After dying from an accident I was reincarnated into a fantasy world.
There was magic as well as monsters.
Terrifying stuff. Have you ever seen three nukes fighting each other while you were in the middle?
No, if you had you wouldn't be alive.
Despite that, "I saw three dragons fighting each other the moment I arrived here.
Blue, red and black energies collided and exploded everywhere.
I only survived due to how weak my mana was, I was barely even a concern for those powerhouses. A mere house rat that was watching tigers fight.
One of those dragons, the blue dragon, took pity in me and helped me escape, but not before being fatally wounded.
At the time I didn't understand why but it told me something I would never forget.
'Please tell the other clans what happened today. The black dragon won't kill you due to how weak you are… but I will give you access.'
It injected me with knowledge about the dragon clans and how to meet them.
With her power the dragon could've saved the hatchling even without my help. No, she could've avoided being injured in the first place.
Then she gave me two gifts.
A small blue marble, which was her mana heart that had been condensed to the extreme. And a blessing.
Then she started fading.
'Wh-what?! You can't just leave! I still have questions!'
Panic engulfed me, what was I supposed to do as a mere human?
But she said nothing and faded away with a small smile.
The other two dragons had finished fighting, the black dragon had survived and looked at me before flying away.
Since that day, I knew that I could never reach the heights of a dragon."
Sapphire nodded.
"Good, it's not good to reveal my identity just yet."
Her blue hair resembled her mother and her eyes reminded me of her father, not to mention her beauty.
"Hoho, yes it isn't. Not until you're ready."
I sat down on a chair and felt the wind.
'It's truly time for me to rest.'
I was sleeping more and more as I aged. I felt that my time was near.
I had almost finished writing my autobiography which was going to be kept in the royal archives. I was quite the important man after all.
"Hero", "master tamer", "monster collector", "monster addict", "dangerous", "evil" and straight up "pervert" were a few of the many names I was called.
'Now I'm called the monster legend.'
I was almost done writing it and thought of one last idea.
'There should be a suitable ending.'
My body felt heavy and brittle, but I couldn't help but smile when I looked around.
A witch's cat that was smarter than most scholars, a fox that emitted hallucinogenic chemicals, a baby snake which was almost longer than my entire body and a rabbit that could live for three hundred more years. These friends were all sleeping around me.
And outside of the house were many, many more friends.
A notable example would be the rock worm.
Despite resembling like a worm, its size was as big as a snake and its body was made entirely of rocks.
I felt at peace.
"Sapphire…"
"Yeah?"
Sapphire looked at me and crouched down to reach my eye level.
"You should write it… the last part."
Sapphire smiled but shook her head.
"No, it's your autobiography. You should write it. Old man."
"Hahaha… but you're my child, you are all my children, family and friends. You should be the one."
This time Sapphire remained quiet.
"But I don't know how to write like you."
"You will learn with time and effort."
"I'm still immature and… I can't."
"We're all immature in our own ways."
"You… but you're irreplaceable…."
"But time is ticking."
"Can't you just use dark magic this once?! I'm sure we could all make an exception just this once! Those forest elves still owe you! Even the spirit kings owe you!"
This time I remained silent after Sapphire's outburst.
"I'm sorry for yelling…."
"It's alright. And I don't intend to go against the river of time. I will not defy the natural order you all protect."
"You're dying. You won't make it past today…"
I nodded silently.
"Aren't you afraid?"
Sapphire asked.
"I am afraid… but you all give me courage."
Sapphire stayed silent and kissed me on the forehead.
"Goodnight Lucian."
"Yes…. goodnight… Sapphire… everyone."
I felt like everyone knew what was happening, since all my friends approached me.
Even those outside surrounded the house.
Together they said goodnight.
'Although I could never make it back to earth… I made it home. This is my home.'
I closed my eyes and fell asleep, for a very, very long time.
*******
After burying the body we all stayed silent.
'I wonder if this is good enough.'
The gravestone had an inscription on it.
[Here lies a friend of nature.]
I took out a small box and buried it beside the gravestone.
I didn't say much for the next few weeks, there was nothing to say. I still had something to do.
*******
I flew to different places and eventually landed in a forest.
'I can't…'
I can't complete it. I couldn't bring myself to write for him.
I never wanted to cry so badly before. Why did he have to die?
*"Maybe you should ask others for advice?"*
A dryad said as she sat down beside me.
"I'm still a dragon. I can't do that."
I had pride in my lineage and didn't want to ask for advice from lower races.
The only reason I am talking to the dryad is due to her status.
One of the few that held a royal title of queen. The owner of all the forests, Minerva. Only slightly bellow dragons in status.
*"You're still young. Seeking knowledge from those wiser than you will be a valuable experience."*
'That's what I'm doing though?'
I sighed in disbelief and created water.
I'm not sure when I picked up the habit of fidgeting with water but it distracted me well enough.
Minerva didn't say much and after about three days I broke the silence.
"I can't just wallow in misery forever…. Minerva, guardian of all the forests on the continent. How do I write for him?"
Minerva stayed silent for a while before answering.
*"He was almost unconditionally kind, all the spirits in the forest liked him. When I first met him, I thought of him as a lost lamb. Loved by everyone but without a home to call his own."*
'Was he truly like that? Why hadn't I thought about it before?'
