ã€ŠMemoir of the Dragon Avatarã€‹


 Servant and dragon

    I sat alone near the peak of Black Rock Mountain.

    The terrain was bleak¡ªnothing but black rocks as far as the eye could see, true to the mountain¡¯s name. Yet, despite its barren landscape, the view was breathtaking.

    The sky stretched endlessly above me, a brilliant shade of blue, while below, a sea of white clouds swirled like a ghostly ocean.

    As I took a long, deep breath, memories of my life flooded back¡ªmemories from a few hundred years ago.

    I could still recall the warmth of my mother¡¯s embrace, the cold disdain of my estranged father, and the day I was sold like livestock.

    My father, a worthless drunk and gambler, had wagered our home and farmland in a reckless bet. When he faced the risk of losing everything, he made a different choice¡ªhe exchanged them for me instead.

    I was just a young teenager when they took me away, forced to serve the lord of a manor. For nearly ten years, I toiled under his command, yet my debt remained unpaid.

    I longed for freedom, to reunite with my beloved mother, but as time passed, that dream withered. Hope was slipping through my fingers.

    Fate, however, had other plans.

    ......

    It was the beginning of winter.

    "ALDROUS!" A hoarse voice called my name, forcing me awake from my slumber. As my eyes slowly opened, I found Gaven, the head servant of the manor lord, standing beside me.

    Of all the people I had to endure, he was the one I despised the most. He never missed an opportunity to make my life more difficult than it already was.

    I loathed his crooked nose, his ridiculous curly red hair, the smug arrogance plastered on his face, and his grating voice. He carried himself as if he owned me.

    "Get up, you lazy good-for-nothing," he barked, his tone tense and commanding.

    I didn¡¯t hear the rooster crow, which meant it was still early morning.

    Reluctant, but with no choice, I obeyed.

    "Get on your feet. You need to collect firewood for the lord¡ªwe''re running low," he said.

    Puzzled, I asked, "Didn¡¯t Amice already collect firewood yesterday?"

    Amice was the Woodward, responsible for gathering firewood and managing the manor¡¯s forest.

    "It wasn¡¯t enough. Stop asking stupid questions and get on with it," Gaven replied, hands on his hips, staring at me intensely.

    I knew exactly why it wasn¡¯t enough. The night before, they had a feast¡ªone I wasn¡¯t invited to, naturally¡ªand I¡¯d bet Amice was still drunk and fast asleep by now.

    The sun was already high in the sky, though its rays barely shone through the thick, gathering snow clouds. The ground was blanketed in white, and by the looks of it, a storm was brewing. I still hadn¡¯t gathered enough firewood.

    "Curse it all," I muttered in annoyance.

    With no other choice, I climbed higher up the nearby mountain in search of more firewood.

    The cold bit at my skin, and hunger gnawed at my stomach¡ªI had barely eaten before setting out on this miserable task.

    Each step felt heavier, my breath turning to mist in the freezing air.

    Then, without warning, the weather worsened. A biting breeze became a relentless gale, and thick snowflakes began to fall, blurring my vision. Within moments, the world around me turned into a white abyss.

    That wasn¡¯t the worst of it.

    The path I had taken to climb up was now blocked¡ªburied under fallen rocks and snow.

    "You¡¯ve got to be kidding me," I growled, my voice nearly lost in the storm. "Damn it all!"

    A grim thought crossed my mind. If I didn¡¯t find another way down soon, I¡¯d freeze to death up here.

    "No," I muttered through gritted teeth. "Not today. I¡¯ll survive¡ªlike I always do."

    Desperation clawed at me as I retraced my steps, searching for any possible way down. That¡¯s when I saw it¡ªa steep, narrow path winding directly toward the mountain base. It was treacherous, but I had no other choice.

    Without hesitation, I took it.

    Step by step, I descended, treading carefully on the icy ground.

    The snow made everything slick, and my heart pounded with each precarious movement. Then, suddenly¡ª

    I slipped.

    For a moment, there was only darkness.

    I thought I was dead¡ªyet I could still breathe.

    Cold, damp rock pressed against my back as I lay, disoriented. My body ached, and my head spun. As I sat myself up and my eyesight gradually adjusted to the darkness, an unsettling feeling crept over me. I wasn¡¯t alone.

    Two enormous, fiery eyes gleamed in the shadows, watching me in silence. From its silhouette alone, I knew what it was.

    "D... Dragon," I stammered, my voice barely more than a whisper.

    A dragon. A creature of myth and legend. The harbinger of calamity, the embodiment of chaos itself¡ªspoken of only in tales of old. Yet here it was, right before me.

    Its head was massive, as large as a house. Its burning eyes remained fixed on me, unblinking, unfazed. Oddly enough, its breath, rolling in slow waves, was pleasantly warm against the frigid air.

    I couldn¡¯t move. My body felt like ice, frozen in fear. I might have even pissed myself a little.

    Then, the beast shifted slightly and spoke.

    "Dragon? I thought I was a donkey."

    "...What?" I blinked, utterly dumbfounded.

    Before I could process its words, it threw its head back and burst into laughter.

    "BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"

    The very ground trembled beneath me, dust and loose pebbles rattling from the force of its laughter.

    My fear was quickly replaced by sheer confusion.

    "Ha! You should see your face¡ªall pale and dumbfounded," the dragon wheezed, settling down from its fit of laughter.

    I swallowed my fear and managed to stammer, "Y-You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re not going to eat me?"

    The dragon scoffed. "Eat you?" It made a sound of disgust. "Bleh. You humans taste like ogre vomit. I¡¯d rather eat my own tail."

    For some reason, I felt both relieved and slightly offended.

    As I steadied myself and stood on my feet, I took a deep breath, gathering enough courage to speak once more.

    "Where am I? What is this place?" I asked.

    The dragon took its time before answering, its deep voice rumbling through the cavern.

    "You¡¯re in a cave."

    "A cave?" I repeated, baffled. "How?"

    I could have sworn I had stumbled down a mountain path just moments ago. By all logic, I should have tumbled to the base of the mountain¡ªnot ended up inside a cave. It didn¡¯t make any sense.

    There was no visible entrance, no opening that I could see. The cavern itself was enormous, its walls occasionally illuminated by clusters of glowing crystals protruding from the rock.

    The dragon studied me for a moment before speaking. "You seem rather confused."

    "I¡­ I am," I admitted, still trying to make sense of my surroundings. Then, a thought struck me.

    "You¡¯re huge¡ªyour body alone takes up half this cavern. There must be an opening big enough for you to have entered," I reasoned.

    To my dismay, the dragon simply replied, "Nope. There¡¯s no entrance. This cave was erected around me."

    I blinked. "What do you mean?"

    The dragon let out a slow breath. "I was trapped here¡ªimprisoned in this very cave."

    I couldn¡¯t believe what I was hearing. Trapped? Imprisoned?Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    "But¡­ how? How long have you been here?" I asked, my voice laced with disbelief.

    The dragon closed its eyes for a moment. Then, it exhaled.

    "Honestly? I don¡¯t recall. A few thousands of years, perhaps."

    My mouth felt open. I was in total shock.

    Trapped in a cave for thousands of years? That was beyond ridiculous. Just the thought of being stuck here was terrifying enough. I wouldn¡¯t last a fraction of that time. There was no way I could survive long enough before succumbing to hunger or dehydration.

    I nearly fell to my knees just thinking about it. The sheer length of time¡ªthe isolation¡ªit was overwhelming.

    Then, the dragon spoke.

    "There is a way out of this cave."

    My heart leaped. "There is?" I asked, my voice filled with excitement.

    The dragon¡¯s massive head leaned in closer, its fiery eyes gleaming with amusement. "But before I tell you,¡± It rumbled, "how about a little talk? It¡¯s been ages since I last had a decent conversation."

    I hesitated. A part of me wanted to insist on hearing the way out first, but¡­ looking at the dragon¡ªthis ancient creature that had been trapped for untold millennia¡ªI couldn¡¯t bring myself to refuse. It would feel rude and impolite.

    I steadied myself and exhaled. "So, what do you want to talk about?"

    The dragon lifted its head slightly, and for a moment, I swore I saw a faint smile form on its massive maw.

    "First," it said, a glimmer of curiosity in its voice, "tell me¡ªwhat year is it?"

    ¡°Years¡± I repeated, before answering. ¡°It¡¯s 1127.¡±

    The dragon frowned. "Hmm. And what deity do you worship?"

    I raised an eyebrow. That was an odd question. Still, I answered, "I am Atherian. My faith is Athria. We worship Athia, the Goddess of Light."

    A brief silence followed. I could sense that my answer wasn¡¯t what the dragon had hoped for.

    "Have you ever heard the name Nahiniem? Or perhaps the Demon God Altrius?"

    I shook my head. "No. I¡¯ve never heard those names before."

    The dragon let out a low hum. "Interesting¡­ Perhaps I¡¯ve been in this cave far longer than I imagined."

    I swallowed hard. "Should I know those names?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

    The dragon¡¯s gaze softened, and it sighed. "Back in my time, when I still have my freedom, you humans worshiped only one god. And that god was Nahiniem."

    As the dragon finished speaking, I responded, ¡°Not all humans worship the same deities. Our beliefs stem from where we¡¯re born or raised.¡± I explained how different human civilizations had developed distinct faiths across the land.

    The dragon let out a low hum. ¡°No, not in my time,¡± it said. ¡°In the world I once knew, you humans were newly born¡ªbrought forth from the earth itself by the will of the god Nahiniem.¡±

    It went on to explain that, back then, humanity numbered only in the thousands. The god Nahiniem walked the earth, ruling directly over mankind, while demons and gods alike existed in physical form, interacting freely with mortals. Unlike humans, however, dragons had already long existed. They were their own masters, unbound by the laws of gods and demons.

    There was a hint of nostalgia in the dragon¡¯s voice as it spoke. The world it described sounded almost too grand, too mythical to be real¡ªyet the very presence of this ancient being before me was proof that it once existed.

    Then the dragon¡¯s gaze shifted to me. ¡°So¡­ what is life like now? What is the world beyond this cave?¡±

    I took a moment before answering. ¡°It¡¯s the beginning of winter. I live in a manor governed by a lord, and there are several other manors and human settlements throughout the land. The kingdom that I currently reside in is called Shaelia, but there are other kingdoms beyond it as well.¡±

    ¡°And the dragons?¡± the dragon interjected; its voice suddenly eager.

    I hesitated. ¡°Unfortunately¡­ there are no signs of any living dragons. They exist only in stories and folklore. But wyverns do exist¡ªthey¡ª¡±

    ¡°BLAH!¡± The dragon¡¯s disgusted snort echoed through the cave. ¡°Those damned wyverns! If you think they are of my kin, you are sorely mistaken! Just because they have wings and breathe fire does not make them dragons!¡±

    Its voice was filled with such irritation that I instinctively straightened up.

    ¡°Right. Wyverns are not dragons. Got it,¡± I said quickly, not wanting to risk angering it further. Who knew what might happen if I got on its bad side?

    Noticing my tension, the dragon softened its voice and asked, ¡°And you, human? What is your role in the grand scheme of things?¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± I hesitated.

    For twenty-five years of living, I had lived a life without anything remarkable to tell. No grand adventures, no extraordinary moments¡ªjust the same monotonous routine. Still, I decided to answer truthfully.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m a servant. I serve the lord of the manor where I live. My life isn¡¯t particularly interesting. Tending to his needs is all I¡¯ve ever known.¡±

    A brief silence filled the cave before the dragon finally spoke.

    ¡°A servant, ay?¡± It let out a low hum. ¡°It¡¯s seemed like I¡¯m not the only one who is trapped.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t sure how to respond to that. Before I could dwell on it, the dragon continued.

    ¡°What is your dream, human? Do you have any desires?¡±

    My thoughts drifted, lost for a moment, before I found my voice.

    ¡°I want to be a wanderer. To travel across the land, see things I¡¯ve never seen before, meet people, explore new places¡­ Just to be free.¡±

    The dragon let out a deep exhale. ¡°Hmph. we have much in common than I thought.¡± Its eyes glowed faintly as it added, ¡°I, too, wish to be free from this wretched prison of mine.¡±

    Curious, I asked, ¡°You said you¡¯re trapped here, but by whom? And why?¡±

    The dragon let out a faint sigh before answering.

    ¡°Long ago, I may have been a little too¡­ mischievous. Caused some trouble. Because of that, the god Nahiniem punished me and locked me up in this place.¡±

    ¡°Locked you up? But how?¡± I pressed.

    The dragon shifted slightly, and for the first time, I began to make out the position of its body. It was sitting much like a cat or a dog, its massive form resting on its belly. But something else caught my eye¡ªits enormous wings draped over its lower body, as if hiding something.

    Slowly, it raised one of its wings. The glow from the crystals embedded in the cave walls gradually illuminated its lower body.

    And there it was.

    A massive sword, impaled deep between the dragon¡¯s chest and belly, its blade buried up to the hilt.

    My mouth hung open in shock. The only thought that surfaced in my mind slipped out before I could stop myself.

    ¡°Does it¡­ hurt?¡±

    The dragon exhaled, a sound almost resembling a chuckle. ¡°At first, it did. But over time, I¡¯ve grown used to it.¡±

    I struggled to form words. ¡°But¡­ how are you even¡ª¡±

    ¡°Still alive?¡± the dragon finished for me. ¡°This sword is no ordinary blade. It is enchanted. Though it pierced my heart, it prevents me from dying.¡±

    Before I could say another word, the dragon spoke.

    ¡°You want a way out of this cave, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± I answered eagerly.

    The dragon lowered its massive head, bringing its snout dangerously close to me. ¡°Then pull out the sword,¡± it said. ¡°Once it is removed, the magic that holds this cave together shall unravel.¡±

    ¡°Really¡­? That¡¯s¡ª¡± My excitement faltered as a sudden thought struck me. I hesitated before asking, ¡°If I pull it out¡­ will you die?¡±

    ¡°Naturally, yes,¡± the dragon replied nonchalantly. ¡°That was always meant to be the outcome.¡±

    Then, with a teasing tone, it added, ¡°Or would you rather stay here and meet your own end?¡±

    ¡°No, no, definitely not,¡± I answered immediately, stepping toward the sword.

