Chapter 1

I certainly got a restart.

I was born as the second eldest child to a loving couple in a remote village a fair distance from any localized form of central government and had an elder sister by the name of Vivian and eight years after me a younger brother and sister, called Simon and Beatrice respectively. I was unfortunately dinged with my great grandfather's name of Stephanos Tiberius Servius of the Aquila family, though everyone called me Stephanos or Stephan out of pity. To this day Vivian, when I visit her, swears that our father was drunk when he bestowed that name upon me. As for looks, well, standing around five foot six now as an adult, very dirty blonde hair and grey eyes from my mother's side and my father's lineage of numerous knights and minor nobles, I had a rugged, but handsome appearance, being not overly muscular, but had enough to show from working in the fields and training day in and day out.

My father was a former man-at-arms from Lescatie by the name of Marcus who got fed up with the lies and hypocrisy and my mother, Amelia, was an apothecary from a small border town. Life was peaceful in our farming community. The remoteness of the region and the mountainous terrain that surrounded the village kept most casual visitors out and helped maintain the neutral stance towards monsters that generally kept most of any troubles out of the way.

Childhood was rough and tumble, my father having retired mostly from the fighting in his youth worked as a member of the town guard, which in our peaceful village of Noricum, mostly amounted to tracking down lost cows, chasing amorous teenagers out of barns and haylofts and on occasion culling the numbers of the local cave lion population. My mother as an apothecary ran her own shop to help deal with the aches and pains of rural village life and passed the younger siblings off to Vivian and myself once they were old enough to not need full on attention every five minutes for feeding or cleaning. Vivian handled it mostly, though. After all there was only so much a young boy could do with two three-year-olds. Especially Beatrice, who was a bubbly almost perfect clone of my elder sister Vivian with her fair complexion and icy blue eyes but had been blessed with our grandmother's deep raven hair. Simon on the other hand, who was very taciturn but quick witted intellectual with half-moon glasses ever perched on his nose, was a mini-me of my dad. Red-headed, freckles, dark brown eyes with already a stout and sturdy build showing through though no interest in the physical aspects of warrior training though he was a dab hand with knives thanks to my mother Amelia.

Once I reached about eight, my father started training me from before sunrise every day to fight. First with sticks and my fists, then wooden weapons and by the time I was twelve, we had started with steel. I had no aptitude for the bow, so that was out and we didn't own a horse so mounted combat training was limited. Of the numerous weapons that my father had experience in, it was the swords that I handled the best. In particular, the large two-handed war-swords that had to be carried across one's back.

After this was determined my training intensified. My father ran me into the ground, day in and day out. Life was good, everything was peaceful. Unfortunately, this wasn't to last.

First, Vivian moved away to study under a physician in a larger town when she was sixteen, so I was left with the twins. Then couple of months later, dad died in a rockfall. This left my mother in mourning and I, as the eldest child as the man of the house, all of thirteen-years-old. It took some time and effort, but the twins were old enough to start helping at this point. During this time, things became unsettled in the surrounding regions. Mamono were gathering under the Fourth Princess and an Order Priest and his flock had settled in town much to the veiled disgust and annoyance of the village Elders. However, the Orderites were outnumbered by the rest of the town so they kept to themselves, and our village's reputation of being neutral to all sorts was maintained, though it was rare that any Mamono visited. Three years passed then. The Order Priest was replaced towards the end of that time with one that was more of a fire and brimstone kind. He kept stirring up no end of trouble.

Until the elders had enough and banished him and his followers and tore down their church. He didn't leave quietly though yelling death threats and doom. Nothing came of it.

Then on one clear day, as I was coming back from training at sixteen years old, life again changed for the worse.

I was coming up from the training field when all of a sudden, I felt the earth move. And then it rumbled and started shaking violently. I threw myself to the ground. As I watched, I could see barns toppling and roofs sliding to the ground, people fled the town, trying to find safety. And then, as quickly as it began, it was over.

I stood up, caught my bearings and then tore off to the house. When I got there, part of the wall had collapsed. Carefully making my way inside I called out, "Mom! Where are you! Are you alright, are the twins safe?!" I searched all around, but couldn't find anyone.

