“Hmmm? Are you…?”

A strange voice whispered to Rarian. Did I die? He thought to himself. He felt like his breathing is heavy, as if he’s underwater.

Within his vision, looking faintly into the darkness, he can see what looks like kelp, rocks, and a sword? The sword seemed to be wedged in between the ground, covered in weeds, wrapping it like a rope.

The single-edged sword looked like it hadn’t aged at all, with blue paint along with a symbol that resembles a yellow cross. The hilt was brown with the end of it having a single scarlet colored round gem.

“Are you a dragon…? I felt your presence call out to me when you were dying…” the voice spoke.

Rarian couldn’t speak to his lung being filled with water, but his mind was still able to persist. I guess so… I don’t know how am I alive after I drowned.

“Your will…” the voice spoke from the sword. My will? Rarian thought to himself.

Ah, that’s right. He tried to fight a devil who wanted to eat him or infect him, but both failed and he tried to survive by jumping into the water, not realizing he couldn’t swim.

Yet, Rarian, despite his fear, tried to fight back and showed bravery in a life or death situation. He didn’t know how to fight, but all he thought in those moments was that he must survive, because he didn’t want to burden his own friend, Anya, his dad, that he disappeared and couldn’t tell them that he’s sorry for being so careless.

“Yes, I felt your will, that moment of bravery and resilience in your soul. You encountered something troublesome because of your ignorance… Just like me.” the voice said. “You remind me of myself from long ago, I don’t remember much of what happened but… I want to be free once more.”

What do you expect me to do? I don’t have the strength left in me. Rarian softly spoke in his head.

The voice in the sword thought, and then asked to Rarian, “Persist, preserve… Think of what you can do to survive in this situation if you must survive in this world to see everyone again.”

Rarian tried to remember what else EarthFangs could do. Their biology was similar to most rock. After all, they are dragons born in the earth’s crust, at least that’s what his dad said. Absorbing sunlight and heat in the atmosphere, horns that can radiate like a glimmering gemstone, breathing fire…

What about… absorbing air in the water, like porous rocks? Rarian thought to himself. I haven’t tried it yet, but my dad has told me that EarthFangs are quite tough and resilient dragons.

Rarian tried to focus, thinking of his dad, Anya, everyone in the village… Even the Adulthood Ceremony where he would become an independent, strong and responsible dragon. I must survive!

Rarian was able to paddle a bit to the sword, using his last remaining strength to preserve and grab the sword by the handle. Then, the voice within the sword, sensing Rarian’s pure, noble and resilient heart to think of his family and friends before himself, spoke in a perplexed tone, “Your soul…! This is…”

The voice within the sword cut themselves off as they noticed Rarian about to pass out once more as he couldn't persist any longer, “I see, I see. I see your worthiness, and I shall save you… master.”

A bright flash of light emerged from the sword, blinding him, before passing out.

Rarian coughed out water, his vision was still blurry and his paws were tired. Then, when his vision cleared, he could see looking down at him was a red scaled dragon, their age was like that of a young adult. The dragon’s aura was like that of a young prince or a king, giving Rarian a pleasant feeling of protectiveness. The dragon was also wearing a blue bandana with what resembles a golden winged chalice.

“Master! Master! Are you alright?” the dragon spoke. Master? Is he talking about me?

“Here, let me help you get up,” the dragon said, helping Rarian up. Rarian can see the dragon patched up his tail wound with some kelp. Next to the dragon was the sword that he saw in his vision.

“Who are you?” Rarian asked weakly. The dragon perked up at the young dragon and answered him. “My name… I suppose you can call me Artorus Pendragon,” the dragon answered, smiling softly at the child.

He looked up and saw that the weather had cleared, yet the stormclouds were still around them, with a soft drizzle raining down on them. “The rain has stopped a bit, master.”

Rarian was a bit annoyed at being called a master, “Could you stop calling me ‘master’, sir?”

The dragon looked embarrassed and stepped back a bit, giving Rarian some space. “My apologies,” Artorus apologized, “I felt your soul when you touched my sword that I was imprisoned in and I have massive respect for you.”

Imprisoned in the sword? Rarian thought, now he’s even more confused if he’s being honest. “Uh huh, can we like, y’know, go to my place and talk about this privately?” Rarian asked, “I am worried we might attract devils like the one that tried to harm me.”

Rarian also added, “Oh, and please, call me Rarian. Rarian Drachenberg, mister.”

Artorus nodded, but he couldn’t help feeling a sense of deja vu when he heard the surname ‘Drachenberg’. Drachenberg… Artorus thought, first his soul was that of courage and benevolence, and then his surname? He still can’t help in shaking off the feeling that Rarian is related to someone he knew from long ago.

When they arrived at Rarian’s home, Rarian noticed that his dad, Merlinus, wasn’t home. Typical, going home late as expected of dad Rarian thought, guess that also means he has to explain why he brought a guest to the cave.

Even worse is that he has to explain to his dad on where this dragon came from, a sword of all things from what he can remember. It would be hard to explain whilst not looking like an idiot.

“Come inside, Artorus. I’ll brew some dragonfruit juice,” Rarian said. Artorus followed Rarian to the kitchen and he sat in the corner. He watched carefully at Rarian as he made some dragonfruit juice, he could smell the pleasant aroma of the dragonfruit in the air, wagging his tail a bit and overall being excited in tasting this ‘dragonfruit juice’ for the first time.

After Rarian made the juice, he poured them in two bowls and gave one to Artorus and one for himself. Then, he asked for an explanation, “So ‘Artorus’, mind telling me or explaining to me about yourself? How are you trapped in that sword like you said? And who are you really?”

Artorus circled his claw on the bowl, thinking of what to say to Rarian. He even has questions for his young master. “I think… it’s hard to explain. I’m still not sure why you’re being generous to me and then started asking me these questions.”

Rarian took a moment to consider that. He’s right, we only just met, I shouldn’t ask questions to a complete stranger.

Artorus noticed Rarian’s face of embarrassment, feeling like he made Rarian embarrassed by questioning his question, “W-wait! I didn’t mean it like that, Rarian! I just-”

“No no,” Rarian interrupted, chuckled embarrassingly, “But I mean, you did save my life and my dad taught me to be kind to strangers. Maybe I could’ve asked something more simple but, I’m just confused, that’s all.”

“I mean, you’re trapped in a sword under a lake, a dragon trapped in a sword! That thing just sounds like it came out of a fairy tale!” Rarian said. This made Artorus, who was drinking his juice, burst out laughing in agreement.

“Hahah! Yeah, that I can understand. It sounds absurd, yes,” Artorus nodded. Artorus sighed, I guess his young master does deserve an actual explanation.