    The dragon¡¯s piercing eyes followed my every move as I approached.

    Standing before the enormous blade, I studied it carefully. The hilt alone was massive¡ªtoo large for me to grip properly with my hands. The only way to hold it was to wrap my entire arm around it, almost like embracing a tree trunk. I shifted my stance, planted my feet firmly, and gave it a test pull.

    It didn¡¯t budge.

    The sheer size of the sword mirrored its weight, and the way it was embedded deep into the dragon¡¯s chest made it feel immovable. Still, I had no choice¡ªI had to try.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± I announced, bracing myself.

    Just as I was about to pull, another thought crossed my mind. My grip loosened, and I hesitated.

    Sensing my uneasiness, the dragon narrowed its eyes. ¡°What are you waiting for? Didn¡¯t you want to escape?¡±

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem fair,¡± I said solemnly.

    ¡°What doesn¡¯t?¡± The dragon¡¯s voice held a trace of curiosity.

    I took a breath before continuing. ¡°You¡¯ve been trapped here for who knows how long. Whatever mischief you caused, surely your punishment is long overdue. I feel like¡­ you deserve freedom too, even if only for a moment.¡±

    For the first time since we met, the dragon looked taken aback.

    Then, all of a sudden¡ª

    ¡°BWAHAHAHAHAHA!¡±

    A booming laugh echoed through the cave. The sheer force of it sent loose pebbles tumbling down from the cavern walls.

    I blinked, momentarily baffled, before standing my ground.

    ¡°I mean it,¡± I said firmly. ¡°I believe everyone deserves a second chance.¡±

    As the dragon settled from its laughter, it spoke in a solemn tone.

    ¡°My death is my second chance at freedom¡­ my redemption. There is nothing left for me in this world. I have been alone in this cave for far too long, and even if I were to be freed, I am the last of my kind. My kin perished ages ago. There is nothing waiting for me outside¡ªonly loneliness.¡±

    Hearing this, I felt a pang of sorrow. There was a sadness in its voice, a weight that I hadn¡¯t noticed before.

    Then, after a moment of silence, the dragon spoke again.

    ¡°Human, what is your name? What are you called?¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± I hesitated, clearing my throat before answering. ¡°My name is Aldrous.¡±

    ¡°Aldrous,¡± the dragon repeated, as if tasting the name. ¡°That is a fine name.¡± Then, with a small, almost amused huff, it added, ¡°For a human, you¡¯re not half bad.¡±

    That was an odd statement, but before I could respond, the dragon surprised me with something else.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    For a moment, I swore I saw a faint smile on its massive face.

    I returned the gesture, nodding. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Somehow, it felt like the right thing to say.

    ¡°Now,¡± the dragon said, its voice carrying a quiet resolve, ¡°release me from this prison of mine. Let me be free¡ªand earn your freedom as well.¡±

    I swallowed hard and stepped forward. Wrapping my arms tightly around the massive hilt, I took a deep breath.

    At first, as expected, the sword refused to budge. But then¡ª

    I felt it move.

    The weight lessened¡ªjust slightly, but enough to notice. My heart pounded in excitement. It¡¯s moving.

    Gritting my teeth, I pulled with all my strength. Slowly, inch by inch, the blade began to slide free. With each tug, the sword felt lighter, as if it was no longer resisting. Then¡ª

    CLANG!

    A sharp metallic ring echoed through the cave as the sword struck the ground.

    I staggered back, breathing heavily, and turned to look at the weapon. To my shock, it wasn¡¯t whole.

    The sword was broken, jagged at the end where it had been severed.

    Excitedly, I let go of the hilt and turned to the dragon.

    ¡°I did it! I¡ª¡±

    The words died on my lips.

    Right before my eyes, the dragon¡¯s massive body was changing¡ªturning to stone.

    It started from the lower body, creeping upward, its scales darkening and hardening. The once-living creature was being petrified before me.

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    I watched helplessly as the transformation climbed to its chest, then its wings. The dragon¡¯s head was tilted upward, gazing at the ceiling of the cave, as if looking beyond this world.

    The gleam in its eyes¡ªso full of life just moments ago¡ªbegan to fade.

    And then¡ª

    The dragon crumbled.

    Cracks spread like lightning through its stone form. In the next breath, it shattered, breaking into countless fragments that collapsed into a heap of rubble and dust.

    Before I could react, something stirred within the rubble.

    A brilliant light emerged, breaking through the dust¡ªa glowing orb, radiant and pure. It floated above the remains of the dragon, its luminescence filling the entire cave. Yet, despite its brightness, the light was gentle, soothing to the eyes.

    I stood mesmerized.

    Then, a voice echoed from within the orb¡ªfaint at first, like a whisper carried by the wind, before gradually growing clearer.

    ¡°Aldrous.¡±

    My breath caught.

    It was the dragon¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Forgive me¡­ For the longest time, I have been trapped in this cave¡­ And in my torment, I cursed the very sword that impaled me. Into it, I poured all my essence¡ªand my curse¡­ my immortality.¡±

    The voice lingered for a moment before fading. Then, the glowing orb began to ascend toward the cave ceiling. Higher and higher it rose, until, without warning¡ª

    It dispersed into nothingness.

    I stood in stunned silence.

    ¡°What? Cursed¡­?¡± I muttered, my mind racing.

    Then, all at once, something surged through me.

    A strange energy coursed through my veins, tingling beneath my skin. It was unlike anything I had ever felt before¡ªa renewed vigor, an overwhelming sense of strength. My body felt weightless, as if I had shed every burden I had ever carried.

    Before I could comprehend what was happening, a blinding light engulfed me.

    I shielded my eyes, but it was no use. The brilliance swallowed everything.

    Then¡ª

    Silence.

    As my vision slowly adjusted, I realized I was no longer inside the cave.

    I stood in a vast forest.

    The trees, though touched by winter, still clung to their greenery. The ground was free of snow, damp with the scent of fresh earth. The air was crisp, but not bitterly cold.

    ¡°Wha¡­ Where am I?¡± I murmured, turning in bewilderment.

    This wasn¡¯t the forest where I had gathered firewood.

    Then something struck me, something important.

    ¡°Ah, I forgot to ask the dragon¡¯s name.¡±

 The Dragon Essence

    I was alone somewhere in an unfamiliar land.

    The forest around me was nothing like the one I had known before. My best guess, I was teleported here after the magic that holding the cave collapsed.

    ¡°God damn it, where the hell am I,¡± I said, frustrated.

    I had been walking for what felt like hours. The only thing I had with me was the broken sword¡ªthe very weapon that had been lodged in the dragon¡¯s chest. Strangely, it had changed. When I first found it lying beside me, it had shrunk from its massive, unwieldy size to that of a regular sword.

    With no direction in mind, I kept moving forward, hoping to find signs of people¡ªor at least some clue about where I had ended up.

    The sun above me signalled it was already afternoon.

    ¡°I need to get back to the manor¡­ but how?¡± I muttered under my breath.

    I walked aimlessly through the unfamiliar forest, my frustration growing with every step. My patience thinned by the minute, the endless stretch of trees offering no sign of a path or direction.

    Finally, I came to a halt, exhaling sharply. Irritated beyond reason, I clenched my fist and struck the nearest tree trunk.

    KRAKOOM!

    A thunderous crack split the air as the tree toppled over, crashing against the ground. Branches snapped, leaves scattered, and the vibrations rippled through the earth beneath my feet.

    I stood frozen.

    ¡°Did I just¡­?¡± The words caught in my throat.

    The trunk where my fist had landed was obliterated into splinters, leaving only jagged remains.

    Slowly, I raised my hand, staring at it in disbelief. Not a single scratch. No pain. Nothing. It was as if I had merely brushed against the wood, yet the destruction was undeniable.

    Then, memories resurfaced¡ªthe dragon¡¯s final words. It had cursed the sword, pouring all its essence into it. And the moment afterward¡­ the surge of energy, the strange vigor flowing through my veins¡­

    A sinking realization settled over me.

    ¡°There¡¯s no way¡­ This can¡¯t be,¡± I murmured.

    However, I cannot deny it, the evidence was right before my eyes. The dragon¡¯s essence¡ªthe power of its very existence¡ªnow coursed through my vein.

    A surge of excitement coursed through my body. Though still a bit shaky, my mind raced with thoughts¡ªjust how strong had I become? What could I achieve with this newfound power?

    Without hesitation, I muttered to myself, ¡°I need to test this.¡±

    My eyes fell on the fallen tree¡ªthe same one I had struck with my fist. It was a massive pine, thick and sturdy.

    ¡°Here goes nothing,¡± I said, placing my hands underneath its trunk, preparing to lift.

    The moment I applied force, my breath hitched. Not only did I manage to lift it high above my waist, but it felt as light as a twig.

    ¡°WAHAHA!¡± A wild laugh escaped me, pure amazement filling my chest.

    Gripping it with one hand like a spear, I pulled my arm back and hurled it skyward. The tree shot through the air, soaring higher and higher until it shrank into a mere speck¡­ then disappeared entirely from view.

    ¡°WOHOOOO!¡± I shouted, the thrill coursing through my veins. But then¡ª

    ¡°Oh crap¡­ I hope that doesn¡¯t land on someone¡¯s head,¡± I muttered, gritting my teeth.

    Shaking off the thought, I turned my attention to something else to throw.

    Long story short, my ¡°experiment¡± soon led to the destruction of several other trees¡ªeach larger than the last¡ªbefore I moved on to lifting a massive boulder straight from the ground and smashing it into pieces.

    After a while, I paused, curiosity creeping in.

    ¡°What else?¡± I murmured.

    Strength was a given¡ªdragons were enormous creatures, after all. But what about senses? Did I gain heightened perception beyond that of a normal human?

    Closing my eyes, I focused on my hearing.

    At first, everything seemed normal. But as I concentrated, the range of my hearing expanded. I could pick up the faint rustle of small animals moving through the underbrush, the distant creak of a falling branch.

    Then¡ªa deafening sound rang out.

    ¡°GAAHHH!¡± I winced, clutching my ears. The sheer intensity sent sharp pain through my skull, like needles piercing my eardrums.

    Slowly, the overwhelming noise faded, and my hearing returned to normal.

    I exhaled, realization settling in. ¡°I need to control it properly¡­¡±

    It wouldn¡¯t be something I could master instantly. I needed practice. A lot of it.

    As I settled down, my mind drifted, wondering what other abilities a dragon might possess.

    "Dragons have wings. They can fly."

    A thought struck me. Could I fly as well?

    There were no wings sprouting from my back, but after everything that had happened, the idea of having a mythical creature''s essence coursing through my veins wasn¡¯t as far-fetched as it once seemed. If I had gained inhuman strength and heightened senses, then maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªI could fly, even without physical wings.

    With newfound determination, I decided to put it to the test.

    "Let¡¯s do this."

    I scanned my surroundings and picked the tallest tree I could find, thinking to use it as a platform to jump from. The climb was easy¡ªeffortless, even. With my enhanced strength, I reached the top in no time.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Standing on a sturdy branch, I took a moment to take in the view. From up here, I could see far beyond the endless stretch of trees. In the distance, there appeared to be a clearing.

    "A human settlement, maybe?" I muttered. If it was, then I could just fly straight to it.

    I took a deep breath.

    "Alright."

    I readied myself, bent my knees slightly, and launched myself forward, spreading my arms wide.

    A grin spread across my face as the wind rushed past me, the exhilarating sensation of weightlessness coursing through my body.

    This is it!

    For a brief, fleeting second¡ªI was soaring.

    Then reality struck.

    No wings mean no flight.

    I plummeted.

    "ARGHHHH!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as the ground rushed up to meet me.

    Branches snapped and cracked as I crashed through them, breaking one after another before finally hitting the earth.

    "UFFF!"

    The impact sent my body bouncing slightly before I rolled to the side, ending up flat on my back.

    I lay there in shock. But miraculously¡ªI was alive.

    Even more surprising, it didn¡¯t hurt at all.

    I had felt the impact, the sensation of my face hitting the ground, but that was it. No pain. No injuries.

    Slowly, I sat up, glancing at the spot where I had landed. A visible crater had formed¡ªnot too deep, but enough to show that something heavy had crashed into it. Broken branches and scattered rocks surrounded me.

    A weak, breathless chuckle escaped my lips.

    "Ha¡­ ha¡­"

    Part of me felt disappointed that I couldn¡¯t fly.

    The other part was just relieved to know that I could survive falling from such a height.

    Then, out of nowhere¡ªgrrraaaawl.

    My stomach let out a deep, unsettling growl.

    I instantly clamped my mouth shut, nearly gagging at the sensation that followed.

    "Am I really that hungry?" I muttered, feeling the hunger intensify with each passing second.

    "Well¡­ dragons are massive creatures. It makes sense that they¡¯d have a huge appetite."

    A sudden thought struck me.

    "Wait¡ªdid I inherit a dragon¡¯s appetite too?"

    I wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good thing. If a dragon needed to consume massive amounts of food to sustain itself, then¡­ how much would I need to eat now?

    More than hunger, I realized I was incredibly thirsty. My throat felt dry, parched.

    I needed water.

    "There has to be a river nearby," I murmured, shutting my eyes as I focused once again, this time directing my enhanced senses toward the sound of flowing water.

    Tuning out the rustling leaves and distant animal movements, I strained to listen¡ªsearching, waiting¡­

    There.

    A familiar, rhythmic sound emerged¡ªthe gentle rush of flowing water.

    "I hear it!" I said, excitement flaring in my chest.

    "It must be a river¡­ or something close."

    Without wasting another moment, I turned in the direction of the sound and set off, hoping to find my way to the water source before this unbearable thirst consumed me.

    Finally, I arrived.

    Just as I had hoped, a river stretched before me.

    "At last, water!" I breathed, rushing forward without hesitation.

    Stepping knee-deep into the river, I scooped up handfuls of water and drank greedily. The cool liquid slid down my throat, quenching my unbearable thirst. The relief was beyond words¡ªalmost euphoric.