Just then, from under the stairs nearly crushed by the rubble, Simon and Beatrice crawled out, covered in dust, but unharmed. Without thinking I pulled them from the house and embraced them. "Where's Mom?" I asked them.

Beatrice answered her icy blue eyes wide, "She went to Natalia's shop."

The blood drained from my face, Old Natalia couldn't move fast nor would she move fast and Mom would never leave anyone behind. I looked around, then caught sight of our neighbor, Rosalee cautiously making her way out of her untouched house.

"Rosalee! Can you watch the twins? I need to find my mother."

Rosalee turned, "Get going, I'll make sure the twins stay out of trouble. Now scoot."

I nodded and ran off.

By the time I reached Old Natalia's shop, there was a large crowd gathered around moving rubble. Without thinking, I jumped in to help. The first thing we found was the body of Old Natalia, crushed under a table. The search grew desperate. After five minutes more of shifting stone, we were able to find my mother. It wasn't good.

"Stephan, please. I don't have much time," She breathed, blood flowing from her wounds, "Take care of the children and bring your sister home. Promise me that you'll never give." Gasp, "Up." Her last breath sighed from her lips and my mother died in my arms.

I let loose a cry of anguish and pain that echoed for a time and started sobbing.

Days later we buried my mother next to my father. The rain was pouring down so we didn't linger. The house was still a mess, but the damage was no where near as bad as it first seemed. It had been fortunate that the only occupied buildings to have collapsed were older ones and most had been abandoned and weren't being rebuilt. That gave most of the men time to repair our home. Elder Jeramiah had this to say as he leaned on his walking stick.

"In three years, young man, your family has not only had your sister move away, but has lost its father and mother, and now, nearly your home. It's the least we can do to help get you back on your feet. I've written to that physician in Iverston requesting that your sister be relieved from her studies and come home. I should hear back in a few days."

"Thank you honored Elder. To be honest, I don't know what to do or where to go from here now."

"Perhaps, young one, you should head south. Go test yourself in the Reptile Kingdom. Of course, wait for your sister before leaving."

"I'll consider it."

A few days later, the reply came, but not in the form expected. A wagon rolled up to our doorstep and a tall cloaked figure stepped out, carrying bags that were set down next to the luggage that the driver unloaded. I sent the twins inside and blocked the door with my body, dad's axe-hammer in my grip.

"Who are you," I growled, "Identify yourself!"

"Little brother, not now. Please don't you recognize me?"

"Vivian?" I breathed, "What's with the cloak?"

She lowered her hood, "This is why." She had been monsterized. Vivian looked like a Dragon now. Like the famous Ice Elder from the Kingdom to the south, Velkhana.

"Let's discuss this inside, you know as well as I that while the townsfolk don't mind Mamono, they don't care for them either."

"Hmmm," I muttered, "Things have shifted those opinions somewhat in the last few years, not in the least the pack of Orderites that settled in town three years ago that we only drove off two months ago. We've had a few Mamono in town and actually welcomed them. Couple of envoys, we're now under a demon realm's protection, though they have promised to only allow those who lived here before monsterizing or are married to move into the region. So, you can lose the cloak."

"Thank Goodness. This thing is way to hot for the summertime."

She started to take the cloak off, but stopped when I hissed, "Wait until we get inside will you? I am fully aware of how Dragons have to dress but I don't need you giving anyone a heart attack."

Vivian acquiesced and I allowed her in. After shutting the door behind me and closing the curtains of the front windows, I gestured that she was all clear. She took off her cloak and I was able to get a good look at her new form.

"Damn," I whistled, "You really do look like a Velkhana. I'd ask what happened, but something tells me that you don't really want to share."

"Not with the twins in the room," Vivian answered matter-of-factly.

I turned to my younger brother and sister, "Simon, Beatrice, could you please give us some privacy please? A grown-up conversation is needed right now."

"Awwwwe," Beatrice whined, "Do we have too?"

"Come on sis," Simon pulled his sister away, "You know better than to backtalk big brother. The study is calling."

"But I don't want to study Economic policies of the Dwarven Realms! It's boring! I want to read about magic! I want to be a Dark Mage when I grow up."

