-Morning. Nefiru's POV-

A new day starts in wolf territory. A new chapter of my life began with new promises, hopes, and dangers, albeit, individual lives aren't entirely our own. Nevertheless, the very allies that help us with our problems, have problems that become our own.

"Do-don't scare me..." The girl reproached after my remark.

Ugh... We just asked the wrong questions and searched for the wrong thing, but any information regarding outstanding individuals should be a secret known to few. Even investigating is dangerous if it wasn't someone like Alphonse, but...it's already too late for Shaila... I analyzed and disclosed.

"Shaila... The people coming after you must know about Grand Talents... Some Noble in the Capital or an evil teacher at the Magic Academy found out you are a high-grade mother." I announced.

"Uhhh..." Shaila uttered as her expression transform in disgust and bit her lips angered. "T-that's... the real cause... of everything...?! I-I want to kill them!! "She declared with hatred and lowered her head trembling before teardrops fell on the stone.

"Agreed. But all those related needs to die before divulging this information." I explained.

"Sniff... Father's plan...was right. I've been too harsh on him..." She said wiping her eyes.

"Indeed. We must resume our visit to the capital before they see you out of reach. I also need to confirm other things there..." I declared.

"Jumping into danger again..." Erina admonished. "I'll send a Darkness scout..." She offered.

"MM." I nodded in approval.

"I'll try to Rank up some more too." The light user consented.

"NO! You will gather the Magic in your head and focus on reaching the next Soul stage." I ordered.

"Uh... O-okay... Do you think I can reach it already?" She said with uncertainty.

"Yes. I believe recalling all those beast memories means you should." I reaffirmed her strong Soul connection.

"Okay. I'll meditate from now on." The girl nodded saying.

"And meditate on your recent mistakes as well," I commanded.

"M-mistakes...!?" She stammered with an innocent expression.

"Do you think I wouldn't notice or forget...?" I glare at her saying with an upset tone.

"Augh... I-I did my best!" Shaila insisted making a sour face.

"Nope. You did 'good enough' is what you should be saying. I was forced to watch you getting killed slowly." I rebuked.

"Augh... Sowy... I-I-I panicked when the sleeping gas started taking effect." The girl explained nervously.

"Hmm... You get points for saving Mana, but using it to crystalize Light for defense instead of attacking was a terrible decision." I lectured.

"Agh! B-but I was getting hurt..." She admitted lowering her head.

"Uh-huh... You became minced meat anyway." I reproved.

"Arrgghhh!" The girl groaned with a twisted expression. "I'll...I'll judge better next time." She compromised.

"Good." I approved. "Now, care to tell me why you wanted to tell Liana more about me?" I probed narrowing my eyes.

"Uhh..." She interlocked her fingers hesitating.

"You already told her something... didn't you?" I pressed further.

"Agh! She made me! And you also didn't tell me about Father's deal!" The girl disputed.

"You cracked too easily! What if you told your mother huuh? I just followed the terms..." I scolded.

"Augh... I'll reflect. B-but it was a good thing... Sister, um... decided to become a magician..." She meekly said.

"Very well." I approved. "However, there is one last mistake..." I disclosed.

"...I don't like how it's last." The girl retorted.

"What could possibly happen if you carved my partially enhanced Scales with lasers to write your name? It compromised the structural integrity, and broke easier during the fight..." I revealed.

*Hhaap!* She gasped covering her mouth. "...It-it did? T-the hole in your chest is... my fault!??" She questioned glimmers in her eyes.

"Maaaaybe around 10% your fault," I affirmed.

"Auughhh... So-sorry... I'm so sorry... Soooory~" She apologized hugging my snout.

"The new scales have my strongest metal mix up to the base..." Erina informed up close.

"Ah! The scale roots were incredibly difficult and I had to re-grow flesh on you equivalent to a human like her." Lightwater announced three meters on my right.

Ugh... That stupid swordsman had fun slashing my chest... Good thing they wanted to subjugate me with scrubs... I asserted and looked right.

"Good job!" I praised. "I'll need to enhance my bones and replace the Scales with a complex mix later...the color... will come back," I informed.

