I just can't believe it! I thought that they only existed in anime's and very specific porn search results, but there's one right there!

Walking a few feet behind Sēti, I can't help but notice the few masculine features I missed before. The slim body hides the muscles under the fur. The stronger jawline that I thought was just a species thing. Finally, the way HE walks is obviously masculine, but nothing else is. The feminine facial features, the butt of a fit Goddess and the mannerisms all point to him being a female.

What is my life... I could believe that magic was real, but seeing this in person? I just get confused in both heads. Luckily I have Pinkie Pie or else I might have done something stupid. He hasn't said anything since he woke up a few hours after our duel. Considering it's still mid-day, we will get a lot of ground, but it will still take until tomorrow to catch up to them.

Stopping in place for a moment, Sēti puts a hand on his forehead and looks over at the horizon in front of us. "It seems like we might have an issue Devan."

"What's that then?" I reply, looking in the same direction as him.

At a somewhat long distance, a small group seems to be heading towards us. From the vision that I have, they also seem somewhat armed.

Sēti sighs and sits down, tail moving in the air. "They are a traveling band of mercenaries. Most likely, they avoided my caravan due to the size, but they won't ignore us. I have no want to hide, and they might be kind enough to impart some information I want."

Information he will want huh? Perhaps he is on his own mission as well as protecting the caravan?

"I could knock them out if you think they will be a big enough problem. My weapon does have a form that can do that from this distance." I say, giving an obnoxious grin.

He rolls his eyes and pouts for a moment. "No, I don't think that will be necessary. You're lucky I was weak from the worm almost digesting me, or else I would have used something a bit more.. Potent."

Hah, what a cute dude. That... Makes me Bi doesn't it?

I sit down next to him and lean back, looking up at the clear skies. "If you say so... Don't take your loss so badly. I know I barely knew anything about weapon crafting and only a little about enchanting, and still beat you, but I did so by using techniques that you didn't know about. You beat me, I beat you. Fair?"

Ignoring my comment, he taps my leg quickly. "They are going to see you in that form, change to that other one you had before. Seeing a rare creature will only bring trouble."

Oh shit, he's right. Alright.

"Form of.... A Lizard Man!" I say comically, activating my ring to access the Change spell and shift into the spoken form. Afterwards, I stand proudly with my hands on my hips.

Sēti slow claps for a few moments before standing up as well and gesturing for us to keep walking. "Do not give them anything but a basic greeting, I will do the talking and make sure they know I am a Captain of Abyssinia. That should deter them from.. Accosting us. I'd rather not have any problems while I heal."

"Yeah, yeah." I reply in my now rough voice. "Whatever you say, master."

A visible chill goes through Sēti's body before he turns around slowly. "Let us not use that title to address me, if you don't mind."

"Ooookay?" I respond, confused.

Maybe he has some kind of fetish? Whatever, they're almost on us, so it's time to keep quiet.

As we approach each other, I get a better view of the small group that's getting ever so close. It seems like a strange group to me, but most likely normal for a desert area. Two reptilian humanoids are followed by an armadillo creature wearing robes. The reptiles are bulky in stature with one carrying a shield and axe while the other is carrying a longsword. The armadillo creature is short, around four feet tall, and is wearing deep brown robes while also wielding a staff. Like Sēti mentioned, they stop in front of us, the largest of the reptilians flashing an ominous smile.

The smaller reptilian that resembles a bearded dragon comes forward a bit."What's a little cute cat and a strange looking lizard doing in the middle of the desert, hm?"

Sēti sighs yet again before he speaks up. "I am a Captain of Abyssinia on a Royal Mission, the details are confidential as well as important. I would like to know if you happen to have any recollection on the whereabouts of a character known as Strife? He is a magical cloud, dark in color and has stolen many precious artifacts from my lands. I was sent to find and retrieve him, as well as the artifacts taken."

He's looking for Strife too?! What a... Coincidence.

They look at each other, then at us before laughing. "A captain? You!? Hah!" chokes out the larger, more komodo dragon looking reptilian. "What a joke!" cries out the armadillo. "And she wants information from us?!" blurts out the bearded dragon.

