“Races are recognized by a 1-5 scale.” Richard started to say, Jonathan looked up, shaken from his thoughts by new information. “One number is for physical strength, the first one, the second one is for magical power.”
Lucille brought over a book, thinner than the others, but worn and much older.
“There are four races that are a double five, having the maximum power for magic and physical prowess. The first is the dracanae-” The first page showed a realistic, lurid image of a pair of dracanae, one male and ripping an opponent apart and a female, arms raised and the earth cracking and melting under her feet. “-fire and earth as well as pure muscle. Something else is what they call Mana, a force they absorb from their enemies, usually by eating the eyes, hearts and livers and drinking their blood. A primal force that somehow adds to their physical and magical power. It makes them faster and stronger, the mana is also passed down for each generation, the son having twice as much Mana as the mother and father at birth, then absorbing or losing that based on his deeds.”
Jonathan nodded a bit, then the page was turned, Lucille continuing the lecture. “Kitsune are also double fives, fire and life force, qi, the latter half of their magic, and their versatility make them every bit as powerful as a dracanae, even if they appear to be much smaller.” This page showed a large seven-tailed fox the size of a horse charging towards the edge of the page and a man with the head and paws of a fox wielding a sword that glowed with white fire. “A kitsune sword has a star ball set in the hilt, the star ball holds the kitsune’s life force and soul in it, that sword is the only man-made thing that can effectively wound a dracanae or a naga.”
Jonathan gulped a little, remembering the plump and friendly kitsune woman who had graciously given him clothes and a pair of boots.
“Then there’re the jotuns, they deal in mountain magics, stone and wind and ice and snow. The males are huge, and are the only reason why they’re a double five, a jotun can grapple with any of the other double-five races, and their horns can pierce dracanae and naga hide. Huldra are rather weak physically, but make up for it with powerful magic as well as some kind of natural aphrodisiac they give off, most races avoid them because huldra are pests, even among jotuns.” Richard chuckled, but quickly quieted as Lucille gave him a withering look.
Jonathan had to smother a laugh.
“Lastly, there’s one more double-five race and those are the nagas.” Lucille continued, still shooting glances at a rather sheepish Richard. “They’re enormously powerful physically, in case you couldn’t tell with him-” She gestured aimlessly to Barbod, who had a rather smug expression on his face, not wasting the opportunity to let his muscles ripple under his scales. “-and have powerful water magic, which given on how expensive he is, I’m guessing he’s proficient in.”
“Expensive?”
“I’m a mercenary.” Barbod answered casually.
Jonathan coughed, then thumped his chest, eyes watering as he looked up at the green naga. “What?”
“I’m a mercenary, a thug for hire, I’m very good at my job so I charge higher prices than normal street thugs.” Barbod answered.
“You kill for money?”
The naga chuckled. “That’s one way of putting it, and one aspect of my job.”
Jonathan blinked, sitting back. He actually wasn’t quite sure how he felt about being around someone who killed for money.
The wonder he had only felt a few moments ago, and the fear and awe was now gone, seeming to have faded into a kind of despair and disappointment. It was only natural that even here there would be some kind of gray area as well as a black and white.
He sighed a little, picking up a book of Earth fables, hoping to lose himself in them once more. . .