This last was barely heard before the door to the study, otherwise known as mom's lab, shut, cutting off all sound. Vivian and I winced at this; both of us knowing that Beatrice had absolutely no idea what that actually meant. We strode into the sitting room, I giving Vivian a firm hug before our discussion began. It felt nice, even though she was now partially covered in scales and cold to the touch. I had missed her greatly during the years she had been gone, as we had been always close; she often being the one to comfort me when I was little and I the sweet little brother whom she could coddle when things got hectic.

"Sis, I missed you so much," I whispered, inhaling her telltale perfume.

"And I you, little brother," Vivian replied, patting me on the back.

We seated ourselves, I in our dad's leather armchair and Vivian in Mom's place of the sofa. There was a period of silence where Vivian gathered her thoughts and I respectfully held my tongue.

"The best place to start," Vivian began, "Would be Iverston, I guess. When I arrived, it was very similar to our little village in its stance towards Monsters, if a bit more militant about its neutrality. I soon found my tutor and was billeted in an annex of the house that normally would have housed relatives. The first few months were rigorous, as my teacher used every method known to her to test my lessons from Mom. I exceeded her expectations for she soon put me on an advanced track. I was shown the hardest cases and the most stubborn of illnesses, and was even introduced at one point to Greilia, head of the Medical Sabbath during a Human Physician Convention where she was one of the few Mamono invited as long as she restrained from monsterizing people."

At this, I looked sharply at my sister, who held up a clawed hand to stop me.

"Yes brother, I know that the Sabbath has a reputation, but in this case, they actively shun those who seek the standard ways of the Sabbath. Greilia even praised me for the choice words I had when Kuroferuru showed up to cause a little havoc, granting me honorary membership when I successfully used Mom's medical teachings to immobilize the Black Goat so that she could be escorted from the premises."

"Hmm," I grunted, "I'll withhold judgement on that particular group, but my opinion still stands for the rest of them."

Vivian snorted, "I will not argue with you on that! Continuing onwards, my studies continued apace, eventually to the point where I completed everything that my teacher and Greilia's archives had on human medicine as well as most of what we could get on Monster medicine. At this point I was declared a Journeyman Physician and given the master task jointly by my teacher and Greilia to go into the Reptile Kingdom and research there and come up with possible theories and observations on the unique ailments that could be found there and the current treatments used and possible improvements. I was kind of hesitant at first, but I took up the task. After four months of dodging dinosaurs, dragons and giant snakes, I made it to the Reptile University where I would be billeted in the Wycademy. I immediately dove into my research, but to my dismay, the ailments were little studied and no improvements had been made upon their treatment. For this reason, I volunteered to travel along a group of Hunters for the Monster Hunter Guild in order to study and log my observations. This proved fruitful as my time limited as it was under Greilia's watchful eye and guiding paw lent me greater abilities in studying first hand the ailments that commonly afflicted Hunters and the local populace and the current treatments leading me to carefully do sanctioned tests with experimental improved treatments. I was soon able, after about two months of travel and experiments, able to put together a thesis and have it sent off for review. It was while I was waiting for a reply that the monsterization incident occurred."

I raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"I was in Pokke Village with a group of Hunters. What was reported to be a Velkhana had been sighted recently nearby and it had been causing issues in the area and the locals were frightened. We set out to find it and hopefully drive it off. When we found it after a day's trudging through waist high snow, we realized that this wasn't a Velkhana but the Monsterized counterpart, a Velkhan. I tried to stay out of the melee which was fierce and swift, but I wasn't able to get out of the way fast enough when the Velkhan tried blasting us with its ice breath. This knocked me into a very dense cloud of Reptilian Energy which mingled with the Mana from the Velkhan knocking me out. Apparently afterwards, the Hunters were able to successfully drive it off, but had to carry me back to Pokke. The next thing I can recall is waking up in Iverston in my teacher's house with Greilia and my teacher staring down at me in shock. The first thing that came from their mouths was, "You're a Velkhan now." I blinked at then and then looked myself over and found that I was like this."