"HM... Leave it to me." The golden she-wolf approved.

"As for you--" I spoke trying to detach the girl. "You will be punished." I declared.

"....Wa--!? P-punished?" She uttered in shock and separated.

*Krakshh!* I laid down and extended my left forearm with the paw turned up.

"Lay face-down with your butt this way," I ordered.

The girl timidly sat on my paw, placed both hands on the claws, and opened her legs.

"Hmm... A pretty slit...rather mature for your age." I complimented the smooth privates.

"Th-thank you... My body keeps changing..." Shaila said turning red and averted her gaze.

...I expected her to be tiny here since it was covered... I affirmed and spoke.

"And the pubic hair?" I questioned.

"It was uncomfortable...used lasers." She replied.

"That's hardcore... But this won't get you out of punishment." I affirmed.

"Tch!" She clicked her tongue and crossed arms. "Y-your lessons are painful..." She anxiously said.

"Do as I asked and hold on," I commanded.

"Ugghh..." The girl reluctantly complied.

"That's one glossy white butt..." I appraised and gripped her torso. "Let's change its color with a good spanking!" I declared bringing forth my right paw.

"Huh...!?" The girl winced. "NO! You'll break me!" She protested.

Indeed. She's been a good girl who has never been punished... like many kids who behave out of fear to be replaced or thrown away... I asserted the importance of talent.

"Relax. I have more control of my body now..." I assured and threw my paw.

"NO--!" The girl shouted struggling

*PAah! PAah! PAah!* I smacked her bottom repeatedly while monitoring the nervous system.

"HYAAHH!! St-o-o-o-p!" Shaila screamed jerking her body with each slap.

I ignored her protests and continued until her butt cheeks turned red.

"Huff! Huff! HAAaah..." She heavily breathes sprawled on my paw. "Wuu... It hurrrtsss! You jerk! I HATE YOUUUU!" She whined glaring back.

"Maybe I should change the color to purple." I pranked slowly moving my paw.

"NOO!" She screamed in horror and squirmed. "Ow Ow Owiii... I'll hate you until the pain subsides..." The girl meekly said massaging her rear.

"Healing magic and crying are not allowed," I ordered.

"Wha-? I can't even sit!" She protested.

"That's the idea. Think back to this moment the next time you are afraid of a little pain." I lectured.

"Ugh... Even your breath is relieving..." The girl wailed. "Don't spank me like this again without a good reason..." She demanded.

"You needed that. But there's no need to spank you anymore. I can simulate that pain with an even greater intensity now." I revealed causing the girl to shudder.

"Wh-what!!? You Monster!" Shaila appalled. "I'm not a masochist...use Magic for something good...hurt yourself..." She grumbled.

"If you insist. Donate your body for an experiment." I requested.

"NO!" She refused. "You have caused me enough pain for one day." She mumbled.

"I'll alleviate the pain~" I taunted lowering her.

"You said no healing magic--you're using a loophole in your rule...Devil!" She realized.

"It's about me getting a humanoid form," I explained.

"...Shut up and take my body!" Shaila said determinedly.

"Hehe. Lay face-down on the ground three meters away facing me..." I chuckled and instructed.

"Ow ow owawawa..." She whimpered getting into position.

I canceled my Muscle boost and moved a Magic stream into Shaila to interpret her nerve impulses and match them with those my brain could understand using trial and error. After a few minutes, the electrical signals converged outside her body before traveling in a two-way pipe to my head where an interface converted and sent them to my Brain stem.

"I'm starting..." I informed.

I partially intercepted Shaila's nervous system and transmitted the impulses with the Elementals already replicating the system automatically.

"Starting wha--?!! Huh...!? The pain--I can't feel my body from the neck down!!" Shaila said in panic.

IT WORKED! I rejoiced and felt a throbbing pain. OWW! My ass! I mean, her ass... I endured and blocked the unwanted signal. I could copy her vision, but it'd be easier to just use Light magic into my eyes... I compared and reassured.

"Yes... Your ass is on fire." I divulged.

