Chapter 2: Learning The Ropes

One Month Since Hatching

Tanya. I am Tanya Von Degurechaff.

Tanya walked around the caves that made up her current home. For the past month more and more dreams had occurred until she realized those weren't dreams but memories of a life long ago. As outraged as she was about her circumstances. Her priority now was to survive, figure out her location and a route out.

Moving into a cave she hadn't explored yet, she made her way down. The air was brimming with mana, so much in fact that it wasn't comparable to her time in the Empire. Her eyes scanned her surroundings looking for any monsters lurking in the shadows.

Like her time in the front, she had quickly accepted that her new source of terrible meals would be the monsters that lived in the caves with her. Tanya shuddered at the thought of eating another spider monster. The bastard had binded her hind leg and tried to drag her up to its nest for a quick meal. Luckily she was able to make a mage blade and slice through the webs. When the spider dropped down to take her on Tanya had made quick work of it with her claws imbued with mage blades.

Tanya lifted one of her claws up to her eyes. It was a little scary how easily she had sliced through the monster. It was only after some experimenting that she had learned that her claws by themselves were more than enough for the monsters she had come across so far.

The days after that Tanya tried to use a flight formula. Since she didn't have a computation orb, she had expected the formula to be deformed before falling apart. It was, after all, just an experiment. But instead the mana had been immediately diverted to the sacks of flesh on her back. With the primal knowledge of a drake in her head she knew that was where her wings would sprout after sometime.

Sighing, Tanya continued her way down the narrow cave. Her tail swayed lazily behind her.

Even after living like this for about a month I still can't accept this. Me, a God damm dragon?!

Tanya missed the taste of coffee that Lieutenant Serebryakov would make in the morning. It might have been the only joy she had left on the Eastern Front. But those days were long gone. Now her mornings consisted of hunting and eating monsters like a damned animal. Tanya could only cry at how low she had fallen. Once a proud Imperial Uniformed Officer, highly decorated and trusted by the General Staff for the most dangerous missions. Now she was an animal, literally an animal. She feared that if she didn't find an exit from this place soon and see the sun again she would lose her mind.

After some time had passed Tanya could see the tunnel she was walking through widened at the end. Once there she looked around and scowled. She had entered yet another cavern. Turning around she began to make her way back when she felt a heavy pressure in the air. It felt like gravity had suddenly increased.

"And who are you little one?" A deep rumbling voice carried through the cave. Tanya froze in place. For the first time she had heard a voice. Not the growling or screeching of a monster but a civilized use of sound waves to transmit information via dialog.

She quickly turned back around and raced to the source of the voice. Deep in the cavern she came across a large barrier of mana. It shined brightly in all the colors of the rainbow. As she slowed down Tanya marveled at the sight before noticing the large silhouette on the other side.

Her eyes widened at the beast before her. It towered over her, easily reaching the ceiling of the cavern.

T-this is a fucking dragon!

Tanya immediately began to slowly back away, hoping that the creature didn't notice her. But it did not escape her that such hope was but a dream. The creature, after all, had in fact called out to her.

"And where do you think you are going, little one?" The dragon spoke. It's long neck moved its head low so that it could look at her better. "I believe I asked you who you are? Did I not?"

Tanya gulped before answering him. "I am Tanya Von Degurechaff. What is your name?" Tanya made sure she had spoken clearly and with purpose. As an Imperial officer and a civilized person she would maintain her dignity even if she was now a silver scaled dragon hatchling.

"Oh? A named one?" Tanya narrowed her eyes and took a mental note of the way the dragon said that.

"Well since you introduced yourself I shall do the same. I am The Storm Dragon, Veldora. I am one of four True Dragons that exist in this world." His voice carried such weight when he introduced himself that Tanya could tell she was in the presence of something ancient and powerful.

"Now that, that is out of the way. Tell me Tanya. Who named a young one such as yourself?" He asked.

