5Forging A Dragon will be my first true story, and I really hope you guys enjoy it. If you like it let me know; if you don't like it let me know why in a review and I will take your information and see what I can do. Your reviews would help a beginner like me tremendously. Enjoy!
Are heroes truly the only people who aren't weak?
Was it the armor that gave them the toughness to go on? Did they have a secret no one else knew?
I had decided that was not entirely true; armed with the determination to become a hero and prove the world wrong, I set out down the beaten dirt path leading from my village to the east.
My destination was Vale, but more specifically I was headed for Beacon Academy for Heroes. Every hero that ever passed through our village could be heard talking about their days at Beacon. Ever since I had heard of the place I wished to attend.
Beacon would never accept you; you're just a commoner.
Unfortunately, Fate decided to be cruel to me by filling me with grandiose fantasies and making me a commonplace worker.
Could I really change my fate and become a hero to stand against the evils of Remnant?
No one has done what I have decided to do. Who in their right mind would?
It had been around three hours since I left Greenwood, and I unrolled my scroll, the faded and yellow page slowly forming words. In the center was one large word: Blacksmith. I had opened and closed my scroll many times, and each time I prayed to the Twins that the word would change into another. It did not, however, causing me to doubt that decision.
It consisted of other words, but the weight of that word alone grabbed my attention with an iron grip and refused to let go.
The other words carried with them their own problems; my stats were all out of proportion to be a hero. Not to mention my soul skill would not do a thing in a real fight.
\-/
Jaune Arc
Greenwood
Blacksmith
Level: 15
Attributes
Str: 20
Con: 18
Dex: 13
Agi: 9
Chr: 8
Wil: 15
Int: 16
Spi: 30
Soul Skill
Metallic Soul – Allows blacksmith to use metallurgy to cause one metal to become a new metal. Must have used the metal prior.
/-\
There was a second page behind this one that has other things on it; there was, however, only one piece of yellow parchment contained in this scroll. I had long since given up on trying to understand how that worked.
As I looked up, I caught sight of a small, blue bird flapping across the narrow, dirt path; it was followed by another dimmer colored bird and disappeared in the trees. The birds were chirping a beautiful song off in the distance while squirrels rustled about in the trees; both were no doubt looking for mates. Where once the trees were just bare bones, the canopy of all the trees whistled in the breeze not a single leaf out of place; the breeze carried on it the sweet, uplifting smells of spring in Sanus. Everything in the woods reminded me that there was a natural order to the universe, and I, Jaune Arc, was the only thing that seemed out of place.
What was I doing? What kind of moron does it take to go against destiny?
It was not too late for me to return and be a blacksmith; the morning dew still clung to the grass sagging ever so slightly. My leather boots clobbered along the path, I considered turning around and returning to a life of certainty and safety with the pinging of metal. I was in control in the forge; as I struck the metal, it formed to what I had wanted not telling me what to do. As I meandered down the path, I realized that whatever happens out here is going to happen no matter what I thought; I was at the mercy of the wilds. I had no control.
No. That just wouldn't do; I have begun this journey. I had to follow through with this even if it kills me which it probably would since I was just a blacksmith.
There I was, a boy who knew only how to coerce metal into tools and weapons not truly understanding what was in store only that caused me to hesitate, and I heard once that to hesitate was the difference between life and death most always leading to the latter.
With half a day's trek, my inventory bag felt as though it was filled to the brim with iron and not a tent and food, and dig into my shoulders and back, but I had long ago gotten used to the feeling. Doubt already began to seep further and further into the crevasses of my mind. My feet began to feel as though they were made of iron, heavy and tiring and started to drag as did my spirit, and I had almost decided to set up a camp off the road a bit.
A smile stretched its way across my face as I crested a small hill on the road and was welcomed by the sight of a quaint little village. Its houses were made from the surrounding wood as was the village's defenses. The village square had a small stage looking thing with stocks on one side and a podium on the other. Even though it had a square, my calling it a village seemed a little bit much, but it did have a tavern. That has to account for something.
At the prospect of fresh food and a refreshing pint of ale, my boots became lighter as if feeling my spirit lighten. The smell alone made my mouth salivate, and my stomach began to mock Remnant by causing its own earthquakes.
My skin crawled as I heard the screams and shouts of the village's citizens; their voices dripped with anger like the venom from a Taijitu's fangs, but the anger wasn't alone. Anger in and of itself is dangerous when alone, but the shouts carried an emotion much more powerful, one that caused their voices to sound shaky and cowardly. Fear. Fear attracted the creatures of grimm like moths to a flame; grimm considered fear a delicacy.
Panic tried its hardest to seep into my bones, but I kept out as best I could. After the initial panic wore off, my curiosity peaked urging me to pick up speed. Squirrels scurried away as a past them hurrying up into the tall, green trees.
If they keep up that negativity, it is going cause grimm to spawn. What has them in such a fuss?
I jogged over to where the mob is, and my gaze fell upon that of an ancient beast of immense size.
Holy…
As my eyes fell upon the beast's thick, golden scales, fear shot through my veins causing me to freeze with my gaze locked with that of a Dragon's. The fear slowly transformed into a sudden and unknown respect for the magnitude of the creature. Its metallic gold eyes seemed so huge that I could have mistaken them for suns; it seemed as though at that moment the golden orbs pierced the deepest reaches of my soul and in that one moment they knew everything there was to know about me. As I realized that the beast was obviously far more intelligent than any other creature, my spine started to have a faint tremble to it, but not another part of my body moved.