"You did that!" The girl reproached.

"Anyway, just relax and let me know if something feels off," I instructed and start sending signals to her muscles.

"Oki..." She consented.

The fingers twitch, and the body jolts then pulled the arms closer with the palms dragging on the rough stone and pushed up before bending the knees until the torso was straight up while sitting on the calves.

"No way... You are controlling my body!!?" Shaila spoke flabbergasted.

"He is?!" Erina marveled.

"Yep," I said maintaining balance with the hands on the thighs. "I could replicate senses before, but that's child's play compared to what I can do now!" I announced.

"Wow! And all that multitasking is good magic training...." Shaila reviewed.

"Astounding." The golden she-wolf commended.

"Well, you are tiny and my human senses are helping. But it's gonna take more practice to convert all nerve signals..." I pointed out.

"Oh, the human sensations that made you so clumsy before proved useful now? Hihihi~" She mocked and giggled.

"Ha-ha... Says the girl who keeps falling on her face since we met." I derided eaning forward as the hair cascades from the back.

"Ack!" The light user grimaced.

"Still, this is really strange." Erina reviewed.

"And feels extremely bizarre for me... Hah..." Shaila added and sighed. "I said my body was yours but I didn't think you'd take it literally." She accused turning the head to keep the hair together.

"Well, you can kick me out if you wish. It is your domain." I shrugged.

"Nu-uh... I'm not in pain anymore and I know how much this means to you." She shook her head and approved.

"Yeah... It doesn't feel like it, but it's been over a thousand years since I had a human body." I announced, and attempt to stand on two legs wobbling dangerously.

"Careful!!" Shaila alerted and assisted balancing the body.

"Ugh... Need more calibration." I informed and compensated for the variables.

"HUum... I've heard of magicians who manipulate bodies, but...never a lightning user." The earthen wolf said up close.

"Ah, Nefi calls those Necromancers...they are rare." Shaila supplemented looking right.

"Actually, this process is too delicate to work with any Spirit clash, so I can't control just anyone like them. This experiment worked with outstanding results because it's Shaila..." I declared.

"Yes, Magic energy can resist control and I'd imagine Earth or Water magicians could oppose it far more using arts." The girl voiced.

"But at my Rank, he could force low ranks," Erina argued.

"The Dragon is doing what-now?!" The green wolf asked with a scolding tone.

"Controlling her body." The she-wolf reported.

"Scary... No one likes puppet masters..." Raging wind commented.

"Much less a beast that can inflict unimaginable pain without physical damage." Midas conjectured.

"Or unimaginable pleasure..." Erina interpreted.

"I'm mentally exhausted... Fuuu..." The green wolf said and slumped.

I finish adjustments on the muscles and started transmitting senses before slowly getting up... I stood on the cold floor feeling the breeze on the back blow the hair to the front while the giant wolf on the right sends hot breath.

"I got it! This is amazing!" I rejoiced making fists and slowly opened them. "I... can't believe it...a human body. ...A delicate sense of touch." I said in delight and placed the hands on the skin. "So nostalgic...it's like being a kid again." I reviewed and caressed.

"Fufufu~ Like my body?" Shaila gloated.

"I love it... It's small and light..." I unveiled standing on tiptoes and gently traced a finger on the face. "Your skin is soft and smooth like a baby." I disclosed and reached for the head. "The hair is silky as I imagined...body-care products?" I confirmed and asked.

"Hehe... Thank you. I do care for my body--or rather, Sister does...such products come from Tinkers." She informed.

"Uh-huh... Of course...I know how to make them..." I said and fondled the girl's chest. "Your breasts don't feel that small either." I appraised.

"No more calling me flat then. Ah-ah! Don't squeeze so hard..." Shaila complained.

"Oh, right, I didn't control your chest since you have to breathe and all..." I declared and pinched the peaks.

"Ahn! Shtap it! Not there!" The girl moaned and stopped me.

"Huehue..." I obeyed and gently traced her lips with a finger. "Feel that? It's me..." I said affectionately.

