After we're finished eating dinner we have some homework before bed. I don't get why its even called homework though, since all our work is done at home. Snowstorm (literally) drags me through the tunnels that connect each cavern over to the library and dumps me in a big bean bag chair, then drops a book on my face.

  “Hey, ow!” I say indignantly. The library is a large cavern, I think its the second largest besides the living room, which is ungodly large. The floor is the same stone as the walls, which is the same as the roof. This room has no stalactites. Every wall is carved in with spots to store books. There are lots here. Maybe 800? Is that a lot? I think so, but I haven't been in a real library. The room is 100 meters in diameter. The floor is covered in carpets, rugs, a few dragon-made chairs and a beanbag chair. The same big green beanbag chair im sitting on. There is a whiteboard in the corner. I hope he doesnt bring the whiteboard out.

  “We're getting a test tomorrow on the difference between the way the system interacts with humans compared to dragons, so I am going to make sure you don't fail.” Snowstorm says, dragging the whiteboard out from the corner. I groan, flopping over on the beanbag chair, watching the book fall to the ground. Dammit, not the whiteboard!

  “But i don't wanna-”

  “No complaints.” He snaps, cutting me off. He rests on his back legs, using his wings to write on the chalkboard. He starts by drawing a line through the middle, then writes “Human” and “Dragon” on opposing sides.

  “Lets start with a simple question,” he says, taking on the lecturing tone he seems to love soooo much. “What is the biggest difference between humans and dragons in relation to the system?”

  “Stats?” I try. “Dragons have much higher stats then humans. My stats are around 10 times the average human adult, right?”

  Snowstorm nods, then shakes his head.

  “Its true that Dragons have much higher stats then humans, but thats not what I’m talking about. Dragons are born with the system, while humans aren't. There are a variety of ways a human can unlock the system, like divine intervention, a powerful dragon imbuing mana into a human, or reaching the mana threshold naturally. Some humans who are born in high density mana areas can unlock it at birth. But dragons get it no matter what. Why?”

  “The mana.” I say. “You keep talking about humans getting mana and getting the system from it. That must mean that to get the system means you gotta get lots of the stuff, right? But why are dragons born with it then?” Snowstorm looks happy that im figuring it out for once and am asking questions.

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  “Dragons are born from mana. Draconic reproduction is acheived through intertwining mana signatures. Dragons are born with at least the minimum requirement for the system, sometimes more.”

  I nod, thinking.

  “What else? What are other differences and similarities?” I ask. “skills?” Snowstorm nods.

  “Yes. Humans cant learn skills only a dragon can. Humans have no claws so why would they be able to get the ‘claw combat’ skill? Same with ‘empowered bite’ or ‘chomp’. The same goes the other way. I've yet to hear of a dragon with a ‘boxer’ title, or a ‘archer’ title.”

  “What about skills like ‘transformation’ and ‘transfiguration’? Dragons and humans can change forms with that stuff, right?”

  Snowstorm thinks that over for a minute, tapping a wing-claw to his chin.

  “Sort of. Form changing also changes a person's stats. But it can only change it so much. And when you're in a different form, any changes remain linked to that form. The only exceptions are injuries and status ailments. Lose an arm as a human and you lose the corresponding leg as a dragon, and vise versa.” I think that over for a second. It makes some sense, though most of the intricacies go waaay over my head. Snowstorm's got pretty good at making things understandable for me. Its no secret that I drew the short stick on intelligence, but I'm more adaptable then Snowstorm is in dire situations. Like when we were 5 and got attacked by a grizzly, I ripped the thing apart. I knocked a tree on it and crushed its skull open. Snowstorm… needed therapy. Smokewind turned out to be an expert in dragon psychology. He never told anyone why. What was I thinking about? Something about mana? No, something else… Oh, yeah.

  “How do you get form shifting skills like that?”

  “The system awards skills from achievements. You can also get skills from skill stones, but they’re prohibitively expensive, since they are formed through sacrificing a skill and forcing it into a compatible mana infuzed rock, crystal or gem.” Snowstorms lecturing voice is starting to grate on me. Even so this makes some sense to me. Ill probably forget it soon, but at least its interesting stuff.

  “What do you mean about the stat changes? How much can it change?” I ask, looking over the board which already is covered in far too many words for me.

  “More than you'd hope, but less than you'd expect.” Snowstorm says. “If the creature you are turning into is weaker then you, your stats will be reduced, though only physically, and not all the way to the poing of the creature you're turning into. For example, if you were to become human, you would have around half stats. Less than you'd hope, but more than you'd expect.”

  “Uh… you just said it the other way around- nevermind. what about turning into stronger creatures? Like, what if I became a big elemental?”

  “You lose energy fast.” Snowstorm explains, waving a wing around in circles. “You get a stat increase, but only if you're weaker than the elemental you want to turn into.”

  “Do you lose energy from turning into weaker things?” I ask, curious. This is a lot more interesting then I thought.

  “Barely.” He says with a shrug of his wings. “The drain is mostly balanced by the stat loss. Changing your physical form takes a lot of energy, so lowering your power to more closely suit your form is the best way to retain energy. The system is incredibly efficient.” I was about to ask another question when I was stopped by a voice from the door.

  “You two seem to have gotten a bit off track” Darkness says, slithering through the entrance. He sits down on a rug between 2 bookshelves, resting on his hind legs. “This is on the difference between humans and dragons in relation to the system, not on transformation between species. Though I’m glad you’re asking questions, Abhor.” I snort at that and stick my tongue out at him.

  “I ask questions all the time!” I retort.

  “Yeah. Questions like ‘how long until this is over?’ or ‘is it lunch yet?’” Snowstorm retorts, snickering. I want to argue back but I really can't. “Dammit” I mutter, defeated.