small Fire Ball began to shudder and distort. Once a third had been pierced it exploded in a decently sized burst of fire, even reaching his gloves. Axia let out a terrified squeak and pointed to the lightly burning leather.

"You're a lot stronger than I thought." Anton smiled as he beat out the flames. Axia only looked happier when all of the smoke had disappeared. He could not feel the heat but didn't want his clothes to burn to prove a point. "Good to know that it can cut through magic too… And that it's still as unstable as I remember when you start to interfere with it. Longinious? Anything?"

The shimmer in the central sphere turned away and looked at Axia, though it was odd to see it from behind.

"I felt nothing." Longinious murmured. "Like I was cutting that snowball again."

Axia tugged at her mother's sleeve. "When… When magic is too far away from you, it just gets harder and harder to control, right?" A slight frown creased her face. "You need to use more mana, but that just makes it worse."

"That is correct." For a brief moment Mezot looked unbelievably proud of her daughter. Her normal demeanor did not return, it was a much happier one. "I… Is that what happened?"

"Yeah-"

"You'd better not be trying to burn our husband!" Verona yelled from behind. Axia jumped but kept her smile when she waved back. None were particularly worried but Anton knew they were ready to move at a moment's notice.

"Um. Yes." Axia cleared her throat. "That's what it felt like."

"Interesting." Mezot mused, frowning as she furiously scratched out a mistake. "But a large magical attack could still kill or seriously wound you…"

"I can make it larger!" Longinious said as the purple field lifted from the spear edge to form a large disk centred on the very tip. It was nearly double the size it was in The White Realm, now it could function as a proper shield rather than a small buckler on a stick. "That's about it. I could make it larger, but that would take a lot of strength out of me. And considering this is my first day, my first hour of being conscious, I'd rather not revert…"

Longinious trailed off, quickly replaced with a happy humming, but Anton felt that it was more than a little forced.

But you're already a spear… I'd understand if you were in your mermaid form. Unless your Spear Form isn't your most basic. If that's true, then what is?

Longinious gave no sign that she could hear his thoughts or guessed from his expression, though it was probably pretty easy to hide one's own thoughts when you were essentially an inanimate spear.

"Um… Again?" Axia raised a brow. "I suppose that's what we should do…"

She created another small ball of fire and pushed it towards the energy field. When it touched the purple light the fire spilled out over the light, like red oil mixing with water. The very next moment it exploded, but Anton felt nothing. Longinious gave no sign of stress nor did she move back.

"Same thing again." Axia tapped her staff into the snow. "Just a lot quicker."

"I…" Mezot nearly lost her grip on the papers. "I would like to test this for myself." She looked up and locked eyes with Anton. "At a better time."

"Certainly." Anton's smile was slowly reciprocated. "Longinious? What about you?”

“Nothing different.” Longinious’s spear glowed and she returned to her Mermaid Form. “Just as Axia said. However…” She flicked away the few errant snowflakes gathering on her head-crest. “It will not falter to magic easily. It did not shatter or weaken in any sense… Not that I’m saying that Axia was going easy on us.”

Axia chuckled and smirked.

“But I thought you’d be impressed.” Longinious triumphantly planted her hands above her hip fins. "With just these few abilities we were able to fight our way through the entire White Realm, against legions of monsters and creatures that you would never believe possible."

A sentient walking crystal for one.

“And without the need to rely on other beings.” Longinious scoffed, glancing at Anton’s glyphed hand then tearing her eyes away. “Though it would have undoubtedly been easier if Anton was able to use his normal magic rather than just relying on me.”

She threw him a somewhat harsh sideways glance. “Or allowing me to gather more strength from the creatures we could have fought along the way to the White Tower.”

Zuhura frowned lightly. "I'll add those last parts as a postscript. Did either of our Mages feel anything? Anything amiss during any of that?"

Axia shook her head as her mother looked at her Charm.

"Nothing strange." Axia began, after waiting for her mother. "Just that it was really, really weak for what it did. I barely felt anything."

She pointed to the charred craters. "Not for something that could cause that. At least those bolts of light.”

"I…" Mezot tore her eyes away from her Charm. "I felt the same thing… Except that it felt… Prickly. Somehow. The bolts.

Longinious flicked at the snow with her tail. "Despite my best intentions that is all I can do, in regards to direct attacks. For now, at least. Perhaps when we return to the Fire Elves cavern we can discover more. I'm sure they must have some idea of how I came to be there, even if that one you spoke at length with, Bilaal, knew exceeding little. Perhaps one of the smaller noble families. There's no way that I landed with such strength that I crashed through the White Realm’s ground… Anyway."

