Chapter 10: Deadly Raccoon? Check.

[Right! Okay uh... well you have magic in yourself right? Where you looked for your spirit magic?]

I nodded, as it was easier than forcing myself to send these telepathic messages.

[Well all magic exists everywhere in the environment. To manipulate that means you can use any magic, which is what most of the two-legged mages do usually. Very few actually awaken. They're pretty backwards like that.]

Huh. Two-legged mages? So like how humans aren't the only intelligent life, so it refers to others-

Wait.

F*ck human bigotry is still in my head.

Humans and similar races like elves or whatever aren't the only intelligent life, they're just the arrogant two legged kind.

Non-two legged life like me and this raccoon are considered "creatures" and "beasts". Cause humans will always be arrogant and racist. Lovely.

Note to self: in some ways, I still think like a human. Be careful not to act like a bigot.

[So... we awaken. To specific magic. They use any magic. But. We are better. At magic?]

[Yes! Magic within yourself is much faster to trigger than from without. Also you can't fuse outside magic with your body-oh you probably dunno about fusion magic yet.]

In response I filled myself with air and fire, and jumped up several meters, leaping out the hole he was peering down and landing next to him using the increased strength, agility and lesser weight.

The raccoon nearly toppled over in shock and fear as I got WAY closer than he thought I could, now right next to him.

[Uh... I know you're a predator, and young, but please be civilized enough to not eat me.]

I opened my mouth and gave a "Cheuff!" Snort in his face, the closest to a laugh that involuntarily came out.

Huh. I guess I'm still a social creature. I enjoyed myself, running is fun, magic fills me with wonder... but I'd yet to laugh once in this world.

I guess having someone to talk to IS really important, even to the current draconic me.

[I am. A polite dragon. Do not worry.]

Hey my sentences were coming easier!

I refocused from my joy to his face, to see absolute shock. He looked as frozen as if I'd tased him like the young soldier awhile back.

[...sorry. A polite what?]

His voice was rather polite in and of itself.

[I am a fire dragon. Well... I was. Now I'm. Awakened you said?]

Yes! Almost proper sentences! This is getting easier and easier!

[But... you're furry.]

I nodded.

[Oh. Well. Damn.]

He tried to process that, faintly looking like someone had smacked him between the eyes.

[So... what are you?]

Yes! No stutters!

[Oh! I'm an awakened raccoon. A Kitsune was kind enough to guide me in awakening, and I am a wielder of the light and darkness elements.]

[...let me guess. Illusion magic?]

The raccoon blinked. [What? No. I specialize in draining lifeforce and using darkness to devour the enemy, life and soul.]

"..."

What the actual-

WHAT IS UP WITH THIS!?

What kind of cute animal devours things like a vampire?! That's like the bloody bunny from Monty Python and the Holy Grail!

[What does darkness magic have to do with illusions?]

[Well... Light... I dunno.]

Good question. I mean... light to bend it and darkness to devour certain parts of light to make images?

[...uh. How could you make an illusion out of light? It's like... you know. Light. Illusions are manipulation of the mind.]

...oh. This world isn't aware of what light is? Or... is it different?

Actually it might just be that because he's a raccoon with no education he is just a unique case who doesn't know.

[Nevermind.]

He just looked so confused. That's how I should feel! Neither of us knows anything of what the other is talking about!

Honestly.

[So... you're an awakened dragon. How does an awakened mythic exist?]

[Mythic?]

[Yes. You, dragons... races born of magic. Like sirens, or wargs, harpies and the like.]

[Oh I get it! Mythical creatures!]

[Yeah that's what I said...?]

'Okay. So creatures of magic born with it, with a single element, are an entirely different type of life from normal animals, two legged or not.'

[You said they awaken 2 elements... what are all the elements?]

He kinda tilted his head at me.

[Huh?]

[Like I just... use magic. So can you explain how it's separated?]

[Well... as far as I know there are only 6 elements of light, fire, wind, water, earth, and darkness.]

So lightning and ice... are extensions of or subtypes of the others? Hm. Is lightning an extension of air and ice is an extension of water-

Wait my main elements of greatest power are fire, ice, and light.

If ice is water, that means I'm a fire/water/light dragon. With wind as a sub element, cause it's definitely weaker in amount of magic for me.

...awakening adds two, so I could totally pass for an awakened dragon, but I'm not awakened. I cheated by use of that "goddess".

[How does one normally awak—]

"..."

[Ahem. Sorry. How does one normally awaken.]

Yeah okay. I'm still not perfect at this.

~ ~ ~

Kire held his spear, nervous energy rising in him.

In the weeks since the incident, he'd started to notice the changes, but he still felt uncertain how true it was.

So now he was charging into battle against the sattix invaders and he still didn't know if he was right.

'Mages spend years learning spellcraft, to bend the world to their will. The greatest among them can awaken by fusing with the elements... I can't possibly have awakened. I've never learned magic!'

But it was undeniable.

"CHAAAAAARGE!"

Running, leather armor smelling foul, dread in the gut of every soldier, the enemy coming closer and closer.

Fear was in every breath Kire took, and in it he felt more.

Air came in, and he felt lighter.

Suddenly he was ahead of the army, on the open ground, moving faster than anyone else.

He was the first to reach the enemy!

He gritted his teeth, remembering his training, and lifting his spear to throw once he was in range, only to see spears coming for him as well.

He reacted, spinning as he dodged spears moving strangely slow, still holding his own as in one leap he FLEW.

Barely able to think, he was action.

The enemy was suddenly there, and he drew up his arm, and he stabbed.

The enemy barely seemed to move, standing still as the leaf-blade entered his throat, only to flick out to the side, slitting it and the one of the soldier beside him.

Kire spun, stepping around the already dead men as he weaved his spear throughout the press of bodies around him, slashing and stabbing, and then the enemy was all around him, and he wasn't just using the blade when he cracked the base of the spear over a soldiers head.

He grabbed a sword out of the sheath on an enemies hip, and a small part wondered why he wasn't dead yet. Why hadn't anyone stopped him?

He spun and twisted, he kicked and hit as his body bent about with a dexterity beyond him, and everything moved oh-so-slowly.

People started backing away, and a space was being carved out around him, and he looked up as he found no enemy to react to.

He saw the soldiers surrounding him at a distance... and they looked terrified.

He turned his head... and a path of corpses and blood greeted him.

He was a soldier, and he had reacted as his training demanded... but now, to see the consequences while clear headed-

"Urgh!"

Kire puked, stumbling back and twisting violently, waiting for an attack while horror gripped him, cold shivers of energy zipping up and down his spine.

He lifted his arm with the sword he'd gotten(where had he gotten this sword?) as a man stepped out of the ranks.

Kidd's head slowly craned back as he looked up at the man before him.

He was massive, at about 8 feet tall, and built like a tank, strong and terrifying.

'A half-giant? They have insane durability and strength... we need a battalion to take out a giant, so I should try and retreat...?'

Could he even retreat?

No. He'd charged in recklessly without thinking, possessed by this strange energy and power.

And now he had to fight this barbarian half-giant wearing actual metal armor and a massive war ax.