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"It's time to wake up."

My eyes begun to open very slowly, with my vision being very blurry. As I tried to stand up, I felt my body shake. I felt sore, as if I had done hard work the day before. As I rose to my feet, I rubbed my head softly and looked around, my vision finally coming to.

"...My head...the forest...but why am I..." I froze in fear as all of my memory finally came back to me.

"The dragon." I said in a soft tone, but then heard a loud, yet subtle laughter behind. I quickly turned around and looked up. There it was, was the dragon, sitting down right behind me, his crossed legs in front of me, but even with him sitting down, he towered over me like a small mountain,

"Present." He said with a stern look on his, then, he began to lean down to get a better look at me. I let out a small scream and tried to run from him. With my body still sore from earlier, I limped as far as I could, but I had no chance. He stretched his leg out just a little and placed it directly in front of me. I tried to stop, but I then slipped, running into his ankle. I quickly got up and tried to continue my escape, but he had then began to move his leg back. I was taken of guard by his thick heel; it had hit my and swept me off my feet, bringing me back to the massive being. I slowly tried to climb over massive, thick heel, but I then froze.

"That is enough." His voice boomed, the earth grew quiet at his command. I stared upon him with fear, with the thought that he would kill me when he brought me close. I punched and clawed at his enforcing heel, but it was all in vain. He then moved his other leg as he moving me, I looked behind me to see his other foot coming towards me. My eyes grew wide in terror, I quickly tried to start climbing, but as soon as I turned around; the sole of his left foot, met the heel of his right. I was trapped behind them. He had me captured. I tried to struggle between the dragon's massive feet, but it was useless. As I looked at him? my body shook in fear of his massive form, with tears streamed down my cheek. I grit my teeth, then let one last final plea.

"...PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!" I held back as hard as I could from crying in front of the dragon. He sat in silence, before finally opening his maw.

"Why not. I thought you wanted to die in this forest." I froze in realization. He was right, that was the only reason I had come into this god forsaken forest, but in the end? I was a coward, and couldn't handle it. Now more than ever, I felt that I deserved to die, and began to silently cry. The dragon began to speak once more.

"When someone comes to this forest, looking for death, I always oblige them with it's warm embrace." I closed my eyes and braced to be crushed by the dragon, to end my life.

"I see you want nothing more than that." I waited for my life to end within seconds, but I then felt the warmth of his feet slowly come off me, letting me fall to the ground. I open my eyes and look around me. I see his feet letting my got, then his legs crossing once more, surrounding me.

"Unfortunately, that isn't what I want." My eyes grew wide in disbelief. I slowly looked up at him, confused by the events that led up to this moment.

"But...You tried to kill me earlier."

"I did no such thing little one. I was merely walking, you just happened to be in the path of my feet. In fact, you are the only one that made any sort of attack. Remember?" I looked behind me, and remembered that I attack him moments ago. I looked back up at the dragon, confused more than ever by this beast.

"If you didn't want to end me...then what do you want from me? He looked at me in a very serious expression.

"I've been watching over you little Leon. Like a guardian." I stepped back in shock.

"What?"

"The noises in the night, the rustling in the trees. It was me." I looked down in disbelief, but then thought back to those little moments in my life. The sounds and movements in my life that I thought were nothing, was actually this giant beast that now sat before me. I looked back up at him again and asked

"Why me? There were so many stronger, talented people in the town."

"You have something inside you that no other person in this lifetime possesses."

"What is that?"

"A fire in your heart. A fire that could burn like a strong blaze lighting forth the path to change the world." I looked down at my chest and placed my hand over my heart, confused.

"But right now, it is like a soft candle at the end of its wick, ready to burn out from this life." I look up at him, then tilt my head

"Okay...and what would you get out from...helping me?" He grinned down at me

"Nothing."

"What?"

"Nothing physical. You will understand in time." I gave a soft nod, then responded

"So...what are do I have to do to...make this flame not die?"

"First, you must find out who you truly are? Once you do that, everything will begin to fall into place." I gave a soft nod "But be wary, this will be a dangerous adventure, there are few out there who will want to stop you on your journey."

"But that's okay, because you'll protect me...mister?"

"Umbra Sanguinis, and no. I will not." I step back in shock and confusion.

"But, you just said you were like my guardian."

"A guardian. Like something that will watch over you, and make sure you are following your path. I do not protect; that is your job." I look around, scared.

"But, I could never protect myself, I'm small and weak. I'll be killed before I'm able to make my first steps." He grins

"All this coming from the small, weak lion that defeat 3 others that were substantially larger than him, and was able to survive the secret of the forest." I looked down, ashamed with myself. He wasn't wrong. Not in the slightest.

"As I said before? You lack courage because you don't believe." I looked back up slowly at Umbra

"Believe in what?" I asked, slightly aggravated, but he then let out a huff at my response.

"The answer is right in front of you, and you still don't see it." I stared at him nervously and gulped

"...You?"

He let out a sigh

"In time, you will learn." He then began to slowly get up onto his feet. I made a quick dash to get out of his way as he did not wanting to get caught under his feet again. When he finally reached his full height, he looked off into the distance, I then looked in the same direction, only to see the darkness of the forest.

"It is time. Are you ready little one?" In my mind, I wasn't ready; I wanted to hold my family one last time, to tell them what I had saw, and tell them what I had to do. As much as I wanted to, something in my heart told me that I had to go, and leave them for now. I felt a tear stream down my face, but I gave a nod.

"I'm ready Umbra."

"Good. Now. Brace yourself." I turn around to figure out what he meant, but was met with a quick hit from his large, thick heel. The hit sent me to the ground and knocked me out.

Little did I know, that as soon as I woke up? It would be the start of my grand adventure.