Chapter 32 - Thirty

I was starting to get used to the feeling of having my eyelids glued heavily as bricks, making me unable to open them for a while now. This time, however, my whole body felt the same, everything hurt like I overdid a workout, rolled down the stairs and got hit by the hooves of a horse afterward.

Even breathing hurt, but only when I tried to heavily breathe. I stood still for a moment, trying to sense my surroundings, hearing the constant drip of water somewhere, the smooth wind, but, otherwise, it was utterly quiet.

I lick my dry lips, trying to move my paws but something… something just felt wrong. I stretch my body, making it crack all over, and regretted immediately once a burning pain makes me double over my sides, feeling mine still sore side. Strangely enough though is that my lungs were healed, and my ribs put together, still bending like a loose limb. I put my hand over my side, trying to feel it for wounds.

And froze in place.

I look down, and what I saw was a human hand holding the side of a very humanoid body.

…

Don't panic.

Don't panic…

Don't…

What the hell!! I jolt, passing the newfound fingers up my face, trying to find a mirror, only to hiss in pain.

Ok, ok, steady now, no need to panic… yet.

I put my feet on the ground, and once I try to stand I find my first problem. Bloody two-legged creatures, how do you walk with these things?

My legs were shaking, and my body wobbles about at the first steps, making me trip on the carpet, but proudly I manage to reach the bathroom, looking at myself in the mirror.

…

…

I don't know how to feel about this, or how it came to be, but now I had a humanoid form. And I was in it.

I had a long, black hair, smooth as Indian hair, going past my h.i.p.s and shining like the feathers of a crow. My skin had a tanned color of honeyed caramel, shining in with a sinful glim. To contrast there were tribal tattoos all over my body in silver platinum color, to the tip of my toes until my neck and arms.

My silver eyes stood out from it all, like when the light reflected on a mirror, making my gaze even more intense. On top of my hair was the only thing that gave me hope that I wasn't crazy; my pointy hound black ears, coming from the straight waves of my black hair, as well as mine whip tail coming from my back, standing midair behind me, almost curving in a complete S.

"Done looking?"

I got startled by the voice, which made me lose my footing and land on my butt on the floor. Once I look up, hissing at the overall pain, however, I was even more surprised with the view then everything I saw until now.

Leonel.

He…

He smiled!

And not just the curves from the lips, but with his eyes as well, bending them in a crescent moon shape!

Urray! I feel like I should celebrate or something, felt like if I had won a hard fought battle! Crumble, stone face, crumble before me!

"You are dozing off."

"Wait- what, sorry, you lost me"

I felt like my brain should be giving: warning- meltdown, total lost, readying up to evacuate, abandon the ship sort of warnings. I take some time to realize that Leonel was reaching his hand to me, as he helps me stand with those two legs, ugh.

He helps me until we reach the sofa I was on before, keeping a strong grip on my hand. By now my mind was working again… not in the highest speed yet though.

"W-what happened? Where are the mummies? And how the hell I changed form?"

"I brought you here in the middle of the confusion. Don't know why you changed though."

He pushes my legs up the sofa, forcing me to lay down, and sits on the sofa in front, smiling back and looking with a warm gaze at me.

Something felt off.

Like, really off.

"Did you hit your head or something in the middle of the confusion?" He knits his eyebrow, an amused look in his eyes.

"Or maybe…Ah! I know! Of course not, I must have hit my head hard, it would explain why I think I'm in a humanoid form now, ha, haha." I laugh nervously, not buying my own words.

"If you want to think in that way, feel free to."

…

Feel like his mocking me for some reason.

"Sleep, you are still weak and used too much energy fighting off that Mummy. We are safe here."

Well, I was really sleepy indeed, even more after running like I found a c.o.c.kroach on the bathroom stall, just to fight the Queen and ending up kicked, hard.

Oh, and the side effects from berserk mode too, hm.

But something feels reaaallyy off. Like, why he was still smiling at me, crossing his fingers together to support his chin?

Definably hit my head somewhere, hope is not some permanent damage.

"You don't expect me to sleep while you stare at me now do you?"

"Ah, sorry."

He stands, humming to himself, going somewhere to cook, by the smell.

I turn around but turn back as that side hurts, then take off the pillow from my head and start strangling it in my arms.

I can't sleep, ugh.

Well, let's close our eyes first… maybe seeing my status will help?

