‘Grimoria, what the hell did you do?!’, Paul screamed internally.

‘What I did? When? What? I don’t know what you’re talking about, if you don’t tell me.’, Grimiora answered defensively.

‘Don’t play dumb with me!!!’

‘I really don’t know what you mean. Please, I just noticed how you were a bit grumpy again and then you looked in the mirror and just exploded. Is it the ears? I swear I can’t change anything about those.’, now she seemed almost hurt.

‘I just thought of myself as a woman.’, she angrily replied. ‘And now I did it again! You're pulling something you're not telling me here!’

‘Ehh?’

‘Don’t “Ehh?” me. This was way too fast of a adjustment for me.’

‘Isn’t it natural to think of yourself as a woman if you are one?’, the dragon questioned with some perplexity.

‘Yeah, if you were born one. And not if you just became one six hours ago. And even if you were born one, not always.’

‘Oh, you think I’m secretly influencing your mind? I guess I could be in a way. But not actively. And I really don’t have much say on the matter.’

‘And why didn’t you tell me that?’, Paul berated with a telepathic glare.

‘Because I didn’t know if it would actually happen. And I didn’t think you would be freaking out so much over it, if it did.’

‘But what is “it”? Tell me that already!’

‘I’m not sure how much each factor applies, but I can think of a couple things. Firstly, your subconsciousness recognized that you are female now and now it’s influencing you to also think of yourself as a woman. Can’t blame it, you do look pretty feminine now. Your brain also has female genetics now, which could explain your untypical outburst this morning, but I don’t know how if that actually has any relevance.’

‘That’s not something I want to hear.’

‘I’m getting to that matter soon. Secondly, playing into the first, the nice gentleman next to you let you think that this may not be so bad after all and spurred on the first factor.’

‘Gentleman my ass. The guy just acted nice at first, but now he is just chewing my ears off and didn’t even notice the emotional peril his fair maiden is in.’

‘Well, he didn’t make you uncomfortable by commenting on anything and now he leaves you in peace. I doubt he could have done anything more appropriate. Okay, third factor. I already told you about the coming “soul-merge”. Which does include that both of us become more similar to the other. Basically a bit averaging out our different traits. That does include opinions, morals and, like it turns out, our own perceived gender. And it should be relatively even in the amount of things changed on each of us. I think I’m already a bit more stuck-up like you~.’

‘But if it is even, even for gender, wouldn’t that lead to us thinking of us as both genders or none? Or how would one even calculate the average of that?’

‘Yeah, that's the thing. I don’t know how the averages will turn out. And I don’t know you well enough to even know your side of things. Which is why I couldn’t predict this development. My hypothesis is that your gender isn’t actually that important to your identity, while for me it is. That could even be a factor for your change in the first place. And the average of that turned out to be you also becoming female.’

‘But my gender is really important to me, that explanation is bullshit!’, Paul complained.

‘I said I don’t know for sure. But I have the suspicion that gender isn’t even the big problem here. It’s you fearing changes to yourself in general. And you not being you anymore.’

Could that really be it? Paul had to admit herself that that was something he feared. Finally coming back to his world, only to notice how estranged he had gotten to modern society. And not having a place in it anymore. Which is why the change had upset him so much originally.

‘I’m interpreting your silence as that I’m onto something there. But let me give my thoughts on the matter. I think that you are pretty lucky that this has happened. I can’t imagine you being happy in the long run being female, but still thinking of yourself as a man. Or anyone for that matter. And I might mention that you just made the resolution to look your reality in the eye just a couple hours ago.’

‘I guess I did do that.’, Paul reluctantly admitted.

‘And in terms of losing your identity and who you are: From what you have told me about your home world, you probably have changed significantly already. And I can assure you, that will only pick up in pace with our “situation”, no matter what you do.’

‘You’re saying that I will only make my life harder if I try to stop it?’

‘Yes. And it seems a bit ridiculous to me when you already changed so much, but want to suddenly halt your next development. Especially if it will be even harder to resist than the rest.’

Paul could only silently admit that she was right. The question of who she wanted to be would be answered with time.

And I did it again. Okay, seems like there is no getting around this one. But I’m not becoming a rom-com enthusiast wannabe comedian. No leeway on that one.

‘That’s a better expression to have.’

‘Okay, I will try to go with it. But I’m only getting a new name after I talked to my friends.’

‘You want to make it official by getting a new name? Good idea. I was already a bit confused when you gave Sigmund your old one.’

‘It’s not my old one yet!’, Paul chuckled.

Till late afternoon their journey went without incident and they made good progress. At least until Paul noticed a slightly distressing feeling.

“Sigmund. May we halt for a moment?”

“Halt? Does thee want to rest already? Of course, a lady such as you could not be blamed for being tired after such a perilous journey through the forest.”, the man nodded with almost exaggerated understanding.

Is he secretly making fun of me? And what journey? I haven’t told him anything. Well, mainly because he didn’t leave me a chance. I will have to make some conversation tomorrow, otherwise I will go insane from his eighth retelling of how his first time making a cupboard with three doors went totally wrong.

