In that ancient land, it was commonplace to see adventurers wandering around. The majority of people still held normal, quiet lives in their own villages, but each village had at least one lad that decided to take the path of traveling through the continent in search of monsters, dungeons and treasures. The excitement, but most of all the prestige, that came after such activity was irresistible.

Indeed, it was so irresistible, that one day, a young dragon decided to take that path.

But first, he needed a human partner. A dragon’s size made it harder to take part in events that happened in villages and other places designed for smaller creatures; also, humans could hold stuff in their paws, which was far better than holding them in the mouth. So he flew to the nearest settlement, whose inn was a known meeting point for adventurers, and asked a very frightened innkeeper to leave an announcement. “Whoever is interested can find me tomorrow just outside the forest. I will get back to my cave for now.”

The news spread faster than a magic spell. Dragons were the monsters to fight for an adventurer, but all of them secretly admired them in a way or another. Being a companion for a dragon would be the ultimate achievement. That innkeeper, after the dragon left, earned more gold than in the last two months.

But it was still a dragon, and few would dare even to just get close to one. The day after, when he landed in front of the forest, only six hominids were there; each more muscled than the other, all of them confident a creature as powerful as a dragon would choose an adventurer worthy of such power. All but one. The dragon couldn’t help scolding at him mentally: the lad was younger, shorter, less bulky than the others. His eyes kept looking at the dragon with a mix of admiration and fear; the classic look those who had never seen one had.

What a pitiful creature, the dragon thought, while taking care of not showing his thoughts. However, it was time to speak.

“Good day, hominids,” he began. “I shall make you introduce yourselves one at a time.”

A tall man, with a sword that was even taller, made one step ahead, and spoke proudly.

“I am Gerethar, ranger of the Northlands. I have liberated the town of Lagfridur from the horrendous Remohraz that plagued innocents’ lives for so long! My sword is fearsome and my strength is immeasurable.”

The dragon nodded. “Interesting story. Next?”

The second hominid, who looked like an elf, wasn’t rough and beefy as the previous one, but his elegant robes and a strange violet halo in his hands promised trouble to whoever would try to oppose him.

“My name is Alhan. I have been trained in the magic arts in the Academy of Salzahar. I have freed more folks from curses and defeated more evil magicians who betrayed the spirit of our Academy than anyone else.”

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“Ah, I’ve heard of that Academy,” replied the dragon, “it was one of us that founded it, two thousand years ago.”

“We’re still trained in the arts the ancient dragons have given to us, o mighty one.”

The third guy was a paladin of some sort, a self-proclaimed knight of Bahamut himself, the god of good-aligned dragons, and claimed he had already travelled for a long time with a red-scaled one. The fourth one had won a tournament held in the capital of the Eastern territories, and to show his abilities took a whole rock that lay there and threw it at a large distance. The fifth one was a master of diplomacy, and had prevented several wars from exploding with his words.

Finally, it was the turn of the youngster. The other five adventurers looked at him, trying in vain to hide their laughs.

“It is now your turn to introduce yourself,” the dragon encouraged him, noticing his embarrassed silence. “Please, begin.”

“My...my name is Berg,” he said, with a voice far lower than the others, “I haven’t done much yet...I’ve begun one month ago and all I did was capturing some goblins in this forest...I just wanted to meet you.”

The rest of the adventurers weren’t anymore making an effort to hide their laughs. They mocked him, while indicating him with their fingers. The dragon ignored them.

“Why did you want to meet me?”

“It’s just...I never met a dragon, that’s all. I only heard of them from what they tell at the inn. They always talk about dragons they defeated, so when I heard there was one coming...”

“I see. Are you determined to become an adventurer?”

“I do what I can...there’s not much to do here, and I still need to find the means to travel.”

“Understood.” The dragon paused a moment, then spoke again. “Well, I have decided you will be my companion.”

“WHAT?” All the six hominids shouted in unison. Immediately after, followed a series of protests.

“I’m the slayer of the Remohraz! I’m a million times superior to that kid!”

“I have graduated from Salzahar with the highest marks in every subject! Isn’t it worthy of a dragon?”

The dragon roared to silence them all. Berg, in the meanwhile, looked like a statue.

“I haven’t chosen according to your strength alone,” he explained, “but your bravery. You others have all done extraordinary things: you don’t need the strength of a dragon. This youngster, instead,” and he got his huge head closer to Berg, “is young and inexperienced, yet found the courage to get close to a dragon like me. Most of the hominids I try to talk with flee in terror. Your innkeeper, yesterday, looked like about to faint at any moment. Berg needs my strength to walk into the adventurer path. His determination will get perfectly alongside it.”

The five discarded adventurers kept protesting. The dragon just diminished them with another roar and said finally: “Now leave, you’re annoying me now. Berg, remain here, please.”

Nobody dared oppose him, so shortly after only Berg and the dragon remained.

“So, hello, my new companion. We’re going to have many exciting moments together, eh?”

“I...thank you,” Berg said in a weak tone and fainted.

The dragon scolded him mentally again. He’d need a long training session to get some of his strength...