Well, this day could have been a lot better.

We were all rudely awakened by one of the elder as he screamed that he had seen the swarm on the horizon.

Making everyone swarm around to get into position.

Hehe, swarm around.

Anyway, we’ve moved up to the wall. Staring out into the mass of rats. And I got to say, it’s mildly terrifying.

And...

A bit gut wrenching.

I think this is my fault.

I’ve brought this upon everyone.

Maybe?

I can’t say for sure, but I would not be surprised if I had.

At least the view up here is cool, sitting with my feet dangling off the edge.

A cool breeze floating past me, closing my eyes as I tried to enjoy the moment.

A whoosh sounded above me, making me open my eyes in alert.

But scanning around I did not see what had caused the noise.

Is someone practicing shooting?

That’s smart, getting the exact range for how far the arrows can go. I should try that.

So I stood up, taking out my bow and readying an arrow.

Only to be interrupted by a sword flying past.

What the-

I looked back, seeing the big centaur waving at me.

Then, pointing down at the ground with a neutral expression.

What?

Seeing my confusion, he visibly sighed. Pointing down again, but more vigorously.

What the heck is he doing?

“Maybe he wants to fight with us?”

Mister Butler suddenly said, making me come out of my thoughts for a moment to respond to him.

“Oh, erm.. No I dont think so. He’s not the kind off guy that fights..

Wait.

The swarm, Rats.

What are Rats good at?

Digging...

Oh no.

“They are below us”

And just as I said that, an ear-shattering roar erupted from the middle of our castle.

Mud and dirt flying in every direction, making me steel myself.

I took my eyes away from the explosion, looking around and seeing the Fauns in a daze, all looking shocked.

“Get down from the wall! We have to get the hell out of here!”

I screamed, making the better part of everyone shake the shock away.

I then ran off into a sprint down the stairs. Not even glancing back to see if anyone was following me.

While running, the elders glided down with little resistance. Quickly joining up with the centaurs as they built sloppy defences.

And soon after, I made it down absurdly quickly. Shooting arrow after arrow with only speed in mind, imbuing small part of my mana to create piercing arrows.

I kept on running, aiming to get to the centaurs before they did something stupid. And by their loud yelling and pumping with their swords, it looked like it could happen at any second.

“Dont fight! We have to go!”

I yelled out, luckily, close enough for one of them to hear.

“Where?! The Lizards block our path!”

“Out there, then we’ll run around!”

I said back, pointing with my bow to the wall. Seeing his eye look up to the wall, I resumed shooting the lizards.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed someone move closer.

Looking towards it, I saw an elder moving up to us, saying

“Out there is the swarm.”

You don’t think I don't know that already?

“They are still several miles away. We can run in their direction, then switch and run away!”

“We have to go!”

Someone else said as they joined our group.

Turning my head to the new person, I saw mister Butler. I nodded at him then looked back to the elder. Who seemed dissatisfied with what he had said.

“Where?”

“Out, follow the Human.”

Mister Butler responded quickly, pointing at me with a stern face.

To which the elder nodded with a grim expression, making a big wave motion for the other elders to follow him.

“Enemy of stepp is here. Can’t run, must defend stepp”

One centaur said, speaking up.

“You dense shit! You’ll die! You can figh-“

“No, stepp in danger, I must defend it”

Mister Butler said, but got interrupted by the centaur.

Making me feel frustrated.

We don’t have time for this!

“We have to go, now!”

I said, pulling at mister Butler to get his attention, quickly adding.

“I can’t do earth magic, I’ll need you guys to tunnel us out.”

To which we all started to move.

I glanced back quickly, finding my mind wandering into dark places.

A silence between us, but the arrows still flew.

I glanced up to the other fauns, seeing them firing their own arrows at the lizards.

But as we came closer to the wall, I noticed that the other fauns were slow.

If it continued like this, they would not make it before the lizards reached the walls.

“We’ll wait here, take up position as we hold them off.”

One elder seemed to not like that idea, coming up close to me and yelling.

“No! We have to go now! If we stay, we die! Who’ll inform the rest of the army? What about the plan?”

“The plan? I dont give a shit about the plan if everyone’s dead. We are not leaving them to their death.”

“We’ll have too, you’ll just doom us if we wait.”

“I WON'T LEAVE THEM”

“THEN WE’LL LEAVE YOU”

The elder and I screamed at each other, none gaining any ground. Luckily, mister Butler stepped in between us and said.

