Chi chi chi chi chi, Sylphid awakes to the sound of small birds chirping.
Currently she is in the forest near Tristain Magic Academy, in a special roost created by Sylphid herself to rest her giant body in.
She had cut down the surrounding trees with her fangs and claws, assembled a roof, and laid down soft straw on the ground. There was even a manger nearby with water in it.
Fuaaaaaaaaaaaa, Sylphid opens her mouth and yawns.
As she opens her mouth the little beards that had been nearby fly into her mouth and land on her sharp fangs. They begin to use their little beaks to pick at the pieces of food stuck between her teeth.
After cleaning her teeth the birds fly up and disappear into the morning sky. Seeing such a sight fuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, Sylphid yawns again.
The sun’s rays shine through the gaps in the branches that make up the roof to keep out the rain and snow
“Good morning sun.” Sylphid groans out, then looks around with a panicked look on her face.
(I talked!)
Those words yell in her heart.
It is still a secret that Sylphid is a descendant of the ancient and mythical beast, the rhyme dragon, who can manipulate words. Tabitha had forbid her from speaking except either in private or above 3,000 meters above the ground due to the dangers should anyone learn her true identity.
Sylphid breathes out a sigh of relief when she had confirmed that no one had heard her speak other than the birds chirping on the nearby branches.
As she is about to head out to eat breakfast, however, she hears a rustling noise in the bushes nearby.
“?”
Turning her head, Sylphid could see a small girl peaking out at her. A child, probably around five years old… Just staring at Sylphid with a stunned look on her face.
In her hand is a basket. The girl must live in the nearby village here, and ventured into the forest to pick strawberries or mushrooms.
Cold sweat began to drip down Sylphid’s forehead.
(Did she hear what Sylphid just said?)
As a cold chill begin to make its way down Sylphid’s back, the girl smiles.
“Dragon-san, dragon-san. What are you doing?”
Sylphid tilts her head, pretending to not know what the girl is saying. Disregarding this the girls eyes sparkle even more, and she approaches Sylphid.
“Hey, dragon-san, where did you come from?”
Despite being face to face with such a terrifying creature, the girl doesn’t show any signs of fear… In that regard she is rather unusual. At this Sylphid became a little happy, and tried to explain herself to the girl using simple gestures.
She points to the sky and begins to flap her wings.
“Did you come from the sky?”
Sylphid nods her head.
“Ohhh, dragon-san flew here. So cool–” The girl began to laugh and rub her head against Sylphid’s neck. With a cute girl rubbing against her Sylphid couldn’t help but squeal in excitement.
“Hey hey, dragon-san, what are you going to do now?”
Sylphid opens her mouth wide, then closes her mouth with a loud snap.
“Oh, food?”
Kiyu kiyu, Sylphid nods her head.
“What does dragon-san eat?”
Sylphid spreads her wings and flaps them.
“Bird-san?”
Buru buru, Sylphid shakes her head.
“Then, fish?”
Un un, Sylphid nods.
“Nina also likes fish!”
Apparently this little girls name is Nina. After that the girl and Sylphid talk about various things, however only Nina talks while Sylphid nods or shakes her head.
“Can I come here again?”
As Nina asks that just as she is about to leave Sylphid enthusiastically and excitedly heavily nods her head.
A little bit after Nina had left… Sylphid began to think about going to the academy and having brunch there instead, but then notices a small basket lying next to her bed.
“Whose basket is this?”
Looking inside there is a bunch of wild strawberries. Seeing this Sylphid recalls the young girl from earlier.
“Ahh, this must be the basket she had with her. What should I do? Maybe I should take it to her? But if Sylphid were to go there, there is definitely going to be a big commotion…”
Sylphid had been told by Tabitha to stay away from any area where humans live as much as possible to avoid unnecessary commotions. While she can transform into a human using her transformation spell that too had been forbidden by Tabitha…
“Sorry, but I do not want to cause any unecessary trouble. I should just go to the academy for now.”
Sylphid quickly shut those thoughts out of her head, then various delicious foods began to appear behind her eyelids.
