-2th Day of Winter's Second Quarter. Morning - Nefiru's POV-

It was already the second month of Winter when I woke up on the firewood pile in the Ragefire estate by the calls of a little girl at dawn who interrupted my unpleasant dreams to take a stroll in the forest as a change of scenery. The white-haired girl woke up early to convince her overprotective brother, and shortly after she had breakfast, we left the premises through the northern steel gate in the backyard as Shaila lies horizontally on my back. Under the clear blue sky, and pleasant morning breeze, I pace through the wall grass towards the forest in the distance at my usual speed to avoid spying eyes as the latching passenger does her best holding onto my left folded wing while enduring the rocking.

I maintain my vigilance in the open field, and minutes later reach the tree line where I confirmed with all my senses that we were alone before taking my usual trail to head up north. We decided to keep quiet until we are deeper into the forest for the tour, then used the opportunity to analyze the nightmare from last night. Argh! Stupid dream loop repeating over and over...all fucking night! I cursed in my mind. I wasn't fully conscious, so it felt like being trapped, and experiencing it until Shaila woke me up. I thanked the bouncing loli recalling the contents.

I experienced being a handsome teenager, with light brown hair and tanned skin accompanying two sisters, and their friend, on tour to a recently opened hotel resort. A few days later after checking in, I was with the three girls in the shallow area of a rocky lake twice the size of a tennis court where tens of other people added to the noisy disturbance in the afternoon. The approach of sunset beyond the dozen-meter tall cliffs obscured the lake waters with a spooky feel which preceded strangeness that foreshadowed horrifying events that nobody, having a good time would expect. But I noticed...it wasn't just people playing around to scare others, as it had happened before, and decided to confirm things by taking the stairs to the west wall. I stood at the top with the sun behind me and observed huge long shadows wide enough to swallow humans, only seen as fake videos on the internet, yet they are clearly the cause of agitation on the swimmers diving in search for their missing friends.

Hmm... He left the girls in the lake... I guess everyone thought those missing people drowned in the dark waters since there wasn't any blood from the attacks, and...snakes were ninjas when nobody saw them. I assume the reactions to such unforeseen events.

I was stupefied for a moment, not wanting to believe my eyes that two snakes were dragging off people towards the deepest part of the lake below me where only a tiny cave existed from which fresh water poured. After realizing the lifeguard, who was not allowed to partake in pranks went missing too, I ran inside the hotel to ask for help, but when I reached the empty lounge...an eerie feeling of being stared at made my back turn cold. I stopped to look around, then followed the broken glass on the floor when a shadow rushed at me, but I immediately jumped back fast enough to fall on my ass while hearing my own heartbeats from being scared.

...Huh. The level of danger one feel after experiencing a real-life movie scene can be so...unexpected. I affirmed remembering the conclusion.

I successfully dodged realizing the danger of my attacker, but got up and sprinted towards a smaller hallway immediately thinking about a place to hide without looking back. However, before running too far in the corridors, I was thrown into the walls with enough force to bounce while breaking several bones, including ones in my ribcage which caused internal bleeding. My body fell like a sack of potatoes, unable to move much, and watched the big jaws leisurely swallowing me before the creature stopped moving... seemingly napping after getting full, judging by the muffled wails of other people it recently ate in the lounge. Although the tightness and stickiness of flesh pressing on me weren't enough to kill, the oxygen was quickly running out, but my internal bleeding filling the lungs with blood asphyxiated me sooner than other people who shared my fate.

Ugh... That would just be a horror movie or perhaps a regular scary dream, but this shit actually happened to me in the past, and it was agonizing, so I'm pissed! I understand now, why I had Guardian seal these memories... The past me must have been enraged at the snake that didn't even bother to kill us at least. I recollect feeling the urge to chew on a snake.

That's how my Stud life ended huh? During a tour... I asserted the early death of a promising lifetime.

"SIGHS..." I exhaled with my eyes closed while slowing down.

*Thud!* I impacted a the trunk, breaking bark pieces that fell to the ground.

Guoh!!? Oh... I lost concentration there for a second--for an hour...it seems, and forgot that curve on the road." I affirmed noticing the morning passed the first quarter.

"Pfft!" Shaila's restrained laughter came from my back.

