The Dragon of Wisdom

"Awaken, boy - there is much to be done."

The deep, otherworldly voice seem to boom and echo infinitely. It was easily enough to stir Itsuki from his slumber and cause him to shoot upright. 

He was no longer chained or in his cell. Instead, he sat in what appeared to be a small pool of liquid. It was about two inches deep and seem to extend in all directions into infinity. The entire place was disturbingly serene, as the night sky above illuminated the water with stars and distant galaxies. 

What grabbed his attention most, though, was none of these things. Instead, it was the large, glowing creature that sat a few yards in the distance. His eyes widened as his brain recognized it from fantasy stories. Lying there - about the size of a building - was a glowing, golden dragon. 

"What...are you?"

The creature, clearly aware of Itsuki's presence, released a sound that was somewhere between a grumble and a scoff. 

"If that's the first question you ask, then perhaps I chose poorly."

The word chose stuck in Itsuki's mind for a moment. He looked down to his chest and saw that the golden insignia was still there. It was not a huge leap to figure out the intermediate details. 

"You gave me this," Itsuki surmised aloud. "You're responsible for me being here, then?"

"Much better," the dragon replied, finally deciding to stand up and show its full size. 

"Why, though?" Itsuki asked. "Why bring me to a world that is intent on executing me? What about my friends? Why should I..."

"SILENCE."

Itsuki immediately shut his mouth. The command did not simply come from the dragon's being. It was as if the entire realm around him had spoken at once. 

"You are not here to question; only to listen," the dragon continued. "The people of this world have fallen to depravity. They have escaped oblivion, yet squander their second chance by indulging foolish mortal vices. It is time that the people of these lands be judged."

"Judged," Itsuki murmured to himself. "That is this duty you would have me fill, then?"

Itsuki realized a bit late that he had been told no questions. The dragon glared at him momentarily, then continued on. 

"While you may lack many traits, it does not seem that Wisdom illudes you," the dragon sat back down. "Go, then, and use Wisdom as your compass. See what this world has to offer, and decide which parts of it should remain and which should be removed."

It was a fascinating situation that Itsuki seemed to have landed himself within. His mind immediately returned back to the cell he had been in before falling asleep for the night. How was he meant to 'judge the world' from within that cell? He wasn't fighting his way through all those guards, and his execution was only a couple of days away. Even then, where would he go? 

"If you can overcome this ordeal, then you will remain worthy of being my arbiter," the dragon spoke as if able to see right into Itsuki's mind. "Perhaps then, as you begin your true purpose, the fates of those who were with you will become clear."

Those words bore into Itsuki's mind and struck him like a shot of caffeine. Unsure of nothing else, he was immediately aware of what the creature had been suggesting. 

"Shin and Amane," he announced, momentarily uncaring of the dragon's decree not to question. "They're here? How do I..."

He was cut off as a vibrant flash of light blinded him. He covered his eyes and took a step back, no longer able to perceive anything around him. 

"This world's knowledge is yours to command," the dragon's voice echoed once more as Itsuki began to fade. "Show me what Wisdom can do."

***

Itsuki lurched off of the floor, awaking violently like a nightmare had just ended. His chest burned in pain from his sudden movement, but his attention was grabbed by the muffled "Yeep!" that he had heard just nearby. He turned and saw Yuna, butt on the ground from falling backwards, sitting there with his tray in hand. 

"I'm sorry," he stood and made his way over to the cell door. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"No, it's fine," Yuna replied after collecting herself. "I should've been more quiet is all. You wouldn't have been the first prisoner to attack me when getting brought food."

"That's horrible!" Itsuki knelt down to where she sat, across the bars from him. "The guards don't protect you?"

"They typically leave when I'm in here doing chores," she admitted. "I believe they're hoping a prisoner will take advantage and assault me. That way, they have a reason to expedite the execution."

Itsuki grabbed the bars with fury. What a horrible place he had found himself in! If it was judgment that was his duty, then this place would meet a horrible end...

That's when the full extent of his dream started to play back in his mind. The pool, the dragon, the role as a judge and arbiter for this world. He stared blankly at Yuna as he re-processed the information he had been given. 

"Is everything okay?" Yuna asked, approaching once again. 

Itsuki was brought back to reality as a warm, gentle hand touched his forehead. Yuna seemed to be checking whether his temperature was normal or not, apparently a method that this world shared with his. Still, it was the first time he had made physical contact with a girl, and it made his heart skip a bit. 

"Y...yeah, I'm fine," he stammered, instinctively pulling away a bit. "You're...very trusting, you know that? What if I had attacked you just now?"

Yuna seemed startled by the question initially, but her expression softened. It became replaced with the warm smile and gentle gaze he had come to appreciate from her during each of her visits. 

"I trust you," she admitted. "Some of us still believe in heroes, after all."

Right; heroes. Itsuki pulled himself together - this wasn't the time for daydreaming. 

"This thing on my chest. What is it? I know they called it a 'god-mark' but what is it actually?"

"I don't know what stories these people tell," Yuna admitted. "However, I grew up being told that god-marks were given to those blessed by one of the gods. Summoned heroes would always bear them, and even some of those from the Fallen Lands would receive one if they served the gods dutifully. Yours is the insignia of Bahamut, the Dragon of Wisdom."

That made way too much sense. However slowly and chaotically, things were started to make more sense to him. He was here for a purpose, and he needed to do something to get out of the grasp of these delusional knights. He thought for a moment, reflecting on every word that he had been told by Bahamut. Chosen judge, mortal vices, second chances...

The world's knowledge is yours to command. 

"Yuna!" Itsuki exclaimed, a bit too excitedly. "This place that we're in. Does it have any sort of library or archive?"

"Umm..." she stuttered, a bit surprised by his sudden burst of energy. "There is a ruined library just outside the settlement perimeter. Nobody here really cares much for old books, but I like to sneak in there in read them when I can..."

"That's great!" Itsuki exclaimed, getting a little closer to Yuna's face. "Is there anything in there regarding the history of this place and it's people? Cultures, laws, historical events?"

"I'm sure there's something there...Why the sudden interest, though?"

As Itsuki's plan began to form in his mind, he began to hit the brakes a bit. He realized what he was planning, regardless of the hope it gave him, relied solely on the girl in front of him. He also knew that being a slave, the thing he intended to ask for was going to put her at great risk. He didn't like the idea of putting Yuna in harm's way, but he wasn't sure what other choice he had. 

"Is there any chance you'd be willing to get them to me?" he asked, his tone more settled and serious. "Even just one to start. I know I'm asking you to risk your neck for someone that you just met, but I think it's the best path forward."

His mind flashed back to the last time he had opened up and become vulnerable to a girl. While it was interrupted by an otherworldly event, it was headed towards rejection. He prepared himself for it again - for the one person he desperately needed to agree to his request. Her response, while surprising, was unexpected. 

"I'll do my best," she nodded in agreement. "The guards don't monitor the library often, and they don't remain here when I bring in food."

Before Itsuki could question her decision out of surprise, she put a finger up to his mouth. 

"No, I don't mind the risk," she preemptively spoke. "I'm a slave. They can't do more to me than they already have. You're the first real interaction I've had in a long time. I want to enjoy your excitement for as long as I can."

The words hit Itsuki harder than he expected. A tear began to roll down his cheek, which he quickly wiped away. 

"Thank you, Yuna. I promise I'll make it count."