Fish, horse, cow…
Her favourite food to eat is fish that she catches herself. Plump tania carp and white flout on her tongue… Before she even realizes Sylphid began to visibly drool.
“Sylphid has decided! I want to eat fresh fish! I will just have to beg for some at the academy.”
However, just before she began to fly off, the small basket catches her eye again… And within it the wild strawberries. Sylphid stops.
“That little girl, she probably was really excited to eat these strawberries… Maybe even more excited than I am to eat fish.”
Kiyu kiyu, while still worried about what might happen, Sylphid… Decides to take the basket with her after all.
“Why don’t I just sneak over there and leave it in front of her house? Kiyu. That way I won’t be seen and cause a problem.”
Sylphid deftly picks up the basket with her claws and flies up into the bright sunlight.
Sylphid quickly finds the village. It is only about 30 minutes away by foot for a human, and just a few minutes away by flying for Sylphid.
Sylphid began to search for Nina’s house, however she doesn’t even know where to begin…. A miscalculation and oversight on her part. To make matters even worse she was quickly seen by the villagers living there.
“AHHHHHHHHHHH! A DRAGON! DRAGON!”
A bell began to ring out and villagers quickly rush out of their homes. For those living in the countryside a dragon is a true living symbol of fear, regardless of if it is someones familiar or not, they are all symbols of fear. The villagers look on, frightened with expressions of doom.
(Ah, I messed up. I am in trouble now) Sylphid thought to herself as she lands on the ground. The commotion quickly amps up even more at this.
“THE DRAGON JUST LANDED! WHAT IS A DRAGON EVEN DOING HERE!”
“Hmm, maybe it is a familiar of a noble at the academy? If that is true then it’s fine, right?”
The more knowledgeable villagers began to discuss amongst themselves and tried to assuage the fear of the others but they are few in number, and the fear in the face of the strongest race of creatures began to assail the general villager population.
“Get out of here! Come on! Hurry up and leave!”
The villagers began to run up to Sylphid, chasing her with sticks and hoes. Among the villagers surrounding her she spots Nina clinging to the hem of the skirt of a woman who appears to be her mother, giving Sylphid some relief. At least she knows that Nina wont be afraid of her.
“Kiyu.”
As Sylphid approaches her Nina’s mother began to scream at her.
“KIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! THE DRAGON IS TRYING TO EAT ME AND MY DAUGHTER!! SOMEONE!! SOMEONE HELP!!”
Sylphid begins to shake her head from side to side to reassure Nina’s mother, but such an action does nothing to quell her fear.
But even still Nina wont be afraid at least. After all they had been talking and playing around with each other
However, Sylphid’s expectations are quickly betrayed.
Nina looks at Sylphid with a frightened expression, much like her mother and the other villagers.
“Is dragon-san scary?”
“That’s right. Dragons are a terrifying monster. Well, looking at how docile it is, odds are it is a familiar of a noble from the academy. But these beasts should have never been allowed to freely roam!! Oh dragons are never a good omen! It could turn back into a wild and blood thirsty monster at any time! Those damn nobles cannot even tell the different between their bedroom or a forest!!”
“Really? Is dragon-san really that scary?”
The girls face began to contort into one of fear as her mother talks to her.
“Yes, it is. Dragons are the most ferocious and strong creature in the world. The nobles capable of taming such a beast… Are surely even scarier.”
“Dragon-san is scary… So so scary. Uen.”
Nina began to cry. Sylphid desperately wants to refute her mom, but she cannot speak or bring herself to try anything to prove her wrong. Instead she shakes her head at the sight of her new friend crying, her screams becoming even and even louder.
Sylphid began to lower her head and squeak sadly.
Despite coming all this way to deliver the basket… Sylphid felt worse than before she started trying to help. The commotion amongst the villagers quickly becomes even louder… “bring a gun!”. Hearing this Sylphid quickly places the basket down on the ground, and begins to flap her wings before jumping up into the sky.
”Kiyu kiyu!” Squealing sadly into the sky Sylphid flies off towards the academy.