Oops... I forgot to mask our scent... I sniff to confirm our safety. All clear. Though we are quite far from snake hunting grounds anyway, and weaker beasts won't approach us so casually because of my scent, even with yesterday's bath. Well, it's not accurate to discern rank by smell alone because of lifestyles, and packs of beasts can confuse the senses, but confirmation by size it's also imperfect due to different factors just like how I'm almost half the size of Brother. I affirmed the correlation between scent and Ranks in magical beasts.

"It's alright to talk now, but don't be too loud just in case...we are not at the ancient part of the forest yet," I instructed the little girl enduring the silence.

"Haha... Did the tree got in your way?" Shaila remarked laughing at the classic mistake.

"I said talk, not laugh!" I grumbled continuing our advance slowly on my usual trail.

Agh! I was supposed to be cautious after leaving the estate, but have been too distracted walking with the head lowered, and barely avoiding the trees. I noticed the fault.

"What's wrong Nefi?" The little girl asked worried moving on my back.

"Sorry, I'm pissed because of a dream last night." I apologized for snapping at her before announcing the reason.

"Did I interrupted a pleasant dream? I thought you were just sleepy..." The white-haired girl voiced her concern.

"No... Waking me up early actually helped. For you see...I kept dreaming the sealed memory about my 5th death, and it was not one bit pretty..." I reveal the cause of my foul mood.

"Ehh? That's more than a dream!" Shaila retorted at my casual attitude. "So, you had a painful death in that human life... I wonder what other bad experiences you have yet to revive..." She ponders while muttering in a sympathizing tone.

"Ugh... It's incredibly frustrating knowing how you perished, and that was indeed the worse death of all lifetimes, to my knowledge. I already knew that a snake killed me in that life, but remembering the locked sensations, and my feelings as I was slowly choking inside the creature, was like dying all over again." I revealed the dream contents. "Ah, but don't worry...it's all in the past, so I'll be all right," I assured her of my state of mind.

"I see... That's quite ironic you were swallowed by a snake in the past, considering there are a lot of them around." Shaila points out the correlation.

"I think so too." I concur with Shaila's comment.

It's a weird coincidence that Wolves, Dragons, humans, and Snakes are all within a few miles apart in this kingdom. I review the common elements from past lives.

"But why would you remember it now though? And what did you mean sealed?" She inquired surprised.

"Well, sealed or forgotten memories that haven't degraded just require the right trigger to resurface from within the sea of information, and you-know-who locked them away for me until the trigger appeared," I answer her query insinuating Guardian's involvement.

"Ah! I think it's alright to speak normally since we discuss dreams quite a lot." Shaila proposes an idea.

"Oh, you are right. Just not the other...delicate stuff." I approve her method with conditions.

"Hm-hmm." Shaila uttered understanding. "So, did the memory triggered because you do the same?" She scoffed, implying a kind of karma punishment.

Hmph! I have refrained myself from needless cruelty when swallowing something alive, and just kill the creature once it reaches my stomach or simply settle for the portion of the Mana wave that passes through my body to replenish after it dies. I asserted before evoking yesterday's event that led to the nightmare.

After following a trail through the tall grass to the southwest of Sulow town, I found a sleeping Rank 3 snake extended in the field near the contaminated river with a suspicious elongated bulge, and immediately realized what it could be. The serpents are lazier at this time of year and don't go very far after eating something which becomes a meal delivery for us, depending what it has inside, but some of them search for even easier prey outside the forest.

I dealt with the animal by holding the exposed serpent's head with a paw that woke it up and struggled to break free, but the magical beast was electrocuted without a chance to use any abilities and collected its Mana after it perished. I used my claws to rip open the creature's belly out of curiosity, and discovered a decomposing child around six years of age in rags that seem to have originated from the slums. After taking the corpse out, I washed the snake and ate it whole before bringing Alphonse to the scene by the afternoon.

"Nah, it probably was because I sympathized with the child I found yesterday," I announced the possible trigger.

"Ah, yes... I heard about that today...after breakfast." She affirmed to listen to the disturbing news after her meal. "But why didn't you sympathized with me?? I was in your stomach!" The little girl complained

Yeah, but you didn't get digested! I retorted inwards and decided to prank her.

"Ho-Hoh?" I uttered before stopping and turned my neck to the back where the little girl lies facing up. "Are you tempting me to eat you again?" I teased the girl in damaged riding clothes licking my lips.

"N-No..." The girl winced before stuttering as she holds her ponytail hair over the chest to prevent it from tangling up with the scales.