"Yeah... It's ticklish... You have some dexterity there..." She commended.

"Er... I'm always inside you." I denoted.

"Haap! You planned to take my body!?" She gasped and dramatized.

"Uh... Yes, being a girl is awesome!" I replied and focused the senses on the lower body.

"Except on those days... Hihihi!" She mused.

"True." I acknowledged. "I thought that being a girl would be weirder, but it feels... rather normal to have this cavity instead of my bulky manhood." I compared genitals.

"Uh... Your dragon body is similar down there though." The girl surmised.

"Oh yeah..." I admitted. "Say, can I piss for you?" I requested crouching down.

"No! Have more self-control. Geez!" She rebuked.

I moved the right hand down with dirty thoughts, and Shaila stopped me.

"Nefiru! Don't start anything lewd if you can't go all the way and embrace me like a man." She scolded.

"We don't even have such limitations." Erina interjected.

"...Ouch. Quit making me feel like a useless male!" I grumbled depressingly.

"You dum-dum. I do want good memories to replace this stigma of being forced like a doll... the pain... the begging and screaming for help as my virginity was taken away and childhood ruined forever, but masturbation is NOT the way." The girl severely admonished.

"...I'm really sorry." I deeply apologized.

"Ah, no no... I'm the one abusing you here... I only put you in danger, and act selfishly despite everything you've done for me." She proclaimed flustered. "I'm the one who started teasing you with my body... I was... afraid you didn't find me attractive anymore, but Sister said not to be easy since men get bored or take you for granted..." Shaila spoke with guilt.

"Actually... Invading your body and reusing my human sensations revived those feelings." I revealed.

"Agh! I... I can't lose that too. I want to be useful, but it only gets harder... Now you can outrank and leave me behind... You see my problem?" The girl expressed concern about her decreasing worth.

"Shaila, I'm not a typical creature. Life with me is haaaarsh. It's gonna take time and effort to assume the major role you wish." I sternly reminded.

"Hm-hmm... I will, of course, try... Since only you can give me what I want. So I can't deny you something this trivial." Shaila resolved. "Do it. I give you permission to do lewd things with my body." She resolved.

"No. No. You are right... It's simply too soon for that." I admitted. "But fret not, for I no longer need to be a Divine to have a humanoid form," I confirmed.

"Umm... How much should I rent my body for?" She retorted.

"Haha! Silly girl, that's not what I mean." I rebutted. "Remember the characters in Videogames?" I give a clue.

"...AH! You'll get an Avatar!" She realized.

"Good giiiirl~!" I praised patting her head. "This method is free of risks, adaptable, and Mana-efficient. The only difference would be not having my Soul in it." I elaborated.

"Really!? You won't have to abandon your Dragon body..." Shaila cheered and pondered. "...But what about the downsides? The distance is a problem and it can't be just any vessel, right?" She analyzed.

"Indeed. The operational distance and information transit will increase with Rank, but the signal will have a delay. Unless..." I elaborated and pondered.

I commanded elementals to absorb the signal leaving Shaila's body and reproduced it near my brain stem.

"Woah! The transmission is instant this way! As if the electrons enter a wormhole there and reappear here, but it does consume a bit more mana than elemental bridges." I analyzed the results.

"Ah, it's the same with Elemental mirrors. Photons come out with the same intensity and frequency they go in, but I never tried over a large distance either..." Shaila related and pondered. "Hmm... I could recycle Lasers when they miss the target... How did I not think of this before!?" She thought up.

"We didn't have the necessity. I'm always just electrocuting things and Water cost waaaaaay too much Mana to absorb..." I affirmed.

"Remember that Earth users make ground traps and Wind users absorb the air from afar but take time to execute, and the difficulty increases along mana consumption, so it's not that effective, especially at low ranks." The golden she-wolf reminded

"True. The intensity of Lightning and Light effects do decrease with distance while difficulty and Mana consumption increases. However, that's still magnitudes less than Earth magic, and this process uses low voltages, so it can work close to the edge of my Magic range without any issue." I compared.

"So, wait, umm... Could you control my body at the house from here?" The light user inquired.

