Secret Revealed

Larian had barely managed to shield Mil before the beast struck him. Already the attacker was rolling away as others moved in to replace it. It was a Spine Devil, a type of mutated porcupine common to the deeper parts of the waste. What a group of them were doing in the Fringes Larian wasn't sure. Drawing his estoc he turned towards the incoming attackers only remembering his charge when D's grumbling stomach drew his attention. Cursing as not only had the sound caught his attention but incoming devils' as well.

'Damn it, I never expected to need to shield two at once.' Mentally cursing himself he moved towards the boy but was cut off by the devils rolling like a ball towards him their deadly spines tearing up the earth. While most were heading towards him one had diverted toward the stirring form of D. In anger, he thrust his estoc out as a tiny ball of orange light appeared to hover just in front of its tip. The bolt of fire shot forth but his aim was off as several other Spine Devils slammed into him. Though they couldn't hurt him through his shielding spell they did almost bowl him over with their speed and weight.

The bolt of fire struck the one rolling towards D managing to knock it off course to slam into the side of the wagon. Larian wrinkled his nose at the stench that reminded him of burning hair but his attention was quickly diverted back to the fight. He'd not prepared any spells having expected any dangers they ran into to be simple ones. Plus he'd allowed himself to get distracted studying the new type of tree. Now he found himself having to try and defend two others as well as deal with the repeated hit and run tactics of the prickle of Spine Devils.

Slashing out his blade a bolt of lightning split the twilight as a boom of thunder peeled across the Fringes. As Larian drew all attention towards himself the sound stirred D from his hunger pangs. Opening eyes like black star cut gems floating in silver he glared at the partially burnt creature trying to right itself after its impact with the wagon. He took a deep breath through his nose and found the burning smell… appetizing.

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Larian repelled another rolling barrage from the other Spine Devils before glancing back to check on D. To his horror he saw the previously burnt beast curl up into a ball and spin towards the boy. He watched as the boy lifted his arm to block the beast from simply rolling over him. He could clearly see the razor-sharp spines piercing the boy's arm. He expected D to scream out in pain as the beast continued its path rolling over him.

Instead, the boy flung the beast over him using its own momentum to propel it so hard that it found itself pinned to the tree by its own spines dangling a good three feet off the ground. Fascinated, Larian watched as D stood up staring at his punctured arm, his upper lip curled back in a snarl. With a loud snapping sound first one then several quills began breaking as D flexed his arm. Larian watched as the broken quills were pushed out of both ends of the wound. Then the boy pulled his shirt off revealing a chest that rippled as if the flesh was moving underneath it.

Pitch black scales appeared on his body spreading up from his waste until it covered his upper body. His hands now ended in long curved talons while a thick mane similar to that of a warg spread out around his neck and down his back. D looked up at Larian who stood frozen in shock as another Spine Devil bounced off his shielded body. The firelight reflected in D's strange eyes and he curled back his lip showing a mouth full of wide sharp fangs with two prominent canines.

Another Spine Devil rolled towards D and hurled itself up at him. D just turned and caught the beast in a hug ignoring the spines. With a growl of effort, he squeezed the devil until it was forced to uncurl. Its face wasn't like that of a normal porcupine but a hideous humanish face with beady black eyes and a black animal-like nose. Squirming in D's arms it let out a high-pitched scream that sounded like a child's cry. D just opened his maw wide and took a bite out of the creature's face tearing through bone and flesh with similar ease.

Dropping the now dead beast a rain of broken spines fell free as well, shattered against his scaly hide. The few that had managed to pierce his flesh slowly pushed out to drop away as he glanced around at the spinning monsters still circling the camp. Leaping forward he landed on the edge of the camp, his knees bent as he spread his arms and roared a challenge. Half of the attackers turned and rolled right towards him. D leaned back sucking in air and Larian watched as his chest expanded his ribs seeming to break and reform making his chest wider before letting out a huge billowing cloud of his acidic breath.

As the evening breeze pushed the acid cloud away it revealed the attackers looking horrible. Their quills had melted away leaving their flesh exposed letting all see it was pink and raw. They rasped and gasped in agony, their lungs burning from the inside out. The remaining Spine Devils rolled away in horror leaving the camp quiet save the sounds of dying monsters.

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During D's transformation, Larian had stood at first shocked then excited watching the events unfold. In all his studies he'd read up on the few high-level monsters able to take human appearance but none of the ones he knew matched the description of what he was seeing. Excitement flooded him and he was practically giddy with joy at finally realizing what it was that so intrigued him about D. He wasn't sure how he knew that D was special, he simply assumed it was because he was so talented himself.

Already countless experiments were running through his mind. 'His regenerative abilities are amazing! So many of the Devil's spine shattered against those scales they must be as tough as steel. What is that breath! Is he perhaps a dragon? But it wasn't fire, shouldn't it have been fire? What kind of lizard has fur? His hairline was receding during the transformation but that fur looks like the mane of a warg.' More and more thoughts rushed through the Arch Mage's mind.

Larian wasn't bothered in the least as D crouched down next to the dying Spine Devils and began ripping them apart eating their organs. No, the gory spectacle only gave him ideas for more experiments. He watched as D's hair fell out and then scale started to fall off his back. At first, he thought perhaps the boy was reverting but became more excited as he realized what was truly happening.

"He's not done shape shifting!"