9 New Start

Larian watched as scales fell away from the back of D's skull all the way to his waist. Even as he watched countless spines identical to those of the Spine Devil's started growing out at an amazing rate. By the time D had finished eating the organs from all the dying Spine Devils in front of him Larian was already sitting back by the fire scribbling in a notebook. D turned away from his meal finally feeling satisfied and watched the hunter who'd hired him. When he'd awoken to the burning agony of the hunger he knew his cover was blown. He'd wanted to practice controlling his change that morning but Larian had insisted they rush to catch their ride.

Silently D cursed Larian for not giving him time to practice and prepare for the fight that was going to come. He'd seen the strange way the monsters bounced off of him and had caught the glimpse of what looked like a lightning bolt coming from the blonde man's weapon. D wondered if he could win a fight against a mage, if his new strange monstrous body would prove stronger than magic. Minutes passed as Larian scribbled away in his note book, the steady rhythmic scratching sound combined with his full stomach relaxed D.

Slowly the scales melted away, the thick fur around his neck dissolved and the spines on his back retracted. Once his mouth stopped feeling like it was full of daggers D rasped out. "So?"

Looking up from his notebook Larian's face lit up with excitement. "Interesting you transformed back so easily?" The mage hopped up and approached D who watched him cautiously expecting an attack at any moment. Instead, Larian just circled him. "You didn't shed anything this time?" He motioned to the scales D had shed when his body had made changes to accommodate its new spines. "Do you mind if I have these then?"

Instead of answering the question, D responded." You're a mage?"

Larian looked up from the shed scales "Hmm oh yes. Did I forget to mention that before? About these scales… I'd be willing to pay you for them."

As odd as the entire situation was, as strange as he found Larian's lack of change in attitude to the whole event, it didn't stop D from bargaining. "A silver each."

"Deal!" The mage knelt down and started gathering up the scales while counting them out. D silently cursed himself, he'd thought a silver each to be on the high end. A starting point for haggling only to realize that he'd named too low a price if Larian had accepted so quickly. Despite feeling cheated D wasn't one to go back on a deal and carefully watched Larian more worried he might lie about the number of scales.

Once Larian counted out thirty-four scales he stood up. "Excellent. I now owe you thirty-four silvers, do you want them now or later?"

D's hand was already out before Larian finished speaking. "Now."

Just laughing merrily Larian made a gesture and the scales disappeared, with another gesture a small pouch appeared. He then tossed it to D who quickly opened it to count the coins taking time to bite into each one checking if they were real. "So, that's magic?"

Larian had moved to the gutted corpses and was inspecting each of them. "Mmm. Oh yes. It is."

D just sat watching the odd mage not sure what to do. He'd not expected the mage to act the way he was and couldn't figure out what his angle was. D had never met a mage and was unfamiliar with how obsessed they could be with their experiments. Worse even for a mage, Larian was a strange one.

Eventually, Larian finished his inspection of the corpses and stood up dusting off his hands. Looking over at D, he motioned to the bodies. "Did you want to finish them?" When D shook his head no Larian just shrugged. "Better that we get rid of them then." He held his right hand out and started muttering something. After a short while, he clenched his hand into a fist and each of the corpses erupted into flames so intense D could feel the heat yards away. In a matter of seconds, the corpses were reduced to ashes, bones and all.

"Now, I think it is about time you told me what you are." Larian's eyes were bright with excitement. After several moments of silence and D showing no signs of opening up Larian sighed. "I'll pay you for the information."

Larian wasn't disappointed as almost immediately he received the expected raspy response. "How much?"

**********

After negotiating a fair price, where D was happy to have started the bidding high enough even Larian haggled it down, D shared his story with Larian. Since he'd been paid for the details he left out no information. Answered all of Larian's many questions and even let the mage poke and prod him a few times.

Larian absorbed the story happily excited by what he heard. When he performed his inspection the poking and prodding were simply to hide his spell casting. Despite knowing the boy was different other than a bone and muscle density that was vastly beyond human limits he seemed normal to the various spells he deployed.

Of course, that outcome only excited Larian even more for there was no better mystery than one difficult to explain. Soon enough Larian was once again scratching away in his notebook. D watched him while thinking over the retelling of his story so far. He spoke out his main worry before he realized it. "Do ya think I'ma eat people every night?"

Larian looked up from his writing his eyes slowly focusing back on the boy. "Hmm, interesting question. Tell me you ate the tavern keeper correct?" D nodded. "Have you had the urge to eat anyone else?" D thought about it and in truth, he'd not really felt the urge to eat any of the various people he'd met before.

"No."

"And the pain that woke you the previous night. You didn't have the urge to eat one of the townsfolk even then? There were plenty in the tavern and the rooms around us." When D shook his head Larian continued. "But you were drawn to the Warg instead?"

When D nodded Larian stood up and motioned for him to follow. They approached the first Spine Devil still stuck to the tree. It wiggled around and growled at them but was hopelessly stuck. "Do you have the urge to eat this one?"

