Dragon Knight

Garyx took a deep breath and gritted his teeth. He could feel the fire in his heart, filling his chest and building up from there. A roar slowly began to start in the back of his throat then burst forth echoing inside the cavern with it bouncing off the walls. Every part of Garyx felt like it was on fire. He focused on the dragon blood that ran through his veins and pushed his magic to its limit. In a large burst of fire, he transformed into a monster....no a dragon. He longer considered it a curse any longer. His new family had taught him to view his magical abilities as a blessing. What a blessing it was!

The rush of power that came with his new form was incredible. His human hands and feet turned into curved, deadly talons. His skin grew hard, armoring his body with dark black protective scales. A fiery mane bristled on the back of his long neck. Best of all was the blood red wings on his back that gave him the power of flight. That had been more freeing than anything. The first time he flew, all of his troubles had melted away into thin air.

Garyx gasped in surprise once the transformation completed.

'It didn't hurt that time!' Garyx shouted in his mind while folding his wings into a comfortable position at his side.

It had been three years since Garyx begun to live with his family. His mother and father helped Garyx get used to being a dragon and taught him everything there is about being one. From using his five senses, which were now stronger than before, taught him the biology of dragons, told him their rich history, explained his fire breaths and how to use it, and eventually taught him to fly properly. And to his parents surprise and delight, Garyx was a very fast learner despite him only being a human three years ago. Three years ago.

He didn't know why....but he felt angry. It wasn't like when he was angry when he was fully human. The rage he felt was clawing at him from the inside. Sure he was mad at his old village for what they did to him but this rage that was building up in him was....dark. He could be walking and all of a sudden he would just become wrathful, with fire bursting from his mouth. One time he actually shot his father with his fire. He thought for sure he was going to be punished but instead his father simply laughed it off.

"At least, I know you are good at fire breathing now."

Still. Perhaps it was his dragon blood? Though he asked his family about it.

"There is nothing wrong with you. You will understand it one day."

A loud clap of thunder cut off his train of thought while causing him to glance outside to see dark clouds had formed over the sky with rain falling down heavily. He stayed by the entrance of the cave just watching more and more. He eventually sighed as he undid his transformation. With a burst of flame, he was in his human form again.

'Probably should head back inside.'

As he turned a glow caught his attention. Glancing down, he could see a fiery glow down at the bottom of the mountain. Exactly where his village was located. He could feel the rage building back up inside him while flames sputtered from his mouth. He wanted to go see how his village was during. He glanced behind to see if his mother or father were there. It probably meant they were still asleep. Summoning his magic once more, he busted into flames as he transformed and flew out of the cave down towards the village. In the cave, Silvara emerged from behind a rock as she stared where her son stood. Turning she walked back to where her cavern was. Laying in the middle of it was Onaga who simply laid. Walking over, she crouched down next to him.

"Garyx left for the village."

Onaga opened his eyes.

"I see."

The two were silent.

"Is it wise to let him go?"

"You and I know of a dragon's rage when they come of age. If he doesn't let it out of his body then it will consume him."

"I know but...."

"Cause of his human side?" Onaga asked interrupting his mate. He already knew what her answer was going to be.

Silvara nodded her head while Onaga raised his head and nuzzled her.

"Whatever happens. We will be there for our son." Onaga spoke only to start coughing afterward. He put his claw next his mouth. He coughed for a few seconds but stopped.

He moved his claw away from his claw and stared at it with Silvara glancing to. In his claw was a few spots of blood.

"Seems my time is getting closer." Onaga spoke.

Silvara could only rub her head against her mate with Onaga returning the nuzzle with his thoughts being full of concern. Not for himself but that of his mate and son.

Garyx flew through the rain but it soon began to cloud his vision. He could also feel the rain dripping on him it didn't bother him but....

'Why does my body hurt?' Garyx thought as he was wincing from the pain.

Soon the pain became too much to bear causing him to land on the ground transforming though it still didn't stop the pain as he fell to his knees with his eyes scrunched up. The pain was raging through his whole body while his hands gripped into fists. He soon felt the rain was beginning to end and just left him laying there in pain even after the rain stopped. He gritted his teeth while conjuring on his fire to where it surrounded him in extreme heat that vaporized the water on him. He snorted flames out his nostrils as he rose to his feet. He didn't feel any pain.

'Water hurts me?'

Glancing down at a puddle he lowered his hand into it. For a few minutes, he didn't feel nothing but the cold liquid on his hand. He clenched his teeth as the pain returned causing him to yank his hand out while blowing fire onto it to dry it off.

'Good thing it's not raining anymore.'

With that out of the way, he turned and began his path down the dusty mountain path. Memories rushed back to him. Warm happy memories were few. Garyx closed his eyes. Further back than that, he recalled his family. How happy they were. Smiling faces. That soon turned into anger and hatred with them driving knives into him. To keep his past he kept the same clothes he wore from that day. He would never forget.

"You." A voice rasped.

Garyx opened his eyes to see he was inside the village. Turning towards the voice, he saw the tribe leader. Looking into his eyes, Garyx saw they were full of suspicion and he was clutching his staff for protection. His long black beard and hair had turned white since he had last seen him.

"What business do you have with us, stranger?"

Garyx smelled the air. He could smell the fear in the air. Glancing around, he could see faces were peering out of the windows of nearby huts, watching him fearfully. He smirked lightly.

"I'm simply a traveler that has come seeking an answer. Then I will leave."

The tribe head stared at him. "What is your question?"

"Three years ago there was a child that lived here. I heard......that his tribe tried to kill him. So what happened?"