    Now, food.

    My gaze flickered toward the water. Several fish swam near the riverbank, their sleek bodies gliding through the current.

    "Perfect," I thought. If I could catch a few, that would be enough to hold me over.

    But just as I was about to make my move, something else caught my attention.

    A low, heavy growl.

    I turned my head slowly.

    Not far from me, standing at the edge of the riverbank, was a massive black bear.

    Its dark eyes were locked onto me, unblinking.

    Its breath came in heavy, guttural huffs as it growled again, deep and menacing.

    Whether I had disturbed its fishing spot or if it had already marked me as its prey¡ªI wasn¡¯t sure. But one thing was certain.

    It wasn¡¯t happy.

    Normally, any rational person would run.

    But I wasn¡¯t just anyone anymore, was I?

    A slow smile crept onto my lips as a thought took shape.

    How would I fare against a bear?

    So far, I had demonstrated inhuman strength. I had survived a fall from an insane height without a scratch.

    What could a bear¡¯s claws and teeth possibly do to me?

    There was only one way to find out.

    I spread my arms wide, standing my ground.

    "Come on!" I taunted, grinning. "Come and get me¡ªI won¡¯t run!"

    The bear let out a thunderous roar.

    It rose onto its hind legs, towering over me at a monstrous five meters.

    My pulse quickened, a flicker of intimidation creeping into my chest¡ªbut excitement far outweighed it.

    "That¡¯s more like it," I muttered, my grin widening.

    The bear slammed its front paws down and lunged.

    I felt the ground tremble beneath its charge.

    Closer.

    Faster.

    The bear lifted its front legs and pounced¡ªits full weight crashing against me.

    Nothing.

    I didn¡¯t even budge.

    Undeterred, it opened its massive jaws, razor-sharp fangs glistening¡ªand clamped down on my neck.

    ¡­And yet, I felt nothing.

    Not a single scratch.

    Not even the faintest pressure of its bite.

    "My turn," I said eagerly.

    Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms as wide as I could around the bear¡¯s massive body.

    Sensing its efforts were futile, the bear thrashed, claws raking against me, teeth snapping desperately¡ªbut it was all for nothing.

    I wouldn¡¯t let it go.

    Tightening my grip, I held firm.

    The bear¡¯s struggles grew frantic, but I barely felt a thing.

    Then, with a deliberate effort, I shifted my stance¡ªadjusting my hold so I wouldn''t hurt the poor creature.

    With a steady breath, I lifted.

    The bear left the ground, its enormous weight seemingly meaningless against my strength. It wasn¡¯t a clean lift, just enough to hoist it slightly¡ªenough for my next move.

    And so, I threw it.

    I was certain I had applied just the right amount of force.

    ¡­Or so I thought.

    To my surprise, the bear soared several meters into the air before crashing down onto its belly at the riverbank.

    A stunned silence followed.

    The bear, sprawled awkwardly, lifted its head.

    Its expression?

    Pure confusion.

    I almost felt bad for it.

    Almost.

    Then, shaking off its shock, the bear roared¡ªloud and commanding, as if trying to assert dominance.

    It still wasn¡¯t backing down.

    Fine.

    I took a deep breath and let out a roar of my own.

    Except¡ªwhat came out wasn¡¯t human.

    It was thunderous.

    A deep, guttural beast¡¯s roar that rumbled through the forest.

    Even I was caught off guard.

    Eyes wide, I instinctively clamped my mouth shut, covering it with my hand.

    What the hell was even that?

    The bear, on the other hand?

    Absolutely terrified.

    Its body trembled; eyes filled with unmistakable fear.

    And then¡ªwithout hesitation¡ªit turned, sprinting on all fours, vanishing into the depths of the forest.

    Then¡ª

    I laughed.

    Hard.

    I felt bad for the poor thing¡ªit had become an unwilling subject for my experiment.

    "Alright then," I said, rolling up my sleeves as I prepared to catch some fish, returning to my main agenda.

    As expected, my heightened senses made the task far too easy.

    I could see everything¡ªbeyond the shimmering water¡¯s surface, every movement, every ripple.

    With swift reflexes, I plunged my hands into the water, snatching fish one after another and tossing them onto the riverbank. Effortless.

    As I continued "fishing," I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of being watched.

    I can sense it, lingering in the shadows¡ªwas the same black bear from before.

    It wasn¡¯t approaching, nor did it seem aggressive.

    It was just¡­ watching.

    Me? Or my catch?

    Hard to tell.

    Turning back to the pile of fish I had gathered; a new problem entered my mind.

    "How do I cook this?"

    That¡¯s when it hit me.

    Dragons breathe fire.

    ¡­Right?

    Excitement sparked through me.

    I had to try.

    I grabbed one of the fish and swiftly gutted it using the broken sword that I had tucked away between my belt.

    Raising it to eye level, I took a deep breath and blew.

    ¡­Nothing.

    I frowned. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m doing it wrong?¡±

    This time, I focused¡ªreally focused.

    I imagined the flames, the heat building in my chest.

    Slowly, I exhaled.

    At first, it was just warm air.

    Then¡ªhotter.

    And hotter.

    I stopped, inspecting the fish.

    The area I had blown on was charred black.

    I grinned. Progress.

    Even though I was thrilled, I couldn''t help but feel a tiny bit disappointed.

    No fire¡ªjust extreme heat.

    Still, with some practice, I could probably control it better. No more burnt food.

    Taking my time, I adjusted my technique, and soon enough, I managed to cook the fish just right.

    As I ate, I noticed something else¡ªheat didn¡¯t bother me.

    Even scorching hot food, even the lingering heat from my breath¡ªit all felt¡­ natural.

    By the time I finished my meal, the sun had already dipped below the horizon.

    Darkness crept in.

    And yet¡ª

    I could still see everything.

    I blinked, my vision adjusting seamlessly to the night.

    Another ability unlocked.

    I could see in the dark.

    With this new ability, I easily found shelter¡ªa small rocky cave near the river, just big enough for me to stand in.

    I settled in, lying back against the cool stone.

    Even as my body relaxed, my mind raced with thoughts of my newfound powers.

    So much to test.

    So much to discover.

    And yet¡ª

    Before I knew it¡ª

    I was drifting into slumber.

 Journey

    Late morning.

    I woke up feeling oddly refreshed, despite having slept on the rocky floor inside the cave¡¯s opening.

    Stretching my limbs, I took a moment to gather my thoughts.

    The events of yesterday felt surreal¡ªmeeting a dragon, freeing it, and in return, inheriting its essence. If not for the broken sword resting beside me, I might have dismissed it as a mere dream.

    ¡°I should get going,¡± I murmured, pushing myself up and heading toward the river.

    As I splashed water onto my face, I noticed something odd¡ªevery last scrap of the fish I had left from last night was gone.

    ¡°The bear must¡¯ve helped itself,¡± I mused. Not that it mattered. Right now, my priority was finding my way back to the manor.

    I scanned my surroundings, realizing just how unfamiliar this forest was.

    I had no idea where I was, let alone which direction I should go.

    My eyes drifted toward the distant mountain range, its silhouette against the sky stirring something in me¡ªan odd sense of familiarity, a memory just out of reach.

    Then¡ª

    Gnaaarwll¡ª

    My stomach growled, loud and insistent.

    ¡°This early?¡± I muttered in surprise.

    Well, first things first. I needed food. My eyes roamed my surroundings, searching for a potential meal.

    Right at that moment, something caught my eye¡ªa trail of smoke rising above the treetops.

    "Wildfire?" I muttered to myself, then quickly shook my head. "No¡­ people!" My heart leaped with excitement.

    The smoke wasn¡¯t too far from where I was. Without wasting time, I hurried toward it, pushing through the thick underbrush.

    After walking for a while, I reached a small clearing. There, nestled among the trees, was a makeshift tent¡ªbranches and leaves woven together to form a simple shelter.

    I stopped in my tracks. "Wait¡­" I whispered, realizing I needed to think this through. How should I approach? I couldn¡¯t just barge in. And what excuse would I give for being out here? I couldn¡¯t exactly say I had met a dragon and gained its power¡ªno one would ever believe something that absurd.

    As I stood there debating, a voice suddenly called out.

    "Who¡­ who are you?"

    The words came from the bushes near the tent.

    A man stepped forward; his gaze wary. From his clothes, I could tell he was a hunter. His crossbow was already raised, aimed directly at me as if I were trespassing.

    I gasped and quickly raised my hands.

    "Please¡­ I need help, I¡¯m lost," I stammered.

    The hunter didn¡¯t lower his weapon. His eyes stayed sharp, studying me carefully.

    "Lost?" he repeated. "What do you mean, lost?"

    ¡°I was gathering firewood when I slipped and fell. After that, I think I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I couldn¡¯t remember where I was¡­ and I got lost,¡± I answered calmly, though I had to lie about what really happened. It wasn¡¯t entirely false¡ªI truly didn¡¯t know where I was, so some of the lie was justified.

    The hunter¡¯s eyes stayed locked on me; his crossbow still raised.

    ¡°How do I know you¡¯re telling the truth? You could be with a bandit group, just waiting for your friends to spring out from the bushes and ambush me,¡± he said, his tone serious.

    I couldn¡¯t blame him. He had no reason to trust me. But even if he shoots his shot, it would be pointless¡ªhis arrow likely wouldn¡¯t even pierce me.

    For a brief moment, my intrusive thought of disarming him crossed my mind. It would be very easy¡ªthere was no way he could stop me. But that wasn¡¯t the right approach. Forcing him into submission felt wrong on so many levels. The real challenge was figuring out how to convince him that I was telling the truth.

    Then, from behind the hunter, rustling came from the bushes. A hound emerged. It rubbed against the hunter¡¯s leg before shifting its gaze to me. Slowly, it stepped forward, sniffing curiously.

    ¡°Fweet¡ªboy, get back,¡± the hunter whistled, calling his hound to stop.

    But instead of retreating, the hound dashed toward me. It jumped onto my leg, barking playfully, its tail wagging wildly, as if asking for attention.

    The hunter¡¯s expression shifted slightly. Seeing his hound so unafraid, he slowly lowered his bow.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ really lost?¡± he asked, his voice still wary but softer now.

    Before I could answer¡ª

    ¡°Gnnnawrrll¡ª¡± my stomach let out a loud growl.

    I gave a weak, embarrassed smile.

    ¡°Have you eaten?¡± the hunter asked.

    ¡°I¡­ I haven¡¯t,¡± I admitted quite instantly.

    A moment later, I sat near the campfire by the makeshift tent, eating a chunk of roasted meat given by the hunter. He sat across from me, idly stroking his hound, who rested beside him.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t remember anything besides gathering firewood?¡± the hunter asked, his tone still carrying a hint of doubt.

    ¡°I¡­ Ufff¡ª¡± I paused, quickly swallowing the roasted meat I had been chewing. ¡°No, I really don¡¯t remember.¡±

    The hunter studied me for a moment before nodding. ¡°So, you weren¡¯t lying after all.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for believing me,¡± I said sincerely.

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. Thank Buds over here. If it wasn¡¯t for him, I probably would¡¯ve shot you,¡± he said, motioning toward his hound.

    ¡°So, your name is Buds,¡± I said playfully, looking at the hound.

    The moment I called its name, Buds eagerly trotted over, rubbing against my side, his tail wagging furiously. I chuckled and gave him a few well-deserved pets.

    ¡°Thanks for the meal. I hope I didn¡¯t eat all of your supplies,¡± I added, glancing at the generous portion of roasted meat he had given me.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I have enough,¡± he replied, sharpening his knife with slow, deliberate strokes.

    Now for the moment I¡¯d been waiting for. Without hesitation, I asked, ¡°I couldn¡¯t get my bearings. Can you tell me where this place is?¡±

    The hunter glanced up at me before answering, ¡°We¡¯re in Dark Hill Forest.¡±

    ¡°Dark Hill Forest¡­¡± I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper as my mind reeled in shock.

    I knew this place. I had heard of it, but I had never set foot here before.

    Dark Hill Forest was within the kingdom of Ukhenia¡ªa kingdom far from Shaelia, where the manor I had resided in was located.

    To travel from Ukhenia to Shaelia, one had to cross Rothrosia, the kingdom situated between them. The journey alone would take weeks, possibly months, not to mention the mountain range standing between them.

    While I was still trying to grasp the weight of my situation, the hunter had already started packing his belongings and clearing out the campsite.

    Watching him tear down the makeshift tent, I asked, ¡°You¡¯re leaving already?¡±

    The hunter glanced at me briefly before continuing to pack. ¡°It¡¯s not safe here. Yesterday, a monstrous roar was heard deep within the forest. I don¡¯t want to sit around and find out what made it.¡±

    A bead of sweat formed on my forehead. That roar¡­ was mine. It had happened when I confronted that massive black bear. I tried to keep my expression neutral, hoping he wouldn¡¯t suspect anything. After all, who would ever imagine that sound came from a person?

    ¡°You didn¡¯t hear it?¡± the hunter asked.

    Once again, I had to lie. ¡°I¡­ I did. It scared the shit out of me, so I ran and hid.¡±

    The hunter let out a short hum. ¡°Hm¡­¡±

    I couldn¡¯t tell whether he believed me or not. His expression was unreadable¡ªeither he saw right through my lie or simply didn¡¯t care enough to press further.

    After finishing packing and making sure the campfire was completely out, the hunter spoke again. ¡°I¡¯ll guide you to the main road. From there, you¡¯re on your own.¡±

    ¡°That would be a great help,¡± I replied sincerely.

    Buds seemed eager to move, his tail wagging furiously as he bounced around.

    Before long, we arrived at a well-trodden road. Though worn and uneven, it was still a road.

    The hunter pointed in a direction. ¡°Head south, and you¡¯ll find a small settlement. Maybe the folks there can help you.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    As Buds licked my hand, I asked, ¡°What about you? Where are you headed?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t finished hunting yet,¡± the hunter replied. ¡°Me and Buds will head west of Dark Hill Forest and try our luck there.¡±

    Before I could thank him, he held out a coat.

