Time passed as me and the two goddesses were absorbed in talking. I learned quite a bit from talking to them though they were limited in what they could talk about without breaking the laws. Even to their own champions.

For starters they taught me the languages of the different races. Eirene was surprised when I managed to learn one of them in less than a day. I kept learning after that finishing in a week. We didn’t need to sleep here and I didn’t need to eat or drink for whatever reasons though refreshments were provided for the two goddesses.

I learned about some dragon abilities that will be useful to me along with some parts of dragon biology that I would need to know. Apparently there were actually two types of dragons in general. Those were lesser dragons and greater dragons. My mission would entail killing all greater dragons while I could leave the lesser dragons alone mostly.

They were much less intelligent and much less powerful than real dragons and although they were still quite formidable even non-champions could manage to bring one down with a well-established group of around twenty adventurers. More powerful people could take them on by themselves with minor difficulties and the champions of the other gods could probably take on dozens of them at once.

The goddess of peace really did earn my respect. Easier than anyone else ever could. She established a new record and I don’t think anyone is breaking it anytime soon. She was kind and understanding and even though we had a difference in beliefs from time to time she didn’t complain about it but seemed to instead be interested in my point of view on the matter.

We were alike in some way though we were also very different. Zahrah also seemed pleased that me and her friend were getting along well. I don’t know what she’s imagining but I hope she stops soon… It’s getting uncomfortable. I think I actually got a chill down my back a few times.

After they were done telling me everything they were allowed to tell me about the world we started talking about other things. The goddesses told me about each other while I chipped in here and there with stories from my old life which weren’t of the dark variety… they were mostly about the time my sister was alive so to them it might have felt like I was talking about her a bit too much. Sorry about that. She was the only thing that made my life happy so I don’t have much else to talk about other than war tactics, martial arts or quantum physics.

I feel like I’ve gotten softer though. I asked about it since I was curious and Zahrah laughed nervously before telling me she had an idea but she preferred not saying. She probably knew she couldn’t lie to me so she decided to be honest. Well not that I can force her but it still annoyed me a bit.

About the garden it apparently belonged to Eirene and was called the Garden of Peace. Yes. Original name I know but it actually kind of worked. The atmosphere in the garden was truly calm and peaceful and fit its namesake. I wouldn’t mind spending the rest of my days lying down on a patch of grass and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the garden. It might even be better than being in the void.

While the other two were openly laughing I wasn’t but that was just because of me being bad at showing my emotions on my face. I actually enjoyed myself quite a bit and if the goddesses strained their eyes they could see the slight curves on the sides of my mouth which proved it.

Well we had our fun but as I like to say all good things in life must come to an end and this was yet another one of them. Life has to move on.

“Oh. Seems like it’s time for you to go Ved.” (Vozahrah)

“Right.” (Vedqothur)

I stood up from my seat and the two goddesses did the same. As we stood in front of the gazebo we made our goodbyes since after this we probably wouldn’t be able to see each other for quite a while but I’ll make an effort to at least meet with Eirene from time to time since her temples are in more… accessible areas.

Or rather at least they still exist. Apparently all of Zahrah’s temples had been ruined and were in territories of the continent where humans didn’t even live but I guess that made sense. The ones who worshipped her were the dragons and they didn’t worship her anymore.

“Well goodbye for now. I’ll try and visit from time to time when I have free time in a city with one of your temples Eirene.” (Vedqothur)

Hearing this the goddess of peace smiled and said her own temporary goodbye.

“I hope to see you soon. Speaking with you never seems to get dull.” (Eirene)

“Hey! What about me?” (Vozahrah)

“If you want me to visit you then you better start thinking of ways for the Races to build temples in their towns because I’m definitely not venturing in any of the places you told me about any time soon.” (Vedqothur)

Hearing this Zahrah pouted and made a dissatisfied sound but she soon just shrugged and went back to her mischievous grin.

“I hope you behave when you’re together with Eirene without me.” (Vozahrah)

She whispered that into my ear which made me squint my eyes at her as if saying “Really Zahrah? Really?” I mean who did she possibly take me for? I’m not some horny teenager that can’t control his own lust or anything you know. She looked at me as if she could read what I’m thinking still keeping that signature smirk on her face. She knew something I didn’t.

“Anyway. It’s time for you to go now Ved. I wish you luck in your new life.” (Vozahrah)

The scenery changed again.

I was in the dark again. I’m sure normal people would be annoyed at all the darkness but I myself was only enjoying the calm quiet atmosphere it exuded. I was probably in my egg right about now.

Zahrah already informed me that a soul would normally have to spend at least a day or so inside here while my body and soul attune themselves to each other.

