Old - Chapter One

I awoke in a cold room with stone floors beneath me and endless darkness above. The hilt of a sword protruded from my chest though no precious blood spilled out. My eyes were heavy and blinking was a challenge.

Through the moments between the blinks, my life flashed. I had no idea how much time passed. There, stood before me, were five lessers. A human, an elf, a dwarf, a fae, and a demon. A fire grew within me as my anger raged once more.

The battle commenced. I with my wings, soaring high, threw volley after volley of fire and ash, of talons and tail. Them with their barbarous arrows, magic, and weapons. I did my damage and they did theirs.

Whether it was a stroke of luck or a planned vengeance, the five brought me down with combined magic and forced me into an illusion, tied down forever by the sword.

My wings desecrated, unable to fly, I laid there. My fire stuck in my throat and chest, building up until I burned from the inside. Tendons snapped, muscles ruptured as I melted away until my eyes closed.

And then I would awake once more. The five lessers before me again. No blood, no pain. Only constant fighting.

I knew this to be a mirage, a mimicry of my final stand. It disgusted me. How dare they ruin this. The sacred final battle, doomed to be inadequately repeated for eternity. I flew high, furious at it all, I fought with disgust, and then, I would lose again.

Over and over again.

Decades went by until my anger subsided. No longer fighting, I was going through the motions, desperately attempting to win. Perhaps winning would end the illusion. And so I practiced new styles of fighting. New magics. Enhanced fire, faster chanting, sharper senses. Nothing worked. I would lose again.

My internal clock chugged along until one day, long after the real five must have died, I gave up. No more fighting. No more anger. I understand now. I was the lesser. Let me die, illusion. Let me fade away. Please, I want to rest now.

Suddenly the illusion stopped and the sword glowed a fantastic shade of blue.

It was warm.

…

I awoke, wet and hungry. My eyes could not be opened, not from heaviness but an inability to do so. As if the muscles weren't strong enough yet. I laughed to myself. I have gotten so weak now. But I could still hear and sense my environment with mana.

I was surrounded.

Tens of rather large opponents, swarming around me. One wiped away the wetness from my scales, the other wrapped me in something warm. I realized that neither of these giants were opponents. If anything, they were worried about me.

I wondered when was the last time someone was worried about me and laughed again. Although this time, it came out as a cry. A shriek so loud that the current giant holding me rushed over to another giant.

This one was tired. It was lying down and was covered in blood. My crying stopped as I sympathized with this giant as it reminded me of when I was stuck at the end of the illusions. Unable to move, burning and in pain.

I was placed onto the chest of the tired giant. I believe it is actually a she, given the rather voluminous lumps on her chest. I remembered the five I fought, a few of them also had this roundness to them. Then a set of five digits caressed my face.

A set of five. How strange. Also, why is there no friction against my scales? Those digits should have bumped along and not so smoothly crossed my face. Wait a moment, why is my face rounded? What happened to my glorious snout?

Gathering all the strength I still had, I forced my eyes to slowly open. And there before me I saw a human. With brown hair and green eyes, she looked at me and smiled.

Oh fuck me, I've reincarnated as a human. Shit. I began to cry once more, as the realization of this shook me to my core. The heights of power to a weakling like no other. I cried forgetting it was those same weaklings that had ended my previous life.

The gentle giant, not knowing what her child really was, went ahead and assumed this cry meant I was hungry.

And put one of her nipples in my mouth.

I don't remember much after this, as I have chosen to forget this forever.

I fell asleep shortly after.

…

Once more, I awoke in some form of wooden crate. Above me was a ceiling adorned with wondrous paintings of naked men and women. What a strange place to put a child. Humans are weird.

Or rather I guess, I am also weird. Actually, I'm quite smelly. Oh Gods, I'm smelly. What is that?

A human came by, and judging by the look on her face, also realized the smell. Shortly after another walked in with a white and black outfit and took some clothes off of me.

What is this one doing? Oh Gods, what are you touching? Stop! I DEMAND YOU TO STOP!

…

The outfitted human did not stop and she took the smell away. I am thankful for that, but I can't believe I couldn't stop her. My strength is all gone. I hate this. I wanted to rest for eternity. Now I'm having my bottom rubbed and touched. I know that this isn't nearly as bad as the torture of that illusion.

But my dignity, my pride. Trampled once again. What have I been reduced too?

…

My days went by like this for some time. Not long enough for it to matter, but long enough. Feed, smell, clean, and repeat. I remembered why I hated being a child. Gods, I can't wait to take care of myself again.

First, I shall demand that no one clean me ever. I shall do it myself.

Second, I shall rest until I die. How long are human lifespans again?

