-Morning - Nefiru's POV-
In the Ragefires courtyard, thirty low-ranked armed guards appeared waiting instructions in a formation while an imposing wolf over five meters tall with golden fur glittering in the sunlight lowers its head sniffing Shaila. The white-haired Noble girl shaking in front of the massive beast didn't dare move a muscle and sneakily made a tiny light mirror near her left eye to look behind at our reactions ten meters away.
"SHAILA!!"The Noble dressed in gaudy blue clothes called out as terror overtook his face.
However, the beast just inspects the girl up close without doing anything else.
"D-don't move! Wait for a distraction..." He ordered with a hardened expression.
"Um... Sir, rescue is difficult, to say the least..." A guard from the group politely said.
"Difficult? It could take three digits of low ranking casualties to stop the beast--after it's out of mana!" A soldier harshly explained.
"I'm not bored of living to be fodder away from the War. Can we go now?" An auramancer expressed unwillingness.
"Argh! So useless!" The noble grimaced at the soldier's reluctance. "Don't just stare--do something!" Lester demanded exasperatedly.
"Don't wanna...I can't do anything against such a magnificent beast anyway." I praised watching the she-wolf perk her ears.
I doubt Erina would do anything stupid, but thinking otherwise would break that trust and invite disaster. I asserted observing the surreal scene while sitting on the auramancer woman.
"Buy us better armors!" A guard protested. "These won't make a difference even for a sacrifice." He added.
"Can't Magical Earth Beasts like that crush us WITH our armors?" A woman pointed out.
""OH!"" The others realized in unison.
"Or make us swim in lava..." An elder man added.
""OOH!"" The others said impressed in unison.
"High ranking beasts are smart and might be just curious. We shouldn't do anything aggressive and offer it some food." A senior man reviewed before proposing.
"I want to pet those fluffy ears--" A young man suggested before was hit. *Pah!*
"Sorry boss. But we are just decoration here, and the dragon won't be able to do anything either. Judging by the size, even Big Red would avoid fighting this creature on the ground." Someone in charge reported.
"Wh-why is such a beast in this place? W-why do we have to leave Shaila at it's mercy?" The noble stuttered as fear transformed his face. "Did it follow you here?" He accused me with a ragged breathing and sweating profoundly.
"Yes, it did," I replied casually.
"I-I KNEW IT! This is your fault!" Yelled Lester while scowling.
"N-nefiru... Is Shaila's going to be alright?" Liana questioned nervously looking up.
"That would be up to the wolf and her." I declared hinting a confrontation between them.
"Ugh! Why does she have to go through this?" Lester glared with an ugly expression.
"T-the beast doesn't look hostile, or we would all be dead, so let's be patient..." Liana assured. "And, Nefiru...how long are you going to keep your ass on me?" The woman protesting of getting her light brown pants and top dirty under me.
"It's punishment for trying to stab me there, and you are a comfortable cushion," I announced.
"Sighs... I'll make it up to you in the town later, but it was a valid strategy." She justified.
Done contemplating the amusing exchanges, we stay silent, turning our attention to the gates where the elemental mirror reflecting Shaila's eye vanished, and the girl sighed as if understanding she is being tested again.
"...This puny human is your master? Absurd, I don't see anything special..." The golden she-wolf growled my way reporting.
I guess I'll translate-- I thought before briskly growls came from the white-haired girl.
"Who small?" Shaila growled back defiantly. "Me strong--young!" She struggled to convey while gripping her little fists.
Huh?! She understands? I was surprised along with the onlookers.
"H-how brave!" Commented the woman from earlier.
Wait, when did Shaila learn wolf language!? She didn't know anything four days ago, and I've been learning for weeks! I noticed the impossible feat.
"What's this...!?" Mused the golden wolf while tilting her head.
"Shaila! Don't aggravate the beast! ...Just wait!" Lester rebuked nervously. "Ugh! Why is Alphonse so late!? He might be more helpful than this scared dragon." Lester complained looking behind the armored soldiers. "Stupid beast hierarchy!" He muttered cursing.