Arriving at the academy Sylphid quickly catches sight of the noble students taking their classes through the window of the various towers. Somewhere among them must be her master, Tabitha. However she had been told to not meet with her during the morning unless necessary so instead went off somewhere else.
Sylphid makes her way to the back entrance of the main dining hall, which is behind the main tower. There she sits down and taps on the back door with her nose. The door opens in response, and there appears an old burly man, Marteau, a chef.
“What? Oh it’s you. Wait a minute.”
After saying that Marteau brought out some pig and cow bones, some pieces of meat, and some fish. With a plate of food in front of her some of the sadness she felt from earlier left, and her joy quickly doubles. She began to squeal happily and lick Marteau’s face.
“Come on, stop that, I am drenched with saliva. Well I guess you have it hard too, huh? When it comes to having to rely on those selfish aristocrats, I am sure you guys are hungry all the time. They couldn’t care less about feeding you guys every six hours.”
Marteau smiles as he strokes Sylphid’s nose, watching her gnaw on a bone.
“At least you got a good master, “blue”.”
”Kiyu“, nodding in agreement Sylphid nods before continuing to lick Marteau’s face.
With her stomach now full, some of the earlier sadness began to return, Sylphid’s heart sinking just a little bit.
Next Sylphid wen to a corner of Vestri square, to the tent where Saito had built when he ran away from his previous home. Landing next to it Kirche’s salamander peeks its head out of the tent. Then, Guiche’s mole suddenly appears. Lately this area has become a hangout for familiars to meet. Those unable to be in the class during their masters classes would kill time here.
“Yo, blue one.”
Kirche’s salamander Flame spoke to Sylphid in the indigenous language of Halkeginia, a voice that to a human sounds more like a low pitch growl. This is the ancient language spoken by Sylphid’s ancestors. Once a creature becomes a familiar they develop an intelligence capable of allowing them to manipulate words, granting them even greater feats than a dog. However even if their intelligence has hit such a level they are still incapable of manipulating words as they lack the organs too, thus meaning that communication can only go one way between beasts and humans.
However, that doesn’t hold true for beasts communicating with one another.
They could communicate verbally through the pitch of their growls and the sound of their breathing.
“What’s wrong? Blue. Are you not feeling well?”
Flame peers into Sylphid’s face with a worried look on their face. However despite being worried Flame’s expression doesn’t change like a human’s would. However her eyes, the light in it changes slightly.
“Something sad happened to me.”
Sylphid began to explain to her friends what had happened in the forest village today. Twitching his nose Guiche’s giant mole familiar began to explain his thoughts on the matter.
“My my, that is sad indeed. Even though you are such a magnificent rhyme dragon you were treated as a common wild beast?” “Kiyu“, Sylphid nods her head. These familiars have long since learned about Sylphid’s secret identity as a rhyme dragon, however out of a sense of camaraderie they have kept this a secret from even their own masters.
“Still… It is sad that someone would be afraid of you. You are such a good natured and good hearted girl.”
“Maybe it is because you have a scary face?”
Flame said that, spitting flames out of her mouth with a giant smile on her face.
“Why would you say such a mean thing!”
“Well personally I don’t care what humans think of me. They are completely different creatures from us, we don’t need them to like us to live.”
“That is a problematic statement, Red. Do you hate being a familiar?”
In response to Verandi’s statement Flame shakes her head.
“I don’t hate it at all! I don’t have to worry about food and my master is kind to me. This is heaven compared to the fire dragon mountains where my the fire dragons used to boss me around like I was a bug! I am not going to stop being a familiar even if my master asks me to stop!”
Flame snorts, her words are the general consensus among familiars. Yes, a familiars freedom is somewhat restricted, but compared to the harsh nature of the wild a position as a “nobles familiar” is not a bad one at all. The harsh and unforgiving wild after all would deprive them of more than just a little bit of freedom.
“You guys get to take it easy compared to me. Because you are so small you can sleep all you want here. That is not the case for Sylphid. Sylphid, who is forced to sleep in the forest has a sense of community with those around it. If the village nearby hates me how can my feelings not be hurt! How can I not feel hurt they are so scared of me!”