Longinious looked over Axia’s head. "Do you wish to pause for a moment? It appears that the curious crowds have left.”

The guards had performed more than adequately and had dispersed the majority of the citizens. The only few remaining were actively talking with the guards, much to their annoyance.

“Bored people with too much time on their hands is the bane of any civilization. Zuhura? What did Sultan Hazm do to deal with that?”

“Most people are busy enough just trying to survive.” Zuhura brushed away the snow gathering on her head. “But I’m certain… At least I hope I am, that’s not what you desire for this city. But a handful of the other Sultan’s provided work for food and housing. Not always necessary or useful, but it keeps everyone busy.”

“Don’t we do that already?” Axia raised a hand before letting it drop loudly against her side. “We don’t get paid coins but we work. Well,” She tapped her staff. “I don’t. I’m helping to teach alongside my mother, and helping you with whatever you’re doing out in the wider world.”

“My teaching is improving…” Mezot quickly trailed off.

“Our lack of education is another issue.” Anton received a nod from Longinious. “An educated populace is always a significant advantage, in all aspects. It would also make things easier… Zuhura?"

“Yes?"

"Before we all go to sleep tonight," Anton glanced at Longinious. "I take it that I still need sleep?"

"Absolutely. Especially given the massive changes that have occurred to your body. Though you probably do not remember at this point, you slept incredibly well considering the circumstances of your arrival. Most wouldn’t have been able to sleep a single wink, yet you did.”

“Did I? It was a while ago.” Anton raised his hand. “Wasn't like this. Anyway, Zuhura? I need to borrow your abilities and knowledge. Economics, law and governance itself is in desperate need of expansion and modernization. Something that was going to happen in the next day or so… But everything has to be brought forward. Especially law.”

“I shall do my best.”

“Excellent. Now, Longinious, what’s next?”

Longinious slapped her cheeks with her lower set of arms while the upper massaged her head crest.

"Forgive me, Anton. It appears that I'm still growing accustomed to my Spear Form. I..." She chuckled nervously. "I suppose it would be dangerous for anyone to try and use everything they can on their first try. Right, Mezot?"

Mezot finished her last note, looked up and nodded. "I... I know there were several Principle Mages that hurt themselves trying to show off to someone important."

The tiniest squeak leaked from Longinious's lips, her eyes narrowed but she said nothing. Axia and Zuhura shared a glance but they too said nothing.

"Perhaps... Perhaps that is the truth." Longinious wiped down her armour, even afterwards she still looked a little off. “But I should continue regardless of my… Anyway, I have other abilities that I can use while in this Form. Auras. Magic based enhancements or detriments that can be enforced on anyone within a certain radius.”

Zuhura frowned. “And you know this...How? If you were unconscious since you were separated in this White Realm?”

Longinious returned the frown. “It's a gut feeling. Even though I do not possess one… It is the most apt analogy that I can think of. Annoyingly similar to Glyph Magic, where it is more emotive than the harder logic and mathematics of Principle Magic. Not that Anton knows how Principle Magic actually feels to use."

Zuhura nodded and continued to write.

Longinious clapped her hands together and pulled a strange face.

"Now. This will be somewhat difficult and quick to explain to you. Since it’s not actually you doing it and I can activate it independently of your instruction or presence. And… And that the aura’s effects are extremely dependent on whether or not you’re an ally or not.”

“And how do you determine that?” Anton pulled the heavy cloak closer as the wind whipped around them. Axia and Zuhura flattened their colourful headscarves. “It’s not like we have some sort of friend-foe recognition. Like…Well, I’m sure summons… No. They do what they're told, don't they?”

“Indeed. But it is that difficult to describe.” Longinious sighed. “But it is based on your memories. Specifically resonance. A type of song, in simpler terms."

She outstretched her hand and frowned. "I will ask if I may borrow some of your Essence? I do not have enough of my own to properly demonstrate my Auras. And if I completely run out I will be forced back to my Spear Form. Which… I’d rather not.”

For a moment he saw genuine fear in her eyes, nearly identical to the eyes staring back at him when her Spear Form began to collapse. As ever the next moment it was gone.

Longinious’s black facial tattoos glowed a bright gold as a dull golden light surrounded them. Immediately he felt an increase to the rate his mana recovered. While not double it was very close, not to mention the small burst he felt when it first touched him.

