The dragon roared, claws clashing with the wyvern. Green and grey scales collided, and a cascade of broken scale bits fell down onto the battlefield. Arrows arced through the air, many of them downing the smaller dragons and wyverns that fought near the two bigger ones. A few hit the giant dragon and wyvern, but they did not react. Instead, they broke apart to circle each other warily.

The wyvern schreached angirly, and the dragon bellowed in answer. Claws locked onto each other as they came together, resembling two proud eagles fighting each other for supremacy. They plummeted down towards the earth, forgetting to flap their wings as they dove towards the others throat, both trying to end the other.

Smaller wyverns and dragons fought around the pair, and more than a few were felled by a stray blow. A lucky strike slashed through the right wing of the wyvern, sending blood spraying through the air.

in retaliation, the wyvern landed a blow against the dragon's exposed neck, leaving a deep gash. They broke apart again, circling each other carefully. The wyvern struggled to stay aloft, and the dragon swayed slightly from blood lose. They rushed each other again, slamming together with enough force to nock over a mountain.

The wyvern yowled in pain as the dragon's tail slashed its already bleeding wing and lashed out on instinct, causing the dragon to cry out as the wyvern's leg crashed into its neck.

Again they crashed together, again they traded blows. They came apart, and this time flew at each other with no pause. Both were determined to end the battle.

Claws curled around throats, and teath locked around necks. They beat against each other, reaching a stalemate. Neither could kill the other without killing oneself. They hung their for a second, considering their options.

Finally, the wyvern decided. Claws tightens around a pale green throat, and teath pierced a dark green neck. In response, black-green talons closed around a dark grey throat, and ivory white teeth pierced a pale grey neck.

In an instant, the greatest wyvern and dragon to ever grace the planet Talloniac ended each others lives and plummeted, lifless, to the battlefield below them.

"The finest pies in Zandor! Made with delicious, fresh berries!" A vendor shouted, drawing the attention of a few passerbyers, who stopped to look at the man's delicious smelling pies.

Wait... Where am I? I thought, sniffing the air. Wasn't the last thing I remember doing is fighting the wyvern? I wondered, looking around. Why is everyone so tall? Did I shrink? I had only been this short when I was a dragonet.

Memories flashed to the forefront of my mind, and I remembered the battle. Rising to fight for my people, my country... tossing small wyverns from the air... meeting the giant wyvern... fighting them... the feeling of claws and teeth slicing through bone and muscle as the wyvern's teeth punctured my throat... I gasped, realization flashing through me.

I had died! How was that possible? I, Gwenaldia the First, Gaurdian of the Silver Isles, Slayer of Wyverns, Sister to the Silver Queen, Bearer of the Forest Heart, had died. It was impossible. It had to be impossible. After all the thousands (hundreds) of years I had lived, I had somehow died?! No! This could not stand! I will tear down the mountains and boil the seas of that is what it takes to go back to my land!

I opened my mouth and let loose a roar loud enough to shake a mountain... Only to hear a pitiful squeak. Embarrassment coursed through me. If I was human, I would have blushed. Fortunately, I was not.

So. I was missing the size and power of my great, powerful, and awesome former body. That would not stop me. I would grow powerful and regain my former strength. It would only take a hundred or so years...

I firmed my resolve and attempted to open my wings to take flight, so I could survey the area. Strangely, my feet stayed firmly planted on the ground, and not a leaf stirred at the flap of my wings.

Confused, I glanced over my shoulder and saw... That I had no wings. Instead, a furry, calico-colored back that ended in a weird tail that resembled that of a cat... Relisation crashed through me. Of all the forms the gods could have chosen, of all the shapes they could have given me, they had to have chosen this form?! What had I done to deserve this?! I do not deserve to be a cat! Cats are weak! And did I mention that I've always been mortally afraid of cats?!

