"Don't give up," his thin voice sounded a ringing melody of hope. “I hear his thoughts. I know his plans. We will overcome this ordeal together.”

My little friend saw that I was failing and came to my rescue. I don’t think it was Oceania that drove him to this feat. Most likely, the desire to help was due to my pathetic appearance. All the spectators - humans and Servus - watched Trot’s advantage and counted the time remaining.

The trumpet played a tune. Trot looked angrily at the referee.

“What does that mean?”

“The end of the first round. Those are the rules.”

“I don’t care about the rules,” Servus moved toward me. He was eager to get rid of his rival so he could have some unbridled fun. Dusk had fallen on the village, the noise of the fair had died down, and many of the merchants and craftsmen who did not want to waste time on entertainment had gone to bed. People set up and lit flaming torches around the platform where the competition was held. The torches smoked and crackled, but the light they emitted illuminated the platform, allowing onlookers to see every last detail.

Seeing Servus’ intention to break the established rules, the fans grew indignant:

“Hey you freak, give the guy a break!”

“He’s had four opponents before you!”

“If you want the title, follow the rules!”

Trot stopped. He felt an unwavering belief in his capabilities. A minute sooner, a minute later he would knock the guy down, and end the contest. Just as long as his leg didn’t fail him.

I was sitting at the edge of the platform. Dionela, tearing a sleeve from her beautiful dress, wiped the blood from my chest. Then she placed her chilly palm on the cuts. It felt like cool foliage covered me. Fluffy, nestled on my back, told me in my ear how to proceed. His presence filled me with incredible energy, as if rays of hope were breaking through the darkness. From his warm paws touching my neck, there was a warm feeling in my soul that added to my strength. His little nose tickled my ear.

“His leg hurts terrible, the leg you hit the first time. Now he thinks he can outsmart you. He’s going to move like he’s veering to the right, but he’s going to turn his sword point toward you and stab you. When he moves to the right, kick his knee. The kick will stop the attack. He will grab his leg, bend his head, and open the back of his head. This is your chance to snatch victory.”

Dionela, removing her hand from my chest, spoke in her enchanting voice.

“The blood will no longer distract you from the fight. Your cuts no longer bleed and your wounds are no longer uncomfortable. Let me see the stick you are fighting with.”

“Why?” - I didn’t understand what she was trying to accomplish.

“ I am the Guardian of the Forest, you must have forgotten. Everything that has to do with vegetation is subject to me. Your stick is wooden. I want to inspect and heal its wounds.”

Taking the baseball bat-like club with her left hand she held it with her right hand first up, then down, rotated the stick ninety degrees, and repeated the healing procedure.

“I’ve refined it a bit,” Dina said in a low voice. “Instead of regular wood, your weapon is made of stronger wood. Strike and don’t be afraid, it can withstand very strong blows.”

I thought that without the support of my friends, I would lose. My body was no longer as weakened as it had been at the end of the first round, and my spirit was more elevated than it had been at the beginning of the contest.

We didn’t need the referee’s instructions anymore, so as soon as the trumpet sang its tune we came together in the middle of the platform, devouring each other with our eyes. Behind my back, at the back of my head, there was still a fluffy little boy, his fur was the same color as my hair. The little consultant was reading Servus’ thoughts and giving me helpful suggestions. On one hand, it might not have seemed entirely fair. Two against one. But considering the bronze sword in Trot’s hands, we had leveled our playing field.

After Dionela’s remodel, my baseball bat had gotten a little heavier, and I had to consider its weight when swinging. I had no right to miss the stick or I would be counted as a loss.

Trot bared his teeth and squinted his hyena eyes. Backed by his tribesmen, he began to attack aggressively. Just as Fluffy had suggested, he decided on a clever maneuver. Putting his right foot back, he began to lean to the right, swinging his sword point in my direction. He planned to leave the left side of his body exposed, which was supposed to encourage me to approach him. Only I didn't buy his ruse, stamping the stick hard into his left knee, which was left unprotected.

Trot howled in pain, grabbed the bruised spot, and at the same time received a hard blow to the head. The bronze helmet burst and slid down over his eyes, the servus going blind for a while. Without giving him a second thought I struck him on his right arm, on the wrist. The clawed fingers were unclenched, and the sword fell off the platform with a clatter. The disgraced fighter Troth fell to the ground at the feet of the outraged dragon servants. I didn’t kill him, just pushed him with the end of my stick. It was a clean victory!

The audience erupted in cheers. The spectacle was magnificent. The fans had never seen such battles before. People jostled, clapped their hands, showing their approval, recounted the most spectacular moments.