After a moment or two of hysterical laughing, they wipe their eyes and gives us both a set of smiles with ill intent oozing out of them. Sēti doesn't react in any way and crosses his arms. "Believe me or not, will you give the information requested? It would help with my mission. If not, we are going to be on our way."

Putting on a serious expression, the komodo dragon leans down and whispers into the armadillos ear. A few moments later, the armadillo closes his eyes for a second before re-opening them. A yellowish aura appears on his eyes.

Magic? What kind... If it's on his eyes, then perhaps sensory magic?

The armadillo stops his spell and, with a heavily shaking claw, reaches up and tugs the komodos jacket erratically. Reaching down to my new sword that is attached to my waist through magical means, I watch how the armadillos eyes follow my hand.

I guess he saw the large amount of magical items on our persons. I know I have at least three magical items on me, if you don't include the eyes from that worm. I should probably make something that protects against magic sensing effects huh. Next time Devan, next time. At least I made it to where the weapon will stay on me comfortably, even adapting to each form it takes.

"It looks like you spooked our mage a bit with those weapons you're using. How about you give us those dangerous items and you can move on? I might even tell you something." growls the Komodo.

Sēti looks down at his weapon and gives a scoff. "You think you can wield this weapon of mine? That's ridiculous, I need it for my livelihood, as well as being able to serve my lands. I crafted this weapon from scratch, so I would rather strike you all down than give it u—"

"You can take mine, not hers." I say with a welcoming smile. "I'm sure that's really what he wants anyways, not that dinky sword."

Sēti turns towards me slowly and gives a mixed look of confusion and frustration. I shrug and nudge him playfully, giving a wink. Walking forward, I pull Joyeuse from my side and hold it up to them. The bearded one slowly moves his way to me from ten feet away and grabs onto the sword, pulling it out of my hands. Taking it back to his companions, he holds it up from the blade like I did. The komodo reaches out for the hilt, signaling my attack. Feeling magical essence bubble up from inside, I put two of my fists outwards and create two giant sized hands out of sand like I practiced. The bearded dragon and armadillo barely get a moment to react before they are grabbed tightly by both hands and pulled into the ground until their heads are barely sticking out. The komodo grabs my sword from the ground and attempts to raise it above his head for a slash at me. After he starts to slash downwards, he falls to the ground, immobile. The sword is glowing brightly, almost blindingly, before abruptly stopping.

I slowly walk over to my sword and the buried mercenaries. "My weapon isn't normal, obviously. It looks like your mage friend didn't warn you about the many problems of handling another beings enchanted weapon, or perhaps he just didn't know himself. Either way, you have now been paralyzed and are being drained of your stamina and magical essence. It will stop when it reaches levels where you will pass out, so don't worry too much about dying."

The bearded dragon reptilian creature squirms desperately, puffing up it's cheeks. "You scum! You will pay for doing this to us!"

I groan and flick my left wrist, covering his mouth with more sand and hardening it so he can't move his head. "I'm really tired of the monologues that are given by every little annoying evil or bad being I've met. Even the good ones monologue, it's just frustrating hearing someone talk about what I'll have to deal with, or fear, or whatever! I am my own being! Let me do what I want!"

A few seconds later, three golems made of sand pop up around the armadillo being, standing ten feet tall and heading towards me slowly. Surprised, but confident, I raise a hand up and pull an earthen wall out of the ground made of clumped and hardened sand.

A mound of sand rises upwards from the ground from behind my wall with the armadillo being on top of it. After seeing me, he points a claw at me menacingly. "Hah! You're an idiot! You think some sand will stop me? I am a sand mage! You're in my playground now!"

Joyeuse.

A half-second later, the sword teleports into my hand. The sand golems are now moving a bit faster after the armadillo noticed my weapon, I just put a bit of essence into the emerald while making a wide swinging motion towards the golems coming from over and around my wall. The weapon finishes forming mid-swing and a wide compressed air blade flies out of it due to me pushing some more magical power into it. The slash of air smoothly cuts both the golems and the wall in half, after which I slash downwards in the direction of the armadillo. A blade of air flies into his surprised face, cutting a bit into him, but not killing him. Sticking my new weapon into the ground, I lean on it, waiting for him. The weapon is now in a longer state, formed to look like a Partizan. The gems are embedded along the spear, along with the wood, forming a graspable surface. A scream of pain fills the air as the armadillo writhes atop his mound of sand, blood flowing out of his face.