My mother used to tell me of legends that told of beasts of unimaginable power and wisdom in a time before the Twins came to Remnant and created the first people. These beasts roamed about unbothered by anything. They were at peace with the way life was, but the beasts received visitors. The visitors named the beasts Dragons. The eldest Twin created life all across the world; his younger brother quickly became jealous. In a rage, He created the creatures of grimm, and these creatures wreaked havoc all across Remnant. The Twins made up and created humans and faunus. Seeing that this beautiful creation would need a hand, the Dragons decided to use the power of their elements and create Dust. The legends say the last Dragon left Remnant millennia ago in search of a more peaceful land, but I could not explain in any other way what just met the gaze of.
"Jaune Arc, you must free me." The beast slowly closed its eyes breaking our connection and releasing me from my paralysis. Its movement almost seemed lethargic as it stretched out its scaly wings. The limbs in the surrounding trees snapping with the sheer power of the wings. The scales on its back It never said a word, yet its voice boomed like a million war drums shaking the horizon.
My soul began to move before my feet did urged on by the magnificent beast before, and the dirt beneath me shifted loosely as I turned on my heels and headed towards the tavern.
The wooden door slammed open as I hurled my frame through it hoping it didn't snap in half. Everyone's attention was all on me; I felt as though there were a million people staring at me.
"Where is the Chief?" It was nearing a scream rather than a question, and it caught all of ten people's attention. With all the eyes in the room on me I felt as though the weight of their shocked expressions would crush me. The tension in the air was so thick I could choke, however, that may have just been all the pipe smoke.
"WHERE IS HE!" My throat pained as my lungs dug deep and forced it to allow such volume, and the windows shook slightly trying to escape the scream. I waited not a moment longer and stormed out of the squat little tavern.
What in the hell has gotten into me?
I was just as shocked as the villagers were and maybe even more so. Never had I been so worked up over something before. Dragons were always present in the hero tales I was always told as a child, but it was never that the hero was saving the Dragon.
I spotted a building that looked a little fancier than the rest, so I made a beeline for it. This time I collected myself before I open the door. Every step I took on the old wooden floor caused it to creak and pop. It would not have surprised me if my foot fell through at any moment.
Behind the desk sat an older lady with a gruesome, smug expression, and I am being considerate calling that an expression.
"Excuse me, Miss. Do you know where I might find the Chief?" Noticing the woman's expression begin to sour more than it was, I decided to explain. "It's about the beast outside; it's quite important that I speak with him."
Upon hearing I was here on account of the fearsome beast outside, she hurried off through another set of wooden doors to find the Chief, so I could meet with him. After a few moments, she reemerged from the backroom and beckoned me in.
The Chief was quite a small fellow and not what I had expected him to be. His face looked like something out of a nightmare; his nose was crushed to the left, and his face was wrinkled showing that he was of an older age.
"Come in. Come in." He motioned me into his office with a wave of a wrinkly old hand. "It is not often that we receive guests who wish to speak with me." He finished the last bit off with a smile.
Knowing that he was the chief of a village meant that he would have a higher charisma than me, I had to think hard about what to say before answering his greeting or any questions he may have.
"Well, It's about the Dragon out there in the square. Why haven't you killed it yet?" A confused look crept across his face, all the sudden he let out a hearty laugh.
"Son, there isn't anyone in the village capable of killing him." To solidify his declaration, he pointed next to the villagers outside; the sight of broken spears and arrows proving his statement true. The beast proving to be tougher than any spear or arrow in the village.
"There is now." I said with as confident of an expression as I could muster fearing that he may have been able to see through my poorly constructed ruse.
After several long drawn out moments had passed, the man shook his head causing me to pause. Not knowing what to expect, I waited for his response.
"You are just a boy; what hope could you ever have fighting such a powerful beast?" He began to question my fighting ability. I didn't have much ability, but I did not want to be told off like that.
"You have never met me until now, and you have never seen me fight, yet you chalk me up as unworthy to even attempt taking that beast down." I was seething with anger after he doubted me; my pride had gotten the better of me. How could I ever become a hero if I never fight?
"That is a Dragon out there, you fool!" Now it was his turn to become angered in our heated discussion. "If you think you have any chance under the sun to take that beast, then you are an absolute loon." He slammed his fist on the table and looked at me funny. "You have a death wish boy?"
"No, I don't have a death wish, but I know that you have no concern for the villagers that are under your care."
The fear! He must not realize what could happen.
"The mass amounts of fear and anger are just begging the creatures of grimm to come and knock down your gates. If you think that keeping that beast in shackles will help your situation then you, sir, are the fool!" I seethed in anger.
Stupid Charisma; I might have pulled it off had I not lost my cool.
He was not too keen about being called a fool. "I am no fool, boy. I am trying to figure a way to get that thing out of my village. Now, get the hell out of my village and don't ever come back. You are lucky that I don't have you put in the stocks for that."
I spun around and burst through the small wooden door causing it to slam into the wall behind it. The floor thumped and thudded as I stormed across it not giving it time to creak under my weight.
That could have gone better; at least he hasn't tried to arrest me.
As I stepped into the square, I paused, and a grin began to snake its way across my face. I had a plan.
My gaze fell upon the Dragon's massive stature in all its glory as the sun shimmered of its scales. I could feel the massive golden orbs trying to meet my gaze; however, I was not remaining there for very long. I looked over my shoulder to double check that the insolent chief was not following me.
I turned around this time seeking out the beast's gaze and hoped I would not get caught doing something so insane.
"Are you going to help me, Jaune?" The deep bellowing voice sounded as though the beast had learned to control the thunder and used it as his speech. The question would have begged for sympathy coming from a person, but the Dragon's tone seemed majestic and almost godlike. Massive, golden eyes found their way into my soul once more, but this time, however, I felt no paralysis and nodded back to him.
No turning back now.
Little did I know that small motion of my head changed my life forever.
I hope you enjoyed; let me know what you liked or didn't like in a review.