A/n Now you might think hey this is a bit late, what was he doing all weekend. Making it fking happen captn! Please support animus storm in becoming a full published work! now here's your ruff!

Howling Thunder Ch32:Looking ahead and a tail.

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The Raijin floats up from his chair with a poof of blue cloud, he remains seated on it and drifts to the south facing window.

While looking out, “The game has been on the slow side the last couple centuries. Peace means eliminates the easy route of war achievements. This little conflict with the Naga on the coast of the Middle Sea caused more than a few lesser gods and demigods to run off looking for opportunities.”

About that, “What was the point of that again? Not that I have any interest in entering a battlefield.”

The man chuckles and hops down from his cloud, walking over to the map, “I didn't think you would. Although I must say your particular strengths seem quite suitable for night raids.”

He points to a city southwest of Yoden along the coast, “several human cities along the west end of the sea have expressed interest in expanding with a new port town closer to Yoden. The former home of the Nico tribe, Nicopolis presents the perfect location. With benefits to both sides the nobles agreed to driving out the naga.”

Hmm, “why isn't General Ivan on the frontline to regain his homeland?”

Gramps laughs, “that coward wouldn't know what to do with an army. There is only one large family left of the Nico. In fact, there is a high chance you'll be the first choice for governance of the settlement once we take it. You already took a Nico wife, and no true Yoden noble wants to rule a human town from scratch. Especially when the humans will make all the profits.”

Almost like he is unable to sit still he now wanders over to Mora and without hesitation pulls out one of her wings to look at it, “I’ve always wanted a nice set of wings, pity their uncommon in the far east. But speaking of wings we come to your present opportunity for gains.”

Mora looks at me with begging eyes to make him stop touching her.

I walk to the east window and look towards the plateau in the center of the city and point to a particularly large estate with an enormous statue resembling Queen Emese with her wings pointed above her head, wingtips touching.

“The misbehaving Turul, who apparently have some half cocked plan to attempt a coup.”

He looks to me agast while dropping Mora’s wing, “Did you just make a chicken joke? Ha! I love it...Yes it’s the perfectly obvious choice right now, especially while many are in recovery from this afternoon’s event.”

While scratching my own scruff, and wondering how I’d look with a beard like his, I look once more at the estate. It rests in the side of the cliffs, arches connect a pair of towers on either side of the queen statue. It almost looks like a temple in worship of their matriarch. It should still be a few hours before the evening begins to cool down however.

“I’ll have to make a move tonight, before Miklos notices his missing daughter and interferes. No use going now while my magic seems restricted, I had never noticed this problem before now.”

The scholarly man once more does something odd by walking up and grabbing me by the tail and pulling it closer for him to look, nearly sending me face first to the floor, “Holy Hell Gramps!”

His eyes dart to mine with a particular expression, “An interesting thing to say...in this realm that is. Anyway, about your fog, while such magic falls under the sky category like my own, yours certainly has a dark flavor to it. No doubt from Freki’s blessing. It varies from mine in that my magic focuses entirely on the lightning, my clouds are of mere utilitarian use. I cannot freely bend them to my will with such precision past flying around or controlling weather patterns to a small degree.”

Controlling weather? “About that last part?”

He chuckles, “This would be a good area for you to experiment, your strength is definitely in your black fog. The reliance on humidity is a minor issue I believe you can work around given your mothers fox decent. Which, judging by these red sparks, is certainly present.”

This is much more interesting than Ragna’s attempts at teaching me magic, “What do you mean, does the color actually have a relation that?”

With a nod his eyes then gaze about the room, he then pokes at the swirls of mist in my tail, “Hey, I saw you stash that dragon spear in here, do you have a long stick? Dogs always seem to horde sticks and bones, it’s very...cute. Even rats and squirrels keep it limited to food, humans and dragons focus more on wealth.”

I’m not sure what to be more upset about, that fact that he just compared my race to rodents or the fact that I really did grab a few of the spears off the wagon before we come in the school.