One of the outfitted humans came by and attached something to my wooden crate. It was a set of toys that seemed to spin around above me. What am I, a child?

Oh right, fuck. I hate this.

She said something, but I don't know the human tongue. Suppose, I should learn that first.

…

The cycle continued throughout the day while at night I would practice spreading my mana. I could extract language from the heads of these humans, or rather my fellow humans, but my mana was annoyingly low. I couldn't maintain a connection long enough to warrant an information transfer.

Thus I started from the beginning. In the dark of night, I would spread my mana thin, as thin as I could until it merged back into the air as if it weren't mine at all. Then I would slowly gather it back up into a ball, shining a bright blue now. My older self had a darker hue to it.

I remembered my original father, eons ago at this point, teaching me this. It's quite a good technique to increase mana control and amount, as you can immediately see the fruits of your labor. A smoother sphere, a larger ball. It's all the same. Power in one form or another.

I wonder who my father will be in this lifetime? He has much to live up to. Though I suppose, I was rather evil in my last life. Can't be that hard to be a better father.

Why am I excited to see him?

Human minds are weird.

…

The brown haired, green eyed lady came by again today to feed which is usual. Though I suppose I should start calling her mother. But this time, she also came by with clothes to dress me in. The whole outfit was blue. Something was also placed on my head. It was soft. I liked it. Mother and the outfitted humans all surrounded the wooden crate and seemed to like it as well.

Of course they would like it. I must be quite handsome in this life as much as, if not more, than my previous one.

Obviously.

…

The training was going quite well actually. Rather fast paced. I wondered if my original draconian abilities were still there but it didn't seem so. I kept wondering to myself until I realized that these humans were terrible at mana retention. They could use mana but maintaining it within them was, from my observations, never done.

Not that it's an issue, more mana for me which is great. Plus, mana will replenish itself naturally.

That night I began work on my mana heart. I would spread the mana thin, gather it in a large sphere, then divide it into separate balls. Then I placed one of the smaller ones inside my heart.

A sudden warmth encompassed me as the mana traced itself along the veins and arteries in my body.

Wow, that's amazing. I've done this as a cold-blooded creature but this feels infinitely smoother as a warm-blood. Say what you will former me, but this body has its uses. I felt so good that I immediately placed another one in my mind.

Typically you would wait for the mana heart to cool down before placing your mana mind, but I had a feeling that the human body could handle it. And handle it, it did. I felt so giddy that I laughed out loud and attracted the attention of one of the nighttime outfitted humans.

I recognized her as one of the humans who came by to clean me every day. I pitied her and felt shameful. Such a job and she still cares for me. She came by the crate and adjusted the warm cloth over me. I grabbed her finger as a sign of thanks for everything. I believe she laughed as well.

Humans are weird.

As the outfitted human turned around to leave, something hit her head. Or rather someone. I was angry with myself being unable to notice or stop an invader near my wooden crate. This is my home, you degenerate, what are you doing?

The large man dragged her body into a corner, when I noticed there was blood dripping softly from her head. And this infuriated me. This waste of space comes to my home and renders my helpers immobile and potentially dead? Oh no. You're going to die. But not before I figure out what you're doing.

He came by the crate and I could see him better now. Hidden behind a hood, but I could see his build. Muscles for fighting, a straight back, and potentially a scar across his face. I don't know his name, nor do I care, but Scarface here will die by my hands.

The moron picked me up and said something, again which I couldn't understand. And here I finally realized I could implement what I've been wanting to do now for the past month. With my mana centers cool enough, I spread my mana thin in the direction of his mind and connected to it.

In moments, decades of life passed by. His family, now dead, his mentor, suspiciously also now dead. Ah here it is, the language he learned at a young age. What a foul tongue he has. I'll make sure I don't say those words as the female humans don't like it. Oh dear, seems he gathered acclaim with the wrong crowd by murdering his own family and teacher. I knew it, a waste of space.

I retracted my mana and now aimed it for the outfitted human who was actually called a maid. Interestingly, all they do is help. I wonder if they're happy doing it? None of my helpers in my previous life were happy about it. My mana helped close the wound but that was as much as I could do for now. My body was tired enough.

"Finally, I got in, now to leave," the man said, his voice deep and scratchy. If I could have, I would have responded with a nice obscenity but my vocal chords weren't ready for that yet.

He carried me silently out of the room, down a corridor, and into the library. My curiosity got the better of me, as I've always liked large rooms with countless treasures inside, and I let out a gasp. This caused a hastiness in the man's steps but also a slap across my mouth. It stung.

Yes, I've decided. First his legs, then his neck. Maybe I'll feed him his innards too.

