I sat alone near the peak of Black Rock Mountain.

The terrain was bleak—nothing but black rocks as far as the eye could see, true to the mountain’s name. Yet, despite its barren landscape, the view was breathtaking.

The sky stretched endlessly above me, a brilliant shade of blue, while below, a sea of white clouds swirled like a ghostly ocean.

As I took a long, deep breath, memories of my life flooded back—memories from a few hundred years ago.

I could still recall the warmth of my mother’s embrace, the cold disdain of my estranged father, and the day I was sold like livestock.

My father, a worthless drunk and gambler, had wagered our home and farmland in a reckless bet. When he faced the risk of losing everything, he made a different choice—he exchanged them for me instead.

I was just a young teenager when they took me away, forced to serve the lord of a manor. For nearly ten years, I toiled under his command, yet my debt remained unpaid.

I longed for freedom, to reunite with my beloved mother, but as time passed, that dream withered. Hope was slipping through my fingers.

Fate, however, had other plans.

......

It was the beginning of winter.

"ALDROUS!" A hoarse voice called my name, forcing me awake from my slumber. As my eyes slowly opened, I found Gaven, the head servant of the manor lord, standing beside me.

Of all the people I had to endure, he was the one I despised the most. He never missed an opportunity to make my life more difficult than it already was.

I loathed his crooked nose, his ridiculous curly red hair, the smug arrogance plastered on his face, and his grating voice. He carried himself as if he owned me.

"Get up, you lazy good-for-nothing," he barked, his tone tense and commanding.

I didn’t hear the rooster crow, which meant it was still early morning.

Reluctant, but with no choice, I obeyed.

"Get on your feet. You need to collect firewood for the lord—we're running low," he said.

Puzzled, I asked, "Didn’t Amice already collect firewood yesterday?"

Amice was the Woodward, responsible for gathering firewood and managing the manor’s forest.

"It wasn’t enough. Stop asking stupid questions and get on with it," Gaven replied, hands on his hips, staring at me intensely.

I knew exactly why it wasn’t enough. The night before, they had a feast—one I wasn’t invited to, naturally—and I’d bet Amice was still drunk and fast asleep by now.

The sun was already high in the sky, though its rays barely shone through the thick, gathering snow clouds. The ground was blanketed in white, and by the looks of it, a storm was brewing. I still hadn’t gathered enough firewood.

"Curse it all," I muttered in annoyance.

With no other choice, I climbed higher up the nearby mountain in search of more firewood.

The cold bit at my skin, and hunger gnawed at my stomach—I had barely eaten before setting out on this miserable task.

Each step felt heavier, my breath turning to mist in the freezing air.

Then, without warning, the weather worsened. A biting breeze became a relentless gale, and thick snowflakes began to fall, blurring my vision. Within moments, the world around me turned into a white abyss.

That wasn’t the worst of it.

The path I had taken to climb up was now blocked—buried under fallen rocks and snow.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," I growled, my voice nearly lost in the storm. "Damn it all!"

A grim thought crossed my mind. If I didn’t find another way down soon, I’d freeze to death up here.

"No," I muttered through gritted teeth. "Not today. I’ll survive—like I always do."

Desperation clawed at me as I retraced my steps, searching for any possible way down. That’s when I saw it—a steep, narrow path winding directly toward the mountain base. It was treacherous, but I had no other choice.

Without hesitation, I took it.

Step by step, I descended, treading carefully on the icy ground.

The snow made everything slick, and my heart pounded with each precarious movement. Then, suddenly—

I slipped.

For a moment, there was only darkness.

I thought I was dead—yet I could still breathe.

Cold, damp rock pressed against my back as I lay, disoriented. My body ached, and my head spun. As I sat myself up and my eyesight gradually adjusted to the darkness, an unsettling feeling crept over me. I wasn’t alone.

Two enormous, fiery eyes gleamed in the shadows, watching me in silence. From its silhouette alone, I knew what it was.

"D... Dragon," I stammered, my voice barely more than a whisper.

A dragon. A creature of myth and legend. The harbinger of calamity, the embodiment of chaos itself—spoken of only in tales of old. Yet here it was, right before me.

Its head was massive, as large as a house. Its burning eyes remained fixed on me, unblinking, unfazed. Oddly enough, its breath, rolling in slow waves, was pleasantly warm against the frigid air.

I couldn’t move. My body felt like ice, frozen in fear. I might have even pissed myself a little.

Then, the beast shifted slightly and spoke.

"Dragon? I thought I was a donkey."

"...What?" I blinked, utterly dumbfounded.

Before I could process its words, it threw its head back and burst into laughter.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The very ground trembled beneath me, dust and loose pebbles rattling from the force of its laughter.