“Go! I’ll stay with the human while you inform the rest of the army.”

The Elders looked shocked at that, then worried, and finally ending on horrified.

Shifting between expression within a single second.

“No-“

“You do as I say!”

Mister Butler quickly said, making the elders take a step back in shock, but then bowing quickly, running off. Creating a tunnel as they ran away.

But I wasn’t looking at them, I was focusing on the enemy in front of us. Letting arrow after arrow fly as I tried to kill those that were closest to the attacking centaurs. Trying to ease their burden.

But as the fighting went on, the centaurs steadily lost numbers. One by one, falling to the ground, never to rise again.

Arrow after arrow continued to fly nonetheless, trying not to think too hard as the lizards numbers didn’t seem to decrease in the slightest.

A quick glance up made me see how little progress the other fauns had made.

Dammit, this is not good at all.

Then I felt something drag me backwards, making me curse silently in my head as I quickly turned to who it was.

And to my surprise, it was mister Butler. A grim face plastered on him as he dragged me towards the wall.

“What are you doing?”

I asked, but getting nothing in response. So I tried to shake him off, but he held on tight, his hands growing unnaturally hard. I tried to snake my way out his grip, it didn’t falter.

“Let me go!”

I yelled, struggling even harder against him. Pushing and pulling, nothing happening.

“I SAID LET ME GO!”

I screamed instead, starting to punch him as I noticed where we were going.

No! What are you doing!

We can’t leave them, we have to save them, we can still do this!

Let me go!

I stared daggers at him as we continued walking towards the wall, then I noticed the big centaur to the side of my view. Looking down on me with a angry expression on his face.

I tried to plead with him, looking towards him as I hit mister Butler.

But getting on his good side was like trying to flirt with a rock. Impossible.

Then I suddenly felt myself thrust backwards. Finding myself standing outside the walls.

A second passed as I stood there with an open mouth, looking wide eyed at mister Butler, who stared back with gloomy eyes.

Then the hole closed up, making me scream out in surprise and anger. Flailing at the surprisingly solid mud wall.

Clawing, punching and kicking at it as i tried to get myself in again.

But once more, I was dragged back. A solid tug and then a pull from a new unknown. Looking to the source I saw the big centaur lift me up in a princess carry.

“LET ME GO! WE HAVE TO SAVE THEM!”

I screamed at him, turning my aggression towards him instead of the wall. Trying to fight his grip, but finding it equally impossible as when I tried to fight mister Butler.

What the hell.

Why are you doing this?

We have to save them!

But I didn’t voice my thoughts, only continuing to try to break free. But only finding myself further and further away from the wall.

I don't know how long I tried to get myself out.

But the sound of battle had steadily moved its way up to the wall.

Making me glance up there to see what was going on.

Continuing my struggle in the tight embrace of the big centaur.

Then something moved to our side of the wall, giving me a good look at it.

I couldn’t really see what or who it was. But somehow it felt familiar.

It was definitely a Faun, not big enough to be a lizard.

I felt relief wash over me, thinking. If they are standing up there, they will probably jump down, and mister butler will slow their fall.

Or they would slowly climb down.

Or.. anything.

I was begging in my mind, begging for anything. As long as they can make it out of there alive, then we can do anything.

Fuck the swarm, we can outrun them

Fuck the Lizards, we’ll outrun them too

As long as we’re together, we can do anything.

Then my relief washed away, I recognised the Faun on top of the wall.

It was mister Butler, and he looked

Calm?

He wasn’t doing anything, letting his bow rest on his side.

What are you doing?!

I screamed in my head.

You got to run! Come on, jump down, make those earth platforms. We can come and catch you.

I tugged harder at the big centaur, trying to make him run towards the wall.

Come on, we got to save him. We got to do something!

Why is everyone giving up? We haven’t done everything yet!

Come on.

I thought, staring intently at mister Butler.

Still unmoving.

Come on, do something!

I was about to scream at him, tell him to jump.

But my scream got stuck in my throat.

As something entered and left his stomach.

Making him tumble down the wall

And hitting the ground with a distant thump.

I looked back up, seeing a huge lizard with a bloodied spear in his hand. Holding it up in a victorious pose.

I stared down again, looking at the unmoving body of mister Butler.

“No”

Mind slowing down

Thoughts not really forming

Nothing really forming

A sort of

Emptiness.

I blankly stared, thoughts passing.