While averting my gaze, I wordlessly pull out two spears. Mora fails to hide her small laughter, when I look her way she hides her mouth with her hand but I can still see the grin. Asta meanwhile seems distracted trying to get comfortable on the cushion, long having lost interest.

Gramps Rai gives a grin while taking one and holding it firmly in one hand. A few blue sparks crawl down his arm and then race along the wood. Narrow, root like lines of burn marks now cover the entire haft.

Looking to me, “Now you give it a go, just focus on releasing a small amount of energy into the wood.”

Doning as he says, I fell pulsing of my arm muscles as I try to control the amount of energy channeled into the spear. Red sparks dance out along the wood, much slower than his. The lines burn deeper and the wood seems to soak up the heat like cloth in water. Stopping, I can now see there are obvious differences but I first assume it to be a difference in overall power.

He takes the spear from me, “As I thought, your lightning magic likes to imitate flames in the way it slowly burns everything in it’s path rather than race from source to target. I can also sense a fearsome aura when it is released, this is a nod to the curse magics that can be found from your mother’s side as well as Freki.”

That is a lot from just burning lines in a spear, he’s certainly worthy of being the master of a magic school. Unless, of course that was all bulllshit, but I doubt that.

No sooner had he let me go as Asta pounced onto my pack and makes a small bite at my ear, “Fuzzy, quit playing with Grandpa and let me show you my room.”

The ominously alluring scent again tickles my nose.

Lord Raijin frowns but sighs, “Take the girl away, I’ve been informed of what Freki and those giests want. Following along with some of their wishes certainly will help keep them from opposing your personal wishes and maneuvers in this game of gods. Not that I think you even needed an excuse to attend your mate when she is in heat, I certainly didn’t.”

That last part...too much information.

As we exit the Raijin looks to Mora, “Miss Zmaj, you’re more than welcome to visit anytime. You should know that I even recovered some books that were once part of your father’s hoard.”

She once more thanks him and we walk out onto a bridge that connects to the other tower. The city scape below is lively as ever. Flying races soar amongst the hundreds of pale, grey towers and aqueducts. Smoke rises from the craft district, boats sail into the river port. The late afternoon light reflects off the gleaming white castle that breaks past the clouds in the sky.

Asta once more bites on my ear and the moment is ruined.

I look over to Mora, “I’m sure you’d love a few hours in the library below, I’m...going to fulfill some championly duties.”

No matter how confidently and proudly I say this last part, Mora still just looks at me with an arched brow.

Her ears turn a slight pink, “You go right ahead with that Lord Nox, inform me once you’re ready to leave. I will keep in mind that we shall be heading into battle together tonight.”

Nodding, “Yes, it seems I will have several battles today. In the streets, the sheets, and soon the,”

“Right, I got it. Enjoy your remaining afternoon my lord.”

With that she spreads her wings and glides down towards the base floor.

It’s good because I really didn’t have a third rhyme and that would have been even more awkward. Soon I’ll crack that bookwyrm’s cover...alright I’ll stop.

Asta pulls my ear, “Nox. Bed. Now.”

I glance back at her snow white face and brilliant blue eyes that gleam with hunger, I can feel the warmth radiating from her body pressed against my back, particularly a certain two mounds.

She definitely, doesn’t need to tell me a third time.

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A/n always a challenge making an info dump chapter entertaining. anyway, the website finally got some love as well as entering the fantasy fiction contest link to animus storm run thru the publisher inkshares in cooperation with geek and sundry. was a shit ton of editing of the first nine chapters an prologs, condensing them into 5 chapters while making them longer overall. anyway, 250 preorders gets me published so please take a look at least. lots of good authors have entered.

You also might notice this site has a donation button for me now, that money goes directly towards getting art commissioned for the story.

As always i look forward to the comments and just a reminder that my twitter is the best place to look/ ask about updates.