They don't get it? Then it wasn't a rented wolf--NO WAY!! Could Shaila have made THAT much progress from her wolf memories!? Although imperfect, that growling speech and a beast's body language would take immense effort to learn in just four days from mere recollections. I consider the possibility.
"Speak my tongue?" The she-wolf asked confirmation.
"Little." She replied with a cute growl.
Oh, my... I wanna hear her howl... I fantasized.
"Interesting. Maybe I won't eat you." The beast licked her lips mischievously.
Shaila trembled watching the dripping saliva forming puddles on the dusty black ground, and then her magic reaches me.
WHAT?! How is she almost Mid-Rank 6!!? The Higher Ranks gets harder, not easier! This cheating girl...her high-rank ability turned out to be solidifying light huh? STILL! It consumes crazy amounts of mana like my magnetism, so how she ranked so fast?! I realized the abnormality and conjectured before feeling her magic intertwining with mine as if seeking support.
I quickly complied tracing the energy back and entirely occupy the girl's body with my magic making her shiver while I feel her every muscle, bone and blood vessels before she struggles to do the same inside my body.
"I want fish too..." She muttered in Stilus after inspecting my stomach.
The girl lowered the density of her low magic reserves before filling my large form while exposing her Spirit to my soul domain and causing a pleasant sensation for me.
Uohh!!? This feels good! I notice a delicate and noble presence permeating my being. I never felt Shaila like this...it must be because our spirit is changing near the soul stage, but it's quite unlike with Erina... I judged before making my Spirit bare as well.
"Ahhng!" Shaila moaned after invading her Soul domain.
MMM... It's good to feel you too! Oh--Soul Mate... I close my eyes indulging in the shared pleasant sensation for the first time.
"Shaila's acting strange..." Liana noticed from the ground.
"She's scared of dying at any moment!" The noble young man spoke impatiently.
"No, that's not it..." The blond woman realized something but kept quiet.
"Sir Lester! Are we under attack--?" Alphonse appeared in a hurry.
"About time!" Lester said impatiently and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Huh!? It's an old wolf this time!?? Why is the miss always attracting troublesome beasts?" The black-haired man retorted nearby. "There must be a reason for a high ranking wolf entering our lands, and the trouble-dragon acting calm seem related, so I guess we wait." Alphonse analyzed.
"That's what I said!" Liana proclaimed. "Wolves have never caused trouble in our kingdom, and this one hasn't done anything...yet." She narrated before turning serious.
The golden beast patiently waited while the humans made a fuss and continued speaking after we open our eyes.
"Your bond seems genuine...." The wolf reviews our doings with a warm gaze.
"Mm! Jointed!" The girl happily affirmed hugging her body.
Erm... Shaila, the wolves, mostly use' jointed' for the knot part of intercourse. She probably meant our Spirit exchange though. I noticed the mistake.
"...A tiny human cannot satisfy a beast, share the joy of the hunt, or have descendants." Erina rebuked.
Uh... She didn't mean it that way! Also, you can't birth my children either, and there's hardly any joy chasing rodents. Though we could hunt Earth Dragons in the mountains... I retorted realizing my lack of fun activities.
"Uguh!" The white-haired girl uttered lowering the head.
Oi! Don't get swept in her pace. You do not need to satisfy me more than this... I thought and borrowed some of Shaila's Light elementals to flash inside her eye.
"--She jealous--" I sent with morse code to help a little.
"W-want him?" The girl stuttered asking the beast.
Erina glared at me as if realizing something then answered...
"Yes... An interesting Dragon even before meeting and my instincts recognize his potential.... It's a shame we are different beasts now, but there's no need to give up....I will birth his offsprings!" The she-wolf confessed the reason for her obsession with some parts unknown to me.
Ah! Don't treat me like a stallion--you crazy wolf! Oh, wait...if High Talent couples have higher chances of gifted children than mediums, then what about me who has two High Affinities and one low? DA FUCK? How did I not notice I was a stallion? I marveled at having talented offsprings.
