The New Bond

["To ask who a person is, you first have to ask who that person was. Everyone is defined by their past because it is not something you can change, Once someone has done something, it is set. This is why it is important to remember history. People can change through the years and have to adapt, but what they were before will always remain."

-Tyrants of History]

Kulni, Mother Of Wolves

I let myself ease back into the chair as I watched Aster leave the kitchen. The child was upset but needed to see the world outside the forest; she would be better for it. Relaxing, I looked at the egg with interest and would have snorted at the timing if it wasn't so concerning. An egg in the woods that I hadn't known was there had to be centuries old, and it bonded to my child on the same day she was unlocking her second class. There had been more secrets in this forest than I had realized.

There had been enough meddling in Aster’s life in her younger years, and sending her off would probably result in more. I had planned on giving her a freshborn pup to bond with, but a dragon…

I wondered how that would go over in the kingdom.

Waving my hand over the table, a quill and paper appeared from my personal space.

I started to write, composing a letter on the magical parchment I’d had stored away for a few centuries and almost forgotten about.

When done, I folded it and flicked it into the air, watching it give a soft flash of green before disappearing.

I’d kill a king again before I’d let my daughter go off without taking precautions. I had a promise to keep after all.

Getting up and stretching, I picked up the egg and walked out of the kitchen, setting it on the table in the main room. The dragoness on the inside would be fine until the Aster woke up, and It definitely would hatch strong, but it would be better to keep it in the house until then. In the meantime, I needed to find something to hide the mark she had gained, and I already had an idea of what could work, but it would take time.

Before that, though, I wanted to go on a hunt, and I was itching to deal with the beast prodding around my borders. Checking to confirm Aster had started her advancement, I walked outside and let the skill for the human form fall away.

Growing multiple sizes in a few seconds always had a dizzying effect, but the feel of fur on my body and four legs on the ground felt soothing and natural, how I should be.

[Notice: A domain event has started]

[Notice: Valuim, Beast of The South, has challenged your control of the Claw Woods. Domain status sheet is unavailable until the event has concluded.]

It was perfect timing and better than hunting a small beast. Letting out a growl that turned into a howl, I sat up on my haunches, looking over the trees and spotting the giant boar.

“Kulini, fight me! You can’t keep this forest forever!” He stomped the ground, shaking it.

I could, in fact, do that and had done so.

“Valuim, you’ll lose like the last three times. Stay in the south. It suits you more.” I growled out. He and that damned tiger never knew when to stop fighting.

He didn’t listen as expected, instead letting out a squeal of rage, knocking over the trees around him and charging.

This wasn’t going to be a long fight.

Rasmoth Arilon

The folded letter appeared while I was at court, merely a green flash, but everyone fell silent at its appearance. After all, the magic needed to get through the wards was high.

All the nobles attending who had just been debating sending more people to the border outpost in the north as a show of force knew this would take priority.

There were very few people I had given the enchanted scrolls to and who could use them, but as I looked at the paper, I nearly flinched at what I saw.

It was not my symbol, the king's crown, but one of a howling wolf.

“Court is dismissed for the day. General Author and Flight Leader Cassin, you are to stay.” My voice held no room for argument, and there was little argument from the nobles as they got up and filed out of the room. They were not as foolish enough to challenge me today, it seemed.

“What is it, my king?” Author asked, sitting down closer to me now that the room had cleared. He was followed by Cassin, who sat opposite him.

I held up the letter, showing the symbol on the front, and explained.

“My grandfather, may he rest in peace, only ever gave out three enchanted letters, and the magic linked to them passed to me upon my father's death. This is one of them.”

I could tell Cassin understood by the way his eyes widened. He knew more about the land outside the kingdom than most, though with his extended life from his bond, that was expected.

“Weren't those issued to the people who helped him secure this kingdom? Are they not all gone by now?” Author still sounded confused.

“The humans are.” I confirmed.

Opening the letter as Cassin spoke in Author’s ear, I ignored his gasp as I read. The letter was short. I felt my shoulders relax as I read. I sagged back in my chair, rubbing my head after passing the letter to Cassin.

I was silent. There were no words for how I felt. Relief, stress, a mix?

“Well, It looks like we're having another guest at the academy this year.” Cassin passed the letter to Author after reading it.

I nodded. “She requested that we keep her relations a secret, but with a dragon...questions will be asked.”

“We’ll have to set her accommodations in the spire. A newly bonded can be hard to handle. She’ll also have to have a mentor. I believe I have one suited, although we’ll have to recall her from the northern outpost, we’ll send her replacement with the letter. We just have to avoid Karvum from figuring out they’ll take advantage, or the dwarfs will.”