“Oh no, I can definitely go for another couple hours. Just a quick halt. I have to take care of some business.”, she said while motioning to the side of the road.

‘I’m impressed, such a maidenly way of talking.’, Grimiora not letting up on that chance.

‘Do you want me to accept my new body or not? And I talked that way, even when I was still a man. Nobody's business what I’m doing in the bushes. And I just noticed, I felt the urge only now, even though I drank so much water during the drive, is my digestion or whatever terms it is for fluids, also different now?’

‘Yes, and there is still some other stuff that you haven’t noticed, but I think they will be more fun to discover yourself. And I swear, no nasty surprises included. Unless I also haven’t noticed them or they only show up with time. In that case, have fun~.’

“Business? Ah, certainly. I will halt immediately.”, Sigmund said.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

‘Would have been entertaining to watch if he wouldn’t have gotten it. How sad.’

Damn rom-com freak.

Stepping off the wagon, Paul hurried behind into the bushes and approached a convenient-looking tree. Loosening her belt, she suddenly remembered a small detail she had missed.

Oh crap!

A good while later, Paul went back to the wagon with a slightly flushed face. Grimiora’s advice had turned out to be rather unhelpful and a technique she recommended, which included the use of [Flame of Destruction], a bit too... experimental.

‘Hey, that wasn’t too bad! Especially for a first-timer like you.’, Grimiora tried to save the situation.

‘If you actually told that to someone else, they have my sincerest condolences.’, Paul responded with a glare that would have caused rime to build on the dragon had that one been actually physically present.

When the sun shone it’s last rays of light for the day, Paul and Sigmund set up camp at the wayside. The carpenter did light a small campfire, but only for the warmth it gave off, as they both only had preservable food with them and no fresh ingredients to cook anything. Spring was luckily nearing its end, so the fire wasn’t even that necessary, but Sigmund had insisted on it. Probably in pursuit of some gentlemanly ideal.

Paul still didn’t really feel like talking to the man, so they both went to sleep. The man near his horse and his wagon and the draconic lady leaned on a tree near the campfire. Finally giving her eyes a lick immediately calmed her down. When the sun had completely set and Paul was just dozing off, she jerked up at a still strange sensation.

It smells. But different than during the day. Is it just the different fauna of the night?

Concentrating, the sensation became clearer.

It’s feels like when I tried to read Sigmund earlier. But more hostile. I think something is approaching.

Further focusing, she could hear light, silent steps.

But where is it coming from? It just sounds like it’s coming from every direction. Wait, it is coming from every direction.

‘Hey, I think we are surrounded already!’, Paul whispered mentally.

‘Indeed, we are. Good job noticing that. That’s some impressive adaptation to your new instincts. And whispering like that doesn’t achieve anything. I doubt anything could listen in on us.’, Grimiora praised her with a slight smile.

‘Way easier than the gender thing.’, Paul responded. ‘But are we gonna do? Should we run? I don’t think Sigmund is much of a warrior. And I’m not that much of an expert on the monsters in this forest.’

‘Don’t forget that you're much stronger than before. And you have a fancy skill from me. Perfect opportunity to test it. And you can play knight and protect Sigmund for a change.’

‘Not like he ever protected me. But definitely a good chance to present my most cheesiest one-liners. And if I’m hearing things right, we would get flanked pretty hard if we tried to break the encirclement. Let’s fight!’, Paul proclaimed with an eagerness that even surprised herself.

Dragons do like to fight it seems.

“Hey, Sigmund! You awake?”, she called out to the man.

“I am. What’s the going on?”, Sigmund answered with a befuddled look.

‘Oh no! Now he completely broke character. How tragic!’, Grimiora commented.

“There is something approaching. They already encircled us. Pretty sure it has to be some pack-hunting monster.”

“What?! What are we gonna do? I can’t fight! We are doomed!”, Sigmund immediately jumped the gun on despairing.

“Calm down. We still don’t know what it exactly is and I should be able to fend them off for a while. Really dangerous stuff shouldn’t be here, so close to civilization.”

“Fight them alone? Can’t we try to break the circle?”, the man actually calmed down at the sight of Paul with her impressive height, sword drawn and in a combat stance.

“Definitely not with your horse alive. And it’s already too late.”, she muttered, as the adversaries appeared in the dim glow of the dying fire. Large frame, four legs, two tails, unruly fur in grey and brown and mouth full of sharp teeth.

I saw those in some guild-provided material. Twin-tailed Wolves. A lot more aggressive than normal ones. Rank 2. Only threat in this forest I actually heard about.

‘Can I beat those?’

‘You could beat them even with just your sword. But I estimate that the nice gentleman over there is going to bite the dust, if you don’t use your fancy new skill.’

