Mature Content Warning: Naked and glistening, and a little foul language.

Author's Note: Alrighty, here we go. Anything you read here is subject to change, but this is generally how it's going to go for the dragon Scott. :)

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Chapter 9.3: Mahorela Abaivonin

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Scott sighed loudly and shut the door. He was finally home. Work had been brutal despite how easy the day had gone. The new girl was something else! She performed her job with great speed and accuracy, and was always courteous to the guests. Yet, she constantly made attempts to be near him, and asked the strangest questions. Shara seemed like a very nice girl, but he did not know what to make of her.

He stripped down to his bare necessities, took a shower, chugged a dose of cold medicine then crawled into bed. He was already tired again and needed a nap, so he had decided to make a night of it. He had to work tomorrow after all.

When he opened his eyes in the dream world the sight before him was an odd one indeed. Everything seemed to be far larger than it used to be and he could see faint rainbow fire around various things in the room. Sonja was nowhere to be seen.

“What?” He looked down then blinked. He became aware of other changes soon after. Blackthorne’s first awareness of his body change was the fact that he had a bit of a snout, for lack of a better term. He looked down and saw thick, but somehow delicate arms that could double as legs. He raised up one arm and took stock of the glossy black scales and golden talons.

“Whoa...” He felt something itch along his back and he wiggled a little. A tiny wind blew against him and he felt as though he had moved something similar to an arm.

Blackthorne turned his elongated neck and looked at his back-end. He had a long tail that had a tiny fork at the end and two small black wings like those of a bat. He leaned sideways and gazed upon his belly and saw tiny golden scales.

“This is pretty damned cool...” he said aloud. He voice was strangely high-pitched, childlike in quality. He had taken on the form of a western style dragon, a small one it seemed.

“Ooh, better check my status!” he said in a voice that sounded like an excited toddler with a slight lisp.

<<< Status >>>

Name: Blackthorne

Race: Mahorela Abaivonin

Title: Gentleman of Darkness

Level: 1 [Hatchling] Skill Points: 4

Vitality: 50[50]

Weapon Attack: 12[12]

Durability: 26[26]

Speed: 12[12]

Spirit: 76[76]

>>

“So, I’m a hatchling? Man, those stats are ridiculous compared to my first time at level one.” He looked the information over more closely then blinked. “My vitality is a point higher than it was at level seven!”

He was glad to see that he had kept his skill points, as well. He had not expected to, but this was great news.

Blackthorne thought about how calm he was about all of this. He had just become a different race altogether. Shouldn’t he freak out or something? It was one thing to choose a thing. It was another to truly accept it.

He raised up his clawed hand. Would he be like this forever now? Would he ever be able to look human again? Maybe his skill window would tell him? He opened his skill menu up to have a look.

<<< Skills >>>

Primary

Dark Magic Level 3

Conjuration Level 1

Mahorela Abaivonin Magic Level 1

Mana Sense Level 8

Mana Manipulation Level 1

Metamorphosis Level 1

Secondary

Heavy Armor Usage Level 1

Sword Mastery Level 2

Ring Mastery Level 1

Tertiary

Synergy Level 3

Jewelry Crafting Level 5

Enchanting Level 2

Alchemy Level 1

>>

“Several new skills? Sweet!” He liked the idea of what he was seeing, but the one that caught his attention the most was metamorphosis. He used one of his golden talons to click on that entry.

<<< Skill >>>

Metamorphosis

The ability to take on another form and state of being. There are limits and restrictions on the alternative forms taken and it should be noted that base statistical scores do not change when taking on another form, though certain abilities and skills may be adjusted or become non-functional when you take on a form other than your natural dragon state.

When you master a state of being, you can will yourself to take on that form as a free action. However, doing so is strenuous and there will be a time limit on how long you can maintain that form. The higher your metamorphic skill, the longer you can maintain an alternate form, and the easier it is to learn new forms.

Current Mastered States

Midnight Shadow - Elemental Force [ 1 minute - 20 vitality/ -1 vitality each additional minute/ 4 hour cool down]

Scott Blackthorne - Human Form [ 30 minutes - 5 vitality/ - 1 vitality each additional minute/ 1 hour cool down]

States in Development

-- none --

>>

Blackthorne scratched under his chin with one of his talons. So, he could become human but until his metamorphosis skill increased he could only sustain it for short periods of time? He wondered briefly how that would carry over to the real world.

