Rising Moon
Summary: A second chance wasn't something I, Aldrin Zevon, expected. I didn't expect to wake up in a five-year-old body in a forest, nor did I expect what would come after. A multiverse of possibilities has opened up to me, and I intend to take it for all it is worth. SI-OCxHarem, Fairy Tail/Multicross Story
This story is inspired by A Nascent Kaleidoscope by AStoryForOne. I HIGHLY recommend you go check it out. It's almost 1 Million words, still going strong, and definitely worth the read.
Chapter 5
You know, punching a rock got really boring, really fast. Especially when your punches only hurt yourself if you fucked up.
Luckily, or unluckily depending on how you look at it, Yoko was around to help heal me.
Yoko was the young black haired girl I met when I opened the door looking for Selene. It took me a bit to recognise her, but I eventually did. She was one of Selene's Moonlight Divinities, who specialised in a Spirit Art called 'Hyakki Yakou' or 'Demon's Parade.'
The reason I was lucky was that she was able to create a 'Demon' that was lacked around my arm. Every time I damaged my body, it would heal the damaged part in about 5 minutes. She could only use this particular demon with Selene's permission and a boost from her magic due to the sheer amount of power it required though. She was supposed to create demons to kill people, not heal. The difference in power due to going against the concept of a 'demon' was far greater.
Selene informed me that this demon would be attached to me basically until I was done training, or she ordered it to come off for her own reasons. That alone told me that she planned to drive me into the ground with training and drive me to the point of exhaustion.
After all, the demon only healed physical damage. My fatigue and stamina were other stories entirely.
But alas, I had to punch the rock, no matter how much it hurt, until Selene declared that training was 'over' for the day.
After punching the rock without any real progress for about a month, I asked Selene a question while we were eating dinner. "Can you explain the different levels of Dragon Slayer Magic to me?" I asked her.
She paused and looked considerate before nodding. "Yes, I suppose it would be beneficial to give you something to strive for. Listen closely then, I detest needing to repeat myself. Though, I'm sure you're not stupid enough to ignore me," she paused, like she was having a flashback of someone who was dumb enough to ignore her.
She cleared her throat. "First, as you know, there are the 'minimum' spells, the absolute basics of the basics: Roar, Fist, Talon, Wing Attack. Next, there are there are the basic spells, of which there are quite a few, but I'll list them. Lunar Fist, Crescent Talon, Moonlight Horn, Moonlight Blade, Moonlight Palm, and Moonlight Cannon. And finally, there are the advanced spells, the Secret Arts, which I will get to when you have learned or mastered the basic spells."
"That's less than I thought there would be," I told her. I mean, Natsu had an insane amount of spells, for fucks sake!
"Those are the only spells need to be taught," she told him. "Once you learn those spells, as well as the Secret Arts, it is up to the Dragon Slayer to start creating their own spells. After all, you'll hardly be able to kill a dragon if you can't come up with some unique ways to fight."
That made a lot of sense, now that I thought about it. A lot of Wendy's offensive spells were spells that she copied from watching Natsu. It wasn't until before the Grand Magic Games that Wendy got some papers given to her by Porlyusica that taught her the Dragon Slayer Spells that Grandeeney didn't have time to teach her.
"I mean… It's gonna be a lot of work," I sighed. "But it's not like I have much of a choice… And at least you're letting me heal through most of the pain I'm going to be going through, so I can't complain without sounding like an ungrateful shit."
"My, you have a dirty mouth on you," she smirked. "Where did you learn such dirty words for your age?"
"Dunno," I shrugged. "Probably from some random prick who hates kids though."
"People hate children?" Selene blinked.
"I mean, let's be honest. We're noisy, annoying, hyperactive, and disobedient for the most part. It's easy for people to not like kids just from that alone."
"… Point," she agreed after a moment, probably remembering her own children.
"Speaking of, can you tell me about your kids?" I asked her.
"My children?"
"I've just heard you talk about them before. If you're gonna take up the role as my 'mom,' then I should learn about my siblings, right?"
Selene stared at me for just a moment before she smiled. "Very well, that's fine by me… Who to begin with though…"
"Oldest to youngest?" I suggested.
"Ah yes, that will work," she nodded. "Well, my first child was Elexion, the Lightning Dragon King. True to being a child of lightning, he was always very hyperactive, very bull-headed and arrogant, always clashing with my other children. Still, he had his good sides. He'd be the first to rise the defence of siblings should there be issues, and would protect them from all danger without hesitation…"
I couldn't help but notice how wistful she sounded when she talked about Elexion… That meant he was already dead, huh?
"He sounds amazing," I told her.
