Author’s Note: Due to some much-needed criticism I have changed the point of view to work on Veloth’s character. Tell me what you think in the comments, and let me know how I may improve further. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy!

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I woke with a groan. It felt like I was spinning faster than the world for a moment. I blink a few times to clear the dizziness from my mind and get my bearings. As my vision begins to clear I try to bring a hand to my throbbing temple, but my hands were restrained by a rough material. What the hell happened? Oh, right. Luscious bouncy mounds. No, that is not quite right. Ah! Tara threw a rock at him!

How sad to be downed by a mere rock. Why the hell did she even have me standing guard nearby if she was able to defend herself anyway? Looks like I am at our camp… something is at my back? Ah, it must be the man Tara knocked out before me. Good thing, Tara seems to have removed his armor. That would have been uncomfortable to lean against. It seems we are tied together by a makeshift rope made from strips of the dire wolf hides twisted together.

“Tara…? Ugh.” I groaned again. It exasperated my headache to speak loudly.

“Guh… that smarts” the man behind me stirred with a groan of his own.

“How do you know my name?” Tara said. She was off to my left, situated with our camp’s lit fire between us.

“What do you mean ‘how’ damn it? I’m Veloth!” Ohhh… my head.

“V-Veloth! Prove it!” ah, she’s stuttering again.

“I’m a manna spirit. I was reincarnated. You have been perversely picking up the ice that fell from my fur ever since I blocked my frost aura.” I spit out a few lines that only I should know so far.”

“Wha? Guhh… my head… Manna spirit? Who?” The man behind me groaned again.

“I-I am NOT perverted! Those shards are made up of primal mana!”

“So what does it matter what kind of mana they are made up of? Besides, if you wanted ice from my mana I could always make it for you.”

“No, I mean those were pure manna crystals made of your primal mana and they crystalized from your fur. Manna, not ‘mana’ mind you, in crystalized form can be absorbed into one’s own mana-well, allowing it to expand more easily with the appropriate exercises.”

“Manna? Mana? What does it matter? They sound exactly the same to me. Also, since you know I am Veloth, could you untie me already?” I am getting slightly irritated. This is uncomfortable and my temple is still throbbing.

“No-can-do. I would have to untie that fellow there as well.” Tara said matter-of-factly.

“Who ARE you anyway?” I pointedly asked the man behind me. Out of the corner of my eye I could see only that the man had short curly brown hair.

“I am… Ohh… Dillon Diligence Gran… ugh… of the Seven Virtues…”

He managed to rasp out, fighting his own battle against dizziness and an aching noggin.

“L-Lord Gran? What are you doing here!?” Tara knows this man?

“I was… patrolling the forest on this side of the valley with my unit… I got separated from them after an ambush… MY UNIT! Quick, Tara, let me loose! I must find them before it is too late! Huh? Tara? What are you doing here?”… Did this guy develop short term memory loss from the bash to his head?

“O-of course, give me just a moment.” Tara began to approach us to undo the bindings.

“H-hey! Wait a minute! You didn’t even recognize this guy, but he knew you? Are you sure he is who he says he is?” I interrogate Tara.

“Y-yeah… I know he is who he says he is…” Tara blushed and pointed to the man’s armor that was piled near the campfire. The chest piece had the symbol of a gate etched lightly on the left breast.

“That doesn’t tell me anything!” I say in an exasperated tone. How am I supposed to know what that means?

“O-oh. Right. That is the symbol of the Seven Virtues, the protectors of all Paradiso and chivalrous servants of the people. They are appointed their position and title personally by the king of Meilum, Jek Thuras III.” Tara described as she cut the hides to free us.

“Lord Gran, let us assist you as an apology. I am truly sorry I did not recognize you right away!”

“Gyahahaha… ohhhh… fear not, young Tara, I was at fault. I was so desperate to rejoin my unit that I did not properly take into account my surroundings and intruded on you.” So chivalrous. Tara just blushed in response.

Finally free, I stood up and stretched, working out the kinks in my shapeshifted body. When I had stood up Tara blushed an even deeper red and covered her eyes, whilst Dillon unsteadily wobbled to where his armor lay. I glance down at myself, and I am still naked.

“Oh, interested Tara?” I teased.

“No way!” her face resembling the skin of a tomato, she turned away.

Anticipating that I would be naked after shapeshifting I had used some dire wolf pelts to make a simple pair of fur pants and a fur vest measured to my previous life’s sizes. I looked pretty barbaric in them, but I planned to acquire something else once we reached Sancti Petra.

In the time it took me to get my clothing, Dillon had already fumbled his hauberk and greaves on over his simple leather clothing. In the end, Dillon only took five minutes to suit up in the many pieces of his full plate armor. Fast.

“Then, Lord Gran, where did you last see your unit?” I inquired.

“Somewhere south-east of here. We were ambushed by a party of about 15. Ira Wrath of the Seven Sins was with them. Probably they were scouting the mountains for a hidden invasion path and we ran across each other.” Dillon grimaced.

“Ok.” I sent a mana-pulse southeast in a wide arc. A few moments later it came back, showing the location of a battle in progress. “Wow… Dillon, do you have any sense of direction? They are nearly a MILE southeast and are in the midst of battle as we speak. We must hurry.”

Dillon’s face full of determination, he immediately heads… northeast…

“Ah! Er… THIS way, Lord Gran.” Tara called out, and we head southeast.

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