He decided to see if anything else had changed. He checked his talents list and he had acquired two new talents! “Aura of Terror and Dragon Force.... Cool.”

<<< Ability >>>

Aura of Terror

You have an innate ability to radiate a field of energy that inflicts a sense of panic, despair, and terror upon those with a lower spirit rating than you possess. This ability grows stronger as you grow older and reach higher racial levels.

--

Dragon Force

You have innate mastery of Mahorela Abaivonin magic, can learn any spells of darkness and destruction four times faster than a lesser race, and are capable of utilizing dark energy as a breath weapon.

Your energy can be instinctively used as a shield to defend against magical attacks, the strength of your defensive field will be relative to your spirit and age category. This is a passive defensive ability

Your innate power can be used to instill great physical might for short periods of time. The number of times this ability can be used will increase as your age category increases. This is an active ability.

You have an innate capacity to sense and manipulate mana. It is a passive ability

You have the innate capacity to draw on the local mana to regenerate your vitality and heal your wounds. This regenerative effect increases in capacity as you reach higher age categories. It is a passive ability

Your innate hidden stats related to bodily strength, agility, disease resistance and intellect are each a minimum of three times higher than they were when you were a human being. This will increase as you reach higher age categories, and through active training.

>>

He read through all of that information then nodded. He had some fairly good abilities now. There had to be a downside, however. The limited ability to take on human form could be trained. What would be his problem areas otherwise?

Blackthorne kept fiddling with his information windows until he located something that made him both smile and frown. He had expected difficulties and he had them it seemed.

Light based spells will inflict 350% more damage.

You cannot learn light based spells.

Dark magic spells will inflict half damage when used against you.

Dark magic spells are twice as powerful when you use them.

Dark magic spells require one-third of the typically required vitality or mana when you use them.

Magic other that dark magic will require half the normal vitality or mana cost.

Illusion magic effectiveness when used against you is reduced by 40%

You cannot be compelled by a creature with a level lower than yours regardless of their spirit rating.

Experience growth is accelerated until age category [Adolescent] has been reached. Each age category above that will require far more experience than what you previously required.

Skills not related to combat or magic will have the lowest growth rate possible for their skill tier. Combat and magic related skills can be learned twice as fast as before.

Blackthorne scratched his draconic chin. “So, stay away from light users, and make sure any mind flayers are lower level than me... Got it.”

Most of what he read seemed good, but the experience growth rate for levels and skills unnerved him a bit. It already took a while to raise his production skills. He would have to see how bad it would be in the future. At least he would probably get his levels back fast even if his growth rate would slow down at some point.

He decided to walk around a little in order to experiment with his new body. It was freaky, yet fun at the same time. After a while he began to feel concerned about Sonja. She had not returned to the room, not that it would have been an easy conversation to have if she had.

Blackthorne tilted his head to the side then focused on his new knowledge of metamorphosis. Just like his other skills he had a basic understanding of the process, somehow. It was like some sort of mystical data upload as far as he knew.

The hatchling closed his eyes then concentrated on his memory of being a man. It took a moment to get the sensation of energy flow that would allow him to shift into his old form. The process took three minutes in total and was quite a mental struggle at first. However, armed with his basic knowledge and a keen desire to make sure the metamorphic ability actually worked, he managed it.

Blackthorne rose up from the floor then patted his armored stomach. He had been restored to his original form, and even had his equipment intact. “How does this work?”

Where did his armor and weapons go when he transformed back and forth? Life was a mystery...

He left the room and quickly scouted the common rooms of the inn. Sonja was nowhere to be seen. It was night time, so she was not likely to be out hunting alone. Had she run off?

If she wanted to leave him, she could. As far as he was concerned, she had earned her freedom many times over. However, he wanted to know what her intentions where and there was a possibility that she might be hurt or worse.

He raised his hand and called out, “Sonja! Come!”

A brief flash of light erupted in the room and Sonja appeared. Blackthorne blinked stupidly then took a surprised step back. Sonja stood before him completely nude, her body gleaming with some sort of oil. Every inch of her reflected light like gently rippling water reflected the noonday sun.

She turned toward him and exposed the fact that every part of her was prepped in this manner. Sonja blinked then her eyes widened. Her lips spread into a bright smile and she cried out, “Master!

Blackthorne’s eyes widened further when the oiled-up woman ran over and gave him a crushing bear hug. What the heck was this?

“I’ve been so worried! Are you alright? Did anything happen to you?” she asked in concern.