"No." D answered honestly. "But I just ate."

"I've seen how much you can eat when hungry. I doubt you wouldn't be able to finish off another one if you were so inclined. Shall I tell you my theory?"

D just looked at him as if he didn't understand but Larian continued regardless. " Based on your story and the observations I made of tonight's events. I believe you are somehow assimilating attributes from various creatures you eat. Since you've already eaten a human you no longer have a desire for it. The same is probably true with wargs and now it seems for the Spine Devils."

Larian flipped open his notebook and scribbled some more before continuing. "I'm so excited. I do hope you will let me perform some more experiments!" When D gave him a look that said he wasn't sure Larian added. "I'll pay of course."

Larian grinned brightly when he heard the raspy response of "How much?"

**********

Mil woke up with a start and scrambled to get his wand free of his coat. Larian carefully but gently kept the scared wagoneer from pointing the wand at him. "Calm down, the attack is over."

"Over? Over? You attacked me out of the blue. I'll have your head…" Mil looked around realizing he wasn't hurt and smelling charred meat.

Laughing Larian motioned towards the Spine Devil still struggling stuck to the tree. "I wasn't attacking you but shielding you. Unfortunately, the little monsters managed to bounce you around before my shield could completely protect you." Larian gave a deep bow. "I must apologize for my inability to defend you despite your hospitality of giving us a ride."

Mil eyed the monster stuck to the tree only by seeing it was he able to convince himself of the truth of Larian's words. Gathering up his hat and wringing the wide brim he bobbed in repeated small bows. "No no thank you! Sorry about the wand and such. Mostly it is criminals and miscreants out here on the Fringes. I'm not used to dealing with noble mages such as yourself!"

D moved into his line of sight fully dressed again. He'd taken the time to explain to Larian about his issue with blood-soaked clothes being why he'd stripped before, his arrival made the man jump remembering he wasn't supposed to mention Larian being a mage in front of the boy. Seeing Mil's sudden fear Larian gave him a pleasant smile. "No worries friend, I think the cat is out of the bag." He motioned to the charred spots on the ground to which Mil's eyes widened at.

"Oh, I see. Well, thank you again sir for saving my life. If you ever need anything, anything at all please do not hesitate to ask."

Larian's eyes sparkled as an idea struck him. "Actually if you would be so kind as once we get to the next outpost as well as those beyond to tell the story of how you were saved." Mil was already nodding expecting the mage wanted some sort of glory. "But please let everyone know it was my apprentice here who killed the monsters and saved you."

Mil looked confused between the tall mage and the scrawny boy. "You want me to lie and say the boy saved me?"

Larian laughed again "No my dear friend. I want you to tell the truth. It was D who slew the monsters. I only shielded you from the attacks while he worked his own magic."

Mil looked at the boy with new appreciation having never guessed that the dirty scrawny boy would have been a mage as well.

Larian offered to keep watch to which Mil at first declined so fervently that Larian was forced to use just the tiniest bit of magic to put the driver to sleep. While under D's watchful gaze he just shrugged. "Can't have him falling asleep at the reins. We can sleep while he drives."

"You lied to him." D rasped out, his tone had no accusation but simply sounded like a statement of truth.

"I did not. You killed all of them."

"You told him I was a mage."

"Ahh, there you are wrong yet again my lad. I told him that you saved him and slew the monsters. He is the one that decided you were a mage, not me. I just choose not to correct his error." D just shrugged and crawled back into the rear of the wagon. "Although you know if you like I'll be more than happy to teach you some magic."

D froze at that statement before repeating something he'd heard most of his life. "I thought mages guarded their magic better than a father guards his daughter's chastity."

Grinning Larian nodded. "Very apt way to put it. For a mage, our magic and its secrets are a valuable treasure. Just sharing a spell or two can make a mage wealthy beyond all belief. Don't think I am making this offer out of the goodness of my heart. You being a young combat mage would make plans I have for our time at the academy much easier. Plus it will give you greater leeway within the academy. The pompous nobles and rich spoiled brats will likely eat you alive if I tossed you in as you are. But…" he flourished his hands making sparkles fly from his fingertips. "Magic makes everything easier."

D watched the mage for a bit longer, he considered asking the man why he wouldn't lie and just say he was a mage. Or make up one of any other excuses but then just shrugged and replied. "Ok."

Curling up in the back of the wagon D left Larian to watch over the camp alone. With his full belly, he was sleepy and his body was starting to feel heavy.

****************

Over the next week, Mil kept his word and spread the tale of how the mage apprentice had fought off a horde of monsters in the night. With each telling the monsters grew not only in number but ferocity until by the time they rolled into the city of Gar, home to the Second Gelian Academy, it had evolved into a truly fantastic tale.