    ¡°Here, take this. Your coat¡¯s seen better days¡ªit won¡¯t protect you from the cold.¡±

    Only then did I notice how tattered my clothes had become. My coat was torn in several places, covered in dirt and scratches. I guess that was the result of falling from a tree¡­ and wrestling a bear.

    ¡°Snow will fall soon. You¡¯d better find your way home,¡± the hunter said before turning away.

    I bowed slightly. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    With that, I watched as he and Buds disappeared into the forest, fading into the dense trees.

    Then, once again, a realization struck me.

    I forgot to ask the hunter¡¯s name. Well, he also forgot to ask mine.

    Either way, at least now I knew where I was.

    ¡°There¡¯s a long journey ahead,¡± I muttered, letting out a sigh.

    The road stretched before me, empty and silent, devoid of any travellers. Just as I was about to move, something caught my eye¡ªa familiar feeling, one I had experienced before.

    The silhouette of a mountain range in front of me.

    Something about it felt¡­ eerily familiar. Then, like a bolt of lightning, a memory surfaced.

    Back in my village, when I was just a child, I used to gaze at a mountain range beyond the horizon. Every evening, I would sit on the worn wooden fence outside our small home, watching as the sun dipped behind those distant peaks.

    Now, as I looked closely, the outline of the mountains before me was almost identical.

    ¡°Wait a minute¡­¡± I murmured in realization.

    It was the same mountain range. The only difference was my perspective¡ªI was seeing it from the opposite side.

    Which meant¡­

    Beyond those mountains lay the kingdom of Aethria, where my village was located¡ªmore importantly, my home and my mother.

    My heart pounded.

    Memories came rushing back all at once¡ªthe laughter of my childhood, the warmth of my mother¡¯s embrace. The days before I was traded away, before my life was taken from me.

    It had been over ten years since I last saw my village.

    And now, for the first time in a decade, I was close enough to return.

    A thought came to me¡ªwhen it came to traveling distance, my village was much closer than the manor.

    ¡°Should I go back to the manor?¡± I asked myself. I had been absent for a while now; surely, the lord must have assumed I perished in the snowstorm.

    But then, another thought surfaced.

    ¡°Why should I go back?¡±

    Right now, I possessed power that had forever changed my life. I was no longer the same helpless servant who had once bowed his head and obeyed orders without question. Now, I could do anything I desired.

    With renewed determination, I spoke clearly, as if affirming my decision to the world itself.

    ¡°Home. I will go back home.¡±

    A choice had been made. A new chapter of my life was about to begin.

    Now, the fastest route was to climb the mountain. Before, that would have been an impossible feat. But with my newfound strength, it shouldn¡¯t pose any problem at all.

    And so, I ran.

    I abandoned the road and sprinted through the valley, up the hills, pushing forward toward the mountain. The distance was vast, but I didn¡¯t slow down. I had been running for quite a while, yet exhaustion never came¡ªnot even a hint of fatigue.

    At one point, I crossed paths with a pack of wolves. They took notice and began chasing me, but after some time, their presence faded into the distance. That alone was enough to tell me¡ªI was faster than them.

    When I finally reached the mountain¡¯s base, I was still unexhausted. Not even winded. A grin spread across my face, satisfaction bubbling inside me at this newfound ability.

    "Now, it¡¯s time to climb," I said, excitement clear in my voice. Beyond this mountain lay my village. My home.

    Climbing was just as effortless as I had imagined.

    My hands gripped on the mountain ledges with ease, my strength allowing me to pull myself up without struggle. My heightened senses warned me of any loose rocks or unstable footholds, while my inhuman agility let me leap from ledge to ledge with little effort.

    Little by little, I ascended, drawing ever closer to the peak.

    As I reached a steep mountain slope near the peak, snow began to fall.

    I pressed on, climbing until I reached the mountain''s edge.

    The cold didn¡¯t bother me in the slightest¡ªit seemed my body could regulate its own heat. Well, that made sense. Dragons breathe fire, after all, so it wasn¡¯t surprising that their bodies could generate enough warmth when needed and now so am I.

    Thick clouds and falling snow obscured the land below, but my enhanced vision cut through them with ease.

    I scanned the landscape, searching for any sign of human habitation. Settlements dotted the forest¡ªsome nestled in clearings, others by rivers or hills.

    The terrain had changed in the ten years I¡¯d been away, making it difficult to recognize my own village.

    Suddenly, my eyes locked onto something familiar. A church spire.

    The very same one I used to visit with my mother as a child.

    ¡°There it is!¡± I shouted excitedly.

    Without thinking, I leapt forward, sliding down the snowy slope before breaking into a full sprint toward the mountain¡¯s edge. My excitement drowned out any sense of caution, and before I realized it¡ª

    I jumped.

    And immediately regretted it.

    The drop was far higher than I had anticipated¡ªeasily a hundred times higher than the tree I had jumped from in the forest before.

    Beneath me was nothing but thick, white clouds

    And below that?

    Solid. Rock.

    ¡°GAAAARRRGGHHHHHHH!¡± I screamed as I plummeted.

    The wind howled past me. The clouds swallowed my vision, and beyond them, the unforgiving ground rushed toward me at a terrifying speed.

    However, unlike before, I had time to adjust my fall, so I decided to land feet first¡ªif I could.

    Twisting my body midair, I aimed my legs downward. I was almost there¡ªalmost in control¡ª

    And then¡ª

    KRABOOM!

    The impact sent a thunderous shockwave through the ground, forming a massive crater right where I landed.

    Unfortunately, my grand plan of landing on my feet?

    Was a complete failure.

    Instead, I had crashed straight onto my behind.

    ¡°Ahhh¡­ that kind of hurt¡­¡± I groaned, slowly peeling myself off the ground. A perfect, body-shaped hole was now imprinted in the earth.

    ¡°Ow, ow¡­¡± I muttered, stretching my limbs. No serious injuries¡ªjust the stinging aftermath of a very bad decision.

    As I stood up, I made a solemn vow:

    Never. Ever. Jump from a height taller than the treetops again.

    My house, as I remembered, was located on the outskirts of my village.

    I had been running from the mountain base for quite some time now, passing a few small settlements and scattered houses. I moved carefully, making sure not to startle anyone with my inhuman speed. However, I soon realized that I hadn¡¯t encountered a single soul along the way.

    As the ground remained visible beneath the thinning snow, I pressed forward, focusing only on my destination. Then, at last, I arrived at a familiar road junction. My heart pounded, beads of sweat forming on my forehead as I neared my home.

    I came to a stop, nearly overwhelmed by emotion as I stood in front of it.

    My house¡ªa simple peasant home, once shelter to me and my parents¡ªstood before me, though it looked more worn-down than I remembered. The front gate was gone, leaving only a few rotting wooden posts. Parts of the roof had begun to collapse, and the walls bore the scars of neglect.

    A flicker of anger stirred in me as I thought of my drunken father, who had never cared for me or my mother. But that bitterness was quickly drowned by the sheer happiness of being home again¡ªthe anticipation of seeing my mother after all these years.

    Without hesitation, I rushed inside.

    The door was unlocked. I stepped in cautiously, my mind racing. It had been ten years¡ªwould my mother even recognize me? How should I approach her? But I pushed those worries aside. First, I needed to find her.

    The house was empty.

    It wasn¡¯t large, so my search was swift, yet the silence that filled every corner sent a sinking feeling through me. Not only was she nowhere to be found, but the entire interior was in shambles. Dust coated the floors, broken furniture lay scattered about, and everything seemed abandoned.

    ¡°What happened here?¡± I whispered in disbelief.

    ¡°No, I need answers,¡± I said, stepping out of my house. ¡°I need to head into the village.¡±

    Without wasting time, I hurried toward the village proper, searching for any sign of people.

    The village was eerily quiet. Most houses appeared unkempt, broken, and dilapidated beyond repair. Others stood abandoned. Still, I pressed on, trying not to dwell on it.

    It wasn¡¯t long before I spotted an elderly couple sitting outside their porch.

    Without hesitation, I approached them and asked, ¡°Pardon my intrusion, but do you know the whereabouts of the family that lived in the house on the outskirts of the village? The Vale family.¡± Vale was my surname¡ªmy full name, Aldrous Sebastian Vale.

    The elderly couple exchanged curious glances before the old man spoke. ¡°The Vale family? Haven¡¯t seen them in a long while¡­ they might have succumbed to the plague.¡±

    ¡°Plague? What plague?¡± I asked, my chest tightening.

    The couple gave me an odd look, as if I had asked something strange.

    Then the old woman said, ¡°If you want to know about them, seek out old man Gillman.¡±

    ¡°Ah, Mr. Gillman¡­¡± I muttered. He was a good friend of my mother¡¯s¡ªan older gentleman whose son I used to befriend.

    After thanking the couple, I rushed toward Mr. Gillman¡¯s house, anticipation swelling inside me. ¡°I hope he¡¯s still around,¡± I whispered to myself.

    Luck was by my side. As I arrived, I spotted an elderly man hunched over, feeding his chickens. His features were much older now, but there was no doubt¡ªit was him.

    "Mr. Gillman," I called softly, careful not to startle him.

    He shifted his gaze toward me, and for a brief moment, silence lingered between us.

    "I¡­ I''m Aldrous, James¡¯s childhood friend. Son of Anne¡­ Anne Vale," I said, revealing my identity.

    Mr. Gillman¡¯s eyes widened. "Al¡­ Aldrous¡­" His voice trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes.

    Without hesitation, he rushed toward me and embraced me tightly. "I''m sorry¡­" he whispered; his voice thick with sorrow as tears streamed down his face.

    I stood frozen, unable to speak. Deep inside, a terrible feeling stirred¡ªI had a hunch something had happened to my parents, my mother especially.

    After regaining his composure, Mr. Gillman finally told me everything.

    A year before a plague swept through the region, both my parents caught it. There was no cure.

    My father was the first to fall ill. He grew weaker by the day and passed within a week. His body was buried in a mass grave alongside the others who had succumbed.

    Then a month later, my mother caught the plague. When she died, Mr. Gillman couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her being buried in a mass grave. He personally requested to take her body and laid her to rest beneath the old elder tree near our house.

    He kept on apologizing, but I assured him it wasn¡¯t his fault.

    Evening came, and the sun began dipped below the horizon.

    In front of the elder tree, I knelt, grieving alone at my mother¡¯s grave.

    That night, I couldn¡¯t rest my eyes or even go to sleep.

    I stayed alone in my old house, lost in memories of the past.

    Morning came.

    As the sun began to rise, its light caught my eye. I hadn¡¯t slept that night, just lay there on the ground of my house, lost in thought.

    ¡°Aldrous¡­¡± a voice called from outside. It was Mr. Gillman.

    He brought me food and drink for breakfast, neatly packed in a willow basket. After freshening up and cleaning myself, I sat down with him and ate my meal.

    ¡°Once again, thank you for the food,¡± I said after finishing.

    A smile formed on Mr. Gillman¡¯s face as he spoke. ¡°You¡¯ve really grown into a fine young man.¡±

    I chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re still healthy and strong.¡±

    We exchanged a warm smile before I continued, ¡°I¡¯m really glad I was able to meet you again, Mr. Gillman.¡±

    ¡°So am I¡­¡± he said before pausing for a moment, then continued, ¡°I¡¯m old, Aldrous, very old. Soon, my time will come to an end. You, on the other hand, still have a long journey ahead¡ªyou have a whole life waiting for you,¡± he said sincerely.

    I gave him a reassuring smile. I knew what he was trying to convey. The death of my parents, especially my mother, had been hard on me¡ªmentally and emotionally. But I persevered because I knew she was in a better place now.

    ¡°I understand. You don¡¯t have to worry about me. I¡¯ll be fine,¡± I said, assuring him that I was still standing, that I hadn¡¯t given up on life.

    Mr. Gillman let out a quiet breath of relief after hearing my words.

    Then he said, ¡°I¡¯m glad your debt has been paid, even though it was a bit too late. I truly tried to get word to you that both your parents had passed, but to no avail. This region was completely sealed off when the plague swept through,¡± he spoke with a tone full of disappointment and regret.

    However, it seemed Mr. Gillman misunderstood my situation. He believed my debt to the lord of the manor had been fulfilled, but in reality, things had become far more complicated than that. If I could tell him the truth, I would, but I chose to keep it to myself¡ªmy encounter with the dragon and the inheritance of its power were not things I was ready to share.

    Mr. Gillman continued, ¡°My home is open to you. Stay as long as you need.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the offer¡ªI truly appreciate it¡ªbut there¡¯s nothing left for me here anymore,¡± I said solemnly.

    I took a deep breath before continuing, ¡°I¡¯ve decided to become a wanderer and travel across the land.¡±

    Mr. Gillman looked shocked at first, but then a gentle smile formed on his face. ¡°If that¡¯s what you wish for, then I won¡¯t stop you. I only ask for one thing¡ªpromise me you¡¯ll be careful out there.¡±

    Before he left for home, he told me about my childhood friend, his son James, who had been enlisted into the Aethrian army a few years ago¡ªit was mandatory.

    The sun stood high in the sky as I visited my mother¡¯s grave once more. ¡°Goodbye, dearest mother. I¡¯ll be back someday, I promise¡± I said softly before making my way out of the village.

    Along the way, I stopped by the mass grave where my father was buried, paying my respects. He may have been good for nothing, but he was still my father.

    The day was bright, despite the blanket of snow covering the land. It didn¡¯t seem so bad¡ªplus, I didn¡¯t feel the cold at all. As I gazed into the distance at the vast landscape of mountains and untouched forests, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a spark of excitement.

    A new journey awaited me.

 Captive

    Imprisoned.

    ¡°So, this is what it feels like to be locked up in a dungeon,¡± I muttered, sitting against the cold stone wall. Around me, several other unfortunate souls lingered in silence, their luck having run out just like mine.

