LUCKILY, I immediately find a place to take shelter from the rain. A gargantuan tree suddenly appeared in our path, in the middle of the fog. The closer we got, the bigger it became. It wasn’t just that one tree either: the thicket, shrubs, trees, and even the mushrooms growing in the shade were now all one to two sizes bigger.
By some freak chance, were we the ones who shrunk? It’s not completely implausible. This is the Black Forest. Principles way above human understanding are at work here.
Ah, it’s like—it’s similar to how a child sees the world. I’ve been reduced to kid size.
My heart is unusually restless. I can’t calm myself. But if I show that I’m afraid, it’ll only scare Princess. I stifle my unease and approach the giant tree roots.
As I had thought, the rain reaching us drastically decreases. What a huge tree. Big enough to make an instant log cabin by carving out the trunk. There’s moss growing along the roots that’re bulging outta the ground. Each giant root is like a big snake.
Is this one of those millennial trees?
Though its actual age is anybody’s guess, I’ve heard stories where trees that’ve lived for many, many years are called such things. They say the area surrounding one is filled with the power of life and infuses vitality and energy into the other trees, flowers, animals, and whatever else is around to benefit from it.
I gotta admit this place is warm. At the same time, it feels austere, almost like we’re in a cathedral or a graveyard. While none are in sight, I’m betting a lotta living creatures enjoy the blessings of this Millennial Tree. But the question is: will we also be accepted? I reach a hand out to touch the trunk—
…!
I feel it. It’s intense. Danger.
This place is trouble. Dangerous. It’s here. It’s here. It’s here. Somewhere extremely close. Something incredibly dangerous lurks. Lord Designs’ hired hounds? No, can’t be. They’re a speck of dust in comparison. It’s something so powerful that one breath would erase us from the face of the planet.
Every pore on my body contracts. I tense.
Crap. CRAP. Crap. It’s here. It’s definitely here—the only mortal enemy I have in this world!
FLAP! FLAP! Something spreads open. It sounds like the popping of old leather when you spread open a tent. But it’s tens of thousands times louder, and far more violent than that of a noise from some puny tent. Worst of all, it’s ALIVE.
Blocking both the rain and light, it stands at the base of the Millennial Tree. There’s no way in hell I’d mistake this sound. The sound of a dragon spreading its wings…
I spring to action, removing the shield from my back, and hold it at the ready. I place myself between it and Princess on top of Buttercup.
“Well.” A low, rumbling voice spits a puff of steam. Its voice reverberates deep in my gut, as if I were standing beside ringing cathedral bells.
A dragon is right before my eyes.
Luck’s not on my side. We’re in the middle of the Black Forest at dusk. Rain’s pouring down, fog’s enshrouding the area, and on top of all that a dragon’s come. If there’s anybody unluckier than me, I’d like to meet ‘em—if they’re still alive.
His sharp scales gleam ruby, flawlessly shielding his dense body. The dragon’s ‘bout twice the size of my horse—no, three times? Its claws could easily shred through steel; a single swing of its long tail would likely shatter a crag.
He’s a big one all right. Over 200 years old.
Rain drips through the Millennial Tree’s foliage. The moment the droplets touch those ruby, razor scales, they vanish in thin trails of steam. That’s the nature of the creature we’re dealin’ with.
How am I gonna go about this?
High chances of success—if I was alone, that is. No matter fight or flight, I’d probably survive one way or another on my own. I’ve overcome far more dangerous situations than this more times than I can count. But the circumstances are different. I’ve got somebody I must protect. A life I hafta protect at any cost.
“What…is it you desire, O Knight?”
What irony. By putting my protective shield up on the spur of the moment, I gave away who—what—I am.
“…A peaceful retreat.”
“I do not trust such a claim.”
Needlelike pupils expand in the center of his golden eyes. He’s on guard against me. Red light rushes along his scales in ripples, sending steam rushing out from his body.
“I wouldn’t…either.”
Knights and dragons are mortal enemies. Once we’ve crossed paths, we’re destined to fight until the death. Dunno who made the rule, but that’s how it is.
This is it then. I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth and place my hand on my sword’s hilt. Sorry, Robert. Doesn’t look like I’ll keep my promise…
But at least Princess. I must at least protect Princess!
“Gideon.” She stirs on Buttercup’s back. “Gideon. I’m cold.”
“Stop, Princess! Don’t come out!”
“Princess?”
ARGH, AAAH! The dragon’s stretching his neck out to look behind me. Don’t screw with me! I hold my shield up and take a step back, but of all the Godforsaken things! A flexible little rascal crawls between my legs and slips by.
“You always tell me to stop.”
“PRINCEEEEESSSS!”
“Upsy-daisy.” The little princess stands up in front of me and fixes her eyes on the dragon. Then she tilts her head and quietly murmurs, “Pretty cowie.”
Cow.
……..Cowie.
My killing intent is draining away.
The dragon blinks.
“Ah, a cow, is it?”
She probably just slapped the name of the closest living creature she knew of onto this dragon. He’s huge, has horns, and a long snout, so it works for her.
Blast it all, in the short seconds I took to think, this princess goes and?! Ignorance is something else all right! She walked right over to him, and now she’s touching his scale-covered stomach with her tiny hands!
“Red and silky.”
Silky? My eyelids peel back, my jaw drops—I do a double take.
Whoa, whoa! Wait! Wait! Wait just a damn minute!
Those razor-sharp scales that had just been standing on edge smoothly lowered their spikes and flattened down!
“You’re very, very pretty, big Mr. Cowie.”
“You honor me, little lady. But I am not a cow.”
Looks like my opponent completely lost the will to fight as well. Princess lies on top of the dragon and rubs her cheeks against his scales.
“So warmmm…”
“The primordial flame flows through my very veins, pumping from my heart, after all.”
Oh yeah, dragons have a soft spot for young maidens. How could I have overlooked that? My thoughts never even went there.
“Er, well…” I venture. Golden pupils glare at me. “I’m a knight, yeah, but I’m a knight without a kingdom. I’m currently living to protect Princess.”
“Hmm. Then I suppose our objectives align… Nay, rather, it suggests it is possible for us to coexist in the same space.”
Overemphasizin’ every little stinkin’ detail! This pair of boots with wings thinks he’s an intellectual or something?!
I sigh. “Yeah, that’s how it is.”
This is a thousand times better than a dragon that’s ready to fight. I lower my shield and remove my hand from the sword hilt.
“My name is Gideon Thorn. I propose a truce with you, Great One.”
“Hrm…” The dragon glances at Princess and then back toward me. “I accept, Knight Gideon.”
The red dragon fondly looks at the princess through partially closed eyes. He changes the angle of his wing to block the rain. To keep Princess from getting wet. From freezing. Our eyes meet.
“For the princess.”
“For the princess.”
The dragon’s wings shield us from the rain, and the soft, dense moss nearby is surprisingly warm. Princess swiftly falls asleep. Wrapped in my cloak, she snoozes against the red dragon’s body. She must’ve been dead exhausted… I’m real close to my limits too. Right after I confirm that she’s asleep, my consciousness abruptly gives away.