"Less talking, more fighting. Now, I could easily cause more pain, or you could tell this nice kitty what she wants to know." I say loudly, keeping up the charade that Sēti is a female for his sake.

"Don't you dare Balmund! We must keep any information given to us a secret! To our graves!" yells out the Komodo, who is struggling to get up.

Ah, I guess he didn't get completely drained... He's a strong one, that's for sure.

To my left, I hear a quick muffled scream before a sound I've never really heard before. The sounds almost like when you stab a piece of meat, except there's a weird scraping noise. Looking to my left to see what it is, I find that Sēti is standing over the buried bearded dragon with his sword in their head. I stare at him, shocked at what is happening before me. Sēti turns to me, and gives a smile as genuine as ever.

"Why?" I ask, my body stunned from what horrors my eyes are witnessing.

I've seen animals killed before, but this is not the same. This is murder of a helpless being that can think, plan, socialize.. It's not right.

Sēti pulls his rapier out of the skull of the bearded dragon, who is also halfway out of the ground now. "They would have gone back to their leaders. We are both strong, but not strong enough to battle a whole clan or gang. If they are willing to give information, I do not mind letting them leave, but not without a certain spell. That, and this one was almost out of your burial. I did not want to risk whatever he might try. We are but small specks in the machine of life Devan. It's time you learned that some cogs need to be removed in order for it to run cleanly again."

As I was about to respond, I feel something strike my side as I was still turned away. Looking back towards my front, I see the Komodo dragon with his longsword attempting to pierce my cloak. Feeling the shock and disgust wash away and be replaced with anger and frustration, I grab him by the leather chest armor he's wearing and lift him up with my left hand.

Shaking him gently, I feel a few tears falling down my face in fear of what I might have to do. "Why?! I gave you a chance to just tell us! We would have let you live, you still can!"

Apparently ignoring me, he keeps slashing at my with the longsword as I hold him up, striking the cloak I made cover my body by this point. I feel the suit gain more and more charges, feeling every single strike and how hard it hits with the more energy being stored.

It's almost to the max amount already.. If he hits me at that point I'll die. I can't let him kill me, but I don't want to kill him! If I don't kill him, Sēti will out of fear of them going back to where their leaders are.... But what if he can't go back?

I put my partizan down and lay my head on his face, casting a quick spell to paralyze his body temporarily. Pushing magical essence from within my cloak into my hand, I place a mark on his forehead and put him down. A moment later, he gets back up and looks at me in confusion and fear before attempting to pick up his longsword but failing. He tries again, only to see that his fingers can't grip around the hilt of the sword. In a panic, he reaches behind him to pull a knife out of a strap on his leg, just to drop it as well.

"What have you done to me!?" he screams, getting onto his knees.

I hand him some meat jerky from my bag and place a hand on his shoulder. "You will no longer be able to lift a weapon against another being. I recommend you tell us where to go to find out more about this 'Strife' character, and head north until you find a town of Equestrians. You will have to learn to live peacefully, that is the curse I put on you. If you CAN find someone to remove that curse, I'll know. If that happens, you won't live. I am sorry, but in order to save you from my companion, I had to enslave your body."

The komodo dragon looks down at his currently useless claws and stands up slowly before he starts to chew on the jerky I gave him. "My name... Is Elkimbet. I thank you for saving me from that cat, but I can't tell you anything about the one you seek. Magical items are not what I studied, the blade is what I was raised to use. There's no point in me going back, so you are right in that I should leave. I will most likely be found, and I have never heard of such magic being used before. You must be a very powerful wizard to do such things. Ask Balmund. He may know more about this 'Strife'. I have to go find a new purpose."

Elkimbet walks away, headed north as instructed. I sigh, knowing that I just cursed another being for life, preventing him from doing what he lived to do. Turning towards Sēti, I see him cleaning his rapier and giving an impressed look.

As he walks over to me, he points at Balmund who is now standing up but still perched on a mound with a bleeding face, as well as the golems that are reforming. "What will you do about t—" is what Sēti starts to say, before I slam my fist into his face.

I will do what I want, but you will not kill another one, not today.

