by Logan Jacobs
I nocked an arrow and took aim at the creature’s humongous amber eye, and then I let out my breath as I released the projectile. Before my arrow could find purchase in the dragon’s giant eyeball, however, the beast flapped its leathery wings, launched from the roof, and quickly covered the distance between us.
“Oh, shit!” I yelled to no one in particular as I took off running in the opposite direction. I could hear the flap of the dragon’s wings as it chased after me. It roared with anger, and then the fiery tumult blasted from its mouth, and the heat urged me forward even faster.
I narrowly missed the blaze, and I swiveled once I was safely out of reach of the flames, but then I came face to face with the dragon.
It stared at me with its huge, angry, amber eyes, and then it snapped. Sword sized fangs closed around me, and I was lifted into the air. All I could see was darkness, and I realized the beast had swallowed me whole.
Chime.
Eaten by a dragon was a new, and rather awesome, way to die, and I considered making myself some sort of bingo game to check off the various death scenarios I encountered.
This time, I decided to stay with the guards for a change of pace. I trotted over to the captain to see what his plans were, and the man gave me the same incredulous expression as before.
“Get to safety, man!” he yelled at me as I approached. “There’s a fucking dragon on the loose!”
“That’s why I’m here.” I grinned. “The duke sent me to command your forces. I am Bash, the God of Time, and I’m here to save the town.”
The captain looked like he wanted to argue, but another screech split the air, and his face drained of color.
“I suppose we could use all the help we can get,” he allowed with a sigh. “Grab a bow and keep your eyes peeled.”
The sound of the dragon’s roar echoed overhead, and I knew he was about to light the building nearby on fire.
“Everyone get back,” I instructed. “The dragon is going to set this structure on fire.”
The men obediently scrambled back away from the house I’d indicated, and a moment later the dragon swooped by and unloaded its fiery breath onto the thatched roof.
I immediately began to pour out my ice spell onto the flames, and I managed to abate the worst of it. The house would not survive, but it wouldn’t catch the other structures next to it on fire, so I considered it a small victory.
The dragon eyed me from the sky, and my breath caught in my throat when we made eye contact. There was a timelessness to the beast that was hauntingly beautiful, but deadly, and it made me wonder what knowledge laid within its car-sized skull.
“We have to get the people up to the castle,” I suggested to the captain of the guards. “We don’t want any innocent people to die today, do we?”
“No, sir.” The captain nodded curtly and turned to his men. “Sweep the streets, take any stragglers up to the castle, and then report back to me.”
Salutes were given all around, and the platoon of guards separated to perform their tasks, which left me and the captain alone on the street with the dragon as it flew overhead.
My heartbeat thudded inside my chest as the dragon spotted us and moved closer. I motioned for the captain to give me his bow, and the man obliged me without a word. He seemed just as terrified as his men, but he watched me out of the corner of his eye as I nocked an arrow onto the string.
I waited while the dragon drew closer, and I aimed for the big amber eye. When the beast was a few buildings away, I let the projectile loose, and it zipped through the air with a slight spin to it. It reminded me of a football being tossed by a quarterback, and I only hoped it had the same amount of force.
The arrow landed just below the beast’s eye, and it bounced harmlessly off the scales of its face to land on the ground in front of me. The shadow of the creature as it flew overhead bathed the street in darkness for a moment, and shivers ran up my spine from the sudden chill.
I turned to trace the beast’s path through the air, and my stomach dropped when I saw it head toward the castle.
I had to do something.
“Over here, you big lizard!” I bellowed at the top of my lungs, and the dragon’s head swiveled toward me. “Yeah, that’s right you overgrown iguana! Come get me!”
“What are you doing, you fool?” the captain gasped before he turned tail and fled down a side street.
The dragon flapped its wings and turned in the air, so I stomped my foot to activate my fleetness ability. Then I took off running through the streets with the beast hot on my tail. Literally. Fire poured out from its fanged maw and blanketed the cobblestones behind me, but I ignored the heat of the inferno and kept going as fast as I could.
Thankfully, with my griffon feather boots, that was pretty fast, so I managed to stay out of reach of the molten flames.
I kept the dragon away from the castle until I got far enough ahead of it to turn around and take aim. Then I nocked an arrow to the bowstring, and I pulled back the string as the beast approached me. It opened its mouth and let out a blood-curdling roar right in my face, but it seemed like its well of fire was running out since no inferno followed the sound.
At least I hoped it was running out of fire.
Several buildings were going up in flames already, and the thatched roofs weren’t helping. The blaze jumped from rooftop to rooftop, and the fire spread from building to building. The city was already going down, but maybe I could still stop it from taking any lives.
I just wished my ice spell was a little more powerful.
Then I remembered I wasn’t the only person in Bullard who could use magic against the dragon. Where was Kane? Or the enchanter Burnyolf for that matter. There had to be more brave men than the guards sent out to kill the dragon, right?
I decided to reset and try a different tactic.
Chime.
Instead of joining the guards, I stomped my foot to activate the fleetness ability of my boots, and then I dashed through the city toward the western tower. There were no sentries posted outside the door, so nothing stopped me from running straight up to Kane’s study. I didn’t even bother knocking, and I pushed through the portal before I skidded to a halt.