It was strange that a beast would just seek pleasure with me when a better option would be males of her species, and I hate to admit it, but these giant wolves have stupidly large sex organs. Erina must be rejecting genes that won't satisfy her which seem to be related to affinities, but she could just stop fertilization while having fun... Well, I rather not say anything that may compromise my freedom... I ponder while the growl conversation between the two she-wolves continues.
"M-me want him..." Shaila announced intimidated.
"What good are you in....or fights? Just a burden....he'll eventually become bored." The she-wolf admonished.
"Me fight!" She countered.
"YOU NO BEAST!" The wolf snapped blowing Shaila's hair while displaying her lustrous fangs.
The wolf girl trembled as blood drains from her face and the golden beast snorted as if won the argument then turned to me.
"You'll thank me later....taking you away by force." She threatened with a serious glint in her eyes.
KUK!!? I noticed the connection with Shaila getting disrupted.
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The she-wolf's magic squeezes tighter the two energy threads connecting Shaila and me to force us apart.
"...NOOO!" The white-haired girl roared.
"GWRRR! YOU NO GOOD!!" The she-wolf barked thunderously rattling the glass windows after the shockwave passed our bodies.
"This-this is hard to watch." Stammered Lester.
"It's as if they are arguing..." Alphonse conjectured.
"But Shaila never even had a wolf pet..." The blond woman puzzled.
However, the white-haired girl didn't back down, struggling to maintain her Magic inside of me while losing control and being deprived of what little Mana she has left.
"Argh--WRONG!" The light user contradicted ignoring the massive maw full of teeth that could shred her in a blink of an eye.
The golden wolf ignored her and looked at me with her wiry hackles puffed.
"Only a beast suits you, and she doesn't need you either..." The she-wolf announced. "LEAVE HER!" She ordered menacingly.
Hoh? That's going to cost you mana. I dismissed Erina's threats.
"HE MINE! BODY...SOUL!" Shaila declared growling loudly enough to resound in the quiet courtyard. "Huff! Huff!" She panted while trembling from the outburst.
Fatality? Her non-violent bluffs won't have any effect... I judged Erina lowering her ears while the connection with Shaila restores. I better treat Shaila's throat since she's not one to yell. I assert moving elementals to the affected location.
"GRMMN..." The golden beast groaned when another interruption came.
"DAMN IT NEFIRU!" Lester cursed out loud losing his patience. "Tell us what's happening already! You have been learning wolf language right?" He demanded an explanation while Erina's snout twitched.
"GRRR!" The creature growled annoyed at Lester.
Hmm... Lester is acting like a small fry, but he did ransack a town for the sister that seems in danger now... I notice the behavior upsetting Erina.
"Ack! Wha--what did I do?" He stammered hiding from view with my body.
"Uh... Do you not know how foolish it is to anger a high rank?" Alphonse glared questioning but received no answer. "If this old beast wanted, and doesn't fear the consequences, it could kill half of Sulow town--FROM HERE!" He firmly rebuked.
"Gulp!" The blond noble shivered and swallowed loudly then kept quiet.
Yep! Erina is one scary dog, and she endured enough... I affirmed recalling.
High-rank earth users can control the bones of regular animals from miles away as well as weaker magical beasts against their will depending on rank and distance, but Erina is a Mid Rank 9 with a magic density of seven hundred times that of mine...
Lester is only Mid-Rank 5 now and would find it hard to resist having his bones destroyed at this distance which is overkill, but he's also an earth user that can fight for control while I would need to use water magic... I theorize before speaking.
"The beast understands Stilus and despises the bossy attitude of a lowly human," I revealed causing a commotion.
""IT CAN?"" Lester and Liana uttered almost at the same time looking at the wolf with pale faces.
*Clarsh!* The guards opened their formation and forced a black-haired young man outside.
"Not funny guys!" Protested the person who wanted to pet the wolf.
"Oh! That's convenient." Nodded Alphonse coming a little closer to Erina.
"Uh... I didn't have to growl so much then? My throat is sore..." The white-haired girl questions her choice of communication helping me with treatment.
