Heroes and Dragons

12

As I descended the mountain, I couldn't help but look back one last time. There, at the entrance to the lair atop the mountain, stood the massive dragon, its figure enveloped by the falling snow of deep winter, a thin layer accumulating on its form.

It resembled a soulless statue.

I was back to being a directionless NPC.

This time, even the ability to see the hero's aura had vanished.

Lost, I began to wander aimlessly. Unlike before, when I would follow those with the hero's aura, this journey was solitary. Every decision was my own, every hardship borne alone. Throughout the years of travel, I encountered many wonders I could never have imagined and learned astonishing skills.

Of course, there were many dangerous battles. Initially, without the ability to discern the strength of my opponents, I often found myself brutally beaten by fierce adversaries. But through adversity, I gradually learned to wield the sword I had picked up from a defeated hero, overcoming formidable foes time and again, securing victories.

I even inadvertently found myself entangled in several encounters with dragons, both strong and weak. Yet, somehow, victory always seemed to side with me.

Perhaps those playful sparring sessions with Gigi in the lair had not been entirely useless in teaching me how to fight dragons.

Defeating dragons brought me fame.

But I had my principles and never took the gold from their treasure chests.

I didn't need those coins; the fame was enough to bring me various benefits. Tales of the "Uncertified Greatest Hero" began to spread across many city-states, attracting more challengers. With each victory, the rewards grew larger.

Unwittingly, I too amassed nearly a full chest of glittering gold coins, their brilliance dazzling.

Was this what I truly desired?

It seemed so, yet it didn't feel entirely right.

Somewhere along the way, I seemed to have lost sight of my original purpose.