My fear was quickly replaced by sheer confusion.

"Ha! You should see your face—all pale and dumbfounded," the dragon wheezed, settling down from its fit of laughter.

I swallowed my fear and managed to stammer, "Y-You’re… you’re not going to eat me?"

The dragon scoffed. "Eat you?" It made a sound of disgust. "Bleh. You humans taste like ogre vomit. I’d rather eat my own tail."

For some reason, I felt both relieved and slightly offended.

As I steadied myself and stood on my feet, I took a deep breath, gathering enough courage to speak once more.

"Where am I? What is this place?" I asked.

The dragon took its time before answering, its deep voice rumbling through the cavern.

"You’re in a cave."

"A cave?" I repeated, baffled. "How?"

I could have sworn I had stumbled down a mountain path just moments ago. By all logic, I should have tumbled to the base of the mountain—not ended up inside a cave. It didn’t make any sense.

There was no visible entrance, no opening that I could see. The cavern itself was enormous, its walls occasionally illuminated by clusters of glowing crystals protruding from the rock.

The dragon studied me for a moment before speaking. "You seem rather confused."

"I… I am," I admitted, still trying to make sense of my surroundings. Then, a thought struck me.

"You’re huge—your body alone takes up half this cavern. There must be an opening big enough for you to have entered," I reasoned.

To my dismay, the dragon simply replied, "Nope. There’s no entrance. This cave was erected around me."

I blinked. "What do you mean?"

The dragon let out a slow breath. "I was trapped here—imprisoned in this very cave."

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Trapped? Imprisoned?

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"But… how? How long have you been here?" I asked, my voice laced with disbelief.

The dragon closed its eyes for a moment. Then, it exhaled.

"Honestly? I don’t recall. A few thousands of years, perhaps."

My mouth felt open. I was in total shock.

Trapped in a cave for thousands of years? That was beyond ridiculous. Just the thought of being stuck here was terrifying enough. I wouldn’t last a fraction of that time. There was no way I could survive long enough before succumbing to hunger or dehydration.

I nearly fell to my knees just thinking about it. The sheer length of time—the isolation—it was overwhelming.

Then, the dragon spoke.

"There is a way out of this cave."

My heart leaped. "There is?" I asked, my voice filled with excitement.

The dragon’s massive head leaned in closer, its fiery eyes gleaming with amusement. "But before I tell you,” It rumbled, "how about a little talk? It’s been ages since I last had a decent conversation."

I hesitated. A part of me wanted to insist on hearing the way out first, but… looking at the dragon—this ancient creature that had been trapped for untold millennia—I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. It would feel rude and impolite.

I steadied myself and exhaled. "So, what do you want to talk about?"

The dragon lifted its head slightly, and for a moment, I swore I saw a faint smile form on its massive maw.

"First," it said, a glimmer of curiosity in its voice, "tell me—what year is it?"

“Years” I repeated, before answering. “It’s 1127.”

The dragon frowned. "Hmm. And what deity do you worship?"

I raised an eyebrow. That was an odd question. Still, I answered, "I am Atherian. My faith is Athria. We worship Athia, the Goddess of Light."

A brief silence followed. I could sense that my answer wasn’t what the dragon had hoped for.

"Have you ever heard the name Nahiniem? Or perhaps the Demon God Altrius?"

I shook my head. "No. I’ve never heard those names before."

The dragon let out a low hum. "Interesting… Perhaps I’ve been in this cave far longer than I imagined."

I swallowed hard. "Should I know those names?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

The dragon’s gaze softened, and it sighed. "Back in my time, when I still have my freedom, you humans worshiped only one god. And that god was Nahiniem."

As the dragon finished speaking, I responded, “Not all humans worship the same deities. Our beliefs stem from where we’re born or raised.” I explained how different human civilizations had developed distinct faiths across the land.

The dragon let out a low hum. “No, not in my time,” it said. “In the world I once knew, you humans were newly born—brought forth from the earth itself by the will of the god Nahiniem.”

It went on to explain that, back then, humanity numbered only in the thousands. The god Nahiniem walked the earth, ruling directly over mankind, while demons and gods alike existed in physical form, interacting freely with mortals. Unlike humans, however, dragons had already long existed. They were their own masters, unbound by the laws of gods and demons.

There was a hint of nostalgia in the dragon’s voice as it spoke. The world it described sounded almost too grand, too mythical to be real—yet the very presence of this ancient being before me was proof that it once existed.

Then the dragon’s gaze shifted to me. “So… what is life like now? What is the world beyond this cave?”