The referee, approaching me, raised my hand and announced,

"They awarded Oris the victory based on the number of opponents he defeated. From this day forward, he should be called - "Oris, Iss.... The dragon’s best friend!”

I stepped off the platform and approached Dionele. My pet whispered,

"Your girlfriend better hide!"

I thought he exaggerated the threat. Having defeated Trot with a stick, I may use a sword. The same one Servus uses. And if he dares to fight again, he’ll get a lot more than he did the first time.

However, Fluffy knew what he was talking about. A dragon descended upon the cheering crowd, upon the people rejoicing in victory. It fell from the sky onto the wooden platform. The monster’s weight caused the platform, where the contest had just been held, to shatter into splinters. The lighted torches partially extinguished, creating an ominous darkness where the dragon’s face appeared horrible. He breathed and looked around at everyone in the square. His gaze lingered on Dionel. He regarded her longer than other people. Maybe it was Dina’s beautiful red dress and blonde hair that caught his eye, but he stared at the nymph for several minutes, opening his disgusting mouth.

I grabbed her hand and shielded her from the dragon's gaze with my body. Afterward, I asked the furry animal:

“Is that Pyronax? The head of the family?”

Tush didn’t have time to answer me because the dragon growled something, addressing Trot:

“What’s going on here? What is the occasion for these poor humans to feel joy?”

“Oh, my lord Cryonax! This worthless little man here has just defeated me in battle and earned the title of Dragon Slayer.”

This dialog I heard thanks to the little beast. He was still behind me, realizing that I wasn’t the only one in danger. The dialog voiced by the little ursi made it clear how the dragon and his servants felt about ordinary people.

Upon hearing the title, the dragon turned in my direction and grabbed me with his rough paw, bringing me close to his muzzle so he could get a better look at me. I felt pressed under the press, unable to breathe. The stench from the dragon’s mouth was robbing me of my last molecules of fresh air.

“You’re a dragon slayer?!” - Cryonax shuddered his body, mimicking laughter. - “Worm!”

Swinging, the dragon hurled me in the parlor's direction. I didn’t have time to think of anything, to do anything about it. I was lucky that Cryonax missed and instead of crashing into the wall of the house, I flew into the chicken coop, breaking the structure and scaring the chickens. The violent impact extinguished my consciousness, and I saw nothing and understood nothing.

It is not known how long my unconsciousness lasted. At first, I felt pain, and only moments later my consciousness returned to me. I lay there, feeling pain and an exhausting sense of powerlessness. Somewhere in the distance, there was an indistinct noise, through which separate inaudible voices cut through.

"Oceania, hear me! I need your help!"

Trouble had happened to me, I needed outside help. My prayer resounded in the stillness, but there was no answer. I felt hope leaving me, replaced by despair. I knew Oceania could help, but why was she silent? Oceania’s silence was devastating. I didn’t know if she could hear my pleas or not.

She did hear. Her voice was quiet and soothing.

“I am always there for you, whether you want me to or not. I feel your weakness and pain, as I feel the pain of all living things in this world. You have forgotten what you and I once talked about. Dragons, like humans, have free will and can choose their actions. No one is responsible for their actions, no matter what form they take. You decide to enter a competition and end up with all your bones broken. You’re asking for help. If I could help every creature, my powers would have run out long ago. What will you choose, helping you or saving a thousand underground creatures? I’m talking about the underground city of the Roktopus, which you’ve been to. A mass of fire is approaching the city of worms and I have to spend all my energy to keep the underground creatures safe. So what should I do?”

I sighed heavily. Pain pierced me from head to toe.

" Oceania was right. It's better to save a thousand worms than to waste energy on one man. Why won’t people approach me? And where’s my little friend? Where is Dionela?" - I asked myself these questions but got no answer.

“When Cryonax grabbed me, Dina was standing behind me. But Fluffy didn’t leave my side until the very last moment. So he flew with me, and when I hit my head on the boards, he was covering me with his body. Is he dead? That’s the reason he’s gone?” - I wanted to scream, but I just opened my mouth.

Someone took me out of the chicken coop and carried me into the house. I saw nothing but felt someone’s touch and unbearable pain. The dragon Kryonax may have broken my back and ribs, arms, and legs. My head didn't shatter because I was still wearing my helmet and my neck was covered by my little friend with his body. They placed him on the pillow next to my head. I could feel the touch of his little paw against my face.

“Oceania, if you can’t help me, help my little friend. Don’t let him perish. After all, he was only following me and protecting me. His life is more precious than mine. If you can’t help, at least tell me if I get back on my feet?” - I turned to my mentor again.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“You can take some of my strength and some of my life to revive my little friend.” - I didn’t just beg, I screamed if my mooing could be called screaming.