    Prisoners were scattered throughout the cell¡ªsome sitting, others leaning against the damp walls. A few looked young, barely past their teenage years, while others bore the weight of age in their weary expressions. One man, his face marred by a deep scar, had the hardened look of someone who had seen more than his fair share of battle. Perhaps a criminal of some renown. The rest, however, seemed like ordinary folk¡ªpeasants, beggars, people who had likely been at the wrong place at the wrong time.

    Occasionally, the guards passed by, their armored boots echoing against the stone floor. Each time they glanced our way, their faces twisted with disdain, as if the very sight of us was offensive. I couldn¡¯t blame them. Dungeons were meant for criminals¡ªthieves, murderers, those who disturbed the peace.

    So why was I here?

    I, too, wondered how it had come to this.

    .

    .

    .

    A few hours earlier.

    I had been traveling for quite some time, occasionally stopping to rest. It had been a month now since I began my journey.

    Along the way, I passed through several settlements and villages, all bearing the scars of the plague. Many houses stood abandoned, mass graves dotted the land, and those who remained looked weary and hollow. Crops had withered, and livestock were nearly non-existent.

    ¡°What has become of this kingdom?¡± I muttered with concern. It felt as though the very life force of the land had been drained away.

    A thought lingered in my mind. With all the dragon¡¯s power I now possess, is there something I can do? But what?

    The question troubled me for some time, yet I continued my journey nonetheless.

    Eventually, I arrived at one of the main towns of the Kingdom of Aethria¡ªArmskirk.

    I remembered it as a lively place, bustling with people going about their business, markets brimming with goods, and streets filled with chatter and laughter. That memory had been shattered.

    Now, the town was bleak. The streets were unkempt, beggars and homeless souls huddled in every corner, and the once-thriving shops and houses had fallen into disrepair. The stench in the air was overwhelming¡ªeven more so with my heightened senses.

    As I walked through the town streets, a group of ruffians¡ªat least, that¡¯s what they seemed to be¡ªsuddenly appeared out of nowhere, running frantically as if fleeing from someone. There were five of them, dressed in tattered clothes and worn cloaks.

    One of them, in his haste, bumped into my side and fell to the ground. I, on the other hand, didn¡¯t budge an inch.

    ¡°Gahhh¡­¡± he groaned before scrambling back to his feet and continuing his escape.

    I noticed he had dropped something¡ªa package wrapped in a worn cloth. It looked like fruit and other food items. Picking it up, I called out, ¡°Hey, you dropped something!¡±

    But they didn¡¯t stop. They kept running, completely ignoring my words.

    ¡°Hey, you there! Hand that over!¡± A voice came from behind me.

    I turned to see a town guard approaching, looking furious. It didn¡¯t take long to realize the ruffians were running because they had stolen food item. Unfortunately, the guard, unable to catch up to the real thieves, turned his suspicion on me.

    ¡°You¡¯re one of them, aren¡¯t ya?¡± he said, pointing at the stolen goods in my hand.

    ¡°Wait, what?¡± I said, shocked. ¡°No, I¡¯m not¡ª¡±

    Before I could finish, he grabbed my arm. ¡°Off to the dungeon with you.¡±

    No matter what excuse I gave, he refused to listen. At first, I thought about resisting. I knew I had the strength to break free, but then a thought crossed my mind.

    I wondered what it would be like to be locked up. I had never experienced it before. Besides, I had nothing to lose¡ªI could escape anytime I wanted, and nothing could harm me anyway.

    So, I let go of my resistance. The guard, who had been struggling to even move me an inch, suddenly found it easy to drag me away. And just like that, I let myself be taken.

    .

    .

    .

    As I sat inside the dungeon, I chuckled a little, amused by my circumstances. It was almost funny¡ªmy first grand adventure, and here I was, locked up in a dungeon.

    I took a deep breath, observing my surroundings and thinking about what I should do next. The wooden bars of the dungeon were well-built, sturdy. If I were an ordinary human, there would be no way to break them. But I wasn¡¯t normal at all. With my dragon strength, I could snap them effortlessly. Even the brick walls wouldn¡¯t hold me back.

    But why bother? I wanted to see how this would play out¡ªwhat the guards would do, how things would unfold. Somehow, the thought excited me more than it should have.

    "Then, suddenly, the guard arrived, dragging in several new captives¡ªthree of them, actually."

    ¡°Get in there,¡± the guard ordered before kicking one of the captives forward.

    The captive fell hard, face-first onto the ground, letting out a weak groan. Another, seeing this, attempted to retaliate.

    ¡°How dare you¡ª¡± he snarled, charging at the guard.

    But before he could reach him, the guard slammed the dungeon door shut, locking it right in his face.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get you for that, I swear!¡± he shouted, gripping the wooden bars in frustration.

    ¡°Gahhh¡­¡± He let out another angry scream.

    ¡°Poor things,¡± I muttered under my breath.

    The newcomers took their places at the opposite end of the dungeon. I glanced at them, uninterested at first¡ªuntil something clicked.

    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± I murmured, narrowing my eyes.

    The one who had threatened the guard¡ªthe one seething with rage¡ªwas the same person who had bumped into me earlier. The same group of ruffians.

    If not for them, I wouldn¡¯t be in this situation.

    As they steadied themselves and tended to their peer¡¯s wound from the fall, I slowly approached them.

    ¡°Ahem¡­¡± I cleared my throat.

    Noticing my presence, one of them¡ªthe one who shouted at the guard earlier¡ªstepped in front of the others two, as if shielding them.

    He looked young, probably in his late teens, seventeen or eighteen at most, judging by his features.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked harshly, his tone tense, still riled up from the earlier encounter with the guard.

    I got straight to the point. ¡°Do you recall bumping into someone on the street before?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± he said, still irritated.

    ¡°Well, as I was walking down the street earlier, a group of people came rushing in and bumped into me. One of them dropped a package, which turned out to be stolen goods. I picked it up, and coincidentally, the guards showed up right after and accused me of the stolen goods. And just like that, I ended up here," I said, explaining what happened.

    ¡°That¡­¡± He stopped mid-thought, brows furrowed, as if piecing things together.

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    He suddenly spoke again. ¡°So, you want payback, is that it?¡±

    I blinked, caught off guard by his assumption. Before I could say anything, he continued.

    ¡°Well then, if me bumping into you got you locked up in here, I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡± He took a step forward, tilting his head to the side. ¡°Go on, punch me once. Then we¡¯re even, and you can leave us alone.¡±

    I was surprised by his reaction¡ªhe seemed completely serious.

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t ask for any payback. I just want to talk,¡± I said, trying to reassure him.

    ¡°Huh?¡± He blinked, confused. ¡°What are you on about?¡± His tone carried more annoyance than ever.

    ¡°Col,¡± one of his peers called out.

    At his side, leaning onto his arm, his peer¡ªwho seemed much younger than both of them¡ªlooked awfully unwell.

    ¡°Arne needs medical aid, fast,¡± he said, his voice tight with worry.

    Col, the one I presumed was standing in front of me, seemed agitated¡ªprobably more worried about his younger peer than dealing with me.

    Then it hit me¡ªI remembered I had a small lesser health potion, which Mr. Gillman had given to me before I set out on my journey, though I never really needed it. Coincidentally, when the guards confiscated my broken sword, they had not bothered to check the rest of my belongings. The potion, tucked safely in my cloak¡¯s hidden pocket, had gone unnoticed.

    Without wasting time, I pulled it out and handed it over to Col.

    ¡°Here, use this. It¡¯s a health potion,¡± I said.

    At first, he looked uncertain, but reluctantly, he took the potion and quickly handed it to his sick peer. I sat not far from them, watching as they tended to him.

    A while passed, and their sick peer seemed stable. He slept soundly, and I could see the relief on their faces. From my observation, the one who had fallen ill was just a boy, and the other two acted like brothers to him¡ªthough that was just my assumption.

    Col moved and sat next to me. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but you have my thanks,¡± he said. His tone was a bit shy and uncertain. He didn¡¯t even look at me as he spoke.

    ¡°No problem,¡± I answered. ¡°Glad your friend over there is alright.¡±

    ¡°You wanted to talk?¡± Col asked abruptly.

    He then continued, ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯m the reason you got locked up in here. Back then, I wasn¡¯t looking where I was running¡ªI just ran.¡± His words were genuine. I could tell he meant what he said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be. I don¡¯t mind, actually. I could¡¯ve run, but I decided not to. Besides, I always wondered what it¡¯d feel like to be locked up in a dungeon,¡± I said, explaining that I didn¡¯t take offense to his actions.

    Col gave me a weird look. ¡°You¡¯re a weird one. Who in their right mind would want to spend time in captivity?¡±

    I chuckled. ¡°Probably me¡­ Ha, ha, ha.¡± I let out a small laugh.

    Col didn¡¯t say anything at first, but I noticed him frown, seemingly in disbelief over what he had just heard. Eventually, though, he let out a chuckle. ¡°Yeah, you really are.¡±

    With that, the tension between us eased.

    ¡°What happened?¡± I asked. ¡°You guys don¡¯t seem like common thieves to me.¡±

    Honestly, they looked more like beggars than thieves¡ªunkempt and disorganized.

    ¡°We¡¯re not thieves,¡± Col answered. ¡°We just¡­ got hungry.¡± His tone was heavy, tinged with sadness.

    They did look malnourished. Their thin frames barely held any weight, their bones visible beneath their skin.

    ¡°What happened to this town and the region around here?¡± I asked again.

    Col¡¯s weary eyes studied me curiously. ¡°What, have you been living under a rock?¡±

    I gave an awkward smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been away for quite some time¡ªmore than ten years, actually. I just got back.¡±

    Col shot me a doubtful look, but he answered anyway. ¡°War. The whole kingdom is at war, and this town, like all the others, has fallen apart.¡±

    ¡°War with whom? A neighboring kingdom? Barbarians?¡± I pressed, eager to know more.

    Col took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s a civil war. After King Godwin died, his brother, Sir Burchard, claimed the throne and rejected Princess Alicia¡ªKing Godwin¡¯s only daughter and rightful heir.¡±

    I was stunned. My mouth might have even hung open a little in disbelief.

    ¡°But that¡¯s not the worst part,¡± Col continued, his tone grim.

    ¡°What?¡± I asked, leaning in slightly.

    "The military general, Kenric the Fearless, staged a coup, and several rebel factions rose among the citizens who opposed the Royal Family," he said, his voice laced with gloom.

    He then added, ¡°What you¡¯re seeing now is the result of their war. We were left to fend for ourselves.¡±

    There was a brief silence between us.

    ¡°Col, is it?¡± I began. ¡°Do you live in this town? Where are your parents? Your family? Are these two your brothers?¡± I asked curiously.

    He was quiet for a while, probably contemplating how to answer.

    Then, he spoke. ¡°I lost my father to the war. He was forced to take up arms and join the army. My mother succumbed to the plague¡­ so did my other siblings.¡± His tone carried a deep sadness.

    He turned his gaze toward the two beside him and said, ¡°We were all victims of the war and plague. Though we¡¯re not related by blood, we banded together to survive.¡±

    With a heavy sigh, he continued, ¡°We were never thieves¡ªnever wanted to be. But what choice did we have? We had to survive. I don¡¯t want to rot in a dungeon, not when there are people still counting on me.¡±

    The despair on his face was clear. His words carried a weight that made the air feel heavier. Yet, I found myself unable to say anything.

    ¡°Should I end this war?¡± The thought crept into my mind.

    With the Dragon¡¯s power flowing through me, I could crush any foe¡ªan entire kingdom¡¯s army wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. I could force them to stop fighting altogether.

    But I knew it wasn¡¯t that simple. Stepping in could make things worse.

    ¡°What should I do?¡± I wondered.

    Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted outside. Though unclear, it sounded like screams¡ªpeople crying out in panic.

    ¡°What in the¡­?¡± Before I could finish my thought, the guards stationed inside the dungeon rushed toward the entrance, their heavy boots echoing through the stone walls.

    The prisoners grew restless, shifting uneasily. One of them hurried to a small barred window, pressing his face against the wooden slats. Though the opening was barely large enough for him to see through, whatever he glimpsed made him recoil.

    ¡°Ah!¡± he gasped; his voice laced with fear. ¡°We¡¯re under attack!¡±

    A wave of unease spread through the cell.

    ¡°Attacked? By who?¡± someone demanded.

    Speculation ran rampant. The once-dull atmosphere of the dungeon shifted into chaos.

    ¡°It must be the rebel faction!¡± one prisoner exclaimed.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s General Kenric¡¯s forces. They must be tightening their grip on the town.¡±

    Tension rose as voices clashed.

    ¡°I heard the rebels raided a neighbouring town just yesterday.¡±

    ¡°This is bad. I don¡¯t want to be thrown back into war¡ªI just escaped from one,¡± another muttered.

    ¡°We need to get out of here!¡± someone else hissed. ¡°The rebels use prisoners like us for hard labor. Some are even forced to fight.¡±

    In the farthest corner, an older prisoner spoke in a trembling voice, barely more than a whisper.

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t want to go to war.¡±

    His fear was palpable, a sentiment many here likely shared.

    At that very moment, an idea sprang forth.

    "I could use this chance to escape," I thought.

    I glanced at Col and his peers. Their expressions were darkened with worry, uncertainty clouding their faces.

    "Col," I called out. "Be ready¡ªwe¡¯re getting out of here."

    "What?" Col asked, puzzled.

    I gave him a reassuring smile. "Just stay put for now. The moment that door opens, we¡¯re making a run for it."

    I shifted my focus toward the dungeon door. A heavy, sturdy metal lock secured it, the kind that would normally require a key. But I didn¡¯t need a key. I planned to crush it with my bare hand.

    While the rest of the prisoners were still lost in their worries, I carefully positioned myself in front of the door, blocking their view. I had no intention of letting them see what I was about to do¡ªit would be troublesome to explain my inhuman strength.

    Through the gaps in the wooden bars, I grasped the lock with one hand and crushed it effortlessly. Honestly, I barely had to use any force.

    "Now," I muttered, pushing the door open.

    A prisoner nearby caught sight of it and shouted, "Look! The door¡ªit¡¯s open!"