"Heeh~ Starting to like having me inside you?" I said naughtily.

"...Without sounding perverted, I was wondering if you could visit in this manner when you are away... I miss you..." The girl requested.

"Oh... Sure, I also want to experience more... But your room is like a 100 miles away, and that'll take..." I accepted and calculated.

"Over Mid-Rank 9," Erina interjected. "Even for me, stretching Magic that far makes it unstable while the Spirit tires and lacks awareness. I suppose a Magic stream is less straining, but you'll need to know where to look with less spatial awareness." She described.

"Ah, yes, good thing I have Light affinity then," I recalled.

"So... Umm... We need to get you an Avatar... A fluffy Beastmen! I'll care for it well. Fufufu~" Shaila declared and chuckled.

"...It's not a doll." I retorted.

"We'll see about that." She said resolutely.

"...I'm speechless at your ulterior motives." I jested.

"Geh! Even Sister told me to buy dolls." The girl admitted. "I just... want a huggable version of you. To share my lonely bed... To start the day together as we did in the past..." She revealed her desires.

"I understand, but it's too soon... Also, a girl keeping a brainless body in her room is something humans would find disturbing and morally wrong." I pointed out.

"In my defense, the rumors can't get any worse, and human morals won't bring happiness to a reincarnated beast like me." She countered.

"Perhaps, but there's nothing wrong with being humane since you are, after all, a girl." I empathized.

"Umu... I was too cruel to that kid, wasn't I?" The white-haired girl seeks confirmation.

"Yes. Tone it down a little." I directed.

"Oki~" Shaila accepted. "So, umm, how are you going to get an Avatar?" She inquired tilting her head.

"You know any Divine?" I asked with sarcasm.

"He-he... Alphonse should know how to approach Goldias, but... it might take a long time." She nervously chuckled and proposed.

"How about picking a Firefox Beastman and damage its brain to weaken the spirit?" The golden she-wolf suggested.

"...That's actually a good idea, but it would be too cruel. Pass." I opposed.

"Nu-uh! It wouldn't feel like Nefi since the Soul remains attached until the body dies..." Shaila agreed.

"Not only that, but it must also have my DNA--my true blood, among other specifications... Mainly, it will need enough stimuli to live, yet no brain activity to call a Soul quickly." I supplemented.

"Ah! Of course, you would want to have offsprings with her." The she-wolf found out my motives.

"Geh! S-she says it so casually..." The girl uttered with a wry smile.

"HUum... I recall that low-ranking Divines build their bodies slowly and need to inhabit it, so doing it for others is far more difficult." Erina disclosed.

"Hmm... There should be ways around that problem..." I wondered.

Crowd noise coming from outside becomes louder and the wolves perked their ears looking at the exit

The hell? Did the whole tribe came or something? I mused.

"They're here," Erina informed.

"Oh... Fun's over! Ah, I forgot to touch myself..." I announced and approached my dragon body.

*Tak! Tak! Shrrrhh...* I tapped my scales and stroke myself.

Who's a handsome dragon?! These scales... smooth like human nails, flexible material inside with micro-cavities, and harden even more with time. A shame I don't possess scales and bones from bloodlines which are tougher and less ordinary...yet don't have the properties I need. I reviewed and walked towards the three wolves.

"Now it's your turn... Bwuahah!" I said opening and closing the hands with gripping actions.

""..."" The three beasts became stiff as the girl approaches.

I stroke the stiff golden wolf on the left foreleg and his mate on the same spot.

Hmm... As I thought...their fur is rigid as if touching a hard broom. I reviewed and moved to the healer.

"Oh, it's my turn..." Lightwater affirmed and laid down.

I snuggled the dual color beast on the neck and separated.

"Puah! Hairball..." Shaila spat. "...You're right...he's so soft and smells of flowers--what's wrong with this beast??!" She retorted.

"He's not a fighter and likes to eat fruits... That's why he asked you to teach him..." I replied and the girl pondered.

"Wuu... The Elder is glaring..." Lightwater complained.