“I can help him by agreeing to your terms. Taking some of your powers and some of your life. I can also give you one useful piece of advice.

I slipped back into darkness. The same thing happens when you fall asleep. I lost consciousness. Or maybe I died. Otherwise, what else could explain my suspended state? I didn’t take drugs, I didn’t pour an alcoholic beverage into myself. I was no longer aware of myself as a person. When my last breath faded, the world around me seemed to blend into a strange vortex, and I felt my essence, freed from the earthly body, sink into the abyss of the unknown. The boundary between reality and illusion dissolved around me, and I felt my soul leaving this world, breaking away from the ties of flesh.

Sinking into the silence, I felt everything becoming clear, as if the world had become a vast ocean of infinite wisdom and light. I was just a drop in this sea of infinite existence, enveloped in warmth and boundless love. There, in the depths, I felt that time and space were losing their meaning, and I was becoming part of something more than just a mortal being.

Maybe the state I was in was not an end, but a new beginning. It was just a transition from one state to another, from one form of existence to another. And although my earthly journey was over, I felt that in this extra dimension, my being would continue its journey, exploring the mysteries of eternity and resting beyond our world. Did I die or did I fall asleep?

Sleep, indeed, can be interpreted as a kind of analogy of death, because during sleep, our consciousness goes into another state. We cease to perceive the world and lose our sense of reality. In this sense, we can say that sleep is a kind of “echo” or “mirror image” of the state that awaits us after death. Only the pain that pierced my body gave a clear and understandable answer:

“You are alive and still in your stupid body. Loser!”

I sighed, and overcoming the pain gripping my entire body, I opened my eyes. I could hear voices and silhouettes flickering in the murky haze.

“Hey, sleepyhead, stop sleeping!” - I recognized my pet’s voice. - “Maybe I’m imagining it?”

A sturdy, furry paw dispelled my doubts. She grabbed the tip of my nose and twitched it. I had to open my eyes wider and that's when I saw my furry beast. He stood on my chest and smiled his adorable smile.

“You don’t have to open your mouth. I can hear you already. How long are you going to lie there? Our caravan left and didn’t wait for you to recover.”

“Where is Dionela? Why don’t I see her?”

“Don’t you know?!” - Tush’s gaze poured with sadness. - “She was kidnapped by a dragon.”

“What happened anyway? Why did a squad of Servus come to the village? Why did the dragon come?”

“The fair attracts more than just humans, it’s not hard to understand. The Servus came to collect tribute, and the dragon came as fire support. You should have seen how much stuff they took with them.”

“But Dionela is not food. Why was she kidnapped?”

“That’s a question I have no answer to, only speculation. Perhaps Kryonax wanted to take advantage of her magical powers. Perhaps he was attracted to her beauty. Perhaps when you meet him, you will ask him that question.”

“You’re kidding me, aren’t you? I can barely open my eyes and you’re talking about a meeting.”

“I know you’ve been talking to Oceania. She gave you some sound advice, didn’t she? It’s up to you whether you want to live or die.”

“What kind of advice? She didn’t tell me anything,” I was angry at our failed conversation. Anger isn’t the best counselor. It disables the ability to see what lies before your eyes, clouding your mind, and blocking all possible exits. It’s a good thing ursi don’t suffer from anger attacks.

“She was talking to you, wasn’t she? What did she say to you?”

“Salvation is in my hands. And how can I save myself?”

Fluffy was silent and stared at me expectantly. He knew the answer but was in no hurry to share it with me.

“I can’t move. I can’t feel my arms or legs. How can I help myself?”

Tush, as if awake, looked at my hands. Then he took my right hand with his paws and moved it to my left hand, crossing them. I remembered what Dionela had told me:

"If you cover the burn mark with your other hand, your strength will increase several times over."

At first, nothing happened to me. I lay on an uncomfortable bed in an uncomfortable position and felt terrible pains all over my body. Then the pain went away. Not immediately, but she backed off. That’s what happens when you take a pill of pain medication. I felt the urge to get comfortable on the bed. I wanted to move my legs into a comfortable position, to move my numb ass. I’d felt that urge before, but it was unrealizable. Now, I was able to move, to shift my legs so that I wouldn’t be in discomfort. I did it!

Fluffy jumped on my belly, throwing his little furry arms up in the air. I said to him:

“You’ve got something to be happy about. I almost got you killed. If I get back on my feet and continue my journey, will you follow me?”

“Of course! We haven't finished our journey, have we?"

“But you almost died!”

“You were near death, too. But you won’t stop, will you? Am I right?”