"He was," she agreed. "My next child was Qila, the Spatial Dragon. She's a little darling, so shy and sweet, but don't ever let that fool you for she is still a dragon. When the going gets tough, that shyness fades and in its place is left a true, almighty dragon. She still visits me on occasion, you'll definitely see her at some point."
"I look forward to meeting her," she'd be much more chill to be around than Selene, at the very least… Literally beating her magic into my body, what the fuck…
"Then there was Yda, the Spirit Dragon," she smiled. "A quiet boy, that one, due to the nature of his magic. He was also the mediator for my children, very gentle, very stern, and very strong. He would always use his abilities to end the nightmares of my children when he noticed them beginning, always spoiling them. He was such a sweet boy."
"I'd like to meet him someday," I told her.
"I'm sure he'd like to meet you too," she agreed. "Then there was Kurnugi, who you've met. He's my favourite child without question, always coming to visit regularly. He actually listens to me and hears me out without brown nosing, as you humans call it. He loves a good fight, but more than anything he loves his peace and quiet. He's the kind of dragon who would rather hone themselves in solitude rather than battle against others, fitting given he is the Sword Saint Dragon. You might meet him in his human form eventually…"
And so, on it went as she told me about her other children: Yrvis the Four Beasts Dragon, Yghi the White Tiger Dragon, Atyr the Clinging Dragon, Syrio the Blade Dragon, Argan the Corpse Dragon, and Emri the Armor Dragon.
From what I'd gathered, four of those dragons were currently dead. Yrvis, Atyr, Elexion, and Emri. Four dragons that Georg Raizen had slain after getting his first taste of Dragon Flesh who knows how many years ago now.
"What is Four Beasts Magic?" I asked her, curious.
"Yes, I suppose that one and White Tiger Magic are the more confusing ones," she nodded. "Four Beasts is magic based on legends of the Four Cardinal Beasts in these lands: a blue dragon, a white tiger, a black tortoise, and a red phoenix. As such, it uses the elements associated with those creatures: Wind, Water, Earth, Fire. It is one of the more versatile forms of Magic."
Huh, no wonder Georg was able to kill so many dragons then, he was able to adapt to the situation very quickly… Didn't stop him from getting absolutely bodied by Selene though.
"Let's finish our meal," Selene told me. "You've got a long day of training tomorrow, after all."
… This bitch.
.
.
.
Four months.
Four. Fucking. Months. Of punching this god forsaken rock.
This. Rock.
Never before had I hated an inanimate object more in my life. All because I couldn't do this fucking punch right!
Why!? It didn't make any sense to me! I was doing it right; I swore I was! So, why did I keep getting backlash from this fucking punch!?
"So, you still haven't learned it?" Yoko asked in a bored voice.
"Shut up," I snapped at her. "I'd like to see you try it."
"I would never presume to become my lady's child by learning her magic," she told me. "And besides, I don't need to hear that from an idiot like you who can't even punch right."
I felt my eye twitch in annoyance.
"I'd like to see you do better."
"Oh, attacking me now? Did I wound your ever so fragile ego?" She smirked. "Maybe you should learn how to punch properly, little boy. And you call yourself the son of Lady Selene?"
"I don't call myself the son of anybody," I grumbled. "How about instead of acting like an infuriating and smug bitch, you give me some advice?"
"And why would I ever do that? I delight in your suffering."
I observed her carefully. "You don't know how to do it either, do you?"
"… Shut up."
I smirked at my small victory before I turned away and focused on this god forsaken rock once again.
I looked down at my hand and frowned, taking a breath. First, I covered my hand in magic, using the principles of the kiss to both protect and enhance my power. I reared back my hand and threw a punch, using the second principle to unleash a burst of magic at the point of impact-
I hissed as my arm recoiled back, damaging itself again. The demon on my shoulder hissed softly before its eyes glowed and I felt my arm healing from the damage.
'Damn it, what am I missing!?' I growled in my thoughts, looking down at my hand.
First, I coated my fist in magical energy using the principle of the kick, to enhance the power and durability of my hand. My fist glowed with an aura of white light as I focused up, then I directed my gaze to the rock.
I pulled my fist back before I threw my punch forwards, channelling my magic to activate the second principle as I focused-!
Bzzt…
I stopped dead before I punched the rock, bringing my fist back and looking back at it.
In my focus, I'd felt something… It was uncomfortable, unnatural. The same thing I'd felt while I'd been trying to do this spell all the while, but not something I'd ever truly focused on until now.
If I had to describe it, it was like trying to look left and right at the same time…
Wait!
My eyes widened.
If it felt unnatural, why was I doing it? I thought the discomfort had come because it was just new to me, but I'd been doing this for a total of four months now, and yet I'd made no progress… Why?
Because I was doing this all wrong the entire time!
