An unfamiliar place… I remember laying down to rest on my straw cot, yet now I find myself somewhere entirely different… For one, I don't feel pain when I try to breathe. The air here smells different. In fact, there is no smell. It's entirely blank, yet the air still feels heavy.
An incalculable weight surrounds this place. It feels the same whenever I have to hunt down an animal to eat dinner… or when one of the older outpost matrons tries to capture me for a lecture… I smile, remembering those times… I was always an impertinent little shit.
"Is this really the time for you to have an internal monologue? You find yourself in a rather dangerous position, my friend…" A large, booming voice echoes throughout the large room. I find myself in every single syllable; it shakes my very bones, which, to be honest, isn't very hard, as they are about as thin as chicken bones at this point.
As I attempt to sit up, I find that my body won't listen to me. Every single part of me feels like it's been turned to lead, but as I try to move, all I can think to say is, "Well, I wasn't aware that I had company. I would've brought out some food, but I don't think I can move… I ask that you forgive me… May I ask where you are, as I can't seem to see you?"
An echoing laughter shakes the cavern that I am in as a large hand rises from the pile of some kind of yellow metal. It looks rather pretty, to be honest. "Well, I would be a rather rude host to not welcome a newcomer to my domain…" As the being rises to its full height, it reminds me of a very large reptile, but its eyes are huge. Hell, one of its teeth looks bigger than me…
"So cool… Tell me, do you practice that entrance? Because if you do, I'd give it a solid eight out of ten…" The being almost seems to smirk as it looks straight at me.
"I almost feel disappointed out of the fact that it isn't a perfect score, but I've been feeling rather lazy given the fact that I've been woken up from one of my yearly naps… I noticed you haven't tried to reach for anything. Are you not a thief attempting to steal from me?" I shake my head.
"No, if there is one rule, it's that when one welcomes you into their home, you do not steal from them, or at least you try not to… The raiders are rather rude fellows. And in all honesty, I have no idea why I'm here…"
The large thing then lays down in front of me, with every breath blowing out a lot of smoke.
"Oh joy, another traveler. It's always so very interesting when I find one… I am Calduin, the God of dragons… the bringer of domination and supremacy. I am he that has taken the principles of the Omniverse and made them my own. Tell me your name, traveler…" With each word, I feel the weight in the room growing even heavier.
"Sadly, I do not have one… I have not done much of renown to earn one…"
The dragon is seemingly surprised, and in the next second, one of its large hands places itself under me and lifts me up closer to its face.
"You… you are not lying, but how can something have no name? Tell me of your story, young traveler."
I didn't think I was that young. I had survived dozens of winters, but in the face of the possible God, I really must be a child.
"The story itself would be rather boring, so forgive me if it isn't up to par…"
The dragon then places my body on top of its head.
"There is no story that is boring. Every life is worth something. Even the lowest wretch deserves a name, even if it's something to identify and to hate or revile…"
I simply began to speak and told him the history that I knew… Many winters ago, the world died. It was an age of stone and steel. The people there grew tired of feeling like lessers to the few. And throughout the years, they formed a group with no name other than what was given to them.
The name they were given was simply the Harbingers… As the history states, it took them six months to form, six days to make the world stand still, and six hours for everything to fall apart.
They first targeted the power centers, and as all the lights went out, the world fell into chaos. And if things couldn't get worse, the satellites began to fall from the sky, and in doing so, they triggered nuclear meltdowns in multiple power plants, causing immense environmental damage…
Within the next few hours, they destroyed multiple miles of glaciers, causing the oceans to rise and swallow the coastal cities. Thinking that it was simply an attack from hostile nations, and others thinking the world was ending, weapons of mass destruction were deployed, causing any remaining infrastructure to be destroyed.
And so it was, the world was left flooded, irradiated, and nearly lifeless… Those that remained were left to die slowly due to radiation. Looting and pillaging became commonplace. Everything died within a single year.
Years after, it would simply be known as the Year of the Harbinger, and when I asked why they did this… some would say that they grew bored, others say it was due to apathy and hatred and envy… the wickedness of the oppressed, or simply the apathy of those that did not want to continue to exist and wanted to take everyone else with them.
New children that were born into this world were rarely even given names and were oftentimes sold to raiders or other camps for rapidly fading supplies and arms… The only thing that remained were a few relics from the Age of Steel.
Books, entertainment, and other forms of media remained, as, funnily enough, one of the few places that was not looted immediately were places of knowledge. Most people, however, were still barely able to speak any language and simply acted on instinct.
I was simply a bit different. I often shared any food I found, and when they took pieces of my body to sell, I did not hate them for it, and that is how I lost my left eye and right arm, as well as my left leg.
"You did not hate them for taking pieces of your body?" The dragon seemed almost baffled.
"Why would I? Nothing in this age was truly ever personal. They saw that I was weaker than they were, and they took my body to use for themselves… In the end, I guess I simply wanted more to survive than myself… It was a lonely and cold world… Some would take to burning dozens of bodies just to feel a bit of warmth."
I can feel my heartbeat begin to slow… I realize it now… I am fading…
Yet in the very next moment, a very small part of one of his claws touches my chest, and I feel the breath begin to flow back into my lungs…
"I will not have you dying on me just yet. Looking you over, you are in rough shape, to say the least. It's a wonder you survived for so long, a testament to your will, perhaps."
I chuckled.