The big centaur had stopped. Looking down at me.

But I paid him no mind.

I just continued staring.

And slowly

Oh so slowly.

I was brought back.

Mind realising what happened

Making my entire being shake

No

Nononononono

Nononononon

Nonononononono

Nonononononon

NONONONONONONO

Nothing else occupied my mind, going into overdrive as I denied what I could see with my eyes.

This isn’t happening.

This is just a dream.

This...

I shook.

Then struggling, fighting against the tight grasp of the big centaur

“No! No! Let me go! I have to save him! I have to save him! He needs me! Let me go-”

I droned on in an futile attempt to deny reality

I fought the big centaurs, struggling against him.

Screaming loudly into the empty air

But nothing changed

His body remained unmoving

A pool of blood forming around it

And I stopped.

I stopped screaming.

Stopped struggling

Yeah.

Why should I struggle?

This is how it is

This is my life.

This is how it’s always been like.

“I don’t want this”

I never wanted this

“I can’t to this”

I never could

“I can't go on”

Why have i for so long?

“I can't... live no more”

I just

Can’t.

There’s nothing left for me.

I only bring suffering and pain onto others.

I’m

Worthless.

Then I felt the wind rush past me.

Something I paid no mind to, nothing for me to consider

Why should i?

We are probably running away.

Away to safety

Safety?

What is safety when my mind is my prison?

But I still looked up.

Feeling my body drain of colour as we neared mister Butlers body.

My eyes went wide

Staring at it

And as we come close, I felt the big centaur drop me.

To which I quickly ran up to mister Butlers body, but was pushed back by a big hand.

“What are you doing!”

I screamed at him, but stopped. Seeing a smile

A first from him.

Then he shrank.

Literally

As his body burst into flames

And took the form of a phoenix.

The phoenix bent down with its slender neck, touching its beak on the forehead of mister Butler.

A bright light emanated from it, the colour of the rainbow splashing around as if being a physical force

Like the ripples in water.

Then swiftly turning to a storm of colours. Going in all directions as it danced around in the air.

But my eyes were fixed on mister Butler

Seeing the wound on his stomach close, and the back of his head heal.

Going back to his normal, usual Faunish self.

And then his chest lifted slowly. Then sunk just as slowly. Repeating itself over and over

As if he was in deep sleep.

The light show stopped, the phoenix lifting its head as it took three shaky steps backwards.

Then, slowly, looking up at me. Staying silent.

“Dragon?”

I asked, voice shaky. Still hoarse from all the screaming.

“Yes”

A mixture of anger, relief, pain and disbelief washed over me.

I stared at him, mouth open, seeking words but not finding any.

But I didn’t need to speak, as the dragon spoke first.

“Human, I am very weak right now. You have to carry the Faun as we make our way out of here. If they come close, I will do my best to hold them off.”

Speaking as if everything was perfectly normal

But nothing about this was normal.

What just happened

I saw mister Butler die.

He died!

And now he’s not?

And it was the dragon who saved him.

And he was the big centaur

Has he always been the big centaur?

What the hell is going on.

Dragon seemed to notice my hesitation, as he added

“Human?”

Letting his worry seep into his words.

Something that sounded weird coming from him.

I let the question linger in the air, trying to wrap my thoughts. Collecting them and processing them.

“Why are you here?”

I asked with ill-hidden distrust.

Almost whispering out the words.

“I have been watching you.”

Watching me?

Like, like some lab rat?

Are you kidding me?

“Why”

Feeling the grip on my bow tighten, eyes narrow

Nothing existed at this moment but me and the dragon.

The swarm merely a distant memory

The lizards a bad thought.

The dragon took another shaky step back. Still looking up at me.

“Can we speak about this later, we sh-“

“NO! WE SPEAK NOW YOU SHIT!”

The dragon stood in place, looking shaky but remaining silent.

“Why would you kill him? Why would you leave me... Why?”

The dragon continued to stare up at me. With the form of a phoenix, it was impossible to read his emotions.

Making me grow even angrier.

Then he spoke lightly.

“I am sorry.”

Three words.

Three simple words, but extremely powerful as they came from the dragon’s mouth.

I stood in shock, repeating those three words in my head.

Then he spoke again, louder than before.

“I have been thinking, thinking and thinking. Human, I have lived for so very long. I have experienced so very much, done so much.”

Letting his head drop, body shaking slightly as he took a step to balance his unsteady body.