He was my father and friend. He raised me and taught me everything I know.
'Even though I was physically stronger I never seemed to know what he was thinking.'
Did I give up on him? Did I abandon understanding him simply because it was too hard?
*"But, two years ago, right? When he went on his last journey with you. Even his wrinkles couldn't hide his satisfaction with life. I think he had found a new home."*
What was a home?
'I already know.'
"Thanks for the advice. I know what I want to do next."
This would be the second time, although this time I would be alone.
'The closest place would be that one man forest.'
*Crack!*
My skin shattered and my back was revealed as wings sprouted.
*Flutter!*
"Thanks for the help."
Scales quickly covered my back as I began flying towards my destination quickly.
Although my full dragon form was faster, I was more comfortable with this.
*"What a unique dragon."*
Minerva sighed lightly.
*"As a sacred race, one would've thought they cared more about their presence."*
*********
I flew across the sky like a bird and eventually saw the beginning of a forest.
'People?'
I quickly decided to go down on the grass and removed my wings.
Of course, I also changed clothes and my hair colour.
"Huh? Who are you?"
A group of four people, all in some kind of gear.
'They don't seem dangerous.'
I approached with my hands up.
"I'm a traveler…. I was planning on going through that forest but got too scared."
The one who appeared to be their leader approached me silently, simply observing me. Then he put his hand over his sword.
"We're not fools. Not just anyone would be able to make it this far with such clean clothes. Who are you?"
'He doesn't seem like a person who would die easily.'
My evaluation of him increased slightly.
I shook my head and created some water.
"Sorry, I forgot to say that I was a mage."
The man flinched and looked at his party members for confirmation.
Everyone nodded.
"Alright, you can join us…"
He didn't let his guard down but let me join them nonetheless.
We walked around the forest for a while until we reached a road.
"Mage, do you know what this forest is known for?"
The leader asked.
"Yeah, a forest that you cannot enter unless there are unique circumstances. And all those who have entered said there was an elf there who seemed strong."
"Yet, there have been no casualties and no missing people who've entered."
A cursed forest with only one protector.
The leader nodded silently.
"Good that you're informed. Let's go, you stay beside me in the front. I'll make sure you don't die, so don't do anything fishy."
I nodded silently as I observed the other members.
"You 'know, it's also known that if you enter you can get served magical tea."
I nodded silently.
They seemed friendly.
*******
The night was dark.
We were in the forest now, but we hadn't encountered anything.
'At least that's what they think.'
There were hundreds of spirits secretly observing us.
"It looks safe, we'll set up camp here. What do you say mage?"
"Yeah, I can't detect anything."
I lied easily, the truth would only make them wary.
"We'll each look out for monsters! We'll rotate every hour and a half!"
Tents were set up but I slept outside by choice.
'Although I don't need more than a 10 minute nap.'
A dragon's heart was incredibly powerful and could sustain a dragon for decades before any problems arose.
I closed my eyes while leaning on a tree.
I was used to sleeping in uncomfortable positions.
'This is comforting...'
*Step.*
Someone was approaching.
It was the person who was on lookout duty.
*Step.*
'I should practice more fields of magic.'
I opened my eyes, looking up at the person in front of me.
I could clearly see what he wanted, he wanted my body.
*Grab!*
He quickly covered my mouth and pushed their hand on my neck, choking me. Although being a dragon, I didn't need to breathe that much.
"Shhh, just stay quiet."
His grin widened and his face approached mine.
'Disgusting.'
I could just knock him out quickly and disappear. Or I could kill him.
'Wait, where's that elf?'
*Swish!*
*Pak!*
*Thud.*
Right on queue, a green light hit him on the head.
'Oh, there he is.'
"Are you alright?"
A handsome blond man with green eyes and long ears asked.
"Yeah."
I didn't break eye contact. I wouldn't fall for someone over 50 times my age.
*Flinch!*
"Ah, are you Sapphire?"
My hair colour changed back to a vibrant blue quickly and I shook my head.
"Terrible guest reception, I thought this place was famous for its tea and the nice elf. I guess it was fake advertising."
"It's an honour to be in your presence."
He bowed a perfect ninety degrees quickly.
"Goodness, are you still on about me being a dragon? I thought we were past that."
"Not this time."
I tilted my head and he continued.
"I also wish to thank you for helping Lucian before he passed. Thanks to you two I learned quite a lot."
"...."
"What was that sound!"
The party leader had woken up.
'We weren't that loud right?'
"I'll deal with that."
*Whoosh!*
"Argh! Something's attacking us! Be on guard!"
It was over in less than five minutes.
Along with wind powerful enough the destroy trees he threw in sticks to cause a mess.
Like a mini tornado, the wind blew the party away, making us alone in the now silent forest.
A few leaves fell back to the ground slowly, as if gliding softly down to the ground.
The moon was visible through the trees and the moon's light shone upon the forest.
"Now then, what did you want to talk about, friend?"
"I want your help in writing the last part of Lucian's autobiography. Not just you, everyone that played an integral part in Lucian's journey. Help me Aquila."
That was the beginning of the end in Lucian the tamer's autobiography.
Even as he left the world there were still people willing to move for him.
'Perhaps that's why he found a home.'
Not a place, but connections that would last for many lifetimes. Something more precious than gold.
That was the legendary tamer's legacy.