Oh, I can't wait.

…

Refusing to fall asleep, as this idiot could try and kill me at any time given what he did to my maid. If he feels no remorse about that I'm sure he would do the same to a child.

Unfortunately for him, I feel the same way about his life. What a wonderful world we live in.

He had moved a couple books and a wall candle holder. A puff of wind escaped from a nearby bookcase and it opened, revealing a passageway that led downwards. He clutched me into his revolting, sweaty chest and ran down the steps three at a time.

Impressive agility for his old age.

Eventually we arrived at the bottom of the stairs where a set of two others, dressed the same as Scarface, were awaiting us.

"You've brought the child?" the tall one asked.

Scarface nodded and then kneeled to the ground, raising me above his head with his hands.

I looked off into the distance until the tall one removed his hood. Clean-shaven with gold littering his clothes underneath the cloak. I scoffed thinking it was the stupidest place to hide one's treasures. Gold belongs underground obviously. Harder to steal. By the Gods, I'm surrounded by idiots.

The tall one picked me up and pinched my cheek, causing me to cry out slightly. However, he smiled creepily with glee, "I really have it. Now, let's hurry back home. It's going to be until tomorrow when they notice their daughter is gone, and only until the day after they'll realize she's dead."

I was shocked. I'm a girl? What? I was so sure I was a male human. I didn't have the voluminous chest of my mother. Well, that's strange. There must be a book about human anatomy in that wonderful library. That'll have to wait though. I've got to go back. Need my rest.

The tall one, with me in his arms, walked by the mage. Scarface was lingering slightly behind us as we walked down the tunnel. While the tall moron was thinking to himself, I spread my mana thin. The shorter man flinched for a second and looked at me, but then shook his head. He had noticed something happening but didn't believe it could be me. What a shit mage. That fae mage that fought me would have held on to her instincts.

My mana forced itself into every crevice of the kidnappers bodies. Their muscles, their blood, and if I was a little stronger their minds, all were under my control. Or at least for a while. I'm only a baby. This is the best I can do for now.

I forced their muscles to stop moving and they all stopped walking.

"Mage Heathwick, is this your doing? I'll have your head!" the tall one yelled.

"No, Young Master, it isn't me. I can't move either. My hands are not even on my staff." the man replied.

"Slave! Are you doing this?"

I forced their bodies to turn around from the waist up, their legs still facing forwards. A loud snap was heard reverberating throughout the halls. I smiled.

As they screamed, I floated myself out of the tall one's hands and on the floor. I crawled to the wall and put my back against it. The screaming continued and I could sense the folks in the castle above us had finally woken up to it. That's a lot of footsteps.

"It's the damned child. He's doing this." said the mage.

"Are you fucking kidding me? The bastard's only a month old." replied Scarface.

To which I laughed and they turned their heads to me. That told me that my hold was weakening. I stopped laughing abruptly and looked at Scarface. I smiled and released my bloodlust towards only him.

The tunnel we were in was already dark. Candles lit every few paces, but dark nonetheless. Draconian bloodlust is something else entirely. Some say it makes you go mad, others say you lose your sight. I can say for a fact, it's both and even more.

My type of bloodlust makes you see nothing.

No darkness, no light, no shadows. Nothing.

All you can do is hear. Hear as I tear you limb from limb.

Which is exactly what I proceeded to do. I demanded the muscles in Scarface's legs to extend until they flew off. They landed behind the heads of the Young Master and the Mage drenching those two with blood. I commanded his arms to twist until they peeled the skin off and the muscles intertwined. Until they fell off, like a branch would, off a broken tree. Scarface wanted to scream, but his vocal chords were already damaged. I looked back unto the Young Master and the Mage, who were petrified in place. I released my mana grip on the now dead assassin.

I crawled toward the Mage first. I could delve into his mind but I feared that he would have protections up. As I didn't have the mana to waste, I quickly used wind magic to saw off his legs and fire to close the wounds. He screamed, I smiled. All around, a good time.

"Stop, you monster. Stop!" said the Young Master, squirming in place.

He's right. I should stop. Perhaps he has information to give us. I gathered my mana around his heart and held it tight. It's thumping and thudding slowed down until the idiot's eyes rolled behind his head and he fell to the ground. I relinquished my hold on his heart and he started breathing once more. Good, not dead. Well, not yet anyways.

Suddenly, I felt a strong mana headed down the stairs. Immensely strong. Not as much as the original five I fought, hell, even weaker than the illusions. But for a human it was quite strong.

I hedge my bets and started crawling towards the shining blue light. Soon, I could see him, barreling down the darkness towards me. I sat and I smiled.

"Dada!" I said.