"Greetings, old one. I am a soldier working for our Divine's descendants." He explained his status respectfully. "May we know the purpose of your visit?" The man in yellow uniform asked.
"WROUF!" The she-wolf scoffed realizing his bluff for intimidation.
"So? What does it want?" Lester asked translation as they a look at me.
"To take Nefi away from me..."Shaila spoke normally.
"To kill my owners along with any other related human--" I informed when the group of guards started running.
*Clarsh! Clarsh! Kliing!...Tin!* The guards disappeared leaving behind equipment.
"Cowards!" Their employer admonished.
"...I've been too soft with their discipline," Alphonse admits staring at the dropped items.
"--and keep me in her tribe, but changed her mind after talking with Shaila." I finish explaining.
"Amazing...standing up to such beast, but next time, let's just buy another dragon. I can hear my own heart... Aghh..." Liana said and loosened up.
"And Nefiru causes trouble again..." The middle-aged man remarked shaking his head.
"So...sister didn't waste time learning beast tongue?" Lester meekly said looking at his sister.
"Nope. They argued, and Shaila won splendidly." I reaffirmed proudly feeling the foreign spirit inside me move vigorously. "She didn't even leak!" I declared feeling the blood rushing to her face.
"Ugu! Y-you made sure I couldn't..." She stuttered in a low voice while looking down and covering her face with the hands.
Yes... Erina's reaction to Shaila pissing in front of her wouldn't be favorable. I surmised.
"Did you enjoy having two females fight for you?" Erina questions looking my way.
You got me haha! I affirmed smirking at her.
The golden beast nodded briefly with an amiable expression before turning serious.
"I'm pleased with your companion, but she makes me uneasy...feels inhuman. I hope you explain soon why she's worthy." The earth user acknowledged before requesting.
What a scary appraising ability Erina has... I noticed.
"Hmph! Who are you to say I'm not good enough in the first place?" Shaila complained crossing her arms.
"That's my little sister!" The big sister proudly commended.
"Erina, you cunning wolf! Don't pretend you were testing my partner when you gave up trying to break us apart!" I declared in Stilus.
"GHUNU!" The beast in question groaned and lied down placing the head on her forelegs.
"You DO know the beast!" Lester accused.
"Did you confuse a wolf for a Dragoness?" Alphonse teased.
"This she-wolf just wants to have 'fun,' and thought you guys were getting in her way," I explain her intentions. "Well, I can't define her as good or bad, but she is a reasonable beast, and I cherish our friendship." I declared causing the she-wolf to beat her tail tip slightly.
Yes... I learned from Safi that I must value other beasts and my instincts tell me that trusting Erina begets trust. I affirm.
"But we don't put him in a cage... He does whatever he wants." Lester shrugged saying.
"He orders us around and calls me a minion.... Not even the Divine treats me that badly!" Alphonse complained to the she-wolf.
"He doesn't even treat me like a living thing!" Protested Liana moving my tail from her face.
"Fufufu..." Shaila chuckled triumphantly before hitting her chest. *Pomf!* "I'm the sole reason Nefi comes back! And we have a deal with my family, but he's free to do anything...even eat our guards or children in town..." She declared pointing behind.
A little too dark Shaila... I wouldn't eat innocent children. I reproved. Hmm... She's not rank 7 yet, and beast memories are affecting her personality? This is too soon and abrupt. It must be new memories--perhaps because the rank increased or Shaila is close to the soul stage, but an ancient soul like her should remember more than others. I ponder.
"...This little one is acceptable." Erina approved before glaring at Lester. "But I can eat them if you can't..." The she-wolf noticed a loophole in the deal.
"Tsk. Tsk. Erina, it's bad to eat useful minions when an insect can influence the most powerful by cause and effect." I admonished.
"Value noted." She acknowledged.
"May I?" Shaila asked permission glancing behind.
The girl appears reluctant to giving her back to a beast as a sign of weakness or perhaps avoiding being rude.
"Go reunite, little one." Erina consented. "The dragon already defined our places...." She announced with a defeated sigh.
"Excuse me then." She took two steps back and turned around before speeding up.
