Lizzy 'A bit of both I guess. From what my rider told me the mages took a race of lizards and modified them through magic.'

"That makes sense, it would be easier to modify something than to make a race from scratch. I would guess they were trying to make the perfect mount and from what I have seen they succeeded."

Lizzy 'Thank you!'

"Later I would like to know anything you can tell me about the ancient empire. For now let's find something big enough to feed the beastmen."

Lizzy 'Why bother? They should have supplies.'

"Because, eventually I will be their king. Any goodwill I can build up now will help me later."

Lizzy 'Oh, okay! I smell something big!'

"Let's go hunting then!"

Lizzy turns in a new direction and takes off again at top speed, making me wish the saddle had a seat belt. At some point I really want to try racing her, she might be a match for my flight speed. For now I just trust her to find us some decent prey, her senses are better than mine.

She doesn't let me down and a few minutes later something big comes into sight. It looks like a shaggy cow except it has six horns and from what I can tell it is currently eating a rabbit. When we get closer it notices us and turns to face Lizzy, it doesn't look scared.

Spreading my wings I launch straight from Lizzy's back and fly over the thing. As it looks up at me Lizzy darts in and grabs it by the neck, tearing a decent chunk of flesh out of it. It quickly turns its attention back to Lizzy, at which point I draw Blitz and drop onto the thing's back.

With its head down to aim its horns at Lizzy I have the perfect opportunity to cut its head off. With a single swing of Blitz the fight is over, not that it was much of a fight. I am fairly sure Lizzy could have beaten the thing all on her own.

Horned Bull defeated! 2500 Exp gained!

'Huh, that thing was decent exp!'

As I gut and field dress the thing Lizzy is more than happy to gobble up all the extras. Which is only fair since she is going to have to carry the thing back, or at least that is what she is expecting. Her eyes widen in surprise when I ptt the carcass into my backpack and mount up.

Lizzy 'That is certainly convenient!'

"Yeah, just one of the nifty things I found in the mountain."

Sensing her curiosity I ask her to head back to the beastmen and then start my story. By the time we reach the beastmen's camp I have told her everything that has happened since I last saw her. Knowing she can't tell anyone else I don't bother to hide or gloss over anything.

Lizzy 'I think I would like to meet Kechara and Asuna at some point.'

"You will, I am sure. Now that I can summon you to places you can't reach easily."

Lizzy 'You can summon me?'

"Yeah, it is part of the Crusader Mount ability."

Lizzy 'That sounds fun! I just hope it isn't like going through a portal!'

"Agreed, I don't like portals much either!"

Tiger says "Welcome back! No luck hunting?"

Bear says "Hunting out here in winter is difficult."

The bearmen are giving me looks with various levels of pity and amusement. Those looks all disappear when I pull the bull's carcass out of my backpack. When I set up the spit and start cooking the whole thing I see several of them drooling.

As usual Lizzy finds a spot and curls up so I sit down and use her as a backrest while the meat cooks. One of the bearmen takes over the cooking so all I need to do is relax and chat with the other beastmen. Lizzy is acting indifferent but I know she is listening to all the conversations.

Tiger says "You didn't have wings when you went up the mountain, so how did you get them?"

All other conversation falls silent and every eye turns to look at me. Even Lizzy perks her head up, she knows the truth, but she is curious what I will tell the beastmen.

"The wings are my reward from the goddesses for completing the quest they gave me."

Bear says "How are human goddesses rewarding a beastman?"

"Do you not know the origin of the beastmen?"

Tiger says "We evolved from mana beasts."

"Wrong! The ancient empire created the beastmen to fight a war from them. They used beast cores and fused them with humans to make the first beastmen."

Bear says "Are you saying we have human souls?"

"As far as the goddesses are concerned, yes. They will welcome any beastman who chooses to follow them."

The camp goes silent after I say that, some thinking about the possibilities others trying to accept the origin story. Some may not believe me but the idea is now firmly planted in their minds. They will talk about it with others and the story will spread, of that I have no doubt.

Bear says "If what you say is true, why have the humans never tried to convert us?"

"Fear, jealousy, take your pick. Humans are humans, they only act in their own self interest."

Tiger says "That is certainly true! Will the goddesses really accept us?"

"Would you like proof?"

Bear says "Yes!"

'Seronia, if you aren't busy I could use a visitation.'

At first I don't think she is going to respond, but then I notice all the beastmen staring behind me. Their eyes are wide and shock is written all over their faces. Without having to turn around I know Seronia is behind me, I can feel a warmth from her.

Seronia says "What Ash says is true. My sister and I would be honored to have beastmen join our churches. In many ways you got the best of the human traits and beast traits."

Tiger says "So, beastmen were created by humans?"

Seronia says "Yes. You were created specifically to fight mana beasts. Without the beastmen the empire would have lost their civil war."

Tiger says "What will happen to us if we refuse to convert?"

Seronia says "Nothing. My sister and I do not force anyone to worship us."

Bear says "I don't wish to waste your time, but the bear clan will welcome anyone you choose to send to talk to us some more."

Tiger says "The tiger clan will also accept a missionary."

Seronia says "I will dispatch someone to each of your clans immediately. They will be told only to come and share information with you. The decision will be yours alone."

The bearman who has been talking and the tiger both bow to her and then she disappears. Everyone is pretty stunned, I even have to remind the bearman to keep turning the spit. Everyone is quiet until the food is ready, they weren't mentally prepared to meet a goddess.

Remembering my shock the first time they spoke to me I can completely understand. The beastmen's attitude towards me has completely changed. They no longer look down on me or think I am just a crazy beastman.

As far as my plans are concerned, this is a better start than I had hoped. Once word of what happened here spreads I will have a much easier time dealing with the clans. Between this and the stories Pol should have spread I might become king without bloodshed.

Thinking of Pol makes me wonder how things have been in Illium while I've been gone. I wonder how the girl's missions went and how my other plans are going. I know the girls are going to be mad at me, I've been gone a lot longer than I had planned.