-Appraisal completed-

Name: Palarran Thilgon Mìnaothon

Gender: Male

Race: Platinum King Hell Hound

Age: 5

Level: 50

HP: 750-1360

MP: 22-320

SP: 1500-4000

Attributes: Fire, Shadow

Titles: The Wise, Angry One, Reincarnated, Older Brother, Whispering Voice, Strategist, Forbidden from the kitchen, King's Might

Attacks: Claw 48, Bite 49, Swim 10, Fireball 42, Fire Breath 47, Sneak 49, Dodge 52, Dash 48, Sing 72, Tail Whip 20

Magic: Third Eye 50, Appraisal 44, Berserker Mode 2, Voice of the Night MAX, Presence Sense 49, Healing Saliva 33, Telepathy (Young Brother), Intimidation 50, Hell Army 5, Voice of command 3, Humanoid Transformation MAX

Fire Magic: Hell Form Bone, Fire Manipulation 44, Fire Jump 46, Fire Dash 48, Fire Shield 32

Shadow Magic: Shadow Veil 47, Shadow Merge 46, Shadow Manipulation 47, Shadow Pocket 30, Shadow Tentacles 37, Shadow Illusion 32, Shadow Slash 38, Shadow Spikes 48

Resistances: Fire 52, Fatigue 50, Hunger 47, Water 9, Cold 15, Earth 22, Poison 10, Bleed 46, Paralyze 5

Language: Hound Language MAX, Common Language MAX, Elven Language MAX

Ineptitudes: Cook – 800, High Value

Status: Moving his toes like a child with a new toy

Uhm, let's check the new things, shall we?

King's Might – The strong will of a king, this title brings confidence, willpower, and an outer aura of highness.

Hell Army – Brings forth Hounds from the holder's elements, the amount depends on the MP used and the level of the skill. Can make rare invocations who holds some abilities from the caster, the chance grows with the level. The creatures, however, do not have a mind of their own, holding into the last order the holder gave.

Voice of command – An imposing voice used to give and maintain order, used right it compels the one hearing to obey, used wrong makes you a tyrant that cannot turn your back at your subjects or stop giving out orders. Works better in canine creatures.

Humanoid Transformation – The caster is able to change to a humanoid form with similarities to his animal form. Does not bring down status, though may need some time to adapt to the new form. Does not change with objects, such as clothes.

How the hell did I get that last one? I remember the others abilities from the battle, but I don't remember hearing that… wait, from the battle? Maybe I ate the crystals from the Clothed Mummy? It said that it could change appearance and whatnot, but still, why it was already at Max?

Weird, really weird…

I yawn, seem the words fuse in front of me until I'm drifting into a restless sleep.

~~~~

We were once again in one of the many houses around, but this time in a more fancy one.

I enter the kitchen, starving, following the smell like a fly, stopping in the entrance only to take in the vision.

Somehow, Leonel felt… different. More mature, calm…happy? Weird kid.

And he was taller than I.

Not happy about that.

He was wearing an apron with two brown bear paws coming from the sides with "Free Bear Hugs" writing in the middle, and a fluffy bear face in the pocket. I muffle a laugh, at first, but seem his slim and compose and slim figure cooking, proving the food, his long fingers warped around the wooden spoon mixing with a calm expression made my cheeks heat up for some reason.

I go forward only to trip on a small carpet and almost fall down, gripping the counter for my dear life.

He looks at me then, pushing a hair behind his ear, as a mischievous smile crooks his lips sideways. He looks me up and down slowly, I glim coming over his golden eyes, and says:

"Who is the brat now?"

"W-Wh-"

"Or a pup would be better?"

" Oh, and I'm older too."

"And taller then you."

His eyebrows rise with every word, as if daring me to oppose the comments.

"But I'm smarter." I puff my chest out, even though he still is taller and older than me. He crooks his head sideways, and with a laughing voice says:

"Oh, really?"

Why do I feel like the one been treated like a kid now, oi!

We went to the table to eat, and it was the best food I have ever, ever ate; however, it would have tasted better if I wasn't been stared down all the way through the meal.

…

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He smiles.

"Looking like what?"

Like I'm the most precious thing you ever saw in the world. I swallow dry.

"Never mind." I say, feeling my cheeks warm up.

"That's really cute you know?"

"C-cute?!"

How dare he!!

"Cute my ass! I'm a ferocious Hell Hound! I'm made of fire! I can toast you to ashes! My fangs are bigger than your finger! I-"

"Uhum, you what?" He says, that smirk curving up his lips while he supported his chin on his hands and observed me, intensely. Hell, what the- Hell, my brain doesn't work well under that gaze.

"Cough, anyway, where are we going now?" I try to change the subject, and he notices it by the way his eyebrows rise slightly.

Where the hell that cold faced boy went? I think I'm harvesting off what I planted, right? Ha, haha.

Oh god, Mother Nature, Voice of the Night, anyone really, have mercy on my poor soul, I think as I see him crocking his head sideways still-staring-at-me.

Oh boy.

~~~~~

Oh, what's this?

This is really happening?!

HIS

TRANSFORMATION~~~~

*wiggles eyebrows*

Liked the little surprises guys?

He, hehe.

(ᇴ‿ᇴ)

By the way, I'll be doing a QnA, but in a different way; I will post the answers under every chapter along with the story, so feel free to ask anything that's not a spoiler for me and the characters!

Cheers!

(人･㉨･)♡

Had so much fun writing this chapter hehe