POV - General Harold Winsten

Walking into the old healer's pavilion, Harold notices the worried expression he had on. As one of the greatest battle healers on the continent, little could worry such a man. And even less could make him brood in such a way, especially with Harold there to aid him.

"Roland, what has you worried so? Is it the ominous things you have been telling my daughters? What is it about this person that makes you so warry."

Looking back towards Harold, Roland's eyes held uncertainty and even a hint of fear that he had only seen once since they were recruits.

"I think he is one of them, Harold."

Eyes widening with surprise, the general continued to stare at the old healer as he contemplated those words.

"Are you sure? Maybe you made a mistake. Or… or he is just a Demon!" Anxiousness filled him, and worse, a feeling he had hoped never to return exposed its most hideous visage.

He, General Harold Winsten, The Impenetrable Fortress, The Bane of Venral felt fear for the first time since that most horrible day. A day he hoped to never remember in its most horrid detail.

"I am certain, Harold! The way his bones were structured! The toughness of his skin even what grew on his skull! It was all there!" Screaming, Roland showed more emotion the longer he sat.

"But, there is a silver lining." Hope filled the general's heart. Maybe just maybe it was not what they feared.

"He, and its most definitely a he, is still quite young. Not more than 25 summers of age by the looks of it. And best yet, he will most likely start at Level 1 again because of the potion reverting."

A young, level 1 of them. Most likely impressionable if that is true! Maybe I can take advantage of this. Get some of their blood in my family as the best-case scenario or at worse we part as friends. Smiling mischievously, he did not notice the disapproving look Roland was giving him.

"I know you well, Harold! That smile means you are planning something devious in your mind. Listen here. I will not allow you to harm him or manipulate him. If he somehow finds out you are taking advantage of him, imagine the destruction he will cause. And you will likely not see the end of it; meeting a blade head on or a spell face first! Treat him with respect, and respect will be returned. If he is anything like them, then he will be wise and with a weird limiter on his emotions during battle or extreme stress. But most importantly, he will be powerful!"

A hint of redness crept up the general's face as he was berated by his long-time friend. He hated how Roland could read his thoughts like an open book. It was quite the nuisance, especially when he was up to something devious.

As they both continued to speak an ear-piercing scream was heard within the camp.

"AHHHHHHH!"

Springing up, Harold rushes out of the tent to find a fire spreading and his daughter Sarah continuously screaming as she kept on throwing Fireball after Fireball at something.

Unsheathing his sword and picking up his tower shield while Roland grabbed his battle staff, he ran and grouped up with Lana as she ordered the guards into formation. Finally reaching her, the general's face turned into a practiced straight expression showing no emotions at all, he then asked,

"What is the situation?! What are we being attacked by? How many? Are there any mages with them? Any cavalry, or berserkers? Guard Captain! Phalanx Formation! Spears to the front and sides to protect our flanks! Mages and Archers behind! Prepare a volley to be released at my command! Go, Go, Go!"

Looking back at his daughters, he waits until they catch their breath to explain the situation to him.

"F… Father! Th… There is a DEMON!!! A demon was inside the insane man's carriage! It was enormous! At least ten feet tall! With metal armor and horns that swirled around! H.. His … His red eyes bore into my Soul!" Sarah started to rave at her father, being unable to speak clearly.

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"Slow down, Sarah. From the beginning, tell me everything that happened!" He commanded, but for some reason, his daughter started to blush.

"Umm… Uhh… Well, I have been taking care of the crazy person." Raising an eyebrow at his daughter, who he knew hated to do any chores at all, and even zoned out during their family debriefings, Harold held his tongue and let her finish,

"And I decided to wake up early to get water and a towel to wash his face an … and help him get rid of the extra heat!" Now everyone had a shocked expression, Sarah woke up Early? Is she sick?

"But, when I entered the carriage, all that was waiting from me was a monstrous thing with its horns stuck in the ceiling!"