"More like a testament to my stubbornness, because if I died, who would be there to share their bounty… My story is but one of many millions, and while I will be saddened to see it end so soon, I am hopeful…"
The dragon then lifts me in front of its eye, with it glowing in a yellow and red light.
"From the way you make it sound, your civilization is but one step away from extinction… I apologize for the state that they are in…"
I simply shook my head.
"It's not your fault. In truth, we did this to ourselves, even if I was not there, even if what I told you was not the truth. It matters little, as the deeds have been done. But thank you for listening. It's nice to know that someone will remember me, even if for just a moment."
It was quiet after I said that for a decently long while.
Then, once the silence had been broken, the dragon stood up and outstretched its wings. They also glow in that red and golden light, and in the very next moment, I found myself flying…
Around us, the stars seemed to warp and glow in equal measure, the universe itself unfolding before us…
No words were said, and even in the depths of space, I felt more comfort than I ever did before…
But soon enough, he again heard the dragon's voice in his mind. "You lack pride, young traveler… You lack self-worth. I can feel that even if you dropped dead, you would forgive Death for being unfair…"
"I would simply apologize for the inconvenience. I imagine Death doesn't have a fun job…"
I could almost hear the dragon begin to laugh at my response.
In the very next moment, we landed on a different planet, and in that moment, I was stunned. I saw colors that had not been seen for decades. I saw greens and blues and whites and so many more… I felt the wetness on my face as I realized that even the small bit of space where I reside, it wasn't the end… Life still went on… I always knew it would, but it's nice to be shown proof.
As I was taken from the dragon's head, I found myself floating in front of its full form. Its size was gargantuan, to say the least. Its whole body could be mistaken for an entire mountain. In truth, I was in awe. I assume the dragon could tell what I was thinking, as I could almost see him preening under the mental compliments.
"It is nice to be appreciated, and trust me, my form is much, much bigger than this, but if I were to reveal my true form, you would turn to dust in a nanosecond… But now I ask you what you wish to do."
Now I was the one who was confused.
"What do you mean? I assume I'm only being kept alive by whatever you just did. Is it not time for my end? While I did not mean to, I did break into your home."
The dragon simply waved its large hand, dismissing my statement.
"An ancient history, my friend."
The dismissal was almost irrefutably casual.
"It was literally only a couple of minutes ago…"
"No, in this case, I am curious. This whole conversation, you have simply thought of what you could do for others, but not what they could do for you, or in this case, what you could do for yourself… Many in your position would ask for my favor or part of my treasure… yet those thoughts have not even crossed your mind."
In truth, I hadn't even thought of asking for anything, but before I could ask my question, I was silenced.
"And no, you cannot ask for me to fix your world, as during our conversation I saw that your Earth was empty… In the time you've been gone, humanity has gone extinct… I am sorry."
I was stunned, to say the least. My eyes widened, and I thought back to the few that did help me, and in that moment, all I could really ask was one thing.
"Are they safe now, or are they still suffering?"
Once again, the dragon lifted its head towards the sky before bellowing out.
"Well, most of their souls have gone to their respective afterlives. Some have gone to paradise, others have been reincarnated, but you… only you have survived. Which is why I have an offer for you."
I have nothing left to lose by listening, and in the next moment, I find myself back in the cave, lying down in front of the dragon.
"Become my son… Join my dragonflight, and I can offer you power and the ability to truly live your life…"
"I am sorry, but why not offer this to someone else? Again, mine was a very boring tale?"
But in this case, the dragon placed a claw against the palm of one of its hands, and from it came not blood, but something else.
"In the most simple terms, because I can. To be a dragon is to be free, but to be the strongest is to be truly content. In the time we have been talking, my existence has given birth to hundreds of worlds, which I've lived for millions of years already… The world that I took you to was but one of trillions… yet I create very few dragons, for due to my power, I have to choose very carefully."
But I again ask myself, why me?
"Because from what I've heard, you legitimately do not understand the worth of your life, and a man cannot die without understanding everything he is missing… So, in this case, I curse you with life… You shall learn to live, laugh, and love. In my name, I curse you. In my selfish wish, you shall live, despise me, hate me. It does not matter. Once we meet again, we shall have words and maybe even come to blows. It's been a while since I've had a good fight…"
The cavern began to spin as whatever liquid came from the dragon was placed on my chest.
Before I could say a word to refuse or even agree, the liquid covered my entire body, and then the next moment I found myself floating amongst an almost endless expanse of stars. An infinite universe stretched itself out before me… and again I heard his voice as well as his boisterous laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAH! TRULY MARVELOUS! I have seen many dragons in my day, but you… your power is unique… It is not one but many, yet also nothing… You are the choice… you are life… you are potential given form… you are a fact of existence. No, you are an inevitability… I welcome you, blood of the dragon… I welcome you, Lok-Sulyek, the dragon of powers… We will meet again, and it will be a battle like none other before… Now be gone from my sight and learn to live… not for others or some semblance of community, but for selfish desires, love, lust, become envious, desire power amongst everything else…"
With every word, the stars grew brighter and brighter, and I began to fall and fall and fall.
I tried to scream, yet I felt like I was being squeezed into something, and as the sensations became too much, my consciousness faded… and I wondered whether or not I had inadvertently found my first enemy, or my greatest friend.
And the first thing I would notice upon opening my eyes is the scent of blood, and the feeling of a sword in my gut…
(Essences Used: Royal Sum/Power Manipulation+/Lewd Perks)
(Inspired By The D20 Essence Challenge)