According to her I was supposed to be in a cave in the country known as Astrain on the Krepath continent. I wasn’t sure exactly where those places were in the world. The goddesses didn’t exactly show me a map or anything. I just knew their names.

Since I have nothing to do I start trying to clear my mind and meditate again. And instantly I can feel everything around me but… it’s… different than the void. I can feel the light that is my soul but I’m surrounded by something else… Not lights. It’s more like… water? But… I’m pretty sure I’m not underwater right now.

I wonder. Could it be mana? Maybe I can try moving it? I concentrate on the strange energy flowing around me and try making it move according to my will. And I do. Only slightly but I do.

I play around with it. Moving it back and forth, trying to make shapes with it, gathering more bit by bit. And I get better. After what I think are a few hours of doing this I’m much better than when I first started.

I can move a lot of mana in intricate ways. I wasn’t perfect at it yet. I had trouble controlling several separate flows at once and I still couldn’t quite understand how I should form a spell from them but I would just need to see a spell for that so it wasn’t something I was worried about.

As I was enjoying my time playing around with the mana in the air I felt a light coming closer and I thought of trying something.

Using soul search I found the exact location of the light and then I tried using mana search to feel what it is. Surrounding it with mana and then feeling what it was based on the shape it left behind. I wasn’t very good at it but it worked. What I found surprising though was not that.

The person coming closer and closer to the cave where my egg is located was a little girl. I thought Zahrah told me this place was in the middle of a monster-infested forest. What was this girl doing here? The girl kept walking around. Maybe… maybe she was lost? Damn. I hate humans but abandoning a little girl in the forest just isn’t my thing. I’ve got nothing I can do right now though.

She finally entered the cave but stopped. Seeing my container she seemed to be wondering if she should stay or leave. I… hope she stays. The beasts won’t come close to the cave and even though this part of the continent is less than dangerous according to Zarah that’s according to my specs and not a little girl’s.

In the end the girl stays. I get tired of moving around mana. It seems like my body is still weak and even something like this can tire it out. And so I sleep.

Waking up I can finally move. Zahrah said it might take longer than a day and in some cases even up to a week but for me it only took a single one. Or so I think as the girl still hasn’t left the cave and is snuggling up to my egg.

The shell is in my way so I break the top of it and jump out. Turns out even as a newborn I’m still pretty big. The girl has brown shoulder-length hair and looks to be about ten years old. I’m already bigger than her by quite a bit. I feel a bit bad leaving her here so I stay.

Taking a look at myself I look exactly like what Zahrah showed me. She made an image through what I believe to be magic to show me what I would look like. That was my adult form I was still far from it but the colors and overall shape were almost the same.

My scales were mostly white with black scales covering my legs going all the way from my claws to only slightly below my knees and around half my tail. My eyes had a weirdly white iris, whiter than the rest of the eye. It was separated from the sclera with a black outline and my pupil was also black and slit rather than round like humans’.

The brown-haired girl suddenly shivered and woke up. Her eyes were a pleasant green. Still half-asleep one look around the cave and she finds me sitting and staring at her which leaves her terrified. The cold and sharp eyes I kept from my past life didn’t seem to have helped much.

Now then. How to resolve this? I raise up on my feet which seems to terrify her even more. Again walking towards her doesn’t seem to help as at this point she’s backed up against the wall and has nowhere to run to.

I am finally in front of her and I sit down on all fours as I look at her. She seems less afraid seeing me do so. Good. I love progress. Now next would be.

“Why are you so afraid girl?” (Vedqothur)

She seems bewildered by the fact I can talk. Seems she at least figured out I am a newborn but unfortunately… nevermind actually very fortunately for her I’m not a normal newborn.

“Why do you not speak?” (Vedqothur)

I have to say I’m enjoying being a dragon already. Not because I terrified a little girl but because I can speak like an absolute asshole that thinks himself above all others and people will just accept it… Nevermind let’s just stop that.

I started getting a little worried about the girl though. She still wasn’t speaking. Maybe she’s mute?

“Can you perhaps not speak?” (Vedqothur)

“N-No I just… um… I…” (Girl)

Finally she spoke. But as she speaks she starts tearing up. Maybe she’s still worried about me. I can’t blame her. She’s a little girl and I’m a dragon even though I’m newly born.

“Why are you here girl? Did you get lost in the forest?” (Vedqothur)

“I- *Sob* I- *Sob*” (Girl)

Not being able to continue talking she cries. She even goes as far as to forget her fear and hug me. What happened to this girl to warrant such a reaction?

After around ten or fifteen minutes the girl stops and falls back asleep. I guess she’s tired. Good. Sleep. In the meantime I will find what those lights wandering around here are. They can’t be beasts. The beasts wouldn’t come here if it killed them. They might not know what’s sleeping here but they know it’s something they shouldn’t be messing with.