Vivian held up her clawed and scaled hands and gestured to her wings, tail and draconic feet. "It was a few weeks later, after I had adjusted to my new monsterized state that Elder Jeramiah's letter arrived and I set off to return here."

My sister quietened as she waited for my judgement.

I spoke calmly, "Sis, you are family no matter what happens. We've already lost Mom and Dad in a three year timespan. We can't sunder what we have left for something so trivial. After all, remember that Dad left his home because he disagreed with their stance on Monster Girls. And quite frankly, Simon and Beatrice will need you. I-I need to travel. To find my place in the world and I need to know that the Twins are safe in good hands and there is no one better than you." My voice became a whisper, "Afterall, who was it that comforted me all those years ago without complaint or groan when I had nightmares?" I stood from my seat and sat next to Vivian, embracing her. "It was you, dear sister. We cannot afford to sunder our family anymore and even if Mom and Dad were still with us, I'd still say the same. Family sticks together no matter what."

I felt tears on my shoulder as Vivian began to sob. I held her, soothing her and taking comfort in her presence as she did mine like we had all those years ago as children.

Eventually, she calmed down, and I handed her a handkerchief so she could wipe her eyes.

"Thanks," She said, "I needed that."

"Figured. Now contrary to most Mamono, you're actually being really restrained, more like a human than a Monster. Is that a side effect or is your will that strong?"

"It's mostly my will. That and my nature of not being dependent on a man. My lack of interest in children at the moment helps as that drive lessens the drive for sex plus, I'm with family which for me lessens it too almost nothing. Greilia gave me a charm," here she held up a snowflake shaped necklace, "To help control the drive since I needed to return here. Just in case," She winked at me, giving a smirk. We laughed, each knowing that Vivian had always been in complete control of herself excluding her emotions and that the potential for her loosing control was next to nothing considering her new nature as a prideful Elder Dragon.

"So, Little Brother, what do you plan to do?" Vivian queried me, raising a blue eyebrow.

"Elder Jeramiah suggested that I travel south into the Reptile Kingdom like you did to test myself. Dad did something similar at my age and I did always want to see the world, unlike you who was more content to remain here in your territory."

Vivian gave a dainty snort, "I guess you could say I was destined to become a Dragon then."

"You're just the responsible cool big sister, Viv and you know it. These last few years and the past few weeks especially have been extremely stressful. After loosing Dad, running that Order Priest and his lackies out of town and then the earthquake and Mom dying, I feel like I'm growing old before I've had time to become an adult. I need to get out and explore, meet new people, see things I've never seen and maybe find someone to settle down with someday, but with Simon and Beatrice being so young, I'm not willing to leave for their sake."

Vivian put a hand on my shoulder, "Stephanos Tiberius Servius Aquila," Oh, she was really being serious, "You don't have to bear this burden alone. And you shouldn't think that! You need to live your life. I'll handle Simon and Beatrice, after all I always intended on returning here. You've always been the adventurous one, we all knew that ever since you first followed after Dad on that cave lion extermination trip. I don't think we'll ever forget that lesson."

"Neither will my behind," I remarked ruefully.

Vivian laughed, her voice tinkling like icicles in the wind. "Go, plan your journey. Live life to the fullest. Find new things, explore new places and live! Enjoy your youth and be a young man! Find that one maiden that's the one for you, woo her and settle down; just don't forget about us alright?"

"If I can help it, I'll visit as often as I can, Viv. And maybe settle down somewhere where you and the Twins can easily visit and I the three of you."

Vivian gently smiled, her now piercing yellow eyes dancing with familial love, "That's all I ask, Stephan."

"Thanks, sis. Now we probably should get dinner going." That's what Vivian and I spent the next few hours doing. I went out into the storehouse cellar and grabbed a joint of mutton that I had deboned earlier in the week. Upon returning, I quickly seasoned it with some thyme that had been growing in the herb garden and some salt and a little dusting of pepper. This I settled down onto the spit spikes and sat down to mind it while Vivian cooked up a pottage of the last of the leeks, broad beans, onion stock that was on hand and some bacon.

While cooking, we chatted, catching each other up on the news of the last three years and generally enjoying each other's company. It felt good to reaffirm our sibling bond that had carried us through much of our lives.