Ever since I was a dragonet, cats have terrified me... and now I was one! This could not stand! Growling in distaste, I spun around to get a look at this new, weak body. As far as I could tell, I was a average (at least to my very limited knowledge) calico cat. I was not average! How dare the gods slight me like this! I would tear the heavens down!

But first... I needed food. My stomach growled in agreement. I examined my surroundings. I was in a fairly large alley full of trash and discarded belongings. Nearby, a bustling street full of people and horses wound past, and my mouth began to water at the sight of some of the food the vendors were selling.

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Even though I was repulsed by the idea of stealing food, it was my "only" option. I could, technically, eat the discarded food in the alley, but I would not stoop that far. Anyway, who knows what diseases I would get from eating that trash.

………………………………………………………

While the dragon-turned-cat plotted the villainous ways it would steal food, a group of people who looked to be around fifteen, give or take, approached a fairly large one-story log building. Outside, a line of people and groups stretched out from the door of the building.

Grizzled travelers, young, inexperience children, and those who were neither one or the other impatiently (or patiently in some cases) to reach the front of the line.

Growling, one of the fifteen year olds bashed the head of his giant axe into the, luckily, reinforced road. "How long is this line?" He muttered, annoyed.

"As long as it is." A slender woman clad in dark clothing answered, twirling a dagger above her fingers.

The axe-boy glared at the dagger-girl. "Katerina, Orian, calm down. We'll get there soon enough, and then, after a few quests, maybe we can get out of here and move to one of those cities without outrageous quest lines." A scholarly young boy said, pushing his glasses up his face from where they had slipped to while his was reading the book that he clutched.

Katerina rolled her eyes, and Orian grumbled something and turned away from the group. "Richard, just leave them alone. They're going to argue no matter what." The final member of the group, a sorceress, spoke up.

Katrina glanced at the sorceress, annoyed. "Emily, we don't always argue! Just sometimes!"

Emily sighed but didn't comment. Richard cleared his throat. "Ahem. We're almost at the front."

The party snapped to attention, gazes focused on the door in front of them. Soon, it was their turn. The door was proped open, so they could see the inside. It looked very much like a large tavern. Chairs and tables were set up, with a fireplace in the corner. Groups of adventures that had returned or was preparing for a quest sat around, chatting. A long counter ran across the far wall, and behind it stood apprentices of the Adventures Guild, watched over by their masters.

"Next!" A young girl who couldn't have been older than twelve shouted. The party approached her, apprehensive. The girl smiled encouragingly and asked for their names.

"Katerina." "Emily." "Orian." "Richard." They answered.

"I'll be your assistant today. My name is Helene. Is this your first quest, or have you done this before?" The girl asked, smiling pleasantly.

"No. This is our first time." Emily replied.

The girl continued, still smiling. "Alright. I'll get you a quest stone and register you." After a second of fishing around, she produced a small, foggy stone. Once she had cleaned its surface off, she offered it to them. "All of you should touch it. Then, you shall be assigned quests and rolls by the system."

Nervously, they reached out, and, as one, touched the stone. A box flickered on the corner of each of their visions.

For Katerina, it said:

Quest Name: Righting the Balance Description: A divine being is in need of your assistance. As no divine creature can turely die, this being has been transported to this world. They need your help to regain their lost form and strength. Reward: Unknown Role: Assasin/Theif

For Richard it was:

Quest Name: Righting the Balnce Description: A divine being has been reborn. They have no knowledge of the area and need your scholarly knowledge to guide them through this unfamiliar area. Reward: Unknown Role: Scholar/Teacher

For Emily it displayed:

Quest Name: Righting the Balance Description: A divine being has been born again in your world and needs your magical assistance to help guide them to their former power and glory. Reward: Unknown Role: Sorceress/Magician

For Orian it read:

Quest Name: Righting the Balance Description: A divine being has been reincarnated into your world and needs your protection to regain their former power. Reward: Unknown Role: Portector/Warrior

They all stared at their new quest, and confusedly exclaimed, "What?!"