    Instantly, chaos erupted. Without hesitation, the prisoners surged forward, desperate to escape. I stepped aside, anticipating the rush.

    "Col!" I called, "Come on, let¡¯s go!"

    Col didn¡¯t hesitate. He hoisted Arne onto his back and moved quickly, followed closely by his other peer. As the prisoners shoved and stumbled over one another, I used my body to clear a path for Col and his group.

    "What did you just do?" Col asked, eyes filled with curiosity.

    "No time for that¡ªyou need to get out of here," I reminded him.

    "What about you?" he asked.

    "I¡¯ll follow soon, but first, I need to retrieve my belongings that the guards took from me.¡±

    Col gave me a firm nod of understanding before pushing onward toward the exit.

    I exhaled. "Right. Now to find my sword."

    With that, I turned and began my search.

    While searching, I could hear the sounds of battle raging outside.

    "I need to hurry," I muttered, scouring every nook and corner of the dungeon. Finally, amidst a heap of rusted metal and dilapidated tools, I spotted my broken sword.

    "Finally," I breathed, picking it up and tucking it behind me, securing it between my belt.

    "Right, time to get out of here."

    I rushed toward the exit, but as I neared it, a familiar figure came into view¡ªCol.

    A bit shocked, I asked, "Col? What are you doing here? Where are your friends?"

    "They''re fine," he said hastily. "I came back for you. We need to leave this town¡ªnow!"

    Without hesitation, I followed him.

    We slipped through narrow alleys, ducking between ruined buildings to stay out of sight.

    "It¡¯s the rebel forces," Col whispered as we carefully moved between the crumbling structures, avoiding the chaos.

    "Where are we headed?" I asked.

    "There¡¯s an opening on the eastern side of town. From there, we can enter the forest¡ªmy friends are waiting for us," Col answered.

    "And then?" I pressed, ducking behind cover as a group of soldiers rushed past, heading toward the battle.

    Leaning against a broken stone wall, Col explained, "Beyond the forest, far from this city, there''s a refugee camp set up by war survivors. We''re heading there."

    I gave him a nod of understanding and as soon as the path cleared, we pressed forward.

    After a while of running, scurrying through alleys, hiding, and even crawling at times, we finally arrived at the forest¡¯s edge.

    "Whew, that was something," I said, catching my breath. Honestly, I felt a bit exhilarated.

    "Col," a voice called from behind a bush. A young teenage boy stepped out¡ªsomeone I hadn¡¯t seen before.

    "This is Ralph," Col introduced him. "He¡¯s the one who found the refugee camp."

    "Where are Arne and your other friend from the dungeon?" I asked.

    "They¡¯re already on their way to the camp," Col replied.

    Before I could say anything, Col spoke up, "Let¡¯s go. We have no time to waste."

    As Ralph took the lead, I called out, "Wait."

    Col stopped in his tracks, looking confused.

    "I appreciate your help, truly," I said. "But I have somewhere else to be¡ªa journey I need to fulfil."

    The war wasn¡¯t going to stop me from becoming a wanderer. Besides, who could? There¡¯s literally no one capable of stopping me.

    "Are you sure?" Col asked, wanting to be certain.

    "Yes, I am."

    Col stepped forward and raised his hand for a handshake¡ªa farewell gesture.

    I shook his hand firmly. "Take care."

    "Likewise," he said. "You know, even though we only met for a short while, I really enjoyed your company."

    "So did I," I replied with a warm smile.

    With that, we went our separate ways.

    Before I had walked too far, Col called out to me.

    "Hey! I forgot to ask your name!"

    I turned back and shouted, "Aldrous! My name is Aldrous!"

    "Aldrous," Col repeated. "I¡¯ll remember that." He waved a final goodbye before disappearing into the forest with Ralph.

    "Not so bad," I muttered to myself. It had been an interesting experience¡ªgetting locked up, escaping a dungeon, and meeting new friends.

    As I set off, continuing my journey, a familiar excitement surged within me. I couldn¡¯t wait for my next adventure.

 Bandits

    Growl~

    "I know, I know, geez," I muttered to my own stomach while preparing my meal for the day.

    After carefully avoiding the battle between the kingdom¡¯s army and the rebels, I left the town of Armskrik and found myself in yet another forest. This time, however, I wasn¡¯t lost¡ªI was here to hunt for food.

    It was still winter, but the ground wasn¡¯t completely covered in snow.

    "I hope Col and his friends are alright," I thought, unable to imagine the hardships they must be facing in these troubled times.

    Hunting was easy. Using small pebbles, I flicked them with my fingers, striking hares the moment they emerged from their hiding places. After catching several, I set up a makeshift camp to cook my meal.

    "That should do it," I said, finishing my preparations. Instead of using my dragon¡¯s breath to cook, I decided to do it the normal way¡ªover a campfire.

    A gentle breeze passed through the trees, while clouds occasionally drifted over the sun, casting soft shadows on the ground. The forest was quiet, most creatures still burrowed away for the winter. Honestly, I enjoyed this tranquillity¡ªjust me, alone with nature. It felt peaceful.

    As I sat in front of the fire, my heightened senses suddenly picked up a sound¡ªa rustle, movement nearby. I closed my eyes and focused.

    "Footsteps," I murmured. A single set.

    "The army? Rebels?" I wondered.

    Either way, I needed to check it out¡ªdiscreetly, of course.

    I tread carefully, moving between trees and positioning myself out of sight.

    Maintaining a safe distance, I peeked from behind a tree, brushing aside a few shrubs for a better view.

    There, I spot a man wandering alone, his steps aimless.

    He isn¡¯t wearing a winter coat¡ªjust a worn leather jacket, leather trousers, and boots. Apart from the spear he holds, he¡¯s clearly unequipped for the cold.

    He looks weary, lost, and troubled.

    ¡°Should I approach him?¡± I wonder, debating whether it¡¯s a good idea or not.

    Either way, there¡¯s no harm in trying. Besides, what harm could he possibly inflict on me?

    ¡°Pfft, even a bear¡¯s sharp claws and teeth didn¡¯t leave a scratch on me,¡± I scoff, dismissing the idea that his spear could pose any threat.

    With that thought, I quietly move into position behind him, sneaking up without a sound.

    ¡°Excuse me, are you lost?¡± I asked as I approached him.

    ¡°Gaaah!¡± he screamed, startled by my sudden appearance.

    I expected some kind of reaction, but his seemed excessive¡ªlike someone caught in the middle of something suspicious.

    ¡°Who¡­ who are you?¡± he demanded, quickly shifting into a defensive stance, his spear aimed at me.

    I raised my hands slightly to show I meant no harm. ¡°Easy now, I was just hunting nearby when I heard you.¡±

    ¡°Lies!¡± he snapped, glaring at me with distrust.

    ¡°You don¡¯t look like a hunter¡­ You¡­ you must be with the bandits from earlier, aren¡¯t you?¡± His voice trembled.

    Though he held the weapon, he was clearly the more nervous one. Sweat formed on his temple, and his hands shook slightly.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± I said calmly. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m neither a hunter nor a bandit. I¡¯m just a wanderer hunting for food in this forest.¡±

    But my words fell on deaf ears. Without warning, he lunged at me, spear in hand.

    His movements¡ªhow should I put it? Predictable, very predictable.

    As he charged, his spear aimed straight for me, I shifted slightly to the side at the last moment.

    The look of astonishment on his face was almost amusing. His momentum carried him forward, and before he could correct himself, his foot slipped. Losing his balance, he crashed face-first into a tree. His weapon flew from his hands, landing right at my feet.

    ¡°Arghhh!¡± he groaned, now sprawled on the ground, clutching his face with both hands.

    I couldn¡¯t help but feel a little sorry for him¡­ though, I had to admit, it was also pretty amusing. Swallowing my chuckle, I picked up his spear and stepped closer.

    ¡°You dropped this,¡± I said, holding it out to him.

    The moment he saw me approach, he flinched, his eyes filled with fear. ¡°P-please¡­ don¡¯t hurt me! I¡¯m sorry! Please!¡±

    I blinked. ¡°What?¡± His reaction caught me off guard. ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt you. I just picked up your weapon. You dropped it.¡±

    He looked utterly confused. ¡°You¡­ what? But¡ª¡± He struggled to form a proper sentence. Then, after a brief pause, he hesitantly asked, ¡°You¡¯re really not going to hurt me?¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± I said casually.

    Growl~

    It wasn¡¯t my stomach this time¡ªit was his.

    ¡°You¡¯re hungry,¡± I noted. ¡°Have you eaten?¡±

    ¡°N-no, I haven¡¯t,¡± he admitted, his voice laced with embarrassment.

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± I muse as I watch my newfound companion sitting by the campfire, eating his share of my meal.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen this before¡­¡± I chuckle softly. This situation reminds me of when I first met that lonely hunter and his hound companions in the Black Hill Forest.

    ¡°Thank¡­ thank you for the meal,¡± he says, lowering his head slightly.

    ¡°So, what are you doing here all alone?¡± I ask curiously.

    ¡°I¡­¡± He stops, hesitating, as if unsure of what to say.

    Seeing this, I speak. ¡°You have a spear with you, and you kept mentioning bandits just now.¡±

    Still silent, he contemplates his words. He doesn¡¯t even dare to look at me.

    "Your spear," I spoke out. "It doesn¡¯t look like the kind a peasant or hunter would use. It looks like it was made for the army," I said, noticing how well-built and sturdy it was, forged for battle rather than hunting.

    ¡°I was a soldier once. A spearman in the kingdom¡¯s army,¡± he says suddenly.

    I find it hard to believe. He looks too young. In fact, he seems to be around the same age as Col¡ªmaybe even younger. He must have been forced to participate in the war.

    ¡°Then what happened?¡± I ask, wanting to know more.

    He seems to struggle for words, but I can sense the tension around him, as if there''s something he wants to say but hesitates to.

    To ease things up, I speak. ¡°My name¡¯s Aldrous. I come from the western part of this kingdom, and I¡¯m a wanderer.¡±

    He glances at me. I offer him an assuring smile, signalling that I mean what I say.

    ¡°If there¡¯s something you want to say, just say it. It¡¯ll only weigh on you if you keep holding it in. Who knows? I might be able to help.¡± I say sincerely. If it¡¯s within my power, I won¡¯t hesitate to lend a hand.

    I watched as he took a deep breath before speaking. ¡°I¡­ I was sent to the front lines against General Kenric¡¯s army, but¡­ but I couldn¡¯t do it. Fighting, killing¡­ I just can¡¯t.¡± His voice was tense, strained.

    I remained silent, giving him my full attention.

    He continued, ¡°During the battle, I ran. I fled from it all. I hid in forests, caves¡­ eventually, I found myself in a small settlement nestled deep in the mountains. There, I met an elderly couple kind enough to give me shelter and food.¡±

    He paused, taking another deep breath¡ªthis time more restless.

    ¡°The elderly couple¡­ they were good people, but I¡ªI abandoned them.¡± His head lowered; his voice heavy with regret.

    Curious, I asked, ¡°Abandoned? What do you mean?¡±

    Still avoiding my gaze, he spoke softly. ¡°I stayed with them for a while. Then, one day, a group of bandits came. Instead of helping to defend them, I snuck out and ran into the forest.¡±

    I was shocked by his words, but at the same time, I couldn¡¯t entirely blame him. He was too young to be forced into battle, let alone a full-scale war. It must have been a terrifying experience, one that left him so afraid that even the thought of another fight made him run.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Still, his cowardice may have led to dire consequences for the elderly couple who had shown him kindness.

    So, I asked again, ¡°How many were there? The bandits.¡±

    He lifted his head slightly, his face weary and filled with guilt. ¡°There must have been a dozen¡­ I didn¡¯t dare to look. The only thought in my mind was to get away¡ªto run into the forest as fast as I could.¡±

    I let out a low hum, thinking. What should I do? What action should I take? I had assured him that I would lend a hand.

    A slow, gentle breeze swept across the clearing. The trees rustled, leaves drifted lazily through the air, and though the air was cold, the heat from the campfire provided just enough warmth to keep one comfortable¡ªnot that I needed it much, as my body could generate its own heat.

    The peaceful scenery sometimes made me forget that the kingdom I was born and raised in was in turmoil.

    A thought resurfaced. The power I inherited¡­ was its fate? Could I use it to bring peace to this land?

    I looked at the young man before me, his life thrown into chaos by a war neither he nor any other citizen had anticipated. Something stirred within me¡ªa sense of responsibility. I had always yearned for a laid-back life, wandering wherever I pleased, unbothered by the struggles of the world. But¡­ was I being selfish?

    I brush the thought aside instantly, not wanting to ponder on it too much.

    "Right," I said, I know what I should do for now.

    I turned to him. ¡°Where is the elderly couple¡¯s house?¡±

    The restless young man looked at me, puzzled, probably wondering why I was asking. Still, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, he spoke.

    ¡°From where we met, head further south. You¡¯ll see a modest cottage surrounded by several leafless birch trees.¡±

    "Alright," I said as I stood up, stretching my body a bit. "I¡¯m off to the elderly couple¡¯s house," I added, making my intention clear.

    "But¡­" he hesitated before continuing, "if you head there now, you''re bound to cross paths with the bandits." His voice carried a hint of worry.

    "I gave him a reassuring smile and said, ''Don¡¯t you worry about me; I can take care of myself. And you, you stay here¡ªit¡¯s safer for you while I¡¯m gone.''"

    "But what will you do? There¡¯s a lot of them¡ªthe bandits. Surely you can''t fend them off alone." His concern deepened.

    I simply smiled. "I''m stronger than I look," I said before walking off toward the place where I had met him earlier.

    Tracking his steps was easy; his footprints were clearly visible on the snowy, muddy ground. It wasn¡¯t long before I reached my destination¡ªthe supposed home of the elderly couple.

    The house was modest, a typical peasant dwelling with a small vegetable patch that, at the moment, bore no visible crops.

    As I walked closer, an elderly man emerged from the house, seemingly unaware of my presence. His hair was snowy white, and his frail body hunched slightly as he moved.

    Then suddenly, he gasped. His eyes widened in shock, likely startled by my sudden appearance.

