The skies were clear of clouds and you could see a small petite girl clenching fists and training with Mammon, the Royal Dragon, she couldn't even land a punch with the weak body of hers. "Ha..hah..." exhaustion spelled all over her face but she grew more and more determined.
"Ha! HYAAA!"
Let me tell you what happened...
"Ah...he woke up." Mama averted her gaze, mine was telling her; "SERIOUSLY MAMA?" I sighed in relief, as soon as I saw that the human child had awakened.
"Mammon ... I thank you for your help, I would like to ask, would it be alright if this human boy trained with me?" I ask him with bright eyes.
"Usagi-Sama, I don't think that's possible. This human is already ..." Mammon looked at him as if he knew the secrets of the human child. I looked at him confused, what if he hated humans as much as I did? Maybe it would be better if he trained a little just to defend himself against malevolent humans.
"AH!" The boy threw himself back as soon as he saw the Royal Dragon, Mammon, looming over him. He began to tremble and look at him with fear but...
"Human, Mammon was the one who healed your wounds, fear not," she stretched her hand and took it confidently. "The human may not know the language of beasts, you have been able to understand human language very fast than normal, Usagi-Sama," Mammon told me how abnormal it was for a beast to transform into a human, and that it had just happened once in all the history of the world.
"it happened with a mystical beast, it was the last unicorn, the last of its kind. Although, she went through a different situation than yours," He told me as if he had seen it himself, I felt attracted to his story and it got dark. "By the way, Mammon, why do you keep calling me Usagi-Sama?" I asked him he just looked down and made what seemed to be a smile.
"Usagi-Sama...You look like someone I used to know, long, long ago," He said thoughtfully, he wanted to embrace the small creature again, wanting to pamper him like a father would with his son. He'd lived long enough to know that it wasn't enough. his wish. it wouldn't ever come true. Because he was gone.
"I see...Well, I hope you are able to see that person again soon, but if it helps, you can keep calling me that," I beamed as the dragon bent down to see my face and patted my head with one of his fingers. that's how small my head was to him.
"Human, tell me, what is your name?" I asked him under the moonlight, the clouds blocked my view and I couldn't see the child's happy expression. It is the first time someone asks me for my name and not my...
"I don't have a name, Usagi-sama," the boy told me deliberately, I smiled at him and replied, "so ... what would you like to call yourself?"
"I'd rather you give me a name, Usagi-Sama," his round eyes fixed on every detail of her. She seemed to be beautiful and dazzling in the moonlight, she was beautiful in his eyes and he couldn't take them off her.
"Mm...okay, let's see...Sebastian? Ryu? Renosuke? Manabe? they don't sound very formal...maybe a name that means..."
"loyalty?" He suggested, I looked at him in confusion, eh? why does this human want to be called a name meaning loyalty? I thought but then shrugged it off.
I replied with, "Maybe...the characters of the Chinese alphabet. There is a hero in this world who was once called yu, so ..." I pondered on and on until
Finally a name came to mind, I smiled at him as the clouds blocking the moon disappeared. "Zhong Yu, do you like it?"
The child felt a quick and almost unnoticeable stop in his heart, his heart was faltering according to what his feelings. At last he was able to smile at his lady with all his heart, "Zhong Yu...that name would be splendid, My dear lady,"
———-
The Next Day...
———-
After yesterday, Mammon made us practice wielding different types of weapons until we mastered them, they were made out of the wood he would carve out on his resting days at the cave. Zhong Yu didn't question how I could talk to Mammon for some reason, it was like he completely trusted me. Are humans always that easy to trust one another? and...why is Mama glaring at me like that?
I felt a piercing glare all the way behind my head, I could feel the holes burning through my head. Mama was in charge we did all of the exercise, "W h e e z e...I cannot even do one...burpee...can't do more...I've already gone through hell someone please just kill me before I keep suffering...I CANNOT DO THIS." My body was so out of shape after I'd turned human that I couldn't even do one push up, I think Zhong Yu told me...
"Usagi-Sama, A push up is a type of exercise that helps the arms and legs grow in endurance and strength. That way you'll be able to lift yourself up in about 3-4 weeks," He'd informed me, I didn't think it'd be that hard to master, but the only parts of my body that endured were my legs and back.
"u g h..." I groaned in exhaustion, "Usagi-SAMA! You must work harder so that in return you can become powerful enough to defeat a dragon like me!!" Mammon shouted excitedly, he'd been waiting for this day. The day he'd be able to train the Rabbit Goddess to become the most powerful creature to ever exist.
"Usagi-Sama, I hear that humans use levels to determine one's strength. Usually heroes who are at those academies are around level 30!" Mammon exclaimed happily, the night before they'd been talking about going to the academy within a few years, but they still had room to grow.
"Mammon, how are we supposed to get that far when we're only at level 14!!!!" I gasped for more air as Zhong Yu patted my back to regain air, "Usagi-Sama, how about we take a quick break?" He asked me in consideration, I removed his hand from my back as I got up.
"Wait-- Mammon how do human levels work again?" I huffed trying to save time, He got lost in thought and summarized as if I were just a mere child. this guy...
"With every level up you have more spiritual power and can take on more skills at the same time, since you're a hare your speed is 3 times the amount of any normal human. Your hind legs are so powerful they could probably knock me out," Mammon informed me, I smiled cheerfully, "but then why can't I knock you off yet?!" I pouted.
He smirked, "that's because you're too weak,"
"WHAT?! WHY YOU..!!"
"Ahem, as I was saying, with every level comes a new ability or skill, but to get a powerful skill is rare, although I don't see such case for Usagi-Sama..." he mumbled the last part as I was puzzled.
"?"
"You still have 3 years left, of course, you are much older than just 10 years of age I presume?" He questioned with a sarcasm in his tone, this guy! No matter how old he gets he dares to make fun of my age!
She held such a determined look on her face, she was red from the heat and sun rays, all the strenuous work had gotten her exhausted yet she kept on going.
"Child, why do you keep at it? You should just take a break." Mammon suggested, I shook my head, If I can't do this much then I'd just be useless! Who cares about the pain! I need to protect Mama and Zhong Yu if anything happens to them!
"Because I have a goal. Once I set my eyes upon it, I will never give up," I answered, Mammon made what seemed to be a smile and sighed. "Alright,"
Such a burning and determined gaze! even after such arduous training I've put her through she's remained unmoving. I guess it's time I teach her some skills her race taught their children from a young age, of course, she needs to lay a punch on me first. It won't be easy of course, since I am extremely powerful. "fufu~"
What's with that laugh? what's he planning?! I shivered at his short snortle and gulped, "?"
Zhong Yu looked at me bewildered by my expression and gestures.
To be continued…