"You like it inside me. How could I not notice you have been playing with my heart for a while now?" I poke fun at her watching the reactions.

Still... With hardly any spirit clash between us and excellent magic control, she can help inside my body using light regeneration to improve muscle mass when doing exercises, but a more delicate use of her abilities has been during experiments with electricity in my brain. I affirm the usefulness of the little helper.

"Erm... I was bored. You know you have a big heart right? It's bigger than my head!" The intrusive girl blinked as she pondered how to answer.

"Yes, but I'm not kind--Oi! Don't change the subject." I rebuked her intentions to avoid the conversation.

"Tch!" She clicked her tongue. "Don't blame me for trying to avoid getting eaten again so soon!" Shaila complained before pouting.

"Haha... Don't worry; I just want cake for my birthday next year." I comforted her denying any nefarious plans.

Sighs... I missed sweets too much and given my size...I need a big pastry to savor anything at all. I realize thinking of favorite sweets from Earth.

"Ah, that's going to be a lot of cakes if you get bigger by next year." Shaila conjectured as recognition dawned on her face.

"Nah, just a few to cover yourself in them before I eat you!" I declared noticing her expression dulled.

"Augh... I feel like I'm an instrument to make your fantasies come true..." The girl muttered with a blank face.

"Hahaha! I'm kidding-- not about the cakes though. I'm serious about the cakes." I empathized my seriousness for the sweets.

Hmm... We haven't said anything about her mother coming, so I'll need to ask Liana to bring money, to buy cakes in the capital since the delivery is more expensive than the pastry itself! I make plans for the expected escort that is conveniently taking long.

"Sighs... As long as I don't get eaten as a birthday present..." She breathed in relief.

"Anyway, back to the previous matter." I bring the conversation back on track resuming our advance north. "You were safe in a controlled experiment, and the agony you felt was only the grossness." I chide her impressions off. "However, my dream seems to be related to snakes, and the way that child's life came to an end." I clarify the connection.

"Uh-huh... But still, what makes you so sure, if you didn't know him?" The little girl questions my reasoning.

"Alphonse informed me there was nobody to claim the child's body in town or anyone who even knew he existed, so the kid's death would remain unknown if I didn't find the corpse," I announced the ghostly life of the brat. "I wanted to bury him, but it would be just an unnamed grave, and there was nothing to keep after Alphonse disposed of the expired body at the crematory. I reported having followed the local customs.

Ugh... I was taken for a walk like some dog, but it was interesting visiting a place managed by earth, fire, and wind magicians where anyone is allowed to burn their trash. However, details of the corpses are anonymously recorded at the gate outpost for records before they are burned, and mementos kept. I recall the fiery hole outside of town.

"I see... A street orphan surviving on his own...like uncle Lucious. If he wanted to die...all he had to do was jump in the river." Shaila realized a person's desire to live despite having an easy way out.

Well, they are aware of mortal Souls leaving the body but don't know if it vanishes, or goes to a better place considering Divine Souls can be destroyed, and records of reincarnations are unreliable. I review the perspective of the common people related to life after death.

"Right. Life might have been hard, but I don't think he would accept meeting his end to a random snake after surviving in the slums for who knows how long." I assumed the little guy's determination.

"May you find a better life, oh-unnamed child." She gently said compassionately.

"Although in my case, I was too handsome to die before my twenties in what was supposed to be the perfect life wished by the preceding personality." I elaborated the similarities.

"Hahaha!" Shaila's laughter came from my back again.

"I'm not sure if you are mocking me, or found what I said funny..." I wondered about her intentions.

"Both?" The girl lying on my back uttered in confirmation. "It's just...hard to imagine Nefi as a handsome young man picking girls like my brother was. Haha..." She affirms the cause for mockery.

"Fair enough. Although I only remember scenes of one single afternoon from that entire lifetime of 18 years." I reveal the lack of knowledge.

"You died rather young...twice my age?" Shaila said comparing with her age.

"No, the years here are much longer with shorter days than my previous worlds like Earth, so 18 years in that world should be around 16 in this one. Though waiting 592 days instead of 365 for a birthday, kinda sucks." I explain the disparities between our calendars.

"I would find longer days tedious..." She said before we stayed quiet.

...

After walking for close to another hour, we reach by mid-morning the ancient part of the forest with imposing trees towering more than 50 meters high with green and brown foliage. I stopped to indulge in the pleasant breeze waving my wiry hairs and rustling vegetation as wind gusts detach dead leaves that fall to the ground where they are blown in waves which accumulate in corners or valleys.