Without spreading my arms, I sat down on the bed. The woman who sold me the beautiful red dress gasped in surprise.

“You’re alive?!”

“Yes,” I rose from the bed, feeling the pain in small sparks skipping throughout my body. The fear of immobility still had a hold on me, making me move carefully as if I were made of sand and could fall apart at any moment. I was very thirsty, and the little Ursi, catching my desire, brought a flask of water to my lips.

With what pleasure I drank. I guess the plants dying from the rays of the tropical sun must feel the same way when they receive the first drops of the damp rain. My legs - like roots - were filled with life-giving moisture, strengthened, and stopped trembling. My arms - fragile shoots - gained strength and now I could swing them. My body - the trunk - became strong and viable. My head, relieved of pain, became clearer, and my thoughts flowed like life-giving mountain streams.

“I’m hungry,” I looked at Tush. His reaction was predictable:

“Why are we still here? Come, let’s eat!”

It’s unseemly to talk during lunch, but I forgot about propriety for a while. I took bites of meat and asked Fluffy what he knew. Tush, not having time to swallow the apple pie, with his mouth full, told me that the caravan had remained in the village for some time. The merchant had hoped that I could get out of the death pit and continue traveling. When the village witch doctor examined me, felt all my broken bones, he said that I was hopeless. That I could only live for a few days. And then the caravan left. Hagar did not appropriate my wagon, no one dared to go through my belongings. Sword, coins, clothes, everything stayed where it was.

“How are you feeling?” - I asked my little friend. - “Nothing hurts?”

“What should I hurt?” - wondered the little beast.

“ "Do you remember how the evening ended? " - his mood was questionable. He either doesn't remember anything, or he's making such a bad joke.

“Of course, I remember. Cryonax flew in, grabbed you, and we flew. I fell asleep on the flight. Woke up next to you. At first, I thought you’d carried me. But it turns out people carried us. They thought you and I were dead. But we’re alive."

“They weren’t wrong, Tush. You and I were dead. You and I were brought back to life by Oceania.”

Fluffy fell silent. I thought I had plunged him into an abyss of sadness. But the little beast’s sadness only lasted for a moment:

“That’s fine. What are we gonna do?”

“Let’s try to find Jurion. Hopefully being away from humans he hasn’t gone feral, recognizing us as his familiar. We need to catch up with the caravan. The caravanner knows where I can find the blacksmith Maleus, with whose help we will rid ourselves of all the dragons.”

"Do you believe we will win?" - After asking the question, Fluffy moved closer to my face and looked into my eyes. For a full minute, we exchanged glances.

“You believe it.” - He gave his verdict. “I believe it, too. And if our struggle requires us to die a second death in the name of victory, I will not hesitate for a moment.”

I grabbed the little beast and held it close to me. How else could I express my gratitude?

We had to roll the wagon outside the village ourselves. Or rather, I rolled it, while the little furry thing sat on the bench and shouted his songs in Ursi. I found them amusing. I was singing along as best I could until we heard the stomping and saw the centaur coming at us at full speed.

He was coming toward us, his powerful limbs swooping across the ground with incredible ease and grace. The wind playfully ruffled his long hair and mane, giving the impression that he was part of this fierce element. His slender figure emphasized the harmony of the fusion of human grace and horsepower.

Fluffy and I couldn’t help but smile as we saw him approaching. Joy swept over us, as if meeting Jurion was a long-awaited event that filled our hearts with warmth and admiration. We felt secure and confident in his presence as if he were not only our companion but also a trusted friend, ready to walk with us through fire and water.

As we approached, the centaur made two circles around us, as if dancing with the wind. His gaze was filled with joy and surprise as he recognized us. The swift movements of his body resembled exquisite choreography, delighting us with his elegance and strength at the same time.

“Oris, my friend!” - his voice thundered, filling the space around us. “How wonderful to see you again! And who’s on your back, is it the little fluffball you’ve told me so much about?”

The amusing question brought a smile to my face. A feeling of joy filled my soul.

The fluffy one must have lied a little when voicing the centaur’s words. Still, meeting Jurion was not only a pleasant experience, but a moment of true happiness and reunion. He inspected our humble wagon with a smile on his face as if he saw it not only as cargo but as an opportunity for recent adventures. Then he turned, allowing me to slip the familiar harness onto his back.

At first, I thought it would be difficult to follow the caravan: unfamiliar terrain, unknown lands. There were no signposts, no navigator telling us how many miles later and which way we should turn. The footprints were very easy to read. Although the number of full wagons was reduced to half, the heavy feet of tuftons and wheels of loaded wagons left very noticeable traces in the ground.