THE MOMENT
"Hello, Eury," the shining chrome behemoth smiled with a gentle voice. Eury didn't consider herself easily unsettled; but, she felt an interesting mix of interest and terror at the size of the dragon. Those emotions were magnified when it used her name. It was a rare day alone for Eury, her usual tagalongs were busy and she found a strange cave while exploring the wilderness. She went in and discovered the dragon sitting there, almost as if waiting for her. It must have sensed her when she entered the cave.
"How do you know my name??" Eury asked.
"I'm afraid that particular answer is outside the rules of this meeting," the dragon said. Her face seemed to soften, though it was hard to tell, but, she did sound apologetic. "I know you'll have a great many questions and I am very sorry that I cannot give you some of those answers."
"Where did you come from?" Eury asked, still determined to get some answers. "It's said that it's been 15,000 years since the dragons disappeared....," she asked.
"Is that right?" The dragon smiled and even gave a polite laugh. "As it happens, you now stand before the first dragon ever seen," she said. "By some accounts, the first dragon that ever existed," her neck straightened slightly as she puffed her chest out with pride.
"Unfortunately, this interaction must be kept a secret. It's no exaggeration to say the fate of the universe depends on this secret," she added. "It's best if you don't announce dragons have returned. I am the only one, and only here to see you."
"Me? Because I'm a summoned hero??" she asked.
"My dear child," the dragon nodded with a solemn tone. "I will reward you with great favor for enduring this convoluted trial. I sincerely apologize for the necessity of it. I will be as honest as I am able," she said. "Yes, in some aspect, I am here because you are a summoned hero, but, on the surface that misrepresents the situation and I will not mislead you. You were chosen, by me, to be summoned." Eury was too stunned to react and the dragon continued.
"My appearance here is also part of that choice. You've progressed well and I am now able to give you a reward to help you further; you have an important battle this week," she said.
"I do?" Eury asked. She was getting a lot of information thrown at her and she was doing her best to keep up. In a way, it was helpful that she knew the dragon couldn't explain everything, it kept her focused on what was said.
"You will face Runehart's general, a scrawny man named, 'Jack'," the dragon said. "Do not let his awkward appearance fool you, he's a wily man who relies on others underestimating him. You must defeat him to stand a chance of defeating Runehart."
"And then what?" Eury asked. Ever since she was summoned to this new world she'd been told her destiny was to defeat Runehart. She went along with it because she had no other option; but, she often wondered what would happen then. Would she be trapped in this new world without her memory? Would she get to go home? Now, finally, she had someone to ask.
"And then, life will return to normal; this isn't it," the dragon said. "And, I will do all I can to repay this terrible inconvenience you are facing."
"What is 'normal'?" Eury asked. She didn't expect an answer to clarify it; but, she hoped something might spark her memory of the life before. The dragon smiled.
"Defeat Jack, and you'll get a small taste of it," she said. "It's more than you know, more than I can explain. Just.. more," she giggled lightly.
"Okay," Eury nodded. "I'm up to the challenge. When do I face him?"
"That is unknown," the dragon shook her head. "I was only able to narrow it down to this week so that you wouldn't be caught completely unaware."
"Thank you for the gift of knowledge," Eury nodded. "I will do my best to prepare."
"Oh, no," the dragon said. "That's not the gift, I have a tangible upgrade for you," The great dragon made a sweeping gesture with her claw and a shiny, silvery gorgon appeared. It was taller than Eury, but not by much. The snakes on its head appeared to be made of polished chrome, like the rest of the scales covering the creature's serpentine body. "Open your grimoire," the dragon said and Eury followed the order instantly. Once she had her book out and opened the gorgon disintegrated into white powder and the dust gathered into a golden gem embedded in one of the slots.
"Study the Chromatic Gorgon well," the dragon said. "It has the helpful ability to be used in any slot, although each one grants a different effect."
"Whoa, thank you!" Eury was thrilled with such a powerful creature.
"And now, this meeting has concluded," the dragon said. "I wish you luck, and I look forward to our next one."
"There'll be another one?" Eury asked. She considered this a one-time encounter and she was glad to hear it. At least, she was glad until the dragon left her an answer as it disappeared.
"Of course," the dragon said as a large black hole opened below it and rose up to swallow the creature. It vanished leaving Eury alone in the cave with an unsettling reply. "The game's not over until August."