78 Sven

'Then you successfully broke through the shackles of your bloodlines and received a dragon's bloodline? What did you get, wind dragon, tempest dragon?'

"Storm dragon. I had sufficient ability in both wind and lightning to mutate a second time. It's all thanks to the lightning origin fruit you grow once a year. After Ratatoskr ate it, I went through the effort of collecting all the scraps and made them into apple juice. Enriched with some lightning apples I made it a permanent component of my diet. By now, elemental apple juice is one of our major exports."

'Lightning origin fruit? Is that how you call my enlightenment fruit? Seeing that I comprehended it by consuming a lightning origin, it kind of makes sense. But enough of all that, show me your transformation!'

"Sure thing. Beast mode!"

His dragon form was substantially different from before. His greenish scales were replaced by dark greyish ones that held a purple luster.

Also, different from Völsung, Sven's transformation seemed much more complete.

He was now barely humanoid anymore and had turned into a near-complete eastern dragon.

A long snake-like main body with short arms and multiple pairs of wings. At the end of his tail, there was a peculiar shape that reminded me of the feathers of an arrow. All in all, I got the impression that this wasn't a body built for close-quarter combat and large scale destruction like most dragons. This shape was more suited for hit and run or surprise tactics.

Sven had been a hunter before I recruited him. It would seem that a person's prior experiences might be able to influence their beast form.

"So, what do you think, looks neat doesn't it?"

In his dragon form, Sven had a raspy deep voice that was interlaced with a low rumbling. Hearing his questions, I recounted my analysis of his newly gained form.

"I never really thought about it, but you are right. I much prefer attacking from an ambush and taking the enemy by surprise. Open combat just isn't my style. Guess I'm heading in the right direction then."

'There is no right direction. There is only the direction you chose to take. Right or wrong is just a concept to make us feel better. So head in your direction, do as you believe you must.'

"If everyone did that, wouldn't the world sink into chaos?"

'I'm not telling this to everyone. I'm telling you! Some people need encouragement, others need to be held back. Once again this is just a choice of the one talking.'

"I never knew you liked philosophy. Did you meet some sage in the past and repeat his teachings?"

'No, I don't think I have met someone who calls themselves a sage in this sense of the word. But once, a long time ago, I read some books about the philosophy of an ancient era. In those scriptures, I found many thoughts and ideas that I could relate to. I'd forgotten most of them but just now you made me remember them when you talked about the right direction.'

"You sound like an old man!"

'Technically, I am an old man.'

"You sure don't look the part. What I see is a fair-skinned youth who barely reached adulthood."

'The physical body is but a vessel for the mind and soul. Do not be deceived easily, one's appearance can be changed quite easily. Instead, judge people's actions and words, those will often tell you more than looks ever can.'

"Sure, sure. Now, where are you headed off to next, and can I join you?"

'Next, I'm planning on finding Nerida. Apparently, she's in the volcanic mountains doing something related to her bloodline. If you want to, your welcome to tag along.'

"I'll gladly join you then. However, can you lower your speed a bit? Even in beast mode, I won't be able to keep up with your strides."

That was indeed a thing to be considered. I decided to only grow 50 meters tall, which would make it possible for Sven to keep up.

'Now then, we're off to the volcanic mountains! Let's go find Nerida.'

Despite my reduction in speed, it took us only a few days to reach the edge of the forest. There we found the river Ifing. After crossing it, we would be on the outskirts of the volcanic mountains.