4. The Storm Dragon is a Lonely Tsundere

As Roxy had just entered a peaceful doze, she heard a voice, "-ear me, little one?"

Huh?

After a few moments of silence, "Can you hear me, little one?" the booming voice repeated.

So I didn't dream that...

"Hey, I know you can hear me!" It sounded a bit offended about being ignored.

T-this dude is talking about me, right? I'm not that small you know. , Roxy thought

"Answer me!" The voice was getting impatient.

' Easy for you to say! How am I supposed to talk when all the noises I can make are growls and whines?!', Roxy said with a bark. 'Besides I'm worn out. I want to sleep. Go away.', she whined, waving a paw behind her back.

" Hey!" It said, getting on her nerves.

'Geez, shut up old man! I'm trying to sleep here!' she snapped.

"Oh? You called me an old man? I see you have guts." the voice indignantly retorted.

'Uh-oh.' Roxy sweatdropped.

The voice roared angrily which made Roxy jump. The roar caused some loose rocks in the cave to fall. It sent shivers down the young vixen's spine. She got up, flustered and swiftly turned around only to find out that the voice belonged to a dragon. Her white fur turned even paler.

The dragon said," I was trying to be nice since I haven't had a visitor in such a long time but it seems you have a death wish."

' I'm sorry. I was half asleep and I didn't see you. You see I had no idea you could read my thoughts.' Roxy explained in a hurried tone hoping that the dragon wouldn't end her barely 1-year-old life.

The dragon roared again but Roxy then realized that he was laughing. She just stood there for a few seconds before tilting her head in confusion.

" It amazed me that you would say such a thing after seeing but it seems that wasn't the case after all. Looks like you have a poor sense of your surroundings. All right, I will give you a better sight and teach you a way to talk." The dragon declared with conviction.

' Huh? Why would you do that? Why would you go out of your way and do something for someone you just met? What do you want in return?', Roxy asked, still wary of him.

" Ho-ho! You are a smart one. Indeed there will be a condition. What do you say?" he stated.

'Well, that depends on the condition. If I can meet the condition without being at a disadvantage, I will gladly comply.', said Roxy in a decisive manner.

" Oh don't worry about being at a disadvantage! The condition is simple. After teaching you the skills, you must come and talk to me again. That's it.", The dragon affirmed, "It's a satisfactory bargain for you, isn't it?"

' That's it? Are you so lonely that you have to haggle for someone's company?' Roxy asked the dragon, feeling a tiny bit amused at the dragon's position. Looking at him, she could tell that she nailed it right at the head.

" Actually you see, I am Storm Dragon, Veldora. I am one of the only four True Dragons that exist in this world. I was sealed here 300 years ago by a Hero for I accidentally turned a city to ashes. Ever since then, I've had nothing to do, and it is extremely boring. What do you say?" he seemed desperate.

'Well, I am curious about the rest of your story....' The vixen looked at Veldora and then released a small puff of air 'All right, all right, I agree with your condition.'

Veldora seemed visibly pleased as he said, "Very well. There is a skill called <Magic sense>. it allows you to sense the magicules around you."

'So, if I can sense magicules then I will be able to sense the presence of other beings, meaning, I will be able to see without using eyes? Well, doesn't hurt to try.' Roxy mused. She closed her eyes and focused on feeling the surroundings rather than seeing it. Soon, she could see tiny particles floating in her line of sight. They were shimmering and moving around. It was a view to behold.

T-this is so beautiful. Is this was you call magicules? The young fox was awestruck. Instantly, a synthesized voice spoke to her telepathically.

<Extra Skill: Magic sense has been obtained>

'Wait, this easily?! Also why extra?' Roxy questioned.

"The skill stronger than a normal skill is called an extra skill. Try using it." Veldora stated.

The vixen closed her eyes, trying to recreate the feeling of magicules floating around. Almost instantly, she could feel her senses being tenfold. Roxy could detect many details that she hadn't even noticed before. Her sense of smell had also heightened. She could smell many medicinal plants in the cave. It was like having the entire area in the palm of her hand..... er..... her paw, now that she was a fox.

Veldora was curiously watching the vixen. He asked impatiently," Well? Did it work?"

'Yes! I did it. Thank you!' Roxy replied with enthusiasm.

Veldora then gestured with his finger for her to come closer. She happily obliged as her tails happily wagged behind her. He then bent down to come to Roxy's height and asked, "Hey, you do remember our promise right?"

Roxy nodded eagerly,' Of course! If I leave, I'll come and talk to you again.' She then asked, 'But what about the other skill you were going to teach me?'

Veldora clicked his tongue in Roxy's enthusiasm about everything. He then answered, "Of course, I'm going to keep my end of the deal. But this is indeed unusual. Foxes are not low-level monsters that don't think but it takes years for them to gain such a high level of consciousness, but you, an 8-month-old fox are highly self-aware. Are you Unique?"