Kane sat in his armchair, but he had his arms wrapped around his body like he was giving himself a hug. His gray eyes were wide with terror, and I could see him shaking from the doorway.
No wonder he hadn’t joined the fight already. He was about to piss his robes with terror.
“Kane, what are you doing up here?” I demanded in a harsh tone. “There’s a dragon out there, and the city needs us.”
The last time I’d seen the court wizard had been our duel in the audience chamber, so I didn’t know if he would follow my orders.
“I am much too old to run to my death.” Kane shook his head. “I am safer here. The stone walls of the tower should protect me.”
“What about the people out there fighting for their lives?” I crossed the distance to him and took him by the shoulders. Then I gave him a hard look, and I held his gray eyes in mine for a long moment. “You have to do something. You’re the court wizard.”
“I am nothing in comparison to the might of a dragon!” Kane shoved me off him, but he rose from his chair and began to pace. “I have heard legends of their might, the heat of their flames, the strength of their magic. To throw my meager skills in its face would be a death wish. Maybe the king’s Grand Wizard would stand a chance, but not me…”
“You can at least help stop the fires from spreading,” I pointed out. I wasn’t about to let him ride this one out. While I could go back in time, I couldn’t be in two places at once, and if I was going to take down this dragon, then I needed some help. “Use your ice spell to combat the blaze, save the town, and become a hero. It's really that simple.”
Kane processed my words for a long silent moment, and then he took a deep, shuddering breath.
“Alright,” he said at last. “I will help.”
“
Good.” I grinned. “That’s the spirit. Now, get down there and start putting out fires. If you see anyone, tell them to get to the castle. I’m off to Burnyolf’s next.”
Without waiting for a reply, I dashed back out of the study and down the stairs, but I didn’t stop running until I reached the enchanter’s shop.
Burnyolf was also cowering by his fireplace, and he jumped when I slid into his store. His face was ghostly white, and the lines around his eyes were deeper than I remembered them being.
“Burnyolf, do you have any magical items enchanted with water?” I asked without preamble. “I need your help fighting the dragon’s fire.”
“I-I-I think so?” Burnyolf blinked at me in surprise. “I’ve never fought in a battle before, I’m not sure how much help I could be. Wouldn’t it be best for me to stay out of the way?”
“Innocent people are losing their lives and their livelihoods out there, and there’s no telling when the fires will reach your shop.” I looked around the room and spotted a shelf filled with magical wands and staves. “Do you want all your goods to go up in flames? Or do you want to help prevent that from happening?”
“I cannot lose my shop!” The enchanter leaped to his feet and crossed the room to the shelf. “I might have a water wand, just one moment… Ah, yes, here it is.”
He handed me the wand with a pleased expression, and then he turned to rifle through the rest of the magical items. The wand was made of wood, but it was painted blue, and a stone of the same hue rested at the tip.
I touched my finger to the tip of the want to activate the stats. The text bubble popped up, and I almost laughed out loud at the results.
Durability - 100%
Weight - .5 lbs
Quality - Excellent
Magical Aspect - Water
Magical Ability - 10x Monsoon
“Fuck yeah, Burnyolf!” I exclaimed. “This wand is awesome.”
“I just remembered another magical item in my possession that may serve you well against the dragon,” Burnyolf said in an excited tone. “It’s an ancient spear enchanted with True Aim.”
“What does True Aim mean?” I asked as I mirrored Burnyolf’s excitement.
“It means your aim is not affected by outside variables, such as wind,” the enchanter explained. “The spear will fly true as long as your aim is true.”
“Let me see it.” My pulse quickened at the possibility of a magical spear capable of penetrating the dragon’s thick scales.
The enchanter dug through a big chest that sat in the corner of the shop, and he pulled out a long spear with a brown handle and a black barbed tip.
I took it eagerly from his hands, and I nearly fainted when I saw the stats.
Durability - 100%
Weight - 1lbs
Quality - High
Magical Aspect - Feathering
Magical Ability - True Aim
I tested the weight of the spear in my hand, but it seemed like it weighed nothing. With the feathering aspect and the true aim ability, it was perfect for launching through the air toward an enemy.
“Thank you, Burnyolf,” I said in an earnest voice. “The water wand was powerful, but I’ll take the spear instead. The True Aim ability will definitely help.”
“Thank you for reminding me of who I am,” Burnyolf replied in a solemn tone. “It has been a long time since I encountered a true hero. Go kill the dragon. I will help the people and try to save the city.”
“Let’s do it.” I gave the older man a broad grin, and then I dashed back out the door.
I scanned the streets and the sky for signs of the fire breathing beast, but I spotted it flying over the western tower on the other side of the city. I activated my boots again, and then I crossed the distance back to where I’d just come from. Sweat dripped down my forehead from the exertion it took to run this fast for so long, but I had no time to waste.
The spear felt right in my fist, and I was grateful to have an edge in the fight. I’d never used one before, though, so I knew it would take me several attempts before I mastered it.