Looking back at Roland, his impassive face broke into one of uncertainty and even a bit of fear, but as quickly as it came, it was gone. Unfortunately for him, his daughters caught that tiny slip. They looked at their father with a great deal of fear. If something can make their father afraid, then they were nothing but sheep in a slaughterhouse.

"Let us go, Roland. Maybe we can buy some time, or we can catch him disoriented by his sudden change in build and force him unconscious. We can at least prepare a better welcome." Looking back at his daughters, he noticed their confused expressions, to relieve them he merely patted them on the shoulder and assured them that everything would turn out alright.

Turning around, he motions his head towards the carriage. With him came the guard captain and Roland. As they entered, they found what they feared would be waiting for them.

"A damned Raug! It's a Raug!" Whispered the guard captain to the general,

"Yes, yes it is…" Finding that the Raug was looking at nothing with glazed eyes, Harold gestured to Roland to knock him unconscious.

Roland gathered as much mana at the knob of his staff. After he had enough mana, he swung his it with as much power as he could at the head of the Raug; doing his best not to hit the horns lest they distribute the hit and keep him conscious.

Thump!

"Guard Captain, get a few guards and carry him to a larger carriage. Make sure to decorate it with luxury. We do not want a mad Raug on our hands." Harold ordered the guard captain,

He then left with Roland back towards the old healer's pavilion. As they pushed the tent flap open, they found his daughters waiting for them. They both took seats near the girls knowing they had some explaining to do.

"Father, what is the meaning of this? What was that? I… Is the crazy man okay?" Sarah asked,

"Sarah, slow down. That man is perfectly fine." Noticing his daughters skepticism, he continues

"That is because he was what you saw."

Find nothing more than confusion, Harold looks back towards his friend for help. Only to find him shrugging his shoulders helplessly and motioning him to continue.

"You see" Clearing his throat; he prepared to tell them the true story of the Battle of Venral.

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Pain…

That was my existence for the past month. Other than that lively discussion with that ox person, everything was extremely blurry. Grass and more grass was the highlight of everything else.

Now, I wake up to find myself in a bare carriage with a thin blanket on me. Though it was quite large at three meters wide and five long. Other than a shelf filled with a plethora of plants, there was nothing else here. The only silver lining of this all is that I feel no more pain. Just a weird soreness in all my muscles.

Groaning, he tried to sit up but found it quite tricky. It was as if he had gained 200 pounds of extra muscle. After a great deal of grunting and pushing with his hands, he finally sat up only to feel his horns get stuck on the carriage ceiling.

'I swear these horns will be the death of me… wait… Horns?'

Touching his head, he felt the rough texture of his horns. Running his fingers on their elegant swirls, he sighed in relief,

'At least I am not an elf anymore! A demon is still pretty low on the list though.'

As he traced the swirls of his horns, the carriage door suddenly opens with a creak. In came a lady with enormous breasts and a voluptuous body. She wore an intricate dress that made him dizzy just trying to find out how it worked. In her hands, she carried with her a bucket of what seemed to be water and a few towels. Placing them near the door, she looked up only to freeze like a deer caught by the headlights of a car.

For what were the longest seconds of his life, they continued to stare at each other, until the lady started to scream in a shrill voice "DEMON!!!". Running out of the carriage she started to throw a Fireball at him. Covering his face from the fire, he exclaimed,

"What the Hell is going on!" Just for those damnable screens to pop up! Again!

System -

The Curse of Ragual – Blessing of Astra Cost – 9,485

The transformation has been completed. Through pain and suffering, you have become one of the Raug! A nation of warrior-mages renowned for their unmatched might. Rejoice, unlike your people, you are free! Value your freedom, for your Kin are all enslaved by the DragonKin! -

As he read the notification, in the native language of the Seven duchies, a sudden spike of what he could only call as energy appeared behind him. But as he tried to turn around to see what it was, his face met the knob of an energized battle staff. The last thing he heard was a deep voice telling someone to carry him somewhere before darkness overtook him.