'If I'm doing it wrong then…' I frowned, and had an idea…
I pulled my fist back and threw a punch. But this time, I didn't try to force more magic out. Instead, I used the magic already present around my hand to unleash a burst.
Boom!
The rock burst from the force of my punch, scattering violently, making Yoko yelp as she quickly created a demon to protect her from the debris.
I stared in dumb shock at the destruction I caused, and slowly turned my gaze to Yoko with a smug as fuck grin on my face. She looked back at me in shock and then scowled, clearly knowing that I had won today.
"Well, well," Selene spoke up, making me jump in surprise and turn around to face her. She had a hand on her hips, her ever present saucer of sake in the other hand. "I was beginning to think you'd never figure it out. Just in case you didn't fully comprehend it though, I'll explain."
"Explain?"
She nodded. "You were trying to use the two principles separately, trying to smash them together. It caused friction within your magic and thus backfired. What you did just then is how it is supposed to work, layering them on top of one another, making them blend together. I was wondering how long it would take you to figure it out, I'm pleased to see it was only four months."
"… O- Only?" I asked weakly.
"Yes, a normal dragon slayer takes a good year or so and end up learning it instinctually. You however are a very mature child, and thus you don't rely on your instincts as much. This proved to be a detriment and a benefit. A benefit because you think things through and can learn faster, but a downside because it takes time for you to get things down to instinct. Well, for now, I'm sure that you'll learn."
"… Know what? I'll take it," I nodded, just honestly glad that I'd learned this stupid fucking punch!
"You've done well," she nodded. "You've earned your day off today. Tomorrow, you'll practise the punch a bit more, then we'll move onto the Crescent Talon. It shouldn't be very hard for you now; it uses the same principles as the Lunar Fist."
"What comes after?"
"The Moonlight Palm. It uses the principle of the wing attack and the fist. Shaping the magic, and then releasing it in a destructive burst. It can also be fired off much faster than any of the other spells and is thus one of my favourites to use in a quick pinch."
That sounded like it would be very useful… A pain in the ass to learn, but useful.
"Yoko," she looked to the girl, who was standing at attention. "You are dismissed for the day, good job watching over this idiot."
"I thank you for your kind words, Lady Selene," she bowed. "I'm always happy to serve."
Selene waved her hand dismissively, and Yoko turned and walked away.
"I notice you aren't really getting along with Yoko," Selene told me.
"Is that a problem?"
"No, just an observation. I'd prefer if you got along with the girls that will become my Moonlight Divinities, but if you don't… Then oh well, I suppose."
"What did you want to talk about?"
"Hm?" She gave me a smile. "What made you think I wanted to talk to you about something?"
"You wouldn't have sent away Yoko if you didn't want to talk about something you felt she didn't need to hear."
"Indeed," she chuckled. "Well, I thought you should know that my daughter has expressed interest in teaching you her own magic. She wants to better her new little brother's chances of survival."
"Which daughter?"
"Qila," she told him. "The Spatial Dragon, my second eldest child. I've given her permission to teach you if you'll let her."
Spatial Dragon… Was that the dragon that Misaki devoured that allowed her to do things like Blue Dimension? That was a pretty powerful magic, if I was remembering correctly…
"I see no reason to refuse," I told her. "And it will be…" I paused, trying to find the word. "Nice to meet one of my technical siblings."
"Wonderful," she nodded, then looked to the side. "Qila! You can come out now!"
"Huh?"
At that moment, a rift opened up right beside Selene, and out stepped a girl that took my breath away.
Her hair was short and blue, with luminous azure eyes that looked at me with shyness. She was slim, her body curving like a series of rivers, though she didn't have the kind of thighs or breasts you'd expect a curvy girl to have, being more modest in appearance. Atop her head were a pair of dragon horns, and wore a traditional Chinese dress… A qipao, I believe it was called?
Her stance was tense, but not due to fearing a fight or anything, but due to shyness. She shuffled back from one foot to the other slightly nervously, a slight blush on her face as she looked at me before she turned her gaze to her mother.
Selene nodded.
She took a breath and turned back to me. "… H- Hi," she squeaked. "I- I'm Qila, your big sister. N- nice to meet you, Aldrin."
Looking at her now, you wouldn't think she was a dragon at all… Honestly? I felt so bad for her. She was clearly trying her best to just talk to me, and the fact I was staring at the picture of beauty in front of me probably wasn't helping with her shyness.
So, I decided to throw her a bone.
"It's nice to meet you, big sister," I told her, stepping forward and wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug.
Her eyes lit up in pure joy as she wrapped her arms around me and held me against her. That alone made this meeting worth it to me and sent butterflies dancing through my stomach. Just looking up into her glowing, joy filled eyes I felt like I could lose myself in them…
Shit, I had a crush on my new big sister.