"The abomination?!" A random villager shouted.

Garyx clenched his fists but didn't do anything. The rage inside him was building and he tried to control it while swallowing the fire in his mouth. "Abomination?"

"Indeed. The child nay, the demon was born in this village. We tried to save the child but failed. In time, he began to become....vicious. Attacking anything or anyone near him."

Garyx rage grew more and more with every lie he heard. "Here's another question. Do....you not recognize me?" Garyx growled.

The tribe head only looked at him before recognition sparked in his eyes as he took a step back. "It can't be!"

"You tried to kill me!" Garyx roared. Two black wings burst from his back, sending out a wave of fire that knocked the old man to the ground flat on his back. There he trembled in fear.

"I was a mere child, who made a mistake," Garyx spoke, while he could feel his rage reaching its peak. His hands became talons in the blink of an eye. A mane of fire ringed his neck. "I was afraid. But instead of offering help, you left me for dead!"

Soon fire filled Garyx throat making him unable to speak. While the villagers man came forth wielding weapons. The same type of weapons that were used to pierce his defenseless body three years ago.

Garyx roared into the sky while fire shot into the sky. In a shower of flame, he transformed. Then he reared up, letting out a menacing roar that shook the mountainside. The screams of women and children answered him. Some were fleeing their homes while others cowered in terror.

One clawed hand darted forward and snatched the old man right off the ground. He was covered in burns but still struggled fiercely. His nostrils were flared with panic and tears ran down his face. Garyx tightened his grip and looked into the old man eyes.

The village had always lived in fear. But this was nothing compared to what they were feeling now.

With a growl, he slammed the old man into the ground where he heard the satisfying crunch of bones breaking. He felt arrows and weapons pelting him though all they did was bounce off. Garyx swung his tail behind him knocking a few of the attackers off their feet. With a single flap of his wings, he flew into the sky. He soon began to rain fire down on the town. No one was spared from his wrath. Screams echoed all throughout the area as people were burned alive. Homes began to turn to ash while the smell of burning flesh lingered throughout the area.

Garyx landed in the center of town as the village burned. Garyx didn't feel anything. He didn't feel his rage nor did he feel grief. He simply sat there in silence much like a woodcutter who takes a moment of reverence after cutting down a tree that was a worthy opponent. He snorted flames out of his nostrils.

He turned to leave but saw something that made his rage rise once more. There laying trapped underneath wood was his father and mother. Both stuck unable to move. Garyx moved towards them even as they continued trying to move the wood off them. The two stopped however when they saw the dragon staring down at them. His eyes were narrowed as he glared down at them with hatred. For a long time, the three were frozen staring at one another. Garyx gathered flames into his throat once more and soon blasted it down at them. He listened to their screams of agony as they burned alive. He didn't feel satisfaction from it. Nor did he feel sad. He watched as their screams slowly died out with him all alone again. There was one more thing he had to do.

He entered into a house after turning human. All along the walls were weapons of many different varieties. None of it mattered to him, though. Walking deeper, he found what he wanted. It was all type of different armor. He glanced all around trying to find the right one for him. None of the armor caught his attention. Growling he turned to leave but stopped when he saw something out of the corner of his eye.

Displayed on a mannequin was a full suit of dark plate armor that looked like dragon scales throughout it. The armor had sharp edges around it while there were also fangs that appeared to be sticking out from the elbow and the front part of the shoulder. The armor was a motif of a dragon. What really drew his attention was the dark silver helmet. The helmet was shaped just like his father face with two horns coming out from its side. If he put it on it would of cover the entire top part of his face including his eyes. Satisfied he plucked the armor of the mannequin before finally turning into a dragon and flew back to his home.

In no time, he had reached the cave entrance and walked inside while staying in his dragon form as he walked in. Glancing around, he didn't see his father or mother causing him to sigh in relief. He lay the armor he brought with him near the rock he slept near.

"So you have returned." Onaga spoke.

Garyx jumped in the air while turning. Standing right behind a rock was the two dragons he did not want to see. Wait?

"You knew I was gone?"

"We also knew were." This time, it was Silvara.

"We also know what you did."

Garyx simply scoffed. "So what?"

"You just slaughtered a village without mercy."

"So what? They are just a bunch of weak humans."

"Your half human."

Garyx turned and snarled while showing his teeth off. "I am nothing like those beasts!"

"You slaughtered them like they were animals."

"So What!? They were animals! They tried to kill me! So I simply returned the favor! I killed them all! The woman. The children. I killed them all! They deserved it!"

"What of the children? Did they have to pay for the sins of their parents?"

Garyx roared while shooting a blast of fire at Onaga that slammed into his face while still having a neutral expression on his face. The flame did nothing to him but simply tickled him. Garyx finally stopped while his eye went back to normal while he slowly breathed in and out. Fire surrounded him as he turned back to his human form. His eyes were wide with fright while his face turned green. Rushing over towards a rock he began to puke all over the ground. Onaga and his mate simply watched him as he stopped only to fall on his rump as his eyes were wide. He remembered how he killed the entire village. How he killed his.....

'I am really a monster.' He thought in horror as he stared his hand that he used to kill the old man.

He soon felt two nuzzles on the side of his face causing him to look up at his parent's.

"I....I...."

"You are human as well my son. You must learn to live with both sides of yourself."

"Why aren't you angry with me?"

"Mistakes are a part of life. If you don't make them, you never learn. If you never learn, you never improve."

Silvara kissed Garyx forehead soothingly while wrapping her wings around him. Garyx eyes watered slowly before they began to fall as he simply sat there crying all the while his family held him close.