"We are safer from humans beyond this point." I look behind to inform my dozed-off passenger.

"Uh-huh... This part of the forest doesn't feel safe..." Shaila meekly said peeking over my folded wings.

"Yeah, I had the same impression in my infancy, but ignored my instincts, and pressed on...for survival," I said remembering my explorations.

Nevertheless, I was observant enough to spot the cause of this wariness and took appropriate measures before finding out the hard way like those who venture here unknowingly. I call to mind past encounters.

"Anyway, you must be tired since my back isn't exactly a bed, so get down, and walk with me." I offer a little exercise.

"Are you sure it's safer down there? Besides, why walk when I have a mount?" She asked reluctantly to get up.

"Don't be so lazy! The eerie sensation is just your subconscious detecting danger in the area without being able to discern the source, but it goes away after becoming aware it actually comes from above." I explained before looking up.

The bright blue sky is visible with thin white clouds slowly passing beyond the tree crowns where I have managed to observe the chirping birds compete with other animals to feed on on small seeds, scarcely produced by the trees during winter.

"Oh... Okay." She affirmed. "Mn... This is a good view." The sightseeing girl appraised. "...Birds?" Shaila sarcastically asked the source of danger.

Well... There are giant birds in other regions, but here, the birdies feed serpents and lizards instead. I think the red dragon up in the volcano might be the reason I haven't seen any big flying creatures part of the ecosystem. I affirmed the absence of predators with flight advantage before answering Shaila's inquiry.

"Nah... Those only annoy you to death when trying to sleep." I shook my head denying.

"Yes. And you also get quite grumpy when others interrupt your nap..." Shaila muttered.

Hmm...I guess that's another reason why Dragons sleep in caves or remote places...to avoid disturbances. I discern while wishing to have a cave of my own, then continued my explanation.

"Anyway, what you have to look out for are the Snakes...because they grow on trees! No, seriously, you could spot them sunbathing, though normally their green color disguises them to ambush prey either on the ground or up in the branches. Those green serpents are the reason most people don't venture here since there's not much to gain from creatures that are hard to reach and can run away quite fast when needed. But it's also possible to encounter a high-ranked just like Reylus did 27 days ago, though that one was sleeping, and we were deep in their territory." I revealed the cause for the unrest. "Ah! But don't worry. Their numbers decrease towards the east, and giant snakes are rather inactive in winter, especially in the morning while low-ranking ones will hesitate to attack even if we do pass under one because of my scent. Although you are a tasty treat, so do scream if you get carried off while I'm distracted again." I reassured the white-haired girl hugging my left wing.

Ah-ah... I'm not a monkey- Er- human anymore that could live on trees, but I sure envied the luxurious life of Wind Snakes up there when little. Then again, it's not like I have the speed, stealth or mobility to hunt critters in the branches, so the life of eating insects, and what fed on them down here suited me better. I asserted calling to mind the inaccessible food supply. Still, snakes lived such comfortable life because Father doesn't hunt them, and their only predators were the same wolves they also hunted...until we three brothers arrived. I inferred about the shift in the food chain.

"If you say so..." Shaila said with sarcasm before relaxing enough to sit. "What about wolves?" She inquired hearing distant howls. "It should be their mating season, and that brings change to every animal..." The white-haired girl said as her voice trailed off under my gaze.

Oh, right! The wolves mating season started already. I confirmed realizing the implications of such event.

The fights for leadership happen throughout the year, but since the winner has to be acknowledged by the pack, and other high rankers of the tribe...it is easier to claim a new land with enough followers to keep it. Therefore, as the Alpha pair ditch the pack to do their business alone, then monopolize the best feeding grounds for the future pups...the following High-Ranks in command use the opportunity to intrude in other territories and form their own packs.

Still... The job to mark the tribe's borders goes to the High Ranks backing it which I have yet to see, but I wonder if they haven't claimed the land south because of humans, the scarcity of food, or are they busy confronting other beasts elsewhere? I ponder about the importance of this land before answering

"Indeed. Some wolves have already started wandering outside their territory looking for trouble, and we have eaten a few low rankings venturing in our turf." I informed of recent invasions. "However, we still have to avoid the strong ones since I'm only past mid-Rank 5, and fighting Rank 6s is too unpredictable because it's a transition rank," I affirmed the troublesome times in the forest.