The vixen leaned her head sidewards in confusion. she asked, 'What's "Unique"?'

"It refers to beings with extraordinary abilities.", the storm dragon briefed her.

'Then I think I am a "Unique" monster.' Roxy stated, thinking about her unusually powerful(*ahem* cheat *ahem*) skills. 'But I'm really not sure. You see, I was a human, then I got shot by bullets and died. Next thing I knew I was like this.'

Veldora grew silent for a moment and then proceeded to say, "I see, you were reincarnated. However, you came to this world in a very uncanny way." The 'she' fox nodded her snout and urged the dragon to continue. "There are occasionally people who come from other worlds, but you're the first I know who has reincarnated here. most would be unable to withstand having their soul cross worlds."

She pondered for a second and then said,' You mean there are people who have come from other worlds, but not via reincarnation?'

He nodded. "Indeed. We call them Otherworlders. I heard they gain unique abilities when they cross worlds."

'That's how got my skills I see. There might be people from my world too.....' Roxy confirmed, before turning to Veldora and saying,' I think I`ll try to look for these people.'

" What? You want to leave already?" He replied, making a sour face.

'He's pouting!' 'Eh..... I didn't mean immediately, I meant after a few weeks or so.' She said solely trying to console the unhappy dragon.

He immediately brightened up," Oh good! Stay as long as you like!"

Roxy sighed. Then a question struck her. ' So Veldora-kun, you initially said you were sealed here for um..... accidentally? turning a town to ashes, right?'

The dragon seemed to love to talk about himself. " I'm glad you asked about that! "

He closed his eyes as he began dramatically," It was 300 years ago. I sort of turned a town to ashes by mistake."

' "Sort of"? ' She questioned with a deadpanned look. Veldora simply ignored her and continued," Someone came looking to slay me. It is true that I underestimated my opponent a little bit. I started to go all out halfway through... But I still lost!" he finished with his claws on his hips.

' But you are a True Dragon, right? You must be really strong. Was your opponent really that powerful?' Roxy asked.

"Yes, very powerful.' Veldora turned to her and continued," It was known to humans as a Hero blessed with divine protection"

'A human hero? That sounds like something from a video game.' she said, thinking to herself.

He paid no mind to Roxy and proceeded, "She overpowered me with her unique skill, Absolute Severance, and then sealed me using Unlimited Imprisonment."

' Ah, so this barrier is her seal?' She asked Veldora.

"Yes. That hero called herself a 'Summon'." He answered.

'Summon? Is that an otherworlder?' Roxy asked as one of her tails took the shape of a question mark.

"It takes more than 30 mages to perform a magic ritual that lasts several days to bring one here from another world. They are expected to serve as powerful weapons, for the summoner that is. The summoner casts a curse using magic onto a summon's soul to ensure that they can't defy the summoner." Veldora answers seriously.

'What the hell!? That's just straight-up cruel. But this world's principle is survival of the fittest right? Makes sense." Roxy says with a huff.

" Yes, survival of the fittest is the prevailing truth of our world." He confirms.

Roxy resumes asking, 'So you've been here since the hero sealed you?'

"That's right. I'm very bored....." Veldora sighs dejectedly.

'Damn, I've only lived 15 years. I can't imagine being alone for 300 years.' she thought.

Roxy suddenly suggested,' Why don't you and I become sworn siblings then?' It seemed a good idea to her.

"What?! Does a mere fox propose siblinghood with the feared storm dragon?!" Veldora sounded offended.

Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to suggest that, Roxy thought. She said hurriedly,' I-it's fine if you don't want to....'

"I-idiot! No one said I didn't want to!" He said, clearly flustered.

'Well.... what do you say?' The 'she' vixen asked slowly.

Still flustered, he replied, "Yes, well.... if you insist.... I'm prepared to think about it."

'Looks like I got myself a tsundere brother!' Roxy thought happily.

'Yes, I insist. That settles it. If you refuse, I'm leaving and never coming back." Roxy knew this would work and it did.

"W-well, alright. I'll be your sworn brother. You'd better be grateful!" He said, still a bit rattled.

' You can't be honest, can you? Looks like I'll be in your care from now on, nii-san." Roxy said gleefully as she held up her paw to touch her side of the barrier.

Veldora looked visibly pleased as he touched his finger to the vixen's paw. "I-indeed. If anyone dares to bully you, just come to me. I'll eradicate them." he said taking the 'big brother' role very seriously.

Roxy laughed. ' That won't be needed. I might not look like it but I am super strong. I'll pulverize them myself.' she said proudly.

Veldora laughed with her and said, "Good! That's my sister."

And that evening, their touch sealed a friendship that would last forever.