Chapter 1 – Foolish Decisions

I, Dustin Elderforest, hereby swear that I am the biggest idiot to walk the face of the earth... EVER! But at the very least my familiar is with me, or will be as soon as I can convince this bald bastard I'm not a threat to his precious leaves. Sitting here listening to this man babble in a language I can only half understand unable to even move my hands to let off nervous energy I can not help but think back on just how stupid I am. It all started with that stupid deal...

"A kitsune?" I asked. Sitting here seeing the red fox in front of me, three tails behind waving gracefully behind her, I can not help but wonder why, of all things, a kitsune is what has answered my call. Sure it was a general call but I had dragons in mind when I started all this meditation and such. My goal was to change myself to become something less human but in tune with nature. I hated humanity! Hated it to the point I had to escape using games from my childhood the best of them being pokemon. Now I know it is cliché good guys always win nonsense but that is what I needed and with the introduction of Sun and Moon I had almost gained hope that maybe it was like with team skull.

But no that is not the case. I tried reaching out and trying to understand instead of shunning people only to get beaten and left in the streets to die and ignored by the people on the streets. No I did not hate all people my view was more like the older guy on Men in Black, I hated the whole not the individual but I had no hope that an individual was going to change the whole and I believed in free will so I knew no god of any pantheon would help so I began to study the old pagan beliefs and came to the conclusion that all gods and goddesses were somehow related so I would study all I could. Many long hours, leading to days, to months, to years of meditation, study, and general practice I tried calling a greater being to help me. Guess I shouldn't be surprised something like a Dragon wouldn't come.

"With that level of confidence, your complete lack of manners, and general outlook on the world, no you should not be surprised. Now I am going to be completely honest young one I do not like you, nor did I come because you asked, and no I am not going to give you what you think you want and it is not negotiable. No one will give you what you want and if they did you would not be satisfied. Before you ask it would not be beneficial to anyone and changing your form would not change who you are or give you greater understanding of the world. Now you will listen because I have come with an offer."

By this point I was too stunned to speak so I simply nodded. She was either very good at reading people or could hear my thoughts as if I was speaking so I wasn't going to argue, likely she would follow the train of thought and have a counter argument ready and waiting!

"The first time you did this summoning you were practically ignored if even noticed. It sounded like you were begging and had no target in mind anyway. Amateur fool were the assumptions of many and many tried to take advantage of you but your protections did not allow them through. It was clear to me then that while you did not have an idea who you wanted to come for certain, you certainly knew who and what you did not want to come. Now, while that caught my interest, it did not convince me. I observed you and gathered your cowardly intentions of running from who you are and looked into things to discover that this nonsense has occurred throughout various lifetimes of yours with increasing frequency."

I winced at the thought that I had only more of this to look forward to but she ignored me and continued.

"I have permission to attempt to solve this dilemma without you being reborn. I am going to place you in a totally different world, recently formed. I will even grant you mild protection for your first month till you adjust. You will agree."

It wasn't a question but somehow I felt that nothing horrible would happen if I didn't agree and she was watching me patiently so I figured it was safe to try to get more information... important things first. "If it is not too much trouble, may I ask three questions?"

"It would seem I am a good influence on you you're manners are improving already! You may but I can not promise I will answer and you may ask three and no more." She seemed to be smiling though her face had not changed. The longer the conversation went on the more I felt comfortable in fact. Her words at first would make one assume impatience and disdain at least but the whole time she has been radiating a feeling of the opposite. I feel almost like an orphaned child she has decided to help, and her presence feels almost like a mother's should... firm but caring... caring but not love.

"To start what may I call you?" Names are in reality a very powerful thing so I do not expect that her real name will be given but that does not mean there is no chance of an answer. But I am worried about this answer because if she does not answer at all I assume there will be no further communication.

"You may call me Kaze no Sutookaa."

Note to self translate that later... "Will I have access to my medication in this new world?"

"No but you won't need to worry about it." There is a mischievous glint in her eyes at this point but I doubt her goal is to make me become a mass murderer or something.

"What is this new world like?" I can see her calculating her answer at this point, apparently, she intends to give me something reasonable for an answer that has meaning but does not answer the question.

"Imagination is Reality and Reality is Fantasy what is Real to one is False to another. This is fact. This being the case what is real?" The calculating look is back yet again and oddly enough she seems to be expecting an answer...

"Dreams... they start in the imagination as fantasy... and if we want and care enough we make them become reality... therefore dreams are real." It is not what I think she wants to hear but it is how I view the world, lying would be pointless after all.

"An interesting answer, not one I would expect but no less true than others I have been given. Very well. I will not drop you into this place with nothing I will give you a way to make your dreams a reality. You will accept."

"I will." The last thing I see after saying this is her nod and a hopeful look in her eyes.

"Good luck... Jinsei no Doragon."

And that is how I woke up surrounded by people with serial killer masks and stupidly huge throwing knives pointed at my throat. I did not resist them dragging me in to be interrogated, obviously.