The dragon was beautiful, and dangerous. It had lain here since the beginning, and it would lie here until the end, until the kingdom in which it dwelt had become dust, and its people had passed into memory. From the dragon’s perspective, anything that could happen had already occurred, or would happen once more in the future. This was all preordained.
The king arrived, as he always did, with his golden sword and shining armor, each link forged with care and craft. He drew his blade, and atop his steed said, “You are a monster, and I have come to slay you.”
This was not the first time he spoke to the dragon, nor would it be the last.
The dragon knew the king, and worse, knew his heart. This was the greatest crime.
“With your death, my realm will finally know peace.”
The king recalled a moment, years ago, when he himself had suffered a grievous injury. Since then he had resolved, with every choice made, and choice left unmade, never to know sorrow again: He would guard his heart. And thus he was brought, as he always was, to the dragon in the cave.
Slowly, slowly the king thrust his sword into the dragon. And then, after a moment, its heart went still, and the land was saved.
He saves it, always. Again and again.
Jeremy Akel is an attorney and attended Vanderbilt University. He received his law degree from the University of Florida, and his Master of Laws from George Washington University. He also teaches Aikido, a Japanese martial art, and is certified by the United States Aikido Federation as Fukushidoin. His work has been published in Altered Reality Magazine.