I didn’t want to damage the durability permanently by practicing, so I made a new save point once I reached the western tower on the edge of town. The tingling sensation was comforting and familiar, and it soothed my raw nerves.
I was feeling good about the decisions I’d made, and I knew the dragon was going down very soon. All I had to do was hit it in the eye with the spear, and it would be over.
Or so I hoped.
The dragon roared overhead and pulled me from my thoughts.
“Come down here, motherfucker!” I yelled up to the clouds where it taunted me from. “I’ve got a present for you!”
Whether it was my words or coincidence, I didn’t know, but the dragon spiraled from the clouds to land on the roof of Kane’s tower, and I was pleased with myself for getting the court wizard out of there.
How dare you address me in such a vulgar tongue, a voice rang out inside my head. It was deep, gravelly, and brought to mind an image of coals being stirred to life.
“You can understand me?” I asked in disbelief. I craned my neck to stare up into the beast’s amber eyes, and it nodded.
Your petulant protests must be silenced, the dragon continued. Prepare for your inevitable demise.
“Nah, I’m good.” I grinned and adjusted my hand’s position on the spear’s shaft, and before the beast could argue or breathe fire down on me, I launched the spear through the air toward the dragon’s face.
The spear spiraled perfectly as it zoomed through the air toward my target, but the dragon saw it coming and flapped its wings to lift itself off the tower roof.
The spear flew through the empty air where the beast had been a second before, and it landed on the far side of the city wall, out of my reach.
Well, fuck. So much for that magic spear. Maybe I also needed a magic helmet?
“I’ll get you yet you wascally wabbit!” I Elmer Fudded up to the sky with a clenched fist.
Chime.
“Come and fight, you coward!” I shouted into the clouds for the second time, and the dragon landed on the tower roof again.
Who dares to challenge me? the dragon’s voice echoed inside my head, and he sounded very pissed off.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, squared my shoulders, and lifted my chin. “The God of Time does.”
A croaky laugh boomed from the dragon’s mouth, but I decided to silence it with the spear, so I launched my weapon into the air toward the beast’s huge amber eye.
This time, the dragon was distracted and didn’t see the projectile flying through the air toward it, but even with the true aim ability, I missed my mark. The spear flew too low and splintered against the stonewall of the western tower, and the barbed tip exploded into a thousand fractured pieces.
Seemed like I required some major spear-throwing practice.
Good thing I had all the time in the world to perfect the art.
Chime.
I baited the dragon, threw the spear, and then reset when I missed over and over again until I lost count of how many attempts I’d been through. It felt like I’d lived a lifetime in that moment, but each time my throw improved.
The dragon was quick to dodge my weapon, though, so even when I managed a good toss of the spear, he still evaded the hit. I needed to be faster, and more forceful.
My muscles ached immediately after I bucked the spear because I was putting everything I had into it. But after the twentieth time, I still wasn’t getting any closer to my target, so I decided I needed to perfect my technique. I realized if I adjusted my stance, clenched my abs, and let out my breath when I threw that the spear maintained a stronger velocity. Then I started roaring my hips. Then I tried different ways of whipping my arm around.
Even without a master to teach me, I was quickly learning the do and don’ts of spear throwing. There were several times where the dragon killed me with its fire breath, but it only used that technique every o
ther time, so I got better at avoiding it and staying alive. Then I reset for what I hoped would be my final attempt.
Chime.
“Hey, dragon!” I called to the clouds. “Come pick on someone your own size!”
The dragon landed on the western tower, and the croaky laughter bubbled out from its mouth like lava flowing over a precipice.
I see no one worthy, the dragon countered telepathically. Merely a puny human about to die.
“We’ll see about that,” I replied, and then I launched my spear with all my strength and technique.
The barbed tip spiraled as it flew through the air toward the creature’s giant amber eye, and it dug into the gooey substance of the optic orb. The dragon screeched out in pain and anger, and the spear wobbled with its movements, which made it tear into the creature’s flesh even more.
The dragon flapped his wings and thrashed with his claws, but he couldn’t dislodge the spear no matter how he tried.
Arrgh! You have blinded me! The dragon writhed on the tower roof like a cat trying to catch its tail. How dare you injure the great Smiguel!
I laughed out loud, and the dragon huffed angrily. I couldn’t help it, though, since it reminded me of the halfling Smeagol from Lord of the Rings, and I pictured the dragon talking to itself.
“Smiguel, huh?” I grinned. “I’m Sebastian, and this city is under my protection. Now, get the fuck out of here before I take out your other eye.”
You will rue this day, Smiguel declared as he lifted his body off the roof and into the air. This is not over!
Then he flew away, beyond the clouds toward the mountain, and I let out a sigh of relief.
It was over. I’d defeated the dragon, for now. There was no telling when, or if, it would come back, but that was a problem for a different day.
At least the city was safe for the time being.
But how much damage had already been done?
Chapter Three
Since the fight was over, I thought about whether or not to make a new savepoint. I didn’t want to have to repeat the battle all over again if something else happened, but I hadn’t laid eyes on my loves yet, and I had to know they were safe before I saved my progress, so I decided against it for the moment since I’d already figured out how to defeat the dragon.