“Channelling Aura. It hastens the restoration of mana…” Longinious sighed. “This is going to be very quick and boring. Anyway, let's continue.”

Anton raised his hand. "Hang on. What do you three feel?"

"Nothing different." Zuhura replied. "Apart from everything now having a golden tint. Mezot looks very intrigued."

Mezot scribbled so fast she was in clear danger of losing her pencil.

"I do not remember if a definitive part of the body had been discovered to create, regulate or store mana, but it is clearly having an effect." Mezot began to smile. "I would like to run tests with my tools… Unfortunately I do not have them. They were The Academy's… And are very expensive."

"Just steal them." Axia offered with a dismissive shrug. Mezot raised a brow while continuing to furiously scribble. "I'm sure that we need them more than some old, stuffy Mages."

"I was one of those stuffy Mages."

Axia squinted in disbelief towards her mother. It quickly left her face, replaced with a smile. "You were never like them. Never."

"Not a bad idea, Axia-"

"Please don't fill my daughter's head with bad suggestions." Mezot said sternly.

Anton smiled. "Not directly. But the money we could steal… And hurt the Seocurian Empire at the same time."

He glanced at Rasha who immediately perked up, gripping her halberd tight. Anton smiled and gently waved her down. She relaxed but it was clear she was ready to move at a moment's notice.

"She's a bit big to steal from the Seocurian Empire without being spotted." Zuhura mused. "Not to mention her red hair and orange horn."

"Not Rasha, no. But the Oni's mine precious gemstones, extremely valuable and essentially untraceable. To the right people of course. There's a man in Qaiviel that would be delighted to continue helping us. We did save his store from Duchess Belinda." Anton folded his arms. "Before she got her head out of her arse."

Zuhura frowned quite severely. "Basing your economy on plundering is something you should reconsider. I strongly recommend that you do."

"Certainly not in the long term." Zuhura continued to frown. "But it'll certainly accelerate our growth. Longinious? Sorry we, I, got us distracted there."

"Actually it was a good decision. I now have an excellent understanding of how quickly it consumes your Essence, not my own strength. Anyway…"

The golden tattoo’s turned a bright green, as did the aura. “Revitalisation. Healing and the numbing of pain. Allowing one to continue fighting for considerably longer. The speed at which you would heal is probably slower than one of that Goddesses powers, but infinitely faster than letting nature take its course. Not to mention less chance of an infection.”

"I ain't cutting myself." Axia mused with a smile.

The green turned to red. “Resolve. An increase in reflexes and expanded senses. Do you feel anything different, Anton? It should affect anything friendly. And you are most certainly a friend of yourself… That was foolish of me to say.”

Anton tried not to smile as he moved his hands. They felt easier to move. Quicker to respond to his thoughts.

"It does feel a little easier." Anton flexed his hand. "More responsive if anything."

Axia's Charm glowed bright, her eyes went wide with surprise as a small Fire Ball burst into being. Mezot frowned at her daughter, not out of anger but curiosity.

"I… I almost lost control of it." A tiny bead of sweat ran down the side of her face. "The mana just flew out of me. And I really couldn't control it."

"It might be detrimental for inexperienced Mages to operate within the aura." Longinious clicked her tongue. "Perhaps it could be used offensively. But in order to reach the enemy position I would have to increase the size of the Aura."

"With a massive increase in cost too, I would imagine."

"Yes. There's a soft upper limit, where the cost is too prohibitive. Eventually it would certainly be cheaper just to blast them from a distance. Still, something to be mindful of."

“The other Auras are offensive.” Longinious’s tattoos turned purple. “So you won’t feel the difference, as you’re not an enemy of yourself. This is a Swell aura. Just like the swell of the sea it’ll cause enemies to become disoriented. They’ll stumble and fumble their swings, making them easy prey for even the most novice of fighters.”

“Tempest.” The aura and tattoos turned white. “The water coursing through their blood will begin to vibrate, firstly causing pain and wounds before finally tearing their cells apart, essentially causing them to bleed out. Internally.” Longinious pulled a worried face. “I’m actually not looking forward to how that looks. Though if it’s just a Goblin then I’m not too worried…”

Longinious’s tattoos turned black, yet it seemed brighter than normal. The aura turned black and made it difficult to see, like a thick smoke had descended over them.

“And this is Deep Nightmare.” Longinious clicked her tongue. “It disrupts the thoughts of enemies. And if their minds are weak enough they’ll start to attack their allies in a state of madness. It’s quite costly, not that I can adequately convey just how much it uses per second…But a lot.”

