Early in the morning, before the sun rose high enough to pierce through the window and wake Horus up, the tower shook.

Pulled out of his sleep, he springs back on his feet. With no time to put on his armor, he grabs the only weapons he has brought along; two daggers, those gifted by his father when he was six.

Horus rushes to the balcony, leans on the railing… He feels another shake. Noticing a large shadow cast upon the balcony, he looks up to see what had been the cause of the commotion.

The beast has found him first…

He sneaks closer to the wall, get a grip on the bricks, and starts to climb.

Once on the tiled roof, Horus sneaks closer to the creature, pulls out one of his daggers, and plunges it into its chest.

Attempts to, at least.

The dagger barely scratches the thick scales. Alerted by the attack, the dragon turns around on the narrow platform from which it perched, trying to find the intruder. In its motion, its tail flings the knight off the roof…

Everything happens in a split second.

Horus turns to face the heights from which he’d fall. Something scaly disrupts his quick descent to certain death. He rolls off the beast’s wing, painfully landing back on the balcony. Brushing off the scare and pain, Horus quickly looks up to the dragon, crawling back inside as the creature makes its way down the tower.

Horus stands back up and leans against the frame of the balcony’s window, face to face with the dragon. Just as Horus’ hand reaches for his second dagger, a booming voice echoes through the hollow room.

“Leave!”

Horus’ head shoots up. The dragon mouth’s moved, he can still feel the warmth of its breath.

“You talk?!” He pulls out his dagger, holding it up, challenging the creature. “Then answer for your actions, beast!”

“Do not call me that…” The dragon hisses.

“It is what you are.”

“No, it is not!”

“You are a threat to our kingdom, you shattered my sword!”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“You did! Trying to put it through me!”

“Do you have any idea what it symbolized?!”

“I don’t care about your stupid sword, leave my home, leave me alone, just - be gone!”

Horus lowers his knife, hearing a crack in the beast’s roars.

“It can’t be your home…” He looks around the room. “A beast such as yourself cannot fit in here. It’s too narrow. You must be twice the size of this place.”

“Do you think I hadn't noticed? It is my home, and I’m not a beast.” Puzzled, Horus turns to them.

“Then what are you?”

“A cursed soul.”

“So… You are a human? And you were cursed?”

“Yes, now leave.”

“I could help you! I’m Horus.” His introduction doesn’t get the effect he had hoped for. The dragon frowns, tilting their head. He elaborates. “Horus, the prince? The hero? I save people, and if what you say is the truth, you are part of the People. so I’ll-”

“I am not. I live a life of solitude. I am not one of your People, I do not want you to save me, I want you gone.”

“One would argue you live on our land.”

“Argue all you want, I won’t agree with you, so leave.”

Horus takes a step back into the tower. He knows the dragon cannot fit inside, nor would it dare to destroy its home to drag him out of it.

“What is your name?” The dragon doesn’t respond. Instead, they silently blow hot smoke from their muzzle. Horus takes another step back. “My father is the king, there is no point in refusing assistance, beast, we could explain your situation to my father, I’m sure he knows someone who could undo your curse.”

“Do not call me that.”

“Then give me your name.” Horus repeats with a smile.

The Dragon frowns. Horus takes a few steps back again, anticipating another cloud of smoke. Instead, they grumble.

“Azaïd.”

“Great. Now let us rehearse what we shall say to my father, it needs to be concise, he is a busy king.”

“Why can’t you understand, I do not want yours or your father’s help. Be gone, Horus, I need no hero.”

“Nonsense… So, how did you get cursed?”

Azaïd opens his mouth, about to speak, when a rumbling sound is heard in the distance. The hero and the dragon remain silent, listening to the noise which gets closer by the second. Incoherent screams turn to words.

“THE BEAST IS HERE!”

Azaïd frowns, shooting an accusatory glare at Horus.

“You brought your troops to me!”

Horus runs out onto the balcony.

“Guards! Stand down, he’s-” In the same instant, Azaïd turns to face the troops, his wing flinging Horus back inside. The dragon’s scales brush against the fragile wall of bricked stones, causing the tower's wall to collapse, sealing the door to the balcony.