Separating gently from the girl who still had tears in her eyes I use my snout to brush them off as using a claw would be dangerous and leave the cave. As soon as I do I hear someone shout.

“Fuck! Where’d that brat go?” (Somebody who will die today 1)

“Couldn’t ‘ave gone far. She’s jus’ a brat. Now less whining an’ more lookin’!” (Somebody who will be murdered with no remorse today 2)

There’s five of them. Bandits or slave traders. Either way they are after the girl. She did seem quite cute. Maybe the kinds of nobles who would go for that exist in this world? No, they definitely do. They existed in my world as well… just not at the time I was born. Nothing was keeping them from existing here either.

Renewing my hate for the human race I analyze the situation. It was currently night. I didn’t notice before because my eyes seem to almost completely ignore the darkness. What Zahrah said about the void’s darkness being like an old friend flashes in my mind and I keep in a slight snort. Truly the darkness only seems to help me but never hurt me so far. I wonder if I will ever be betrayed by this friend of mine. I sure hope not. The darkness can be scary if not on your side.

Enough silliness. I detect the position of the slavers. One of them is quite far away from the others. Let’s start with him.

As I’m not used to my dragon form and it’s not very agile I transform into my human form. Or something close to it. My feet are still claws and they are covered in scales going all the way up to my waist. I do not generate any private parts in this transformation as I will not need them. The rest my arms are also claws and covered in scales. As for my torso my back is completely covered up to my neck but my front is only partially covered on the sides leaving the middle of my chest and abdomen completely exposed. The colors are the same. Half of my arms, legs and tail are black from the claws to the elbows and knees and the rest are white.

I remember when Zarah showed me a mirror in the garden. My hair was white with black outlines towards the end and reaching my shoulders in length similarly to the girl silently sleeping in the cave. My tail is kept in this form as well since it might be useful. But I’m shorter this time around by around 30 centimeters. If before I was around 1.90 I was now 1.60. My eyes were the same as in my draconic form though.

I could make them human but I was way too addicted to these. They showed everything with clarity not missing a single detail, I could see far and I could see through the darkness perfectly. I am not willing to give these things up just for my eyes to not have slits. It would be ridiculous.

“Now then it’s time to hunt.”

I jump up in one of the trees and move along the treetops not noticed by anyone towards the guy who’s by himself. It’s the first man to shout earlier. I’m leaving the other one for last. I lick my lips slightly thinking about how to make him spit out everything about their group. I’m sure these five aren’t alone after all. Five people searching an entire forest by themselves would be insane.

I reach the tree above the man. Seems like the reason he is by himself is because he wanted to laze out on the search. I drop down beheading him in the fraction of a second. Minimal sound is made. I throw his head to the side and set my next target. No the other four are moving in groups of two so it’s targets this time.

I move back into the treetops and quickly move over to the other two. They have their backs to each other and are about five meters apart. I temporarily bring out my wings and use them to fall silently between them as one of them seems to be searching through some bushes and the other is simply looking around probably afraid of monsters. Oh the irony. Retracting my wings I walk over to him first. Silently. My steps making almost no sound at all to human ears.

I learned some assassination techniques in my previous life. Reducing the sound of my steps was one of them. I couldn’t perfect it before but it was a problem of it being beyond physical limits. I wonder about now. Magic can probably break those anyway.

As he turns around I am right behind him. He tries to scream but I slice his throat with my claws in the fraction of a second. His screams turn into gurgles as he drowns in his own blood and suffocates from lack of air and he falls down dead.

The other one hears his colleague falling and turns around. Seeing him down on the ground dead he screams.

“HOLY SHIT! SAM?” (Slaver 3)

I already made my way back up in the trees before he even fell and am now falling towards the second one. Finishing screaming what seems to be the dead ones name he is beheaded and his head thrown to the side. The other two hear this and try to find their companion. While I wait I pick up a small stick approximately a fourth the length of my arm and using my claws quickly sharpen the end.

Perfect. I finish Just as they find me and see me standing next to the beheaded body of their companion and the dead guy with a slit throat only a few steps away together with the head of his friend.

Seeing me they’re terrified. The guy I decided to keep for last steps back but trips and falls on his ass. The other one takes out his weapon in a panic while shaking hysterically. I throw the stick in my hand and it lands right in his throat killing him instantly. Seeing this the other one pisses himself.

*Sigh* I went too far it seems. I transform the receptors in my nose into human ones as I care little for the smell of the man’s piss. Now that the test run of my new body is finished I turn towards the last man standing. It’s time to ask some questions. And I have a feeling I will not like the answers.