”Kiyu kiyu“, Sylphid began to squeak out. Flame looks on at her friend, and expresses her inner thoughts.
“Blue. I repeat, is your life no luxurious enough already? Look at him over there.”
Flame with her chin points towards a black haired boy frantically washing clothes at a water fountain built into the wall of a tower.
“Oh, that is the boy. The one who defeated Guiche-sama… I have mixed feelings about him. As a fellow familiar he managed the feat of defeating a noble, but he is also the boy who caused Guiche-sama so much pain.”
“Didn’t that happen a long time ago? Anyway he is a fine familiar, and I can respect him as one. However, look at how he is treated.”
A pink haired girl appears from behind the black-haired boy. Crossing her arms she kicks him in the back, causing him to plunge headfirst into the water fountain, drenching him in water. While he gets back up and begins to protest the pink-haired girl ignores him and kicks him in the groin.
“That must hurt a lot. No, it goes beyond merely being painful.”
The boy begins to crouch on the ground in pain. Then the girl puts her foot on top of the boys head, her hands on her hips, and begins to yell at him.
Flame lets out a deep sigh.
〝”He is a familiar who has achieved great deeds in his masters name, but what of his treatment? Is he not also a human being? In reality there is no need for him to be treated in such a way. No. Even us fire lizards, known for our ferociousness, are surprised at the level of abuse that familiar is being given.”
“Compared to him, Blue. Your worries are extravagant. What do you care for what your neighbours think of you? You don’t want them to be afraid of you? Too much! You are asking for too much!”
The opinions of her friends are both quite reasonable, causing Sylphid to let out a sad squeak.
After Sylphid had left… Nina, who had been lectured by her mom a lot, hangs her head in despair. Nina had been scolded and told countless times to not go near dragons. However, Nina could only look at the basket lying on the ground.
“Th-, that is Nina’s basket–“
Inside are a bunch of wild strawberries. Nina loves this sweet and sour fruit. Picking on up, Nina puts it in her mouth and grimaces as the sour taste spreads. It seems that the fruit had yet to fully ripen.
“Dragon-san brought the basket back to me.”
Nina stood perfectly still. It wasn’t until she got home that she realized she had forgotten it.
“… I wonder if mommy is right, is dragon-san really scary?”
She doesn’t know. For Nina her moms words are absolute. But… The Sylphid that she had seen this morning didn’t look scary at all. Worried on what to believe she heads to a temple in the village.
An elderly priest who had been praying notices Nina enter and kindly spreads his arms wide to welcome her.
“What is wrong, Nina?”
Nina tells the priest about today. The priest pays close attention, listening to every word before speaking to her with a smile.
“Dragons are scary creatures. There is no doubt about that. But Nina you said “Nina didn’t think that that dragon-san looked scary”, right? Then that must also be true. Nina, you are a good girl. So if that is what Nina thought then I think you are right too.”
“But which is it?”
“One choice you have to figure that out is to decide that dragons are all scary creatures and stay away from them. The other way though is to decide which is true based on what you see. In the end, Nina, only you can decide. I cannot do that for you.”
Nina could only stare blankly… The statue of the founder with his arms outstretched was right in front of her, welcoming all.
The decide herself… This is the first time that someone had told her such a thing, and Nina was confused on what to do.
Later that evening… A fish had been placed where Sylphid has set up her roost at.
“Kiyu?”
Sylphid pecks at the fish. Rolling the fish over, under it is a piece of paper. On it is someones hand writing.
“To dragon-san. I am sorry I was scared earlier. Dragon-san was kind enough to bring me back the basket I had forgotten, but still I was scared of you. I would be sad if the same thing happened to Nina. So I am sorry. Mommy said that dragon-san is a scary creature, but I do not think you are. This fish is a thank you gift for bringing me my basket back. This letter is written by the priest in my village. Can I visit you again? Nina.”
Sylphid instantly became both happy and surprised, her eyes gleaming and sparkling. Under the beautiful moonlit night, Sylphid began to jump up, her wings flapping… And began to happily squeak the loudest she ever had.
Silvered Tongue Reborn 