The two legs were comical, resembling chicken drumsticks. I wanted a better look at myself, so under the cover of night, I ventured out of the shed.
I figured a village would need a water source, so I set off in search of a river. It took less than five minutes to find it. Thankfully, the black panther was nowhere in sight.
I stared at my reflection in the water.
'A—a fucking bone? What the hell?'
I was a bone, a small one that looked like a creature's forearm. The sight was both comical and bizarre. A forearm bone with two chicken legs.
At least my eyes weren't proper eyes, just two tiny black dots. It made me slightly less grotesque. If I had human eyes paired with those chicken legs, I would be a truly terrifying sight.
Now that I could walk, should I leave the village or stay a while longer?
There was always the risk of being discovered and discarded, and I had no way to defend myself. But the villagers seemed harmless enough.
Of course, that was before I grew legs. The hunter would be in for a shock if he saw me now.
It seemed prudent to return to the shed, at least during the day. I didn't need sleep, so I could explore at night.
And so began my journey. A forearm bone with chicken legs, wandering the forest, searching for something interesting, seeking knowledge about this new world.
'I need to learn their language, but how? Just by listening?'
Without a teacher, it would be impossible. But what if magic could help? It was already absurd that I could think and move.
I drew energy from the atmosphere—mana, I assumed. It was the only explanation for my ability to fuse with other bones.
Could I use this mana for something else, like I did to gain sight? It was one thing to grow eyes, but imprinting knowledge of a language seemed far more complex. I wasn't confident in my theory.
Before sunrise, I returned to my hiding spot in the shed.
The hunter soon entered, and his eyes widened in shock when he saw me.
"What is this? How did this bone grow legs? Did it attach itself to the bones I tossed in here? Could it be a mystical treasure?"
After the initial shock, curiosity gleamed in his eyes. He seemed to be looking at something valuable.
He picked me up and carried me into his house, placing me on a piece of furniture. His wife and daughter joined him, their voices filled with wonder and speculation.
"This bone has mana and attached itself to other bones. I think it might be a valuable treasure," the hunter said.
"I don't know, Aron. What if it's a dangerous creature?" his wife replied.
This was the perfect opportunity. I could listen to their conversations and try to decipher their language. I hoped my magical powers would lend a hand.
"Trust me, I can sense its value. But let's observe it for a while. We'll see if it's dangerous," the hunter declared.
And so began my new chapter as a household decoration. Other villagers came to see me over the next week, and I soon became a local sensation.
Everyone wanted to know what I was and how I had attached other bones to myself. Some were scared, while others were simply curious.
During this time, something incredible happened. Before this, I had been cursing my terrible luck, convinced that if my classmates had reincarnated with me, they surely had it better.
But I had something special too. A notification appeared before my eyes one day, probably triggered when I reached a certain level of mana within my—well, within my bone.
[Small Dragon Bone]
[Level: 1]
[Mana: 130]
[Active Skills: None]
[Passive Skills: None]
[Requirements for Evolution: Create a proper skeleton body]
I was stunned. I didn't know what to make of it. I wasn't just an ordinary bone destined to remain weak; I was a dragon bone!
In fantastical worlds, dragons were powerful, legendary creatures. Even if I didn't become a dragon, I was bound to grow stronger!
There was a mission for me too: create a proper skeleton body. Would I become a low-level skeleton? Could I learn magic and become a Lich? The possibilities ignited a fire within me!
The first thing I wanted to do was ditch these ridiculous chicken legs.
The days spent indoors were beneficial in their own way. I longed to explore, but the black panther, Samantha, slept in the living room near the fireplace. As the hunter's magical pet, she would surely notice me if I tried to walk around.
Staying still was boring, but I received a pleasant surprise after listening to the family's conversations day in and day out.
[Your thin dragon bloodline grants you a new passive skill based on your environment conditions]
[Human Tongue Learned]
When I checked my system again, there it was, listed under passive skills: Human Tongue. I could understand human speech!
This was huge, even bigger than gaining sight or legs. I could finally understand, read, and learn about this world.
I was no longer a lost bone. I had objectives and the means to achieve them.
That night, I had to test it out. I tried to speak, a mere whisper. It worked. A hoarse voice echoed through the cabin.
Samantha woke up, looking around for the source of the noise. She stared at me for a few moments but did nothing.
The next morning, the family seemed frightened.
"I'm telling you, I heard something," Isla said, her voice trembling. "A voice I've never heard before."
"Calm down, my dear wife," Aron said, embracing her. "I'll look into it."
"It's that bone! It has to be!" Isla insisted.
Aron's expression grew serious. "Bones don't talk, my love. Not even magical ones. Don't say that, or the villagers might think we've gone mad."
"Alright, alright," Isla conceded. "But do something with that bone! I don't like it here."
"I will, I will," Aron assured her.