THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

"Do you know why I came to your world?"

"I don't know, and I don't care!"

"I came because you were supposed to appear one day."

"What the fuck do you-"

"When we gifted the dragon's origin to gods for helping us, we knew that someday, somewhere, those who will receive it will need help to awake and use that power more efficiently. So, we decide that we should help them. Volunteers like me were sent to other worlds after the ONE ABOVE EVERYTHING agreed to it. However, as it was too risky to tell other gods about it because it would have created jealousy and conflicts among them over who could get that gift, no one was informed."

"You mean to tell me that you volunteer to come here and suffer like this so that I could use your power after you die? Ahahahaha!!! And you expect me to believe that?!! Nobody would ever do that!! Even less for me, a trash, garbage!"

"Are you so weak that you would fall at the first difficulty?"

"What did you say?" Stop! Stop looking at me with those disappointed eyes!

"You give up too easily. You always think of running away first. So, you give up at the first difficulty. You only fight because you can't do anything else. Your life may have been hard, but surely some people have had a life just as hard or even harder than you. Maybe even because of you."

When Sceras says that, I immediately see Excafol and Selene's face appearing in front of me.

"So, what then? Because everybody suffers, I should feel lucky."

"No. I never said that you should. But I want you to understand that if you are the only one who can do something, even if it hurts, even if nobody sees it, because it will save them: DO IT."

"Why did it have to be me? I didn't ask anything? So why?"

"Fate. Coincidence, destiny. We don't know, and we might never do, but right now, on thing is clear: YOU ARE DRAGONROAD. You are a star born to brighten the skies and erase shadows."

A star… Aren't those heroes stars? Why would I have to be like them? Why do I have to save people who will only mock me, betray and stab me in the back?

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" I kick the ground with my foot. I kick it so hard my foot enters more and more into it. "I will do it. I will fight the Longinus, then."

"You didn't have much choice anyway; they will find you eventually."

"But I will fight my way! If anybody becomes a threat, I will eliminate him regardless of Longinus or whatever."

"Just don't let your rage gets the better of you. Or you will lose sight of the goal in front of you and destroy yourself. And everything we did will be for nothing. Remember: the Longinus must not win. Never."

"Okay, I will."

"Then, come and remove the stake; it is time."

I approach Sceras and hold the stake. When I touch it, it burns? I shouldn't feel pain, but the stake is so hot; my hand feels like they are melting. I remove them reflexively and look at him.

"Inheritance is also a responsibility. To receive my power, you will have to go through my pain and suffering of all this time."

What? Why? Sceras smiled at me like a demon. You want to play it like that, huh?! Okay, let's play then!!

I hold the stake with both hands now. It burns! It hurts so much I cannot feel my hands anymore! But I must resist! I pull, and the stake moves. Slowly, but it moves. As it moves my whole body feels like it is on fire. I can't breathe anymore!! I can't even see!! Everything is just a sea of fire around me!!

"Argh!!"

"Do not ever give up! Show them the pride of dragons!!"

When I remove the stake, the chains that were holding Sceras turned into sand. Then, there is a huge explosion that pushes me back. I hit my head, but I am still conscious.

When I look at Sceras, he just a ball of energy now, then that energy starts flowing to me. First, just a little bit, then more and more until the whole ball comes entering me. I didn't feel anything. Everything becomes suddenly dark around me. So dark, I can't see anything.

Then even my body disappears; only my consciousness remains. But the light comes back. A dim light, faint and weak. But it becomes clearer and clearer until I can see again. I am in the basement of the castle, in front of me, a skeleton tied up by chains. No horns can be seen. Just a normal skeleton.

"So much for not dying like us." I jump through the trap door and get out of the castle.