Sēti flies away around twenty feet before falling onto the ground, sliding and rolling even farther away. I cast another spell, burying him in the sand and hardening the sand for extra protection. Pointing a finger at Balmund, I gesture for him to come here. After seeing my display of power and technique, he looks around and nods before gliding on his mound of sand over to me and matching my height. "What do you know? Your friend is dead, and I promise not to kill you but only if you give what we need to know."

"What did you do to Elkimbet? He just left me here?" squeaks Balmund, shakily pointing his claw towards his ex-companion.

Shaking my head, I grab onto my paritzan and lean it onto my shoulder. "He has to be peaceful now, that's all. He's headed towards a better land for his current predicament."

Looking down for a while, then at his expired companion in the ground, then he sighs and looks "Strife is a being that I've heard around some magical gatherings in Klugetown. He supposedly has gathered multiple magical artifacts from Abyssinia, as well as one from an unknown place. That one in particular, the Staff of Sacanas, is legendary for the power it holds. Last I heard, he was rumored to be in Klugetown itself, searching for an airship."

An airship? I remember hot air balloons but an actual airship!? I guess technology is more advanced outside of a magic reliant environment.

I turn to glance at the dead body in the sand then back at Balmund in a hurry before my stomach lurches more than before. "I see, is that all you know then?"

"Yes, now if you'll excuse me, I'm going with Elkimbet." replies the Armadillo, releasing his magic on the golems and going over to the dead bearded dragon and praying for a moment.

I feel confusion wash over me as I heard those words, and couldn't help myself. "Why?"

Grabbing the supplies from his dead traveling partner, Balmund starts to walk past me towards Elkimbet. "Just because we robbed and killed others, doesn't mean we wanted to. He is a good but cranky lizard, one that I wouldn't mind sticking by. A peaceful life does sound nice as well, perhaps I can use my magic for good."

After I watch them both disappear over the horizon, I walk over to the dead body and sigh, acclimating myself to seeing such a sight. A moment or two of sending a silent prayer for safe passage into whatever afterlife he may have believed in, I place my reverted weapon back onto my waist and wave my hand over the spot where he is buried. Rocks form around him, closing him inside of a hardened shell before it is pushed deeper into the ground.

I am sorry for your needless death. I will make sure that something similar won't happen again while I am near that screwed up cat.

I walk over to where I buried Sēti and raise him back up out of the ground. Sēti eyes flutter open for a moment before shooting open in surprise as he stands up quickly. "What happened!? Where are they?"

"You killed one, I let the others go but not without a warning and even a curse. You will not kill again near me, understand? I may not be the strongest magic user in the world, nor faster than you, but I will make sure you die if you do that again!" I yell, staring deep into his eyes with a furrowed brow.

Sēti falls to his knees and looks at the blood on his torn uniform. "I... I'm sorry Devan. That is how it is out here. I couldn't spare his life... I lack the magical know-how and strength to cover any risks, but you do! If I would have known that, I wouldn't of... Killed. I was taught to, and fell into my training."

I can't help but feel sorry for him, so I kneel down beside him and open my arms. He looks at me with a tearful smile, showing each of his feral teeth, and falls into me.

I couldn't tell before, but Sēti is still young. No wonder he looks so feminine, he isn't grown all the way. He is most likely from a prestigious family and the past captain passed, and he inherited it. Talented, but inexperienced and scared to fail. I can't say much myself, seeing as how I barely wielded a weapon in my whole lifetime compared to what he must have gone through, but I know that killing because of fear is wrong.

Sēti is still crying into my chest with my arms wrapped around him.

This world... It needs someone to make sure that beings like this one are raised in a better environment. I will change this world, no matter what.

Author's Note

For reference... Also, be ready.. A new arc is finally going to begin next chapter! I'll be employing a new writing style, that you may have noticed slipping in recently, along with a totally different area feeling.

Komodo Lizardfolk: https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/009/193/134/large/sarah-dahlinger-komododragon-lizardfolk-001.jpg?1517606149
Bearded Dragon Lizardfolk: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVORW_WXcAERsp7.jpg
Armadillo Being:https://1d4chan.org/images/thumb/d/da/Armand.jpg/300px-Armand.jpg