John walked through the forest path, his backpack filled with sandwiches, hiking tools and hope. The spring trees possibly hid something no one had ever seen in history, but legends said it was there. He had traveled a long way from home, just for the opportunity of being there, and getting a remote possibility of discovering the legends were true. As he passed from tree to tree, his eyes looked for a glimpse of a tail, scales or anything.

***

Owen was pointing his binoculars over the top of the trees, standing on a hill where a magnificent view of the rest of the forest was offered. Maybe, who knows, he would see them. A piece of wing soaring through the leaves, some reptile eyes gleaming, anything. He knew possibilities were scarce, that almost certainly those were only stories, but just because they could not be seen...that didn't mean they were not true.

***

John rested on a tree next to the path. He hadn't found anything, but that wasn't unexpected. Now he just enjoyed the peace around him, closing his eyes. Maybe, his ears would hear some signs of them.

***

Owen has his hand just above his eyes watching beneath the vegetation, to leave them undisturbed from the sunlight. He had gone back inside the forest. Next to him, a sign welcomed visitors.

WELCOME TO THE DRAGON FOREST!

Between these trees, the last dragons have found their haven, far away from the blades of the knights who came for them. Respect their home! Even if you can't see them, they see you.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

In smaller letters, followed the full story.

Owen came there often, since he lived close. It was always fun to try finding some actual dragons, just for the sake of it. It was pleasant, once in a while, to ignore his adult duties and act like that. It made him feel more in peace with the world.

***

It was now time to leave for John. He hadn’t found anything, but it had still been satisfying to visit the dragons' home, whether it was true or not. As he reached the entrance, his eyes saw another man reading the welcome sign that narrated the full legend, with a pair of binoculars around his neck.

"Good day," the man said, as customary for hikers when meeting each other.

"Good day," John replied. He had the sensation that man was there for his same reason. "Found anything?"

The man smiled. "No, not really. But I think one day I will."

"Ah, so you are from these parts?"

"Yes," the man nodded, "I come here often. They say hope is the last to die, right?"

John laughed. That was exactly his way of thinking.

"I was looking for them too."

"Did you...?"

"Nope."

"Oh well," the man sighed, "it's still a nice forest."

"Agree." The guy sounded like he was on his wave. "I'm John by the way."

"Owen. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

***

Owen spoke with the new guy for a long time. He hadn't ever thought he would meet someone as interested in dragons as him in real life, but here he was, in the supposed dragon forest. Turned out they were very similar in how they had come to it. Books, mythologies, visual art...it was like it was easy to see dragons everywhere, once you opened your mind.

"Oh, it's getting late for me," in the end John said, "do you think we will ever meet again?"

"Sure I do," Owen nodded. "Here, have my number. I'm eager to share my dragon world with you, whenever you can."

"Then I'll see you again," John wrote down his number happily. "Bye, Owen! It's been great to meet you."

Owen smiled. The dragons of that forest may have made him found a friend. A friend with his same interest. Whether they were real or not, Owen was sure it had been dragon magic.

In a way, they certainly existed.