I lift my rear releasing Liana and turned around while lowering my snout.
"OMPH!" The girl crashed onto my muzzle creating a recoil and latched tightly with both arms. "I WAS WORRIED!" She shouted reprimanding. "Raiga told Alphonse...you didn't return--Huuee..." The light user informed the source of her worries sniveling.
She's always enduring...this girl. I realize stopping the others from approaching with my tail.
I lift my head carrying the glued girl and move closer to the she-wolf before sitting in front of her while lowering my head.
*Shuuk!* I open my wings to cover the two of us.
"Hiinff!" Shaila separated wiping her dirty face before gazing into my eyes. "You better thought of me at all times!" She demanded, hitting my muzzle.
"Always...even when pooping!" I replied with a smirk.
"Gross! Hehe..." She giggled while my tail shakes behind. "Ah, it's going to get sticky..." The girl said closing her eyes and mouth before I started licking gently.
I washed Shaila with warm water after her body and dress were covered in slubber, then she combed the hair with fingers.
Even at this rank, I still can't make boiling water, but on the other hand, lowering the temperature gets easier. I review making sure the girl is spotless.
"It's okay... I'll dry." She said illuminating her body. "Now I'm thirsty." The white-haired requested.
I make a glass of ice in the air filled with cold water which she grabbed and drank before biting the ice.
*Crunch!* She breaks it and swallows.
"Congratulation for the rank and remembering your past!" I praised brushing her frilly dress.
"Hehe... Thank you." She giggled with a broad smile. "...Nobody dares venture far north, and brother didn't let me leave because it was not possible to survive with my rank, but luckily a bottle containing Top Mana crystals arrived with your name on it..." Shaila resumed.
Yes...it gets easier absorbing mana with a higher rank, and she is a cheat that can replenish Light elementals even at night which is hard for others, yet nobody finds this strange? I mused.
I realized the mana source the girl mentioned might be the bottle Fast promised and inspected the courtyard before discovering the glass pot over a stone table with a few intact Mana crystals are left inside the crystalline dust.
"You monster! Using an entire mana bottle of high-density crystals in days!" I complained about using a resource meant for me.
"I used a fortune to search--FOR YOU!" She declared ending with a shout. "I haven't slept in three days with plenty mana and Elementals while recalling bothersome things the higher my rank got, but it helps communicate with wolves..." The girl revealed the events leading to her achievements.
"Interesting...more recollections closer to the next soul stage, but it's something I'll never experience..." I affirmed envious of what other beings neglect forever.
Shaila walks around my head and comes to my right ear before pulling it.
"I remembered so much Nefi... old memories along with sensations and even past feelings, but I'll tell you later in private." She whispered into my ear.
"Hey, you won't walk on four legs or lick yourself right?" I teased in a low voice.
*Pak!* "Jerk!" She swore after smacking me. "However, at this rate, I will need time to sort my thoughts after the soul stage..." Shaila said tracing my eyelids with a finger.
"You must meditate for as long as you need, and hold on to those fleeting memories. Don't give them up!" I advised.
"I know. I'm prepared to accept it all." The wolf girl nodded before changing the subject. "But still, what an eerie coincidence was receiving a bottle while finding out how to make my High-rank ability work, right? Or maybe the world just doesn't hate me anymore." She considers before shrugging.
Faust probably didn't know how long Eleonor would take and send the bottle instead, or something else is going on... I conjectured feeling unease.
"Hah~" The girl sighed. "I was lucky enough crystalized light refines Spirit greatly, but the Mana consumption is huge, and exponential for the hardness!" She revealed the difficulty of her ranking method.
We only knew it was possible to make photons behave like particles that interact with others to form light constructs, but such phenomena are meant for those with soul awakening which find it difficult and the effect on low rankers is tremendous.
"Yes, I discovered my cheat too...it's elemental magnetism!" I revealed. "But these abilities aren't efficient at this rank huh? They demand days worth of gathering ambient mana merely for a brief effect." I announce the downsides.
"But that's just what you wanted! It was too easy!" She ridiculed.
