Ever Living Peace

“A stone dragon in the vicinity… How interesting. Besides the abnormal healing abilities of this being, perhaps, it's a good opportunity to try once more the domestication process…” I tell the reporteress, as I stare down at the ocean from the glass wall of my tower. “Another dragon in the castle… Brings back memories… Memories of him… Or rather, it.” I roll my eyes.

“M-My… My lord?”

“Continue your report.” I stutter looking over my shoulder and towards her, gesticulating so she can move on, then fixing my glasses as I stare back at the window.

“Hum… As I was saying… The village is of no value, but the council would appreciate.”

I sigh, massaging my forehead with three fingers as I close my eyes, pissed off from just having them mentioned. She continues:

“...Hero’s already there and--”

I quickly turn to face her, supporting myself on the table with so much force it breaks. I look at her, boiling, until I sigh all the air out of my lungs.

“Give me a break… How annoying. I'll go myself. Tell the others to fix my table and I’ll handle the rest.” I walk towards the exit of the room, grabbing and putting on my hat just before I leave through the door. The girl stays silent, upright and saluting me as I pass by her.

“Off to fetch the dragon, and try not to let Hero destroy everything while there.” I think to myself as I strap my gear on the salamander, petting it trying to calm my nerves.

The other 6 soldiers I assigned to the capture mission follow me through the deployment hall, mounted on their heavily-geared salamanders. The wind is still, and the sun slowly crawls out from behind the clouds, showing itself and shining above, reflecting it's light on my armor.

From afar I spot the village and take my binoculars out, scanning the area: "Few corpses, several buildings destroyed, hundreds of zombies and a hypnotized crowd cheering and looking at… ugh." I put away the binoculars and sigh just before informing my men:

“He is coming towards us. Brace yourselves. Keep an eye out for flares, I’ll be on the lookout. Scramble.”

“Yes, general!” The scouts affirm and the salamanders follow their shouts with a hiss.

I reach the village alone, and just before the salamander gets closer, I jump off it, and it backs away, turning invisible in the blink of an eye. I start scanning the variety of rare stones the creature left on its trail. I head straight for the dragon.

The only moment I look up, is to shoot a bomb at the zombie blocking my way. My eyes go back to the road, I can only hear a chorus of high pitched screams, running in my direction as I approach.

“Hiro! Hiro! Hiro!”

I still do not look up. “Brainless animals. They could all be safe somewhere far from here, but they decide to stay to cheer and watch the fight.” I think to myself as I shake my head.

Before I can look at the dragon, I see the body sized blade in front of me and I sigh hard.

"Speaking of brainless animals…"

“Nobody called! Sorry, you were too late, my troops already got here first. Don’t you see they already feel safe and saved?” He says smiling as I ignore it sourly.

“And what makes you think that? We are not children, ‘firsts’ mean shit. I was just pacing around when I saw your recklessness. I’ve got it all under control, and we’ll capture it sooner than you can raise one more useless puppet.”

I shoot the flare up in the sky in the direction of the dragon. I look back at him, I hate how no matter what I say, his stupid smile stays on, like nothing can pierce his empty brain at all.

“The creature deserves a better destiny than to be captured by you and turned into a weapon… I’ll be fairer with it… I’ll kill it.”

“No creature deserves to rot and become an empty shell of its former self, a slave to your will. I’m here to save these people, contain the dragon… And save it from you.”

He giggles like a maniac, I don’t have time for this. I need to capture the dragon before it escapes.

“You know what? You’re right. Firsts don’t mean shit, great idea, let’s cooperate!“ I look back at him to see that devious smirk again, I gulp. “Do everyone a favor then…Everyone’s injured, I’m only good when they’re already dead…You’re a bloody doctor. So, either call me when it’s too late for them, or, be useful while the knight here takes on the dragon, huh? A great idea!!” He rolls his eyes, smiling like who is loving it.

I hate it when he is right, even if it's about me aiding the people. I grind my teeth while walking towards the Dragon, in no way am I letting him have it. I can’t let him find out what the dragon is for.

“For once you’ve used your brain… Leave the living for me to heal and not for you to throw away... But you, killing a dragon?” I chuckle “…Kinda funny, good humor.“ I walk past him, I don’t even pay attention to what he has to say next, I just keep walking towards the dragon until I notice he is still following along, not letting me leave him behind.

"He can't... He can't be after the dragon for the same reasons as me..."

I cannot let him win. War against the rotting necromancer shall be a small price to pay for immortality.