I took a moment before answering. “It’s the beginning of winter. I live in a manor governed by a lord, and there are several other manors and human settlements throughout the land. The kingdom that I currently reside in is called Shaelia, but there are other kingdoms beyond it as well.”

“And the dragons?” the dragon interjected; its voice suddenly eager.

I hesitated. “Unfortunately… there are no signs of any living dragons. They exist only in stories and folklore. But wyverns do exist—they—”

“BLAH!” The dragon’s disgusted snort echoed through the cave. “Those damned wyverns! If you think they are of my kin, you are sorely mistaken! Just because they have wings and breathe fire does not make them dragons!”

Its voice was filled with such irritation that I instinctively straightened up.

“Right. Wyverns are not dragons. Got it,” I said quickly, not wanting to risk angering it further. Who knew what might happen if I got on its bad side?

Noticing my tension, the dragon softened its voice and asked, “And you, human? What is your role in the grand scheme of things?”

“Me?” I hesitated.

For twenty-five years of living, I had lived a life without anything remarkable to tell. No grand adventures, no extraordinary moments—just the same monotonous routine. Still, I decided to answer truthfully.

“I… I’m a servant. I serve the lord of the manor where I live. My life isn’t particularly interesting. Tending to his needs is all I’ve ever known.”

A brief silence filled the cave before the dragon finally spoke.

“A servant, ay?” It let out a low hum. “It’s seemed like I’m not the only one who is trapped.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Before I could dwell on it, the dragon continued.

“What is your dream, human? Do you have any desires?”

My thoughts drifted, lost for a moment, before I found my voice.

“I want to be a wanderer. To travel across the land, see things I’ve never seen before, meet people, explore new places… Just to be free.”

The dragon let out a deep exhale. “Hmph. we have much in common than I thought.” Its eyes glowed faintly as it added, “I, too, wish to be free from this wretched prison of mine.”

Curious, I asked, “You said you’re trapped here, but by whom? And why?”

The dragon let out a faint sigh before answering.

“Long ago, I may have been a little too… mischievous. Caused some trouble. Because of that, the god Nahiniem punished me and locked me up in this place.”

“Locked you up? But how?” I pressed.

The dragon shifted slightly, and for the first time, I began to make out the position of its body. It was sitting much like a cat or a dog, its massive form resting on its belly. But something else caught my eye—its enormous wings draped over its lower body, as if hiding something.

Slowly, it raised one of its wings. The glow from the crystals embedded in the cave walls gradually illuminated its lower body.

And there it was.

A massive sword, impaled deep between the dragon’s chest and belly, its blade buried up to the hilt.

My mouth hung open in shock. The only thought that surfaced in my mind slipped out before I could stop myself.

“Does it… hurt?”

The dragon exhaled, a sound almost resembling a chuckle. “At first, it did. But over time, I’ve grown used to it.”

I struggled to form words. “But… how are you even—”

“Still alive?” the dragon finished for me. “This sword is no ordinary blade. It is enchanted. Though it pierced my heart, it prevents me from dying.”

Before I could say another word, the dragon spoke.

“You want a way out of this cave, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I answered eagerly.

The dragon lowered its massive head, bringing its snout dangerously close to me. “Then pull out the sword,” it said. “Once it is removed, the magic that holds this cave together shall unravel.”

“Really…? That’s—” My excitement faltered as a sudden thought struck me. I hesitated before asking, “If I pull it out… will you die?”

“Naturally, yes,” the dragon replied nonchalantly. “That was always meant to be the outcome.”

Then, with a teasing tone, it added, “Or would you rather stay here and meet your own end?”

“No, no, definitely not,” I answered immediately, stepping toward the sword.

The dragon’s piercing eyes followed my every move as I approached.

Standing before the enormous blade, I studied it carefully. The hilt alone was massive—too large for me to grip properly with my hands. The only way to hold it was to wrap my entire arm around it, almost like embracing a tree trunk. I shifted my stance, planted my feet firmly, and gave it a test pull.

It didn’t budge.

The sheer size of the sword mirrored its weight, and the way it was embedded deep into the dragon’s chest made it feel immovable. Still, I had no choice—I had to try.

“I’m ready,” I announced, bracing myself.

Just as I was about to pull, another thought crossed my mind. My grip loosened, and I hesitated.

Sensing my uneasiness, the dragon narrowed its eyes. “What are you waiting for? Didn’t you want to escape?”

“This doesn’t seem fair,” I said solemnly.

“What doesn’t?” The dragon’s voice held a trace of curiosity.

I took a breath before continuing. “You’ve been trapped here for who knows how long. Whatever mischief you caused, surely your punishment is long overdue. I feel like… you deserve freedom too, even if only for a moment.”