"Well, yeah, but nobody could tell me anything! I just figured Lightning could do this since it controls electrons at this Rank." I countered elaborating.
"Mine is a headache! Not even grandma knows how to make it and she's hundreds of years old..." The girl complained rocking my head back and forth.
Muh! This reward is not enough for her efforts then. I assert recalling the gift she already knows about.
"Erina made armbands for you, and it's not the reward you deserve but--" I introduce before she interjected.
"And you coming back isn't a reward?" Shaila interrupted leaning on my right cheek. "Chuu~" She kissed the small scales around my eye while petting my snout. "Hehe... I can tell you felt that...I'm inside you!" The girl chuckles saying.
"Geh... I'm making electrical impulses to simulate the sensation of your lips touching me." I confess.
"That seems like fun...it's true what they say about lightning users..." She muttered before smiling. "By the way, you have bugs under your scales, an open wound on the back and... quite a few changes on your body, huh?" The light user reports her inspection.
"Yeah, I got tired of removing the bugs, and the changes are courtesy of the wolves," I explained.
"Uh-huh... Now gimme gift!" The light user forces my mouth open and takes the bracelets from under my tongue.
She inspected the lock mechanism of the silver bracelets dripping saliva and put them on before her arms are washed by me. I folded my wings and laid down as the other three people judged it was safe to approach, then reached our left side in silence.
"I like them very much." Shaila turned to the wolf before saying.
"Thanks to him....they are sturdy for defense." Erina looks up saying. "Just like your Rank, isn't it?" She reaffirmed.
"Yes, he opened the doors to knowledge and wonder." The girl answered sitting on my snout.
"Nope. The other important factors are talent, dedication, and luck." I corrected adding. "But isn't it amazing? Our original estimations for rank 7 were by the next mating season and look at us now! The next soul stage is not that far anymore..." I announced with nostalgia.
"Have some mercy, will you? Speaking as if ranking or discovering those abilities is easy when it usually requires a teacher and a lot of time... It can put us old folk in a bad mood." Alphonse rebuked frowning.
"He's correct.... It took me almost a hundred years to reach rank 7 and some more to discover why materials melt with Father's help, but every creature has different rank progress...." Erina disclosed unbothered by the disparity.
Contrary to Water and Wind, Earth magicians can only elevate the temperature of their elements to their melting point while fire arts get much hotter. However, analyzing the properties of atoms takes lifetimes for Divines who only employ a sole method of experimentation using their Magic and senses, but one cannot simply repeat the same experiment and expect different results.
"Yes, I don't know why he complains. He's rank 6 already and knows his high-rank darkness ability is absorbing free electrons." I affirm with a probe.
"Unfortunately, that doesn't have any battle applications unless it's fighting Lightning user or blocking those plasma clouds which I've never seen either..." The darkness user countered.
Well, at this point, I can only agree Darkness is a weird system absorbing light then electrons at high rank... I deliberate before thinking of future uses.
"You could rank faster with it if you stop wasting all money on expensive alcohol or women." I advised.
"Nah, that's all I have...I'm not like you who enjoys reaching new heights." Alphonse shook his head denying.
"It's good that you two discovered those abilities early, but it will stop having that effect somewhere in rank 7 depending on how much you use it now." Erina forecasted.
"Hmm... The soul stage is a priority, so it can take longer to get to Rank 8. We also don't know what our Divine abilities are and I have no clue what mine could be." I spoke wondering what's beyond magnetism and electricity.
"Good luck asking a Divine that or watching their fight up close." Alphonse scoffed before speaking sarcastically. "It's natural to keep trump cards hidden and even kill for the information that might get sold somewhere. I'll try asking around, but no promises...this is divines we are talking about." He offered.
"Appreciated." I thanked.
"I bet mine will be super annoying, even if we do know it." Retorted Shaila.
"Hrm... Our Divine father didn't have time to discover his ability...." Ponders Erina.
Hmm... What a shame...knowing at least one could give me some ideas. I lament.
"But I do know the Divine fire ability." The she-wolf revealed.
"What?!" I look at her surprised.