“I thought I had done everything there was to do, experienced everything there was to experience.”

Looking up to me, he met my eyes.

Seeing a mixture of confusion and anger.

“Then I met you”

Going silent for a second

“Such a foolish little Human. You stared me down in that cave, no fear, asking me such a stupid question.”

He then took his eyes away from me, looking up, staring to the sky.

“But I felt something then, something I would vehemently deny. But I felt something.”

The fire on his body dissipated, going dim as he continued speaking.

“You took me on an adventure. I got to know you. Found great entertainment from you. Hehe, to think a mere Mortal would bring me such... Joy”

His body stared expanding, feathers turning to scales and eyes to narrow pupils.

“Feelings I once thought buried started to resurface. I tried to deny it at first. But once we... Had our first fight. I could not deny them.”

He expanded quickly, going up to the middle point of the wall.

But his head stayed near the ground, staring deeply into my eyes.

“I found myself drawn to you, I needed you-“

“STOP!”

I screamed, stopping his little speech. Feeling my hands quiver around the bow.

The other holding an arrow.

“stop”

I whispered.

“You can’t do that.”

A tear streaking down my face

“I had prepared myself”

Letting my head fall down to my chest.

“I was gonna kill you”

The dragon had grown to his full height, blue scales and shining eyes.

Easily able to tower far above the wall, but letting his head rest on the ground. Staring at me with one big eye.

“Human, I deserve death.”

I opened my eyes in surprise, staring at his one eye.

“But before that, I have to tell you something, do something. Would you please let me?”

My hands shook at that, another tear falling

I couldn’t hold my eyes open, as they slowly teared up.

But I felt something from his words.

A pleading, begging, desperate.

So I nodded meekly.

“You changed me Human, I have been such a fool. I have been thinking about no one but myself.”

His eye blinking once, shining brighter than the sun.

“I have learned to treasure those I like.”

He breathed out, a flicker of a flame coming out.

“You have taught me to love again. To feel empathy. And for that. Thank you... And I am so, so very sorry. My dear little Human.”

He paused again, his eyes blinking faster than I’ve ever seen them do before.

“I wish I could rewind time. I wish that so very much. Human, I have made so many mistakes throughout my life, and I am so sorry that you had to suffer through some of them.”

And he went silent.

Making me look at his big eye.

I took a step back, my eyes wet from the earlier tears.

“Why… Why do you do this to me?”

I asked him, but getting nothing but a blink in response.

“I was ready to kill you.”

I blinked.

“You were my friend”

“I want to be that again.”

A step back at his words.

Like a weight of iron being pressed into my chest.

No, no, it’s too late.

It doesn’t matter if you’re sorry.

I have to kill you.

I have to stop this.

This is my destiny.

My purpose in life

I wanted to change it, but...

Why do you have to make it so hard?

My tears flowed down, blurring my vision.

“Human, why do you cry?”

Taking me off-guard by his question, answering it without thinking.

“Because my destiny was to kill you”

“Why?”

“So that the world would stop killing all those that I love”

“Why would it do such a thing?”

“Because the world hates you”

The dragon went silent at that.

Taking a deep breath

Then letting it blow out

And resonating out a loud bellowing laughter.

A beautiful laugh.

“Ahahahahaha! Oh Human, why have you said nothing? The world is nothing but an obstacle in my path!”

He then rose to his full height, spreading his wings far above him as he gazed down at me.

“Human! You will never again have to fear. For I shall always keep you, and anyone you deem a friend, safe. I swear it upon my life.”

He then turned upwards, letting a big stream of blue flames paint the clouds above as he shouted.

“Nothing can stop me from protecting you! Fuck destiny! Fuck the world! I will do anything to keep you happy.”

Stopping his flames, letting his head fall down again as it connected with the ground, his eye staring at me

“Human, I am your Immortal Dragon”

He then bared his teeth, showing what I can only call a smile.

“And you are my Dragon girl.”

To which I dropped my bow and arrow. Falling down on my knees and cried loudly into my hands.

The entire day being one rollercoaster of emotions

No

Rather these months have been a rollercoaster of emotions.

So much has happened.

So much that can’t be taken back

But

I still felt relief.

And a warm feeling.

I was safe.

Mister Dragon would keep me safe.

And I cried

But not sad tears

Happy tears.

With mister Dragon leaning forward, embracing me with his big head. Letting me hug him as I dirtied his scales with snot and tears.

And suddenly.

Everything felt all right.