"Careful." Lofting words filled the void of my mind, they were drifting and not entirely clear. Though they spoke for my well-being, I felt an unsettling defense form in my mind in response to their tone.
With barred teeth, clenching down as I ushered my consciousness to seize the limbo-state I seemed to encompass; much like a person still half asleep, I hadn't fully manifested to my awakening. Although it was strenuous, I felt my mind and body reconnect; the nauseating agony I had suffered what felt like moments ago had seized to a diluted state of numbness. As if I could only partially feel the state of my condition, "Hrnk...Kuh!" was the extent of what I could manage to speak; it too was a sound I divulged as I commanded my body to lift from the abdomen to a sitting state.
As I reached to touch my stomach as while I felt pain, it was disconnected; drugged almost. The preceding problem however, was nothing came; revealing the area to my sight, the first thing I came to notice was a lump where once was my left arm; it was separated by the shoulder, leaving little to even maneuver or react to the electrical responses from my system. Although there was no apparent pain centering around it, there was an unusual amount of medical attention focused on it; bandaged and the tinge of herbal aromas exhumed from it's position. "What th-." As I spoke, I reflexively looked up and to the side. Positioned in the corner of the room was a familiar looking canine creature; with globes studying me with haunting interest. "You don't heed to the word 'careful'; do you?" It inquired, if only a rhetorical question.
Stunting an expression of mine to just disbelief at what I was witnessing. "I also don't find'a myself inna'... Places -- Like..." As I spoke, my eyes drifted to scan the particular area I was speaking of, to describe it simply; was a three century old room of a cabin, the wood was ashen and from visual inspection alone looked as if it were moments away from blowing into the wind in the form of dust. With withered folds of cloth, toys and other nick-knacks kicking around the area with no particular purpose aside from perhaps giving the area more of a comforted appeal-- For what it was worth. "This..." I spoke with a final resolution, "Whera'.. Exactly is this?"
The wolven creature stirred, standing up on all fours; it's stride smooth, calculated and concise. "Just a part of this realm of sorts; it served well enough to manner your wounds, and I suspect to aid in giving you an air of comfort. But, while I wish to sit here and talk idle chatter for the next few decades; you're here for a few reasons- And I suspect I can answer many of your lingering questions just by speaking what's on my mind." Upon arriving near the bedside, it sat down on his rear, but maintained a stature of strength with it's forelegs still extended; at this level it was just about in line with my height sitting up. "Wella'... While I'r sit an' wither; give'er hell." I replied, shimmying my form to sprawl my legs out the side of the bed, facing the wolf a couple feet away. My expression; clearly uncomfortable with the scenario, but with a reluctant acceptance of the situation at hand.
"Good. To begin, the fight you partook in was no dream; despite the disjointedness you might feel from it. Your arm is testament to it's reality." It had gestured with it's snout towards said spoken topic, "While my current form is much smaller; it was in-fact me that you engaged in combat, and although I was vague when we first met about the purpose; it was intentional." It paused for a breath, a time I took to stroke my hair from my face and back. "I was ambiguous with my intents to test not only you; but the thing that was dwelling within' the dragon of sorts... It was a manifestation of your past fury, that over the years washed away with your age. As I am certain you noticed, the longer the fight proceeded, the thicker the fog and the growing pain in your arm became." While he paused, I narrowed my eyes; seeming have confirmed his comment. "We suppressed the dragon to force you to begin the adaptation process. Something that the shadow world you inhabited would conflict with-- Rather violently."
Once more, it had looked to where my arm formerly inhabited. "That was the sickness that infected you, the energy of the shadow world you inhabited only partially. The thing that caused the damage was the natural energy that this place is in overabundance of; since this area is tied intrinsically to the Youkai Wolves. The violent explosion of sickness was from what you refer too as 'Bahamut' lashing out in response." He paused, seeming to give me a moment to process the newfound information.
I went to speak, pausing to gather my thoughts afore extending my palm by the elbow towards the wolf; just a typical gesture of conversation, "Soa' t' two sides'er my nature collided; 'n I was ... Literally, cut'offa 'cuz of it." A pause befell, "More or less.. On the other hand, this test of sorts had unexpected results with your arm... The severing was due to the explosive nature of the disease, I cut it to prevent further damage. Besides, I got the results I wanted other than that. You see-- The fog you encountered was something of a manifestation of your two sides conflicting, but it displayed that the natural energy of the area was finding residence with you and not causing inherent harm. You perhaps noticed it's presence, even if you weren't completely aware. Feeling the nature of the life around you, and reacting to it almost as if it were a second sense." I blinked, thinking back for some moments; with only a gentle nod, after figuring I thought I knew what he spoke of.
"The reason; I suspect your mind had trot to next.. Well you see, we've been considered advocating towards declaring a Sage of our kind, the sort to exist as a boundary, emissary and mentor of our kind to the realm outside here. This of course, not as easy as simply declaring someone to be the bearer of the title; but they must be compatible with the energy of our kind; and be willing." He paused, giving me a moment to think; and perhaps say my piece. "So'a-- I'm still 'ere, s' I suspect I'm compatible... But willin'?" I turned my attention to my now departed arm, and over-all; pretty roughed up state. "S'pose I'er said yes, 'n the condition I can'na leave if I don' wanna continue?"
"Well, before that. Truth is... You're not one-hundred percent compatible... You're enough to serve as the Sage, if you seek to do so; but you're not what our kind register as... A true Sage; or complete, in any case." I exhaled lightly, "S'mia' sorta' a bargain-bin sort. Figures'." I chalked up a smirk, I wasn't exactly offended by the fact; maybe a bit amused by the circumstances that led me here. "'N for the secon' question?"
"Well, the truth is you've already somewhat undergone the first stages of the training... You've effectively passed the trials of skin and pain. A lot of what's left is simply mastering the harnessing of the latent energy around you and possessing it. For passive and active use, which with your repoire shouldn't take too long, however there are some rather significant effects that incur on a person through using too much, which you will soon find out; given you lack of complete compatibility. Ultimately, you may choose to no longer walk down this path. But we've all made it agreed upon that we would find you suitable to the task." He paused, watching me; I shifted uncomfortably in my position as my eyes drifted to the deranged flooring. Contemplating the course of events, and ultimately where either path would lead me.
"If you choose to pursue the training; you are welcome to the scrolls in this building, and the land is yours to explore. If you do not, you can leave the way you came. We will not judge you; and will continue to work with you as agreed on our contract."
I nodded, looking up to see the wolf depart.
Sage to go along with my age, hnm...
[MFT]
Thought
"Speech."
"Ikiyouto."
It planted a sizable fore-paw against the stonework of the plateau. The land adorned with various stalagmites, boulders and debris that often did with each piece of land; only when did this creature introduce its physical form, but it's size- that it was truly brought into scale. Truth be told; it reminds me of the contracts that are in a binding with me- and me to them. 