Once dinner was ready, Vivian called the Twins down to wash up and we soon settled into our meal, eventually broaching my potential plans to the Twins. Simon accepted this calmly, saying that, "Mom had mentioned this out loud before she passed," but Beatrice begged to come along.

"Please Big Brother! I want to come too!" She pleaded.

I had to be stern, "Beatrice, no. Were it any place else than the Reptile Kingdom I'd consider making it a family adventure, but I cannot even condone the though of you and Simon at risk. You are too young for such a trip and I do not know truly how long I'll be gone. No, you and Simon must stay here with Vivian."

Vivian backed up my statement softly, "Little one, your big brother is right. Besides, you are too young for such a journey. I'll be here and he'll come to visit."

Beatrice acquiesced and we soon cleaned up. I then went to pack, gathering rations of dried meats and fruits from the storehouse and packing gear for travel. I checked my war-sword over for rust and had Dad's axe-hammer nearby ready to go as well as our long-vanished inventor uncle's greatest inventions, a repeating hand-cannon and an extended ammunition pouch that held enough rounds to last a decade of use without weighing a thing. After this, I told Vivian I was going to speak with Elder Jeramiah and left the house.

Making my way down the torchlit street, I made my way to Elder Jeramiah's house. Rapping sharply on the door I waited. It wasn't long until the honored elder answered.

"Ah, right on time. I take it Vivian's answer was satisfactory?"

"Yes," I replied, "Though you all will have to get used to her new form."

Elder Jeramiah waved that off, "Young one, I new well before hand. Her teacher sent me a letter some time ago. Hence the barrier we're about to erect. Should keep any Orderites out just as an extra precaution. The envoys are waiting."

He led me out back to the square where three Mamono were waiting; a Dark Mage, One of the Demon Lord's more relaxed and less radical daughters, and a Ryu, all three of which were married to extremely powerful mages.

"Ladies," I greeted, handing over the last few items needed for the barrier. They nodded their heads in greeting but said nary a word and got to work. The three needed no chant and soon had the barrier erected as I and the village Elders witnessed. Once this was done, we all departed.

Once I returned home, Vivian was leaning against the door in her nightgown waiting, her arms crossed. "Successful meeting?" She asked as I approached.

"Yes. The envoys erected a protective barrier at the Elders request to be a defensive line against any Orderites trying to cause harm. I also expect a small garrison to show up in a few days to a week as a backup."

Vivian's tail flicked slightly as we headed inside to get ready for bed, "That's good. Even though I know that the neighboring Order-run Kingdom has fallen, that is still a comforting thought." We made our way to our bedrooms, though stopped outside the doors.

"When do you plan on leaving?" She asked.

"As soon as I can," I responded.

"Wait a minute," Vivian replied and vanished into her room where her things were put after she arrived home. Three minutes later she returned with two books.

"Here take these. They're pre-drawn teleportation circles. The red book is filled with the circles to return here, the green book is filled with ones to use as a homing beacon to return to wherever you were at. All you need for the green ones is a little bit of dirt from the front of wherever you're staying. I'll make sure that the circle in the cellar is still in good shape tomorrow so that the red ones will still be tied to it."

"The circle should be fine, Viv. I've maintained it according to Mom's instruction over the past few weeks if it needed it and before that she handled it," I answered.

Vivian fixed me with a look, "Let me see it, now."

I led her to the cellar and the circle. After some examination, she looked up, "I guess you have maintained it. It's in perfect condition, but there's something I can add to make sure it doesn't degrade."

She stretched out a blue nailed hand and muttered something under her breath. A quick flash and that was it, though now a permanence could be felt.

"There," Vivian sighed as we headed up the stairs and to our rooms to turn in for the night, "Now we don't have to worry about it degrading. Good night, Stephan." We kissed each other on the cheek.

"Night sis. It's good to have you home."

"It's good to be home, little brother," She patted me on the shoulder, "Get some sleep," and turned, walking into her room and shutting the door. I too turned in, enjoying the last night's sleep in an actual be that I would have fore a while for on the morrow my journey would begin.