During that time Larian had managed to get D cleaned up and even dressed properly. The boy's speech was rough and that raspy voice drew more than one shocked look but he was leagues ahead of the scrawny boy from Pentok. On top of that during the week D had put on considerable weight but all in lean muscles. The change was so extreme Mil was constantly going on about how fast young ones grew.

For the duration of their trip, Larian conducted many experiments. Purchasing meat from various monsters he had D eat them all after putting Mil to sleep hoping for more changes. But no matter what meat he ate there seemed to be no response. When that failed they took a few nightly detours before they exited the Fringes to hunt for other monsters. With tracking spells in place, Larian had no problems leading them to several new monsters for D to eat. Each new species had an effect on changing D's appearance and he seemed to grow physically more powerful after each meal.

"I believe you must eat from them while they are still living. How does it taste? Do you have any qualms with eating something that is still alive?" Larian questioned him after his second meal, feasting off a winged serpent monster they'd tracked down.

"Tastes better when they are alive." D answered truthfully despite feeling awkward by his own response. "Doesn't really matter to me, alive or dead they're just food right?"

Larian shook his head, always intrigued by the boy's strange sense of morals, and considered again seeing what happened if he ate another human. They'd already had him eat other monsters a second time but with no real results. Even Larian considered humans special and was curious if the differences between the various nationalities of humans that resulted in physical characteristics being different might elect further evolution in his test subject. Sadly, no opportunities had presented themselves yet.

During the day while they rode along in the back of the wagon Larian would go over reading lessons. He'd wanted to teach the boy some basic attack spells right off the bat but found that the boy really couldn't read. So they started on that first. Larian was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the boy learned. He already had a grasp of the basics but seemed to have simply lacked the motivation needed to learn more.

Larian and D parted from the wagoneer who seemed truly sad to see them go. He'd respected Larian and grown fond of the wild boy beyond just his gratefulness for saving his life. Looking around the city of Gar the old wagoneer pondered for the first time settling down.

*************

"Alright, best behavior D. We are going to meet our employer. Try not to eat anyone while we are on academy grounds." Larian chuckled at his own joke before turning serious. "But if you do get hungry please let me know." D thought he was worried about him going on a killing spree before the mage continued. "I'd like to continue to inspect your meals prior to consumption. It makes logging your changes easier. Especially if it is another human, I'd be most interested."

D just stared blankly up at his odd benefactor before nodding. "Alright. Remember what I told you about the job?"

"We are to investigate the strange attacks that have been going on. But under no circumstances are we to solve the case before we've had time to fully experience academy life." Larian had shared his true motives with the boy figuring there was no need to hide it. With such crazy secrets between them already, something as simple as Larian taking a job just to live out academy life vicariously wasn't a big deal.

**********

Headmaster Wilnoc paced around his office muttering to himself. Classes were once again starting up next week and the mage he'd sent for still hadn't shown up. When there was a sudden knock at his door he barked out "WHO IS IT?"

"Arch-Mage Larian reporting for duty. No, wait it's Professor Larian reporting for duty. Wait, is there an Arch Professor?" there was a pause as if he expected a response. "Hmm Yes, Arch Professor Larian reporting for duty."

Wilnoc tore open the door. "Gods finally you are here. I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up." Wilnoc was a tall man with salt and pepper hair, his skinny frame was just starting to develop a potbelly in his older age. His goatee was neatly trimmed and oiled giving him what he felt was a respectable appearance. After ushering in Larian and his companion Wilnoc greeted them. "So glad you made it. And this would be your apprentice Mitchell right?"

"Names D." Wilnoc blanched a bit at the raspy voice, something D had grown accustomed to already.

"Sorry, a bit of a change of plans. Mitchell isn't with us, sadly he passed away after a failed assassination attempt on my life." Larian interrupted.

"My gods! You have my condolences."

"Oh no worries, he was the failed assassin." Wilnoc's jaw dropped but Larian continued on. "D here is a professional hunter who has agreed to work as my assistant for the mission. I'll expect the same deal applies to him as the one I had for my last assistant."

Wilnoc looked D up and down. He was now wearing the same heavy work clothes that most laborers wore. Unlike the hand-me-downs from before these were tailored to fit him nicely. His frame had put on enough muscle and he'd grown nearly two inches in the few weeks of travel that he no longer looked like the scrawny wharf Larian had picked up in Pentok. He also didn't look like a noble or merchant child either.

"Uh, Arch-Mage Larian are you sure he is the right one for the job?" Wilnoc used his most polite tone.

"Sure he is. Not only is he a professional hunter but my apprentice in magic. I've heard the king of your country has been upset with the clear divide of your students. Bringing in a hard-working commoner will look good on you, wouldn't it?" Larian hadn't wasted any time on digging up information about the Academy, including the information that the crown was less than pleased with the lack of commoner enrollments.

Wilnoc thought it over for a bit and started to see the merit in what Larian stated. If this D boy turned out to do well it could make him look good before the crown and get those royal bastards off his back.

Smiling down at the boy he stated. "Well let's get you a uniform!"