The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage: Reincarnated as a Hydra

Daylight entered through the window, which is what woke Bjorn. He found himself still in the body of some unknown monster. He had discovered little about himself or his species over the course of the night. Freja and her friends spent most of the time watching him and ensuring he ate and drank. Failsafe underestimated how long it would take him to translate the language. However, he claimed that throughout the night he would make a new magic framework that would allow him to understand it in real time. Unfortunately he won’t be able to read it until he learns the old fashion way. Speaking the language was impossible given the vocal cords he possessed.

He stands up and proceeds to stretch when he notices Freja standing over him. She was wearing the same thing as yesterday a black sweater vest over a white dress shirt, black and white striped tie, and a skirt. She picked him up and he notices the barrier that kept him from leaving the platform dissipated. He can taste the magic in the air and given enough time he is confident he can identify what exactly is being used to make the barrier. He expects Freja to let him back down but instead she heads for the door.

As it turns out he is in a dormitory of some kind. They are in a long hallway which has doors intermittent on each side. The spicy taste of cinnamon incense assaulted his greatly enhanced senses. The dorm had an oddly sterile look, no pictures or plants or colors beside the natural hues of the wooden floors and brick walls. Freja seemed to be nervous as she carried him hurriedly down the stairs and into the main hall.

An older woman was there waiting for them and she looked surprised at Bjorn. The woman was a halfling, a full head shorter than Freja, with a motherly demeanor. She and Freja talked for a few minutes and she even pointed at Bjorn a few times and especially at his back. Bjorn wished he knew what they were saying but could only shrug off the talks.

“Hey, Failsafe you got that translation thing done yet?” Bjorn asked mentally.

“Almost. I just need a bit longer. I am trying to optimize it as much as possible given your low magic ability.” Failsafe responded aptly.

Bjorn sighed. “Well can you just tell me what they are talking about?”

“Sure thing.” Failsafe said. “The older halfling woman’s name is Dimii. She is trying to figure out what you are. She thought you might be a dragon but no wings, so that was out. She is also upset that Freja took you out of the containment field. I am assuming that is the platform in Freja’s room. Apparently, you are supposed to stay in it for a few days to ensure you don’t reject the bond and attack her.”

It suddenly made a lot more sense why Julie and Mat didn’t want to come into the room while he was free. Any bonded familiar can reject the bond and then be no different than any other wild animal. The fact no one seems to know what he is means that Freja is taking a big risk to her life, carrying him around like she is. While he has no intention of harming her if he was just another wild animal one bite and his venom could kill her.

“So I could reject it.” Bjorn asked.

“Yes, you could cut the connection if you focused on it hard enough.” Failsafe stated. “Oh, now the woman seems to have told Freja that her father is on the way to see her and she should stay at the dorm today.”

As Failsafe spoke Bjorn could taste fear in the air. He looked up at Freja and she seemed neutral but her body was giving off a strong sense of dread. Something wasn’t right, why would she be afraid that her father was coming to see her. Family troubles perhaps that seemed like it might be the case.

After the two talked for a few more minutes, several more girls around Freja’s age slowly made their way down the stairs into the main hall. Each of them were wearing the same uniform as Freja and none of them were human. He saw one elf, fay and a cynocephali along with another of Freja’s race. They all carried bookbags on their backs and a staff in hand or a wand at their side.

When they saw Freja and Bjorn he noticed they seemed to take a longer path around to avoid them. At the same time Freja noticeably avoided eye contact and shrunk in her demeanor. Bjorn could taste fear, embarrassment, and anxiety as the girl shrank. The halfling woman seemed to notice and said something that of course Bjorn could not understand but seemed to help Freja somewhat.

After speaking to Dimii, Freja returned to her room. Since Julie was already gone she allowed him to walk around the space freely. As with the day before he found the space to be rather barren, there were two desks, wardrobes and beds but nothing else. Freja sat at her desk while Bjorn had to jump up onto her bed to see what she was doing.

She was working with an alchemy set and some dried ingredients. She added a notebook and several textbooks open while she used her magic with some difficulty to ignite a flare jewel that was used as a bunsen burner. She worked diligently on something, occasionally looking over to Bjorn. Especially as he jumped on and off the bed to get used to his new body and find the best way to jump.

Once she finished whatever she was working on she put out the flare jewel after several failed attempts. She picked Bjorn up and placed him back on the containment platform. She grabbed her book and sat down next to him where she spent the next two hours reading out loud to him. Bjorn just listened despite not understanding a word. He had nothing better to do anyway, Failsafe was working on the new framework and he didn’t want to distract him with questions and updates. He didn’t really understand what Failsafe even is, judging by the description Failsafe wrote about himself in the Skills Analysis, he is some type of sentient spell. Bjorn feels like he should know what that means like it is on the tip of his tongue but he can't quite put it together.

“... he is accredited as the “Wandweaver Extraordinaire,” and it is thanks to his life long pursuit of magical knowledge and his refinement of magical wandmaking techniques that mages today can craft spells with the use of a wand.” Freja read which caused Bjorn to jump up in surprise which in turn caused her to stop. “Are you okay Bjorn? I didn’t startle you, did I, baby?” She pets his head.

Failsafe celebrated. “Heck yeah, guess who just solved one way interspecies communication magic? Come on guess-guess.”

“Uh, you?” Bjorn said mentally.

“That’s right.” Failsafe said proudly. “Not only that but it uses ambient magic meaning you won’t even have to worry about it draining you.”

Bjorn immediately tried to talk out loud but all that came out were the usual squawks.

“You hungry, baby?” Freja asked as she stood up. “I will be right back.”

“I thought you figured this out?” Bjorn thought frustratedly. “Why am I still squeaking?”

“It is one way.” Failsafe stated matter of factly. “The translation is happening in your head. You can’t speak, that would be sound magic or something like that.”

As Freja reached for the door it suddenly swung open. The taste of anger, disappointment and disgust carried in the air which caused Bjorn to immediately turn to see what was going on. He could also taste Freja’s terror which put him on edge. On the other side of the door was a man who towered over Freja, his antlers adorned with rings and jewels. His skin is as dark as a starless midnight only broken up by the red suit and long shoulder cape which itself had the crest of a dragon.

Authority and mana flowed from the man like a typhoon although controlled and pressing down only on Freja. This was a tactic used to show dominance on those around you. It is not a physical nor a magical attack, just the manipulation of the mana in the air. If one can not defend against it then it will make the person feel vulnerable and underpressure as if they are standing before a superior. It is considered rude and even an insult to do but the man at the door did not seem to care.

“Fath…” Freja stated but quickly bowed her head. “I mean Lord Salstar. It is an honor that you have come to see me.”

The man’s voice was deep and impassive. “Where is it, girl?”

Freja notably paled her voice barely above a whisper. “Right this way, Lord.”