“I... I am fine... Why... are you like this?” he asked. He was not sure what to say about the current situation.

“Hmm?” she asked lightly. It took her a moment to realize her current nude status but when she did, she laughed.

“Oh, sorry. I just finished bathing. I decided to perform one of the customary rituals of my people, since you allowed me a portion of your recently acquired funds.” she said.

“Our funds... and, OK... What ritual?” Blackthorne noted that the naked woman had still not managed to release him.

She grinned. “A Valkyrie battle maiden must be pure of heart, mind, and body. After battle meditation and ritual cleansing, we oil our bodies with scented oils in order to maintain our beauty.”

“I see...” he said.

Sonja tilted her head to the side. “Is it a problem?”

“No, I approve of this custom...” he said with a soft smile.

She smiled at him as well, and made no attempt to release him from her embrace. Her master had to do so, but with great reluctance.

“Sonja, there is something that you must know about Me.” said Blackthorne.

“What is it?” she asked with a hint of concern in her voice.

“I... Am no longer human.” he said slowly.

She blinked at him then raised up her eyebrow. “You look human enough.”

“Yeah, it’s a metamorphic ability. I can currently only maintain this form for maybe an hour at best.”

“Oh, I see. Is this because of your recent appointment as gentry?” she asked with interest.

“Partially, but it was my choice. I wanted to be stronger and I was given an opportunity to be something other than human.” he said.

She looked him in the eyes then smiled, “You aren’t some great terrible thing that will devour me or torture me with hellish tentacles are you?”

“Must you smile when you ask that?” he asked her, a smile of his own forming.

Sonja laughed a little. “It’s not that big a deal is it? Travelers often change races once they first come here. What are you now, some kind of vampire?”

“Wait, really? This is common?”

She nodded at him. “This world is basically designed for traveler development, from what the great goddess Valkyria has told my people.

“Truly?” asked Blackthorne.

“It makes some people act a little snotty toward them since they feel like second class citizens in their own world.” said Sonja.

The face of patrolman Greene reared up inside Blackthorne’s mind. Perhaps that explained the man’s attitude. “I can see how that might bother some people.”

“Yes, so anyway, what are you now?” she asked with interest.

“I’ve become a Mahorela Abaivonin.” he said.

Her eyes widened a little then her expression shifted. She puckered her lips then screwed them to the left. “Hmm...”

“It’s some kind of elite shadow dragon.” he said.

Her eyes widened once more. “No...”

“Yes.” he said. Was she going to be upset?

“C-can you show me?” she asked in a half-whisper. Her body began to tremble.

“Yeah... but it’s hard right now to change back and forth. It could be an hour before I can do this again and be human.” said Blackthorne.

She nodded quietly then stepped back to give him room. A dragon should be pretty big, right?

Blackthorne focused his mind and his transformation occurred. He did not need to concentrate heavily to become his dragon self once more, it was his natural for now.

The small dragon looked up at Sonja. This was the moment of truth. Would she freak out?

“You’re... You’re a...” she began to say. Her hand rose shakily up to her lips.

Blackthorne winced then looked down a little. His eyes snapped open when Sonja cried out, “You’re adorable!”

He unleashed a strange gasping noise when she reached down and snatched him up off of the floor. She held him close to her and rocked back and forth while giggling.

“The hell, woman!” called out the surprised dragon.

She laughed happily and hugged him tighter. “You’re so cute! My goodness...”

“What part of me is cute, dammit?” he asked rhetorically. What had gotten into her!

“Every part!” She held him up away from her chest and made little cutesy noises at him. “Who’s a good little dragon? Who’s Mama Sonja’s good boy!”

Blackthorne’s eye ridges pressed inwardly like someone making an expression of confusion and disbelief. Sonja cried out excitedly upon seeing it then drew him close once more.

“Unhand me woman!” called out Blackthorne. Why was she treating him like a pet dog?

“No!” She laughed and then spun around in a tight circle with him held against her chest.

He pressed against her and managed to break free of her iron-grip. He tried to get away, but she grabbed him by his tail and pulled him back a little.

Blackthorne clawed at the floor for traction, but his eyes went wide once more when she called out in a laughing tone, “I’m going to ride you, little dragon!”

His body went still and his claws dug into the floor. She pulled him back slowly and strips of wood peeled away accompanied by a harsh scratching sound. He had been frozen in place by her words. Oh, the innuendo of it all.