“Will that affect the army in any way?” Author was a shade pale but was collected otherwise.

“Not directly, but security will have to be raised even higher at the academy if anyone finds out there could be attempts made on any of the royals. If anything were to happen, I don’t even want to imagine the fallout.” I said before resting my head in my hands “The same year, my two children are set to start attending, as well as the elves' own royalty.”

“This couldn’t have happened at a worse time!" Cassin said gesturing at the map of the continent at the wall "With the raids increasing from the north and the amassing at the borer. Everyone thinks a war is coming. Even the adventure guild is struggling to keep up with the higher-ranking monsters that are appearing.”

"This will make for quite a year.” Cassin continued, then shrugged. “The dragon flight is doing well. We’ve had four more eggs freely given by the dragons or bartered for with gold."

I took a heavy drink from the goblet, which held the wine I had been trying to avoid consuming today to keep a clear head.

“The gods are laughing at me, I can tell.”

Alric Storm Born

The ship was skimming over the water, heading straight for the coast, the ice that had formed on the surface of the water cracking under the strong wooden hull. The other two ships on my left and right followed in my wake. The drum beat matched the mana output of the engines, and I let out a bellowing laugh, raising my axe.

“The wind is with us!” Cheers followed my words, the others in the boat raising their weapons as well.

[Area Event Started: Arilon Costal Raid]

I grinned at the event, it meant there were people on the water maybe even a village but it faltered as a roar echoed out. Looking up, I spotted wings as fire erased part of the clouds above, slowly revealing its red scales body. I let out a sting curses. Those damn Arilons and their dragons always seemed to be in the perfect spot at the right time.

“Turn the ships around! We weren’t told there would be dragons in this part of the border. We’ll aim for the further down the cost towards the south, out of their territory!” Slamming my boot down, I watched as the dragon turned and hovered above the land, the slight silhouette of a person on its back. I knew they had riches, and good would be slaves beyond the coast.

[Area Event Ended; Arilon Costal Raid]

We’ll be back. I silently vowed at the figure glaring at it. Somehow, I'll find a way to kill those winged beasts.

Aster

I took in a lung full of breath as I opened my eyes, light from the window managing to get in through the fabric. Stretching, letting all of my bones pop, I grinned, but before I could get up, notifications filled my vision.

[You have gained multiple levels in the Second Class, Bonded Ranger, during grade advancement, New Level:17. Note: Class level can not exceed Race level]

[Your title, Daughter of Kulni, has been updated to True Daughter of Kulni.]

This was amazing, jumping so many levels was something that I'd never had happen before. I kept reading eyes gleaming.

[Congratulations you have advanced to grade 1 and have gained the following: The ability to learn and merge compatible skills, Access to non-forced World Events, Access to Dungeons, Access to joinable Special Events, Access to joinable Domain Events.]

I flicked them away after a quick glance, I'd known that I'd unlock those already. Eager to see my status sheet, and brought it up.

[Name: Aster]

[Grade: 1]

[Level: 30][Titles: True Daughter of Kulni, Bonded]

[Mana: 341/341]

[Stamina: 555/555]

[Race Class: Daughter of Kulni - Level 30]

[Class Skills: Stalker’s Movement, Pack Bond, Pack Formation]

[Second Class: Bonded Ranger - Level 17]

[Class Skills: Bond Speech, Frosted Arrow, Ranger's aim]

[Attributes]

[Available Attribute Points - 0]

[Constitution - 39]

[Strength - 51]

[Endurance - 81]

[Dexterity - 91]

[Charisma - 48]

[Intelligence - 40]

[Wisdom - 49]

I’d jumped a lot in stats and my grade was now one! I pumped my fist up in joy before excitedly identifying the skills.

[Stalker’s Movement - At the cost of Stamina and Mana increases movement and senses. Increase of effect scales with Party size]

[Pack Bond - Allows for messages and view of current stats between party members, limited to 3500 feet. Grants the ability to know the innate direction of party members.]

[Pack Formation - Allows the creation of a Party limited to five. Increases shared experience in tasks completed with more than one party member.]

[Bond Speech - Allows for increased mental communication between you and your bond, allowing for mental speech and images through the bond. Decreases to emotion longer at distances.]

[Frosted Arrow - Infuse an arrow with frost-based mana that spreads to whoever is hit, slowly freezing them and slowing stamina regeneration until mana in the arrow runs out.]

[Ranger's Aim - Increases vision and slightly aids in firing an arrow from a bow or other ranged weapon.]

