The Final Quest

I sat there, reflecting on the many years of practice - nearly fourteen years of it. The countless hours I had devoted to honing my skills, pushing my body to its absolute limit time and time again, mastering every technique I could find, and studying every aspect of combat. As I sat there, awaiting the final test, I felt no nerves or fear. Rather, I was filled with confidence, convinced that I would triumph over this test just as I had triumphed over all the others. And when it was all over, I would emerge victorious - as one of the greatest young warriors to have ever existed.

I rose to my feet, the head of the Ogre I had slain an hour ago still in my hand. It had been my second-to-last quest. You see, every new warrior was supposed to complete a set of tasks to prove themselves as one of the best. Most people gave up halfway, many died in the process, but most gave up at the last task - slaying a Dragon for its treasure. Besides the obvious reason that one had to slay a Dragon, it was also the most difficult because Dragons were not so easy to find until they wanted to be found. Some people spent decades in search of one and gave up in frustration. Others gave up soon after only a few years. After all, not everyone could be the best, right? But I was going to be one. I was going to keep searching for a dragon until I find one and show the world who I was.

I looked around me and took a deep breath. I stood in the middle of a forest that was infamous for being inhabited by the most dangerous creatures. The metallic scent of blood hung heavily in the still air, mingling with the pungent odor of the dead Ogre's body lying near my feet. I sheathed my sword once more and brought a compass out of my back pocket. I decided to move north, where Dragons had been sighted many times in the past.

My backpack was light, but its contents were vital: medicines and herbs, some ink and parchment, and a bit of food and water for emergencies. I wore a light armor made from Stargold, an unearthly metal said to have magical powers that enhance the wearer's strength and endurance while protecting them from both physical and magical attacks. I carried a 40-inch long Longsword, forged from a rare metal called Shadowsteel. The Soulreaper drew its power from the wielder's rage, becoming sharper and deadlier with each blow. Not everyone could handle the power of the blade, and it had taken me years and innumerable injuries to train with it.

With hope in my heart and determination in my mind, I set out towards my destiny: to become one of the greatest warriors in the world, and the youngest of them all.

This wasn't what I meant when I said I was going to slay a dragon for its treasure! It was so stupid and even more embarrassing!

It had been five years, four months, and twelve days since I had started on my last quest - to find and slay a dragon and get its treasure, and become the world's youngest and best warrior. It was more mentally exhausting than physically draining. Waking up every day, in the hope of finding a Dragon, searching every corner of the forest, entering each cave, battling monsters that crossed my path, only to make a camp at night - defeated. But my determination burned brighter than ever, and everyday that passed made me feel a little closer to my destiny. I slept on trees, hunted animals for food, and survived all the time alone in the forest - in the hope that one day, one day soon, I was going to complete my quest. But now this?

As the sun began to rise, I prepared for another day in the forest. I double-checked my supplies, did some stretching exercises, and cooked myself breakfast. As I sat down to document my adventures on a piece of parchment, I suddenly caught a glimpse of movement in the nearby bushes in my peripheral vision. Instinctively, I grabbed my sword and approached it with caution. I moved slowly and quietly, not wanting to startle whatever was inside the bushes. With the tip of my sword, I gently separated the foliage to reveal - a Dragon! But not just any Dragon, this one was tiny, it's body only a bit bigger than my palm. As it looked up at me and then down at its feet, I noticed the ancient silver coin clasped between its tiny claws.

At first, my heart sank with disappointment. After years of enduring countless hardships, it seemed almost insulting to find a Dragon so small. But that disappointment quickly turned to an unexplainable anger. I didn't know who or what I was angry at, but I was angry. According to the quest, any kind of Dragon would suffice and now this tiny creature was going to help me complete my quest. After all, a Dragon is a Dragon, no matter the size.

I readied my sword.

After a couple of hours, I realized that I was correct about at least one thing - a Dragon is a Dragon, no matter the size. The mischievous beast kept getting away from me, flying with the ancient coin clasped in its claws, and taking advantage of its small size to escape from my blade's fury. But its size didn't stop it from using its fiery breath to singe my eyebrows and hair. Or from dropping fruits and debris on my head. I even got a cut on my left cheek from the sting of its spiky tail.

My frustration was growing with every passing moment. I was prepared to slay a Dragon, a real one, one exponentially larger than this one and still I was getting thwarted by this tiny beast? No, this wasn't how it was going to end, the Dragon was going to pay for it.

I don't know at which point, but soon enough I snapped. I screamed a battle cry and burst into a full sprint after the Dragon. The wind whistled in my ears as I ran harder than ever, but it couldn't drown out the sound of my pounding heart. Everything was a blur in my vision, my eyes fixed only on the Dragon flying ahead of me. My sword wasn't just a weapon; it was a part of my body now, flashing through the air and clearing every obstacle in my path in a single strike. Fueled by rage, I ran harder than I ever had before.

Fueled by determination and adrenaline, I closed the distance between myself and the Dragon. Sensing my approach, the Dragon turned mid-air. Our eyes met in a silent challenge. It opened its mouth once again, and I knew what was coming. I dodged its fiery breath just in time and struck the Dragon with the flat of my blade.

The Dragon crashed into a nearby boulder, still alive but injured. I approached it, positioning the tip of my sword right at its neck just as it looked up. I was breathing heavily, the pounding in my ear was louder than ever, and I was drenched in sweat.

I was closer to completing my quest - reaching my destiny - than I had ever been. But something in the Dragon's eyes made me stop. They weren't angry - as I would have expected them to be - instead, they were terrified, and even more - confused. That's when it hit me. A Dragon is nearly impossible to find, unless it wants to be found. It chose to be found by me. It was probably just playing with me while I was busy trying to kill it.

I finally noticed my sword. It was darker than ever, almost like it was radiant Death. I was radiating Death. I looked around myself at the destruction I had caused and then back at the Dragon. I sighed. I pulled my sword back and calmed myself until it returned to its normal glow and then I sheathed it.

I sat down next to the Dragon, resting against the boulder, head hung low between my knees. I had been on a mission - a mission to kill the most dangerous monsters in the world and become the best of the warriors - and I had almost done it. I had completed all the other quests. I was even ready to slay the most dangerous of them all. But now this -

I sneaked a glance at the Dragon. It was sitting there, still confused but now more curious than scared, looking straight at me. I raised my head and sighed once again, then looked back at the tiny Dragon. "Looks like I can't kill you buddy. Sorry for hunting you down." I stood up, looked once again at the tiny beast and the single ancient silver coin still clutched in its claws, and then walked away.

I had barely moved 10 feet when I heard movement behind me. I turned around to find the Dragon following me now. As soon as I turned, it stopped, fixating me with that same curious look again, but this time devoid of fear.

Kneeling down, I opened my hand in front of it. It examined my palm, then looked back at me, as if trying to understand what was happening. After a few seconds of hesitation, it came closer and nuzzled my palm. I chuckled a little, realizing it was my first genuine laugh since I started the quest. Maybe the journey had taken more of a toll on me than I initially thought.

The Dragon raised its head and looked at me once again. With my other hand, I pointed at it and then at my outstretched palm. It took the hint and hopped on. I raised my palm to my shoulder, waiting. Slowly catching on, the Dragon climbed onto my shoulder.

"Looks like we've got a lot more to explore in this world buddy. Let's go," I said, looking at the tiny beast on my shoulder, the same creature I was trying to kill a few moments ago. I walked forward, to where, I didn't know - probably for the first time in my life - but hopefully towards my true destiny this time.

Perhaps giving up sometimes isn't so bad. After all, everyone can't be the best, right?