"Dragon!" Erina called with a severe tone. "You received an amazing authority over Elementals, and you are just using it for mundane things..." She lectured with an imposing tone that makes one unable to refute.

"...That... You are right... I can't waste my cheat as the hunter 'me' did." I acknowledged.

"GOOD!" Erina enlivened.

"Wait! Can you reverse this process for a moment?" Shaila requested hurriedly.

"Yes, but it's harder..." I affirmed.

"Oh, just simple motor functions then." She requested.

"Got it. Lay down on Lightwater's legs since you could kill yourself in my body." I instructed and told the wolf.

I relinquished control of her body and reversed the connection to the best of my ability.

"Ohhh, this is your tail." Shaila noticed the elongated limb.

*Tash! Tash!* She smacked my tail down.

"It's harder than a wolf's." The girl compared.

*Kresh! Kresh! Srrrhh...!* Shaila staggered getting my body up while the claws scratch the stone. *Thud!* My head suddenly drops.

"Jeesh... Even the neck is difficult...and I haven't even tried the wings!" The white-haired girl complained wobbling. "Okay, have your body back... Being a Dragon is harder than I thought." She said after a moment struggling with my body.

"Told you," I said getting up. "Now, then, let's begin!" I declared and walked to the gate.

"Nefi," Shaila called from the right. "I'm staying with Lightwater." She announced sitting on the wolf's legs.

"...Got it." I approved and looked at the wolf. "You are responsible for her safety," I growled.

I watched the beast nod, and turned to the front when I notice the Snake on the corner following my movements.

"What are you looking at? Snack..." I questioned and approached the wire net licking my lips.

"Dumb Dragon, you can't talk to a snake!" The green wolf remarked.

"His head is better than fine...just a little quirky." The healer defended.

"Snakes huh? We should eliminate these guys before they help the foxes exterminate us." I declared.

"Doubtful. They can't hear or understand other beasts." Erina denied.

"Dzss... I do... understand you all." The snake admitted in Stilus using wind magic.

""WUOH!!?"" The wolves turned their attention shocked at the coiled beast.

"Inteeereeesting~ You really were investigating huh? But you are not very good at it." I affirmed.

"Yearsss preparing... a single mistake..." The serpent spoke with regret.

Indeed. The wolves are less active at night, but I woke up and needed food. I sealed its fate just by waking up. I surmised.

""It-it talked!"" Raging Wind and Lightwater affirmed.

"All these years... we've been so wrong!" The golden she-wolf spoke with self-blame.

"There was never indications..." Midas comforted.

No, Serpents don't feed on humans often, and created a multilingual Spy group somehow...that indicates high caution. But why? They've never interacted with other species or needed to unless their leaders worried... I conjectured.

"It would appear they know about our alliance," I informed the wolves.

"Not surprising." Erina scoffed.

"It wasss... unusual. But danger... greater..." The trapped beast affirmed.

"Hooh... And why did a low rank came to confirm that? Were you related to that dual affinity serpent I ate?" I questioned.

"...Yesss." He affirmed having volunteered.

"Heeh... You seem rather calm and chatty, considering I'm going to eat you..." I declared showing my fangs.

"C-confirming...Souls...isss relieving." He replied.

Hm? 'Confirmed?' As in, rebirth... Only a High Ranked wouldn't be ignored or called crazy if they talked about reincarnation, so it'd have to be a serpent they look up to, like a Leader... Wait... Could it be the same who created spies? Just as Shaila said about bad memories...it might be a Snake that remembered a terrible past, but why respect Humans more than wolves do? I analyzed and spoke.

"Those dreams sure tormented your tribe leader to be so cautious..." I probed.

"...!!" The snake stared surprised affirming my theory.

"Being killed by Humans must've been traumatizing." I continued pressing.

"...How do you--?" He asked lifting the net.

"You are not a good spy." I mocked.

The snake looked down for a moment then raised its head once more.

"A failure... I understand... the Great One now. It'sss frustrating... to easily die... after much struggle." He narrated.

It can't be...!? No, of course, it can... I made the connection with something Guardian said long ago.