Tanya looked at his glowing eyes and tilted her head. "The way you speak of this makes it seem that names are not common."

Veldora nodded his head. "Names for creatures other than humans are uncommon. Usually they go unnamed all their life. So for you to have a name already, so quickly. It is very uncommon." He said. Bringing a claw to his chin, he began to scratch.

"So tell me. Who named you?"

Tanya didn't know how to respond to that question. Should she say that she used to be a human? Was that something possible in this world? Looking at the dragon before her, she decided to tell the truth. Maybe in this world a human being could reincarnate into a dragon?

Wait! Reincarnate…

Suddenly the air around Tanya grew heavy. Unknowingly her aura burst forth as rage bubbled up like a volcano. A murderous aura surrounded her and swirled around. Her white teeth gleamed and her icy blue eyes narrowed.

"Being X!" She spat out.

"So this Being X named you?" Veldora's voice interrupted her before she could start cursing.

As his question registered even more anger burst forth. "No! And even if he had I would have never accepted it!" Tanya's voice was sharp and full of contempt.

"So this Being X didn't name you?" Veldora asked. Tanya nodded her head. "Hmm, so how did you get your name?"

Tanya, unsure if she should tell the truth, hesitated. Before sighing and opening her mouth.

"I named myself." She spoke slowly. Watching Veldora for any reaction.

"You named yourself?" He asked, curious.

"Yes…" Tanya trailed off before deciding to go all in. "It was my name in my past life."

Now that got a reaction out of Veldora. His eyes widened before he bellowed out a great laugh. "Hahaha. You are a reincarnate?! I should have known from how well you spoke for one so young!" He continued to laugh before finally calming down.

"You know of reincarnation?" Tanya asked. She feared this world was the place Being X sent all the poor bastards he toyed with before being done with them.

"I know of it, yes. We have also seen our fair share of otherworlders."

Tanya's eyes narrowed at the word and Veldora took notice.

"You certainly aren't the only one who has crossed into this world before. But usually they remain human." Tanya clicked her tongue and scowled. "So these otherworlders. What happens to them when they cross over?"

"Oh they end up being used as weapons." Veldora said casually. "They usually cast a spell on them so that they can't disobey their masters."

Tanya made a mental note to keep her otherworldly status a secret. Veldora will be the only one that will ever know.

A Few Weeks Later

Tanya concentrated on the magicules around her and within her body. She recalled what Veldora had told her and began to exert her will on the world. Opening her mouth she began to pool the magicules in her mouth. Soon a bright blue ball began to form and when she felt it was powerful enough she let it loose.

A beam fired out and slammed into the cave wall. The explosion sent a powerful shockwave in all directions. The hole in the stone crackled with blue lighting.

"Very good Tanya. Keep it up and you might actually have a chance against me in my sleep. Wahahaha!" Tanya clicked her tongue at his slight. The bastard had gone from an ancient powerful being to an idiot in no time at all. Tanya had asked him to teach her how to use magic since she couldn't expect herself to rely on her formulas. Especially since she wasn't even sure if she could use them anymore.

Her mage blade might work but that is one of the simplest spells to learn. Formulas that require large amounts of calculation might be completely out of her reach. So she had decided to ask Veldora to teach her the ropes.

Progress has been good for the most part. But Veldora insisted she learn all of his techniques first. And being a storm dragon meant they were mostly wind and lighting type attacks. Now Tanya didn't have a problem with that if Veldora would at least give her some tips on other elements.

"Veldora, how long until I get some other elements to work with?" She asked once again for the hundredth time it seems.

"Not until I think you can call yourself my apprentice." He said.

Tanya muttered under her breath. "I never asked to be your apprentice. You bloviating lizard."

"Did you say something?"

"Nope!"

So I decided to rewrite chapter 2 because I didn't like how unnecessarily graphic it was. And I realized I had written Tanya to spawn in the sealed cave. How can she spawn in the sealed cave and never meet Veldora? That was unacceptable to me. Let me know what you guys think.