The legend of the dragon knight

The Confusion

“Sir, the boy is strong enough to go with you. As you can see, his wound has healed,” the village mage uttered calmly as Livinus arrived at her home along with his fellow guard.

It had been two days since Hermes was brought to the mage’s house after the incident he went through at the execution ground. The king’s men had planned to leave on the second day, but due to the condition of Hermes’ body, they decided to stay in the house prepared mainly for royal guards and other royal guests in the village.

They sent one of the guards, called Edison, to represent them and to give an account of their tax collection and their successful visits to the villages, towns, and cities under the great Thaedorian Kingdom. This left the two of them as the only guards in the village.

But something felt wrong. Livinus wasn’t comfortable with what the village mage said about Hermes’ wounds healing so quickly, so he asked with perplexity in his eyes.

“How come? It’s only been two days, and you’re saying the boy’s wounds have healed?”

“Yes, sir. Come in and see for yourself. I’m surprised too,” the village mage replied as she opened the door and allowed Livinus and his fellow guard inside.

“Impossible,” Livinus said as he walked closer to where Hermes was sitting on the bed. He looked at Hermes’ two hands and legs over and over again, but there were no scars left behind, not even a mark.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my entire life,” Livinus said as he walked back to where his fellow guard was standing.

“Could it be that the boy is hiding something from us?”

“Sir, I don’t think so,” the mage answered. “I’ve used my mana detection on him several times,” she continued. “Even before both of you came here, because it looked strange to me at first.”

“Your people claimed the boy doesn’t possess magic, but this is beyond magic.” Livinus said as he walked closer to where the mage was standing, their eyes locked onto each other.

“The last time such a thing happened,” he went on, “was during the era of the Dragon Knights, which was over ten thousand years ago. They were the only ones with such healing abilities. After their deaths, the ability ceased to exist. No citizen in the entire kingdom possessed such an ability. But this boy is experiencing it.”

“Are you trying to say the boy is a Dragon Knight?” Andre, his fellow guard, asked.

“No. Not really. The Dragon Knights are myths now. None of them exist anymore.”

“Good. I’m glad you know that,” Andre replied. “The boy was just lucky. Nothing more.”

The mage nodded in agreement.

“It’s time to go, boy…” Livinus said as he turned to face Hermes. “Our rides are ready,” he continued. “Go get your things now.”

Without wasting any time, Hermes ran into his room, packed his three clothes, two knickers, and one pair of shoes, and put them inside his worn knapsack. He placed it on his back and came out of the room.

“I’m ready now,” he said.

Livinus and his fellow guard started leaving the house to mount their horses, with Hermes following behind them.

But just as Hermes stepped outside the house, he turned back and looked at the mage standing inside and staring at him. Tears began to stream down his face.

The memories of how he arrived at the village, how he was first treated kindly and later badly by the villagers, and how the mage accepted him only to later reject him began to overwhelm his mind.

He tried hard to hide his tears but he could no longer hold them back.

Inside the house, the mage started to feel guilty as she saw tears falling from his eyes.

“My son, I’m so sorry for everything you’ve been through,” she pleaded as she moved closer to where Hermes was standing.

Tears began to stream down her face as well.

“I had no choice,” she cried. “I was forced. It wasn’t my intention. The law says that a person with no magic is a curse.”

She faltered before continuing.

“I have to act accordingly because of the trust my people have in me. I can’t betray them.”

She paused and wiped the tears from her face.

“But I want you to know this,” she whispered as she finally stepped out of the house and approached Hermes. “The Gods did not place you in this world for no reason. If they could create a being like you without magic… then I’m sure they have their reasons.”

She paused once more and placed her right hand on Hermes’ left shoulder.

“You are special,” she advised him. “You are not alone. Be strong, and become the hero you were meant to be.”

“Time is up, boy. Come over, let’s go,” Livinus ordered as he and his fellow guard mounted their horses.

Hermes looked at them and then back at the mage.

“I understand. I forgive you,” Hermes said with a smile on his face.

The mage smiled back.

“I will be going now,” he said.

He ran toward Livinus’ horse and mounted it. Sitting behind Livinus, Hermes held firmly as the horse began to move.

Soon, the horses galloped away from the village.

“May the Gods protect you all,” the mage whispered.

“May the Gods protect you too.” Livinus replied.

Hermes turned his face and waved at the Mage. The mage waved back as tears fell down from her eyes once more.

Finally, they galloped away. The mage stood there until they disappeared from her sight.