The Fool's Staff

I flew back and landed on my rear when our connection to the dragon’s memories were severed. I rubbed the sore part of my body I had just landed on while I got to me feet with some difficulty. The dragon had a dazed look on his face as he reeled from the memories. I abruptly patted my pockets and checked my belt. The divine objects were still with me. I looked around the ground but didn’t see the staff I had been holding.

“Hmm, those memories... How long ago did those events transpire? Alas, now you see what has led me here and why the world has no place for one such as me.”

“Sir Dragon, you speak nonsense,” Marisa said with a stern tone and wag of her finger. “I saw a spirit that has meaning but has simply lost his way.”

“Hmm, you say that and yet I do not believe that I ever had a path to follow. There was no ‘way’ for me to lose. You saw those memories; tell me, where did a way for me begin?”

“It was at the ringed city that was beset by the forces of evil.”

“Hmm, ah yes. How long ago did that happen? Where was that city...? And what would you have had me do, young lady?”

“Anything to help the townsmen. Anything other than fleeing in fear.”

“Hmm. A saviour is not who I am. I am a coward that is shunned by the world.”

“But only because you shirk your duty. You were granted superb powers by the World-Order.”

Try as she might, Marisa couldn’t breakthrough to the obstinate dragon. He had been alone for so long that he couldn’t see the help being offered right in front of him.

I placed a hand on her shoulder letting her know I wanted to try speaking with the dragon. “Dragon, why do you think that cloud chased you?”

“Hmm, I cannot say. Was that my memory? Was that my origin? Was I cursed by the universe?”

“If I had to guess, yes. You failed to use your powers and have forgotten your purpose. But regardless of all that, we are here now to help you.”

“My purpose...And what would that be? What powers do I possess other than accumulating this sickening gold?”

“You have passion.”

“Passion? Passion!? Ha! Boy, what does passion have to do with this?”

“You have passion of will. Do you not remember this? In the city centre you had a boundless source of energy. You discarded it and ran, and you ran for years until you once again found yourself before a city. Maybe this is the same city you abandoned, I don’t know. Even before the city, with your family you had a kind of will that you wished to impose.”

“You speak nonsense, boy. You and the lady.”

“No! I don’t. You are needed in the world! Can’t you see that?! You are to protect its inhabitants, Michon—Michon the Protector.”

The dragon’s eyes went wild when his name was spoken. Starting from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail, a wave coursed over his body and his scales stood on end as it moved through him. Then, with a flash of bright light, his scales dissipated and a man stood before us. He wore a red cape and a blue suit of armour. The man still had his dragon wings, though, they were smaller in size. The man looked about in a daze, flexing his hands and arms in disbelief.

“Woah...!” I said.

“Sir Dragon...?”

“No, Dragon am I no more. I have returned as Michon, the name you spoke. I have regained my senses, recovered my memories, restored my will. I remember my purpose. Listen, you three, I do not have much time before I will disappear, but let me thank you for breaking my curse. Let me right my wrong from that time long ago.”

His entire body glowed white and transformed into particles of light. They floated in the air for a moment, moving in small circles. When his entire body had become nothing but light, the particles coalesced into a staff. It hung suspended in front of me and I reached out to seize it. The white was wiped away, replaced by the wooden colour when I grabbed it.

A voice spoke to us not only in our heads but echoing throughout the cave. “Now I am the Fool’s Staff. Use me to complete your journey and help me atone for my failures. I will lend you what strength I have.”

“What do you mean? Michon?”

But there was no answer.

“Is he gone?”

“Not gone, Ferdinand. He has merely lost the power of speech but his spirit still lays in the staff.”

“We should return to the surface,” Luna said.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

We left the cave, reuniting with Grimnir and King Eulerich.

“Hoo-hoo, I see you have succeeded. Well done, you three.”

Grimnir let out a celebratory caw.

“Wode has no doubt gathered more strength in the interim. Soon, his terrible army of nixies, witches, alps, and evil spirits will be unleashed upon the world once more.”

“How are we going to stop him?” I asked.

“You have the four divine objects. We will travel to the spot where it all began and perform the sealing ritual. Let us go.”

We hopped on Grimnir’s back and set off for the barrier at the end of the world. It was the final task, the final battle. I steeled myself for what was to come next.