‘I didn’t forget that, okay?’, Paul scoffed and stepped towards the first wolf charging their position next to the campfire. Firing off [Flame of Destruction] in the face of the first one, thrusting her sword in the throat of the second and kicking the snout of a third, Paul fought off the initial charge. The first one ran off in the forest, howling in agony and dropping dead a couple meters later, the second died almost immediately in a pool of its own blood and the third seemed to be knocked out cold on the ground. But the remaining seven didn’t care. They all ran towards Paul with even bigger fervor. Which enabled Paul to get all of them by channeling the flame and turning. All of them breathed their last, charred almost to unrecognizability. Paul dropped to one knee with labored breath, leaning on her sword with the wolf’s blood still dripping from it.

Shit, that was really hard on my mana. I think I’m gonna pass out. Shouldn't have channeled that without testing it.

[Twin-tailed Wolf] x10 defeated

Suddenly, the immense strain on her head that she felt let off, only to be replaced by the feeling of somehow being connected to the largest power source Paul could imagine. But it came as fast as it had arrived, leaving her in a state of unbelieving amazement.

Is that how it feels when she transfers power to me? Was that her power?

‘Was that you?’, she asked with unwithheld awe.

‘So impressed? Well, I wouldn’t have it any other way.’, Grimiora gloated.

‘Impressed isn’t even a word for it.’, Paul completely ignoring her attitude. ’Just how powerful are you?’

‘Well, you do have to be somewhat strong if you are able to kill gods. Even if they were more or less self-proclaimed.’, the dragon continued in the same incessant tone.

Fuck me, if that wasn’t some weird illusion, I might even believe her that crazy story. Still going to research if it actually happened tho.

The coughing of Sigmund and the smell of badly burned fur ripped Paul out of her trance of wonder.

Oh right, I did use fire to kill them. Good thing it burns out if whatever I want to kill dies. Otherwise the whole forest would probably burn down.

“That was some amazing fighting, miss Paul. Do you work as a guard?”

“I work as an adventurer. And I already told you that when we met.”

“That can’t possibl...Ah, no matter. Regardless, thank you for defending me, even though you said that you didn’t want to.”

‘Seems like someone can’t look reality in the eye~. Look, that’s what happens to people who do that, Paul. They become total weirdo carpenters.’, Grimiora lectured in a scholarly tone.

“Well, it would suck if I had to walk myself.”, Paul replied to the man in a matter of fact tone.

“My humble self will dedicate itself to provide you with the best possible ride imaginable for saving my life!”, Sigmund excitedly shouted.

Why does he still insist on talking that way? It’s just plain ridiculous if the other party doesn’t also do it.

‘Hahaha, the best ride imaginable on wagon! The man has humour I tell you.’, Grimiora ridiculed.

‘I don’t think a carriage would be more comfortable on this forest path. Except for being a bit more protected from the elements, that is.’

‘Ehh?’

‘What “Ehh”? Aren’t I usually the one with that reaction?’

‘Oh, no, nothing.’

‘I feel like something’s up. What is it?’

‘Something that has bothered me for a while now. But I’m still not sure if what I think is the case, is actually the case. I will tell you when I have seen Sommtrum, promised.’

‘Okay, then I guess I will be waiting for you.’, Paul acquiesced.

“I would, however, be rather thankful if you could help me move those corpses. I don’t think we want to wake up to a swarm of flies buzzing about.”, she said while wiping her sword clean with a rag. To which the man just nodded with a quite reluctant expression.

While working, Paul decided to finally check her gains. Which caused her to almost trip on the air.

Name: Paul Ray(+ Grimiora)

Strength: 31(+30)

Dexterity: 33(+30)

Endurance: 30(+30)

Magic Power: 25(+30)

Magic Control: 27(+30)

Magic Concentration: 24(+30)

Skills: Basic Swordsmanship lv.4; Basic Fighting Instinct lv.2; Basic Light Magic lv.2; General Repairs lv.3; Mathematics lv.12; Driving lv.6; Painting lv.1; (up)Flame of Destruction lv.15; (new)Draconic Barrier lv. 15

Even with having gotten a glimpse at her power, this is just ridiculous. I could join the Royal Guard in the capital with those stats. And as either a mage OR a warrior. Not that I wasn’t bonkers when I got the first power boost. I just killed a pack of rank 2 monsters that would have been a match for a couple seasoned adventurers alone and in like two minutes. Those dragon skills are nuts! But I seriously have to practice with those soon. Otherwise I could be pretty fucked if I don’t know how they exactly behave.

‘But seriously, how strong were you?’

‘Well, let’s just say that I don’t blame the humans or the other races for seeing those self-made gods I killed recently, as gods.’

‘That’s not a number.’, Paul grumbled.

‘Humans, always with their numbers….Let me tell you: After some point your stats become decisively less important, when you can easily overcome the difference with higher quality skills. And I personally think those are my real strong point.’

‘I noticed. That fire was crazy. But that mana drain wasn’t a joke.’

‘Yeah, that one was a bit dangerous at lower levels. So, no channeling anymore on your part. Most stuff around here will die with a single blast. And I don’t have to tell you that shooting it in the air isn’t the most effective.’

Finally done, Paul and Sigmund went to sleep once more.