    ¡°Good afternoon, I¡ª¡± Before I could finish, the elderly man cowered in fear, raising both hands slightly to shield his face. His voice trembled as he spoke.

    ¡°Please¡­ we don¡¯t have anything left to give. You¡¯ve already taken everything¡­ I beg you¡­¡± His tone was filled with fear and sorrow.

    He must have mistaken me for one of the bandits. Looking at him, I felt a pang of pity.

    ¡°No, no, I¡¯m not with the bandits. I came here to help,¡± I said immediately, hoping to reassure him.

    Lowering his hands, he gave me a puzzled look.

    ¡°Help?¡± he asked, confused.

    I proceeded to explain that I had met the young man he had sheltered and fed, and that he was the reason I was here.

    As I finished, I saw a spark of recognition in his eyes as his memories resurfaced.

    ¡°Ah¡­ yes, yes, so you met Svan! How is he? I hope he¡¯s alright,¡± he said, his tone now much calmer, his concern genuine.

    ¡°Svan¡­ so that was his name,¡± I thought to myself.

    ¡°Yes, Svan is alright,¡± I said, reassuring him.

    ¡°Thank goodness. I was worried he might have run into the bandits,¡± he said with a sigh of relief.

    Honestly, I hadn¡¯t expected his concern for Svan to be so genuine. Considering how Svan abandoned him when he needed help the most, I thought he would have been upset or angry.

    ¡°You¡¯re worried about him even though he abandoned you?¡± I asked curiously.

    ¡°Oh no, no, he only took shelter here for a while. Our matters don¡¯t concern him. In fact, he was free to leave whenever he wished,¡± the elderly man said.

    His response was unexpected, to say the least.

    ¡°But the bandits¡ªhe could¡¯ve helped you instead of leaving you to fend for yourselves,¡± I said, troubled by the fact that Svan had abandoned an elderly couple to face the bandits alone.

    Then a voice spoke from behind the elderly man.

    ¡°The bandits only wanted our food supply, nothing more. They didn¡¯t harm us and left as soon as their demands were met.¡±

    It was an elderly woman, likely his wife, who had just stepped out of the house.

    She then eyed me curiously and asked, ¡°And you, young man, who might you be?¡±

    I stammered slightly before responding, ¡°Ah, forgive me. How rude of me not to introduce myself.¡±

    With a slight bow, I said, ¡°My name is Aldrous, and as I mentioned earlier, I¡¯m here to offer my assistance regarding the bandits.¡±

    ¡°Aldrous, that¡¯s a fine name. Well, I¡¯m Mrs. Abel, and this is my husband, Mr. Roger,¡± she said, introducing themselves.

    I gave them a warm smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you both. Now, about the bandits¡­¡±

    ¡°They already left a while ago,¡± Mr. Roger said.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ and where did they go?¡± I asked.

    Mr. Roger took a few steps forward into the yard, pausing briefly before pointing in a direction. ¡°They went southeast into the forest.¡±

    After thanking them for their cooperation, I set off toward the location Mr. Roger had indicated.

    Tracking the bandits was effortless. They had left plenty of signs behind¡ªmuddy footprints on the snowy ground, broken branches, and discarded food scraps scattered along the path. The track lead me further into the forest.

    Among several leafless trees, a makeshift camp had been set up, where the bandits gathered with their spoils.

    I concealed myself behind a tree near their camp, deciding to observe before making a move.

    There were thirteen of them, scattered around the campsite¡ªsome inspecting their stolen goods, a few sharpening their weapons, and others sparring. I could make out one wizard class among them, identifiable by the staff resting at his side. At the center of it all sat a man with a tight expression, seemingly giving orders to the other bandits.

    ¡°He must be the leader. Looks tough¡ªprobably a fighter class,¡± I murmured to myself. The man wore armored attire, and beside him lay a well-crafted sword, steady and sharp¡ªfar more refined than my own broken blade.

    "Now, what should my next move be?" I wondered.

    I was certain these were the kind of people who had stolen from many defenseless citizens. Judging by the crates and baskets stacked with loot, they had more than their fill of robbery.

    So, how should I put an end to their lawless acts?

    I decided to face them head-on.

    With heightened determination, I stepped out from my hiding spot and moved steadily toward the campsite.

    Almost instantly, one of them spotted me. ¡°What the¡ª¡± he gasped in shock before immediately calling out, ¡°Hey, we got company!¡±

    At that moment, the other bandits stopped what they were doing and turned their focus on me. Some moved into defensive positions, arrows at the ready, while others wore threatening expressions, steadying their hands on their swords. The leader, his face visibly irritated, rose to his feet and stepped forward, seemingly to confront me.

    ¡°The hell is wrong with this guy? Does he even know who we are?¡± one of them muttered, his tone laced with annoyance¡ªprobably at my nonchalant intrusion.

    ¡°I say we rob him,¡± another chimed in, grinning as he gripped a large cleaver in one hand.

    ¡°Who the hell are you? What do you want?¡± the leader demanded, now standing just a few meters in front of me.

    ¡°I am the one who wields the essence and power of an ancient dragon. You lot have done nothing but terrorize the innocent, and for that, I shall punish you all. Expect no mercy from me!¡±

    ¡ªOr at least, that¡¯s what I wanted to say. But honestly, such a dramatic monologue felt a bit clich¨¦, even to myself.

    Instead, I chose to get straight to the point.

    ¡°There¡¯s an elderly couple living nearby. A while ago, they were robbed by a group of bandits.¡± I spoke in a steady tone, keeping my gaze locked on the bandit leader.

    A grin crept onto his face as he replied nonchalantly, ¡°So? What are you going to do about it?¡± His voice dripped with smug arrogance, which, I¡¯ll admit, irritated me just a little.

    ¡°BWAHAHAHA!¡± One of the bandits burst into laughter. ¡°Is he for real?¡±

    Another, standing close to the leader, raised his bow and aimed an arrow at me. ¡°Say the word, and I¡¯ll end him right here, right now.¡±

    ¡°Wait. Lower your weapon,¡± the leader suddenly ordered.

    From behind, the wizard of the group stepped forward and whispered something to him before retreating.

    The leader scoffed, then raised both his arm slightly, as if asserting dominance. ¡°Hah, you¡¯ve got to be kidding me. You came here alone and dared to question me?¡±

    It seemed the wizard must have used some kind of detection spell¡ªthat¡¯s how they knew I was alone.

    Unfazed by his intimidation, I spoke again, this time with a stern and confident tone.

    "The elderly couple did nothing wrong. They were just living their lives, and you should have respected that. Instead, you chose to rob them of their livelihood."

    The leader scoffed, now visibly annoyed. "Then what? You going to avenge them?" His tone carried a hint of anger as he went on, or rather, taunted me. "Come on then, what are you waiting for?"

    Honestly, this wasn¡¯t playing out the way I had imagined.

    When I was a child, I heard tales of heroes and legends. In those stories, the bad guys always made the first move¡ªcharging in with reckless arrogance¡ªonly for the hero to counter effortlessly, showcasing their power and striking fear into the enemy.

    But reality, as I was quickly learning, wasn¡¯t nearly as dramatic.

    They seemed to be waiting for me to make the first move. But I wasn¡¯t a warrior or a fighter¡ªI had no training, no technique, no real understanding of combat.

    Sure, with my inhuman strength, I could beat them effortlessly. But controlling that power was another matter entirely. I didn¡¯t want a bloodbath. The last thing I wanted was to kill people randomly. I wasn¡¯t a killer, and I never wanted to be one.

    I needed to subdue them¡ªto make them fear me enough to comply with my demands. But how?

    Then, a memory sparked¡ªmy encounter with the massive black bear in Darkhill Forest.

    A grin crept onto my face as I steadied myself.

    Taking a deep breath, I let out a roar.

    This time, I put my whole heart into it. Probably a bit too much.

    "ROOAAAAAAAA¡ª!"

    A monstrous bellow erupted from my lungs, tearing through the air and echoing across the forest. The sheer force of it rippled through the air, scattering the snow around me. Trees shook, branches snapped, and debris flew in all directions. For a moment, I could have sworn the ground trembled beneath me.

    As I stopped, the echo of my roar still lingered in the distance. I took a steady breath and set my gaze upon the bandit group.

    They were in total disarray¡ªall of them were on the ground, some lying unconscious, others cowering in fear, their hands tightly pressed over their ears.

    Their leader was curled up on the ground, groaning in pain as he writhed, his hands clamped over his ears. "Argh¡­" he groaned, his body twisting as if trying to shake off the pain.

    It seemed my roar had been deafening, an unbearable experience for them.

    I stepped closer to the bandit leader, crouched beside him, and grabbed the collar of his Armor, yanking him into a sitting position. His arrogance and smugness were gone, replaced by wide-eyed terror.

    With a fearful look, he stammered, "Wh-what¡­ what are you?"

    I pulled him in closer, my mouth near his ear, and spoke in a low, threatening tone.

    "Listen, I''m here to take back what you stole from the elderly couple. After that, I don¡¯t want to see any of you here again."

    Sweat formed on his forehead as he stared at me, frozen in fear.

    I continued, "I can do far worse than just a roar."

    Suddenly, an arrow whistled through the air toward me. Without hesitation, I instinctively snatched it mid-flight with my free hand and snapped it in two.

    The bandit who had shot the arrow gasped in horror. Trembling, he dropped his bow and collapsed onto his back, his knees still weak from the roar. He must have forced himself to stand just to take that shot.

    "Monster¡­" the bandit leader muttered, his face pale as he watched the scene unfold.

    I gave him a small grin before releasing my grip on his Armor. Without another word, I walked over to a wooden crate filled to the brim with food supplies, lifted it effortlessly, and turned away, making my way back to the elderly couple¡¯s house.

    .

    .

    .

    "Aldrous!" Svan called out as I arrived at the elderly couple''s house.

    "Svan?" I said, confused. "What are you doing here? I thought you were at the campsite." I set the crate of food down as I spoke.

    "I¡­ I couldn''t let someone I just met bear the consequences of my mistake," Svan admitted, his tone honest and sincere. "So, I decided to head back here, thinking I could lend you a hand."

    I smiled at him and said, "You don¡¯t have to worry about it anymore. I''ve already taken care of it."

    "Really?" he asked, his expression filled with admiration.

    "You''re back!" Mrs. Abel stepped out of the house; her face lined with worry.

    I gave her a nod and said, "I managed to take back your food supplies¡ªand more¡ªfrom the bandits." I gestured to the crate brimming with food.

    Mrs. Abel''s face lit up, her earlier gloom vanishing.

    "Oh, how am I going to thank you?" she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

    Before I could say a word, Mrs. Abel invited me to stay the night, as the day had already passed its evening mark. I was reluctant at first, but she insisted, wanting to at least provide me with shelter and a decent meal after all the effort I had put into retrieving the stolen food from the bandits.

    Of course, I obliged and accepted the offer.

 Abilities

    "Monster."

    The word spoken by the bandit leader still lingers in my mind.

    I saw the fear in his eyes¡ªclear and unmistakable. I wonder how he perceived me to utter such a word. Then again, a mere human wouldn¡¯t have been able to produce such a monstrous roar in the first place. Perhaps I went a little overboard, pouring everything into that roar without restraint.

    Yet, the notion of becoming something beyond human lingers in my thoughts.

    The scene before me does little to ease my internal struggle.

    Sitting with heavy breaths, my gaze falls upon the heap of corpses strewn before me. My broken sword drips with blood.

    Gradually, the moonlight above casts its glow over the scenery.

    Scattered across the forest landscape, more than a dozen lifeless dire wolves lie motionless, their forms bathed in the pale light.

    .

    .

    .

    I''ve been doing adventurer work for a while now.

    The reason? Well, traveling alone across the open plains and into the wilderness has its downsides¡ªmainly, the food. Eating plain, fire-cooked meat day after day is far from enjoyable. I long for seasoned meats, poultry, or perhaps even cheese.

    But how would I acquire such luxuries? There was only one way¡ªI decided to use my inhuman strength and abilities to take on work typically done by adventurers.

    The dozen dire wolf corpses scattered before me were the result of one such job I accepted from a nearby village. The reward? Food¡ªincluding cheese.

    The village, nestled at the foot of a mountain, had been plagued by dire wolves preying on their livestock and even posing a serious threat to their safety. When I offered my services, the village chief admitted they had little to no coin to pay me.

    That was fine. I assured them food would suffice as payment. And so, they agreed.

    "Now to get the evidence that I''ve finished the job," I muttered, cutting off the dire wolves'' tails one by one and tying them together.

    "This ought to do it." With that, I turned and began my trek back to the village.

    By the time I arrived, several villagers, including the village chief, were already waiting for my return. I held up the dire wolves'' tails as proof of my success.

    "You did it¡­ you actually did it," the village chief said, disbelief and amazement mixing in his voice.

    The expressions on the villagers'' faces were telling¡ªshock, awe, and something else. They hadn''t expected me to pull it off alone. But more importantly, in their eyes, I saw something familiar. Fear. The same kind I''d seen in the bandit leader.

    I chose not to dwell on it. Instead, I reminded the village head about my reward.

    "Ah, yes, yes! We''ve already prepared it for you," he replied hastily, signaling for one of the villagers to bring it over.

    As promised, the reward was a basket filled with various food items.

    My eyes glistened as I looked through it, scanning eagerly for one thing in particular. Sure enough, nestled at the bottom was a rather large chunk of cheese.

    "Nice," I muttered to myself, satisfied with the reward.

    "You must be a great adventurer to have defeated those wolves," the village chief suddenly remarked.

    Honestly, I felt a bit embarrassed by his praise, knowing full well that I was far from a real adventurer. I was just someone who had inherited unimaginable power from a supposedly cursed dragon.

    "A¡­ I''m just a wanderer, nothing more," I said with a smile, downplaying his compliment.

    "Oh, a great adventurer and a humble one at that. That¡¯s rare nowadays¡ªmost would boast their name and demand a higher price," he continued, a hint of admiration in his tone.