The black aura dissipated and her tattoos returned to normal.

“Quite a versatile array of abilities.” Anton mused, Longinious smiled. “Most of our magic doesn’t really act as support. Tethra’s, arguably, but nothing of what we’ve learnt so far. Although everything else is rather direct. In its applications. Anything different in Principle Magic, Mezot? Axia?”

“Not that I’m aware of.” Mezot said softly. Her blonde brows furrowed. “There could be something comparable to Longinious’s Aura’s but I’ve never come across it. Perhaps it was never considered important?”

She looked up from her bundle of papers. “Principle Mages are used to devastate enemy positions of fortifications. Increasing or decreasing the strength of a few nearby soldiers would not…” Mezot trailed off for a moment before making a few more notes. “Glyph Magic is probably even worse, given how most users get their abilities and how little formal education they receive.”

Axia and Zuhura shared a look while Longinious slowly nodded in agreement.

“So that's what you can do.” Anton’s words caused Longinious’s fins to perk up. “And what about me? Surely I can do something with the Black Lightning other than just blowing up my hands. And then having to get Cetina to cut off the stump. You know that she wasn’t particularly happy with all of that?"

Longinious raised her index finger, her mouth opened but no words came. Her bright orange eyes were focused towards Atros. When he turned to follow he saw a solitary soldier running towards them, a human with the bright red face despite the cold. Cetina noticed their attention. When she saw she alerted everyone else, Verona waved him over.

"We'll have to put things on a hold for a moment." Anton said softly. "This looks important."

Longinious bowed her head and followed at the rear.

Verona extended her hand and waited for Anton. "Definitely looks interesting. Anything good? Apart from changing the colour of the air?"

Mezot and Zuhura presented their notes. Verona scrunched up her face, not because of how Mezot's was relatively messy compared to Zuhura’s near flawless writing, but because of something else. Something she had been continuing to ignore.

"Y-You'll have to explain it all to me later." Verona chuckled, squeezing his hand tight despite the rough scales. "This could be quite interesting. Or terrible.” Verona threw her head back and laughed. “Probably bad, judging by his face.”

Kal nodded as she wrapped her arm through his. "Hopefully we don't have to go charging back in there. I really, really don't want to have any Beast-kin die or get hurt."

Even though so many would like to do the same to you?

The red-faced soldier quickly pushed his way through the thin number of villagers but was stopped by the line of guards. Cetina waved him through, she and Rasha ensured that he remained several paces away from Anton.

"My Lord Anton," The red-faced soldier saluted as he took deep breaths, Anton had long since given up trying to correct them. "It's…"

The man choked on his saliva. A soldier moved closer but the red-faced man waved him away.

"Forgive me. I have run straight from.” The soldier took another sharp breath. “It's the Fire Elves, or whatever they're called. They're trying to breach The Gate! A huge surge of them rushed a little bit after you left. Thousands of them."

Anton's blood ran cold, a tiny part of him was glad he could still feel such things, his eyes drawn to the south. Towards the Wood Elves. Towards Nithroel's domain.

"If they…" Cetina trailed off, knowing that everyone already understood the implications.

Anton stepped forward but stopped himself. His mind instinctively wanted to grab the man's shoulder but it would reveal his Dragonoid changes.

"They hadn't breached it when you were given the message?"

"No! Not that I'm aware of. They also mentioned there were armed Fire Elves trying to push them back, but I don't think they're doing all that well." The soldier took another deep breath. "Everyone still down there's moved into the cavern itself but they're confused about what to do. To shut The Gate or just keep them back. They know they can't let any out-"

"We'll head down there right away." Anton glanced to Longinious, patiently waiting at the rear. "Everything will have to be put be put on hold for now. Do you think your Auras and light attacks will work in that cavern?"

Longinious moved forward slightly. "I do not know. I believe they will, but neither you nor I have been exposed to Ghlyirl yet."

Verona scoffed lightly, folding her arms. "Considering you knocked us all out and made that field that Rasha couldn't cut through, I think it's safe to say it does."

Mezot tried to write on her piles of notes but Axia grabbed her hand and she stopped.

"Bet it's those ones Bilaal said they were having trouble with." Cetina drew her sword, quickly inspecting the edge before sheathing it. "If there's Fire Elf soldiers fighting Fire Elves…"

"So desperate to be free of that cavern they're going to destroy both themselves and us in the process." Anton took a deep breath. "Come on. Let's stop those fools from bringing the wrath of an envious Goddess down on us all."