For the first time since we met, the dragon looked taken aback.

Then, all of a sudden—

“BWAHAHAHAHAHA!”

A booming laugh echoed through the cave. The sheer force of it sent loose pebbles tumbling down from the cavern walls.

I blinked, momentarily baffled, before standing my ground.

“I mean it,” I said firmly. “I believe everyone deserves a second chance.”

As the dragon settled from its laughter, it spoke in a solemn tone.

“My death is my second chance at freedom… my redemption. There is nothing left for me in this world. I have been alone in this cave for far too long, and even if I were to be freed, I am the last of my kind. My kin perished ages ago. There is nothing waiting for me outside—only loneliness.”

Hearing this, I felt a pang of sorrow. There was a sadness in its voice, a weight that I hadn’t noticed before.

Then, after a moment of silence, the dragon spoke again.

“Human, what is your name? What are you called?”

“I…” I hesitated, clearing my throat before answering. “My name is Aldrous.”

“Aldrous,” the dragon repeated, as if tasting the name. “That is a fine name.” Then, with a small, almost amused huff, it added, “For a human, you’re not half bad.”

That was an odd statement, but before I could respond, the dragon surprised me with something else.

“Thank you.”

For a moment, I swore I saw a faint smile on its massive face.

I returned the gesture, nodding. “You’re welcome.” Somehow, it felt like the right thing to say.

“Now,” the dragon said, its voice carrying a quiet resolve, “release me from this prison of mine. Let me be free—and earn your freedom as well.”

I swallowed hard and stepped forward. Wrapping my arms tightly around the massive hilt, I took a deep breath.

At first, as expected, the sword refused to budge. But then—

I felt it move.

The weight lessened—just slightly, but enough to notice. My heart pounded in excitement. It’s moving.

Gritting my teeth, I pulled with all my strength. Slowly, inch by inch, the blade began to slide free. With each tug, the sword felt lighter, as if it was no longer resisting. Then—

CLANG!

A sharp metallic ring echoed through the cave as the sword struck the ground.

I staggered back, breathing heavily, and turned to look at the weapon. To my shock, it wasn’t whole.

The sword was broken, jagged at the end where it had been severed.

Excitedly, I let go of the hilt and turned to the dragon.

“I did it! I—”

The words died on my lips.

Right before my eyes, the dragon’s massive body was changing—turning to stone.

It started from the lower body, creeping upward, its scales darkening and hardening. The once-living creature was being petrified before me.

“No…”

I watched helplessly as the transformation climbed to its chest, then its wings. The dragon’s head was tilted upward, gazing at the ceiling of the cave, as if looking beyond this world.

The gleam in its eyes—so full of life just moments ago—began to fade.

And then—

The dragon crumbled.

Cracks spread like lightning through its stone form. In the next breath, it shattered, breaking into countless fragments that collapsed into a heap of rubble and dust.

Before I could react, something stirred within the rubble.

A brilliant light emerged, breaking through the dust—a glowing orb, radiant and pure. It floated above the remains of the dragon, its luminescence filling the entire cave. Yet, despite its brightness, the light was gentle, soothing to the eyes.

I stood mesmerized.

Then, a voice echoed from within the orb—faint at first, like a whisper carried by the wind, before gradually growing clearer.

“Aldrous.”

My breath caught.

It was the dragon’s voice.

“Forgive me… For the longest time, I have been trapped in this cave… And in my torment, I cursed the very sword that impaled me. Into it, I poured all my essence—and my curse… my immortality.”

The voice lingered for a moment before fading. Then, the glowing orb began to ascend toward the cave ceiling. Higher and higher it rose, until, without warning—

It dispersed into nothingness.

I stood in stunned silence.

“What? Cursed…?” I muttered, my mind racing.

Then, all at once, something surged through me.

A strange energy coursed through my veins, tingling beneath my skin. It was unlike anything I had ever felt before—a renewed vigor, an overwhelming sense of strength. My body felt weightless, as if I had shed every burden I had ever carried.

Before I could comprehend what was happening, a blinding light engulfed me.

I shielded my eyes, but it was no use. The brilliance swallowed everything.

Then—

Silence.

As my vision slowly adjusted, I realized I was no longer inside the cave.

I stood in a vast forest.

The trees, though touched by winter, still clung to their greenery. The ground was free of snow, damp with the scent of fresh earth. The air was crisp, but not bitterly cold.

“Wha… Where am I?” I murmured, turning in bewilderment.

This wasn’t the forest where I had gathered firewood.

Then something struck me, something important.

“Ah, I forgot to ask the dragon’s name.”