    With that, my adventurer task for the day came to an end, and I prepared to continue my journey. The village head kindly offered me a place to stay for the night, but I politely declined. For some reason, I found more comfort resting in the wilderness beneath the ever-brilliant night sky.

    .

    .

    .

    As the morning sun gradually shone through the clouds, I awoke from my slumber to the sound of a voice calling out.

    "Adventurer¡­ Adventurer¡­!"

    I had spent the night in a makeshift camp, a simple shelter I had built using tree branches. Startled by the sudden call, I sat up and found myself face-to-face with a rather mischievous-looking young boy.

    Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I spoke, my voice still rough from being abruptly awakened. "Who might you be, boy? Do you have business with me?"

    "Please, great adventurer, my village needs your aid!" the boy pleaded, his tone eager and hopeful.

    Though puzzled, I agreed and allowed him to lead the way.

    It seemed my efforts as an adventurer had gained me some recognition¡ªat least within the region I was currently traveling.

    The village he led me to was indeed in dire need of help.

    Nestled between a lush, dense forest and a mountain range on the horizon, the village had been suffering from relentless raids by a group of mountain goblins.

    "Mountain goblins?" I asked, surprised.

    "Yes," the village chief confirmed. She was an elderly woman, standing with the aid of a wooden stick. "They have been stealing our crops and livestock¡­ and even attacked one of our hunters."

    "It''s true, adventurer," another villager added, his tone tense. "The hunter barely escaped. He threw himself off a cliff into the river and managed to drift back to the village."

    "Goblins, huh¡­" I muttered to myself.

    So far, I had encountered plenty of predators¡ªwolves, bears¡ªbut goblins? Not yet. Unlike animals, goblins had features similar to humans. They were short, with sickly green skin¡ªat least, that''s what I had heard from those who claimed to have seen them.

    "Since the war escalated, we haven¡¯t been able to post a request to the Adventurers¡¯ Guild for help," the village chief explained, frustration in her voice.

    A thin, middle-aged man then spoke up, his tone weary. "The plague has barely passed, and we have little left. Most of our crops didn¡¯t even survive the winter."

    I took a brief moment to contemplate whether I should accept the task or not. Goblins were not mindless creatures, which made them difficult to deal with. I once heard rumors that they could trick hunters and lure them into traps. If that were true, then they clearly had critical thinking skills, and I couldn¡¯t afford to act recklessly when facing them.

    "Please, adventurer, we are in dire need of help. There are no other adventurers available in the region¡ªmost have been forced to join the war," the village chief pleaded, her tone filled with hope¡ªtoo much hope for me to reject.

    Before I could respond, another villager spoke up. "If it¡¯s the reward that concerns you, we¡¯ve already collected fifty copper coins as payment."

    Fifty copper coins equaled five silvers¡ªquite a sum, considering the village didn''t seem well-off. The villagers were all peasants; not a single one of them appeared to be from the upper or even middle class. For them to gather that much, they must have sacrificed all they had of value. Not that I needed that much coin anyway.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "Very well," I said. "Ten copper coins. You can keep the rest."

    The village chief¡¯s face twisted in visible shock and confusion. She must have been wondering how anyone could reject fifty copper coins in favor of ten. Perhaps she thought I was out of my mind.

    However, she gladly accepted my terms. In fact, the entire village¡ªthough small in number¡ªcheered and expressed their gratitude.

    As for the hunt, I asked them not to interfere, giving the reason that I was more proficient working alone. The truth, however, was that I didn¡¯t want anyone to witness how I fought. It wasn¡¯t glorious or grand¡ªI possessed little to no actual combat skill. Instead, I relied on brute force, tearing through my opponents until they succumbed.

    I still needed to fully grasp the dragon¡¯s power that I had inherited.

    It was my first time hunting goblins, and I wasn¡¯t entirely sure how to engage them.

    ¡°Should I attack them head-on or wait for the perfect moment to ambush them when they least expect it?¡± I murmured to myself, considering my approach.

    Honestly, either option was feasible¡ªwith my inhuman strength, victory was certain.

    Mountain goblins are most active at night, so I decided to raid their hideout during the day. As their name suggests, they reside in caves burrowed deep beneath the foot of a mountain.

    After confirming their location, I headed there immediately, choosing to enter their territory and launch a direct assault.

    Well, things don¡¯t always go the way I want¡­

    I did find a cave opening that supposedly led to the goblins¡¯ nest. However, I hadn¡¯t expected the cave walls to be so unstable¡ªvery unstable. As I carefully treaded my way inside, the rocky ground beneath my feet suddenly gave way. I fell quite a distance, and after regaining my footing, I found myself in a massive underground cavern.

    It was pitch black, but my dragon eyes easily adjusted to the darkness, allowing me to see clearly.

    That was when I realized¡ªI had fallen into a goblin trap. They must have created this pitfall to catch intruders or trespassers.

    ¡°Shit,¡± I cursed under my breath. ¡°Falling into a goblin trap¡­ I should¡¯ve been more careful.¡± At that moment, I felt like a fool¡ªbested by goblins of all things.

    Then, gradually, a chorus of voices echoed throughout the cave. Goblins.

    ¡°They¡¯re coming,¡± I muttered, tightening my grip on my half-broken sword.

    ¡°Tch. Either way, I need to finish this job,¡± I said, preparing for the battle ahead.

    They swarmed in like a tide.

    Even with my nocturnal vision, I could make out their grotesque forms¡ªshort, wiry humanoids with sickly green skin. Their limbs were thin but strong, their clawed fingers perfect for grabbing and tearing. Their faces were a twisted mix of human and beast¡ªwide, flattened noses, jagged yellow teeth, and bulbous eyes gleaming with predatory cunning.

    There must have been hundreds of them. Like ravenous beasts, they lunged at me, eager to tear me apart. To them, I was prey.

    Yet, instead of fear, a strange excitement welled up inside me.

    Grinning, I lunged back, sword in hand.

    It wasn¡¯t a battle¡ªit was a massacre. My unnatural strength, speed, and agility made it far too easy.

    Limbs and blood scattered with every swing of my blade. The sheer force of my strikes sent ripples through the horde, cutting down goblins in waves. The very air seemed to carry the impact of my swings.

    Yet, despite their fallen kin, they kept coming, relentless in their assault. They must have believed their overwhelming numbers would be enough to bring me down, ignoring the obvious danger I posed.

    They were fast¡ªbut I was faster.

    I gave them no openings, attacking ruthlessly without pause. Every goblin that drew near was cut down in an instant, my blade carving through them without mercy.

    It wasn¡¯t long before their corpses piled high. Their numbers, once in the hundreds, had dwindled to just a few dozen. Seeing their kin fall one after another, panic set in. Instead of attacking, they began to flee.

    But I wasn¡¯t done yet.

    I couldn¡¯t recall how long I spent hunting down the fleeing goblins inside the cave. By the time the last of them fell, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, casting the land in twilight.

    Growl¡­

    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m hungry,¡± I muttered, stepping out of the cave into the open air.

    Just as I prepared to head back to the village to claim my reward, a sudden rustling in the bushes nearby caught my attention.

    ¡°Could it be?¡± I muttered, instantly turning my gaze toward the sound.

    With my heightened senses, I quickly made out a lone goblin that had managed to escape the cave ahead of me.

    ¡°Not on my watch,¡± I whispered, surging forward.

    In an instant, I spotted it.

    Swiftly maneuvering through the thick underbrush, I closed the distance in seconds. I lunged forward, my sword aimed straight at it.

    A weak grunt escaped the goblin as blood splattered¡ªmy blade had impaled it from behind. Its body stiffened for a brief moment before gradually going limp, its final breath slipping away. As I pulled my sword free, the lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

    ¡°Finally, it¡¯s¡­¡± I paused, unable to finish my sentence.

    Bathed in the twilight¡¯s glow, the goblin¡¯s form became clearer. It was small¡ªmuch smaller than I had expected. A young one.

    What struck me most was its unsettling resemblance to a human child. The grotesque features, the jagged teeth, the clawed fingers¡ªthey hadn¡¯t fully developed yet. Lying there, motionless, it no longer looked like the monster people had spoken of.

    Instead, the monster was me, standing over its lifeless body.

    ¡°What have I become¡­¡± I muttered, the realization sinking in. Throughout the hunt, I had focused solely on the kill. Worse yet¡ªI had enjoyed it. Relished it.

    Staring at my bloodied hands, I stammered, ¡°This¡­ this isn¡¯t me. I¡¯m not supposed to be like this.¡±

    .

    .

    .

    I took my reward¡ªten copper coins. The village chief congratulated me, the villagers cheered, praising me as a hero, and children flocked around me, their eyes filled with admiration.

    But I felt nothing.

    Without a single word, I excused myself and continued on my journey.

    Walking alone under the moonlight, my steps felt heavier than usual. I had taken on many adventurer jobs¡ªhunting wild predators that terrorized villages¡ªbut this task felt different. It felt personal. I hadn¡¯t just fought to protect or defend. I had enjoyed it. Craved it.

    The thrill of the hunt, the rush of battle, the raw power surging through me¡ªI yearned for it.

    I could have driven the goblins away, forced them to find another dwelling. Instead, I slaughtered them all. Mercilessly.

    I stopped mid-step, lost in thought, contemplating what I had become.

    ¡°This power¡­ this curse¡­ I won¡¯t let it consume me,¡± I muttered to myself.

    A memory resurfaced¡ªthe dragon¡¯s voice echoing in my mind.

    ¡°¡­ What is your role in the grand scheme of things?¡±

    It felt like only yesterday when I faced the dragon, and it asked me that question.

    I never sought heroism, nor did I wish to be idolized. I only wanted freedom¡ªto live life on my own terms.

    At that very moment, I decided to fully grasp the dragon¡¯s essence and its power. Simply utilizing it without knowing its limits and true nature wouldn¡¯t bring me closer to mastering it completely.

    Diverting from the main road, I headed into the wilderness.

    I had no idea how long I had travelled. I must have been walking the entire night without stopping, and as the first rays of sunlight appeared, I found myself on the slope of a mountain, with a dense forest stretching below as far as my eyes could see.

    ¡°This should do it,¡± I muttered to myself, making my way up the mountain.

    There, I trained¡ªlearning and understanding the power that had been bestowed upon me. For two and a half years, I lived in isolation, avoiding human contact and becoming one with nature and myself.

    The results of my training revealed the true extent of my dragon power.

    First was my strength and durability. I had already established my monstrous strength¡ªknocking down trees, crushing boulders, and defeating various dangerous predators. However, during my training, I discovered I could do much more. I managed to shift the side of a mountain with sheer brute force and even crushed the hardest rock material I could find.

    As for my durability, my skin was nearly impenetrable. No weapon, claw, or fang could harm me or even leave a scratch. However, there was one exception¡ªthe half-broken sword that once impaled the imprisoned dragon. I discovered this by accident when I carelessly brushed my finger against its blade, and to my surprise, it cut through my skin, leaving a small wound behind.

    This sword may be my only weakness. I should keep it to myself and never let anyone else get their hands on it.

    Second, my speed and agility. My body seemed to have evolved to accommodate my inhuman strength. As a result, my limbs could withstand constant movement without growing weary over time. In other words, I could sprint at full speed almost instantly without the need for a warm-up. I could also maintain a constant speed indefinitely and only slowing down when I feel the need to stop.

    Third is my heightened senses. One of the first changes I noticed after receiving the dragon''s essence was that all five of my senses had been enhanced beyond human capability. However, through rigorous training, I unlocked another¡ª a sixth sense. This ability allowed me to perceive and detect the life essence of living beings. I could discern whether a creature was on the verge of death or full of vitality. Through the animals I hunted for sustenance, I observed that as they neared their final moments, their life essence gradually diminished before vanishing completely upon death.

    The fourth was unexpected. I wasn¡¯t born into a family with a magical lineage, yet through my efforts to push myself to the limit, I discovered that I possessed an almost infinite amount of magical energy. However, since I had no knowledge of spells or incantations to test it, I wouldn¡¯t be able to harness this power until I learned the basics of magic. Nevertheless, up until now, I had relied solely on my physical strength to get things done, making the need for magic unnecessary.

    Standing atop of a mountain, overlooking the lush green expanse below, I took a deep breath, wondering what I could achieve with such power at my disposal.

    "Is the world ready for me?" I muttered to myself.

    I shook my head, chuckled, and said, "Nah. When the time comes, I¡¯ll accept whatever fate throws at me. But for now, I shall continue my adventure."

    I had isolated myself from human contact for so long that I couldn''t help but wonder how much had changed in these two and a half years.

    .

    .

    .

    A few moments had passed since I began my journey, and I had been walking for quite some time through a dense forest.

    "Is it just me, or is this forest getting thicker?" I muttered while observing the lush greenery around me. I might have lost my bearings.

    I chuckled and said, "For all the power I possess, I can''t even find my way out of a forest."

    The truth was, it didn¡¯t bother me much. I knew that if I walked straight, I would eventually find my way out.

    Suddenly, something caught my eye¡ªa trail of blood.

    ¡°What the¡­¡± I muttered in confusion, scraping a bit with my finger.

    It was still wet. "The blood hasn¡¯t dried yet¡­ something or maybe someone is badly injured," I speculated.

    Either way, I needed to investigate. If it was a person, they might be in dire need of help. I began following the blood trail.

    It wasn¡¯t long before I stumbled upon footprints¡ªjust one set. A single person. Hastening my pace, I soon found a wounded figure lying beside a massive tree.

    The person was clad in full armor. "A soldier?" I questioned.

    With my sixth sense, I could tell his life essence was fading¡ªhe was close to death.

    Without hesitation, I crouched beside him and examined his injuries. A large gap in the armor was visible on the side, likely pierced by a sharp weapon.

    Slowly, I removed his helmet¡ªonly to be met with an unexpected sight.

    It wasn¡¯t a man. It was, in fact, a young woman.

    And judging by her well-kept appearance, she was no ordinary soldier. She looked too clean¡ªtoo refined.

    More likely, she was a noble.

    Confused, I muttered, ¡°What on earth is she doing here in the middle of a forest?¡±