Sealed by fire

Zearon trudged deeper into the cave, grumbling to himself. “Why am I always the one running errands? First, I get reincarnated as a walking marshmallow, and now I’m hunting for food for a dragon who could literally magic it into existence!”

“A productive task can build character,” Ari chimed in.

“Oh yeah? How about you get out here and ‘build some character’ for me?” Zearon shot back.

The cave was eerily quiet, but as Zearon rounded a corner, he heard faint grunts and heavy footsteps. Peering around a jagged rock, he spotted a small herd of creatures grazing on glowing moss.

They were big, shaggy beasts with thick horns, glowing eyes, and tough, rock-like hides. Zearon stared at them, wide-eyed. “What… the heck are those?”

“Cave Bulls,” Ari answered. “Highly aggressive and territorial creatures. Approach with caution.”

“Great,” Zearon muttered. “They’re dangerous and they look like walking tanks. Awesome.”

Still, his stomach growled. “Alright, let’s do this. But no transforming this time—let’s see if I can actually use my powers without turning into a giant bat.”

Zearon focused, imagining the explosive flames the bat had used. A surge of heat built up in his chest, and before he could second-guess himself, he opened his mouth. A fiery blast shot out, engulfing one of the bulls.

It roared in pain, staggering before collapsing to the ground. The other bulls turned toward Zearon, their glowing eyes narrowing.

“Uh-oh,” Zearon said, stepping back. “Ari, any tips?”

“Run,” Ari suggested.

“Helpful as always!” Zearon quipped, leaping to the side as one of the bulls charged at him. He rolled on the ground, dodging a second attack. “Okay, focus, Zearon. You got this!”

He took a deep breath, summoned the flames again, and blasted another bull. The remaining creatures, realizing they were outmatched, scattered into the shadows.

Zearon stood over his victory, panting. “Well, that wasn’t so bad. I mean, I only almost died three times. That’s a new record!”

Gathering the cooked bull carcass, he dragged it back toward the dragon’s lair, muttering under his breath the entire way. “Next time, I’m demanding hazard pay for this.”

---

When he returned, the dragon was lounging on the cavern floor, its massive tail swishing lazily. It glanced up as Zearon stumbled in, dragging the bull behind him.

“Ah, you’ve returned,” the dragon said, its voice rumbling like distant thunder. “And you brought a feast!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Zearon panted, dropping the bull in front of the dragon. “Hope you like it crispy because I might’ve overdone it.”

The dragon sniffed the bull, then opened its massive mouth. A burst of flame shot out, roasting the meat to perfection in seconds. The smell was intoxicating.

The dragon tore off a piece and chewed thoughtfully. “Adequate,” it said with a nod.

“‘Adequate’?!” Zearon exclaimed. “I risked my life for that!”

The dragon ignored him, tearing off another chunk. After a moment, it pushed a smaller piece toward Zearon. “Here. You’ve earned it.”

Zearon didn’t need to be told twice. He pounced on the meat, devouring it in seconds. It was the best thing he’d ever tasted, rich and smoky with just the right amount of saltiness.

“This is amazing!” Zearon said through a mouthful of food. “What did you season it with?”

“My fiery breath,” the dragon replied.

Zearon froze. “Wait, you mean I just ate dragon spit?”

The dragon grinned, showing off its razor-sharp teeth. “Indeed.”

Zearon gagged. “That’s disgusting! You could’ve told me before I inhaled half of it!”

“Would it have stopped you?”

Zearon hesitated. “...No. But still!”

The dragon chuckled, finishing the rest of the meal. “Now then, onto more important matters.”

It leaned closer to Zearon, its glowing red eyes locking onto his. “I’ve found a way for you to escape this cave.”

“Finally!” Zearon said, throwing his paws—er, hands—into the air. “Let’s get out of here!”

“But first,” the dragon interrupted, “we must ensure my knowledge is not lost.”

Before Zearon could ask what that meant, the dragon’s massive claw touched his chest. A glowing symbol appeared, burning into his skin.

“OW! What the heck?!” Zearon yelped, clutching his chest.

“The seal binds my knowledge to you,” the dragon explained. “Through it, you will carry my wisdom and understanding of this world. Use it wisely.”

Zearon glared at the dragon. “Would’ve been nice if you warned me first!”

“You’ll live,” the dragon said, clearly amused.

The seal glowed brightly for a moment before fading. Zearon felt a strange warmth in his chest, followed by a flood of information.

“Whoa,” he muttered, clutching his head. “It’s like… someone just dumped a library in my brain.”

“You now possess my knowledge, but none of my power,” the dragon said. “Through it, you will navigate this world.”

“Great,” Zearon said. “So I’m basically your walking encyclopedia now. Lucky me.”