Not many were viable in combat on their own, but all the skills could be used together. It was something even more special. Sitting up, I dismissed all of the screens and stretched again, then winced at the grumble of my stomach. Food first, then a bath. Nodding at my own choice, I stood up and tilted backward awkwardly. My balance felt all off. How long had I been asleep to manage that? Stumbling out of the door, it took a moment to orient myself, but once I did, I went towards the kitchen. Walking in, I was surprised to see Kulni sitting at the table with a plate of what smelled like deer on the table. Looking me up and down, she smiled.

“I heard you get up. You must be hungry. Eat.” She gestured to the deer.

I nodded before practically tumbling into the seat and started to devour the food, not needing another invitation.

She waited until I had almost finished the plate before starting to talk.

“Did you have good choices?” she asked, to which she got a single nod from me as I mentally pushed my status sheet towards her, taking the last bite of food. Watching as she skimmed through it, then looked back up with a bigger smile.

“That explains it, but you haven't noticed yet though?” She asked

I titled my head in confusion, then shook my head. I had no idea what she was talking about. Things felt off still, but I figured that was the effect of the big leap in attributes. “What do you mean, is something wrong?” Had I messed up my advancement?

“As much as I’d like to watch you figure out, lean over here.” She gestured me forward, and I leaned forward confused and worried.

She reached up and flicked me with a single finger, not on my head but on my ear. The ear that was on the top of my head.

“Ow!”

I flinched back in pain and surprise, reaching up to feel my ear twitch. My ear was on top of my head and felt fuzzy. No, it felt furry. I looked back at Kulni, eyes wide, with the realization. She was already raising the mirror that had still been on the table. I saw my amber-colored eyes had taken on a light shine to them, and my normally blackish-brown hair had taken on an almost blackish-blue color in the light from the window. Those changes meant nothing compared to what sat on top of my head, ears, ears like the one Kulni had on hers, wolf ears.

I was stunned. When I thought about what the class changes could have meant, I’d never thought I'd grow wolf ears, maybe longer fangs, but not this. Not that I was going to reject them.

“That’s not all, daughter, there's one other thing.”

I looked closer in the mirror, confused. My hand was still cuffing my ear. The flick had really stung, but I didn’t see anything else changed.

Kunli gestured down after receiving my blank look. I looked down at my lap and then back up. A spinning motion from her hand and I realized what she meant and turned to be met with the biggest surprise. A tail. The same blackish-blue tint. It drifted slowly behind the chair. I reached down slowly and gently grabbed it. It was soft to the touch and sent a shiver up my back as the tail moved in my grasp. Gently, I looked at it.

How hadn't I noticed it? Then it clicked in my head what had been happening: The way the world seemed to spin. My balance being different must have been a mix of my tail and ears. That didn't explain why I didn't notice it when I sat down. Shouldn't I have sat on it?

“They have a tendency to move to avoid being sat on. Other than that, it’ll react to your emotions like your ears. It takes a mental effort to stop that, and you’ll learn over time how.” She was smiling wide as I looked back at her, with true joy in her eyes. She was happy, even proud of me. At that moment, even if the other class choices had been not to my style, I couldn't have been happier to have picked the one I did.

I stoop up, half stumbled, and half fell, hugging her and squeezing my arms around her.

“While this will affect my plans for you not to stick out at the academy, I can’t complain, but as happy as I am right now, daughter, we need to discuss the egg. You were asleep for two weeks, a bit longer than expected.”

Sitting back down in my chair, I felt my ears perk up. The egg! I’d forgotten all about it at the moment, where was it?. “Is it okay? Did something happen?” Worry filled my thoughts.

“No, no, but I’d say you cut it close. The egg is most likely going to hatch tonight or tomorrow.”

Her words soothed that worry, but anxiety replaced it. Was I ready for the egg to hatch? Everything was happening so fast: the classes, the egg, the academy, and the changes to my body. There was so much that needed to be done. I felt my heart speed up with all of it.

“You can do it, just one step at a time. The egg is on the table in the main room. It's fine, take a breath and focus.” Mother said, and I realized my ears had lowered a fraction in my starting panic.

I looked behind me at the door, nodding. “What do I need to do for the egg?” I asked

“You need to be around for its hatching. It should improve your bond quite a bit if you are the first person she sees, so get everything else done first.”

“She?” I asked

Kulni put her arms on the table. “Yes, it's a dragoness in the egg, but that doesn’t change much right now. You need to get used to walking again and then bathe in the river first. If you start now, you have enough time to do that without any worry. If anything does happen, I’ll let you know. I’ll also have something made up when you get back to eat.”

I stood up at those words. I smelled pretty bad, and I’d always tried to avoid that. Unsteadily, I started to make my way out, only to hear Kulni speak again. She didn't shout, but it was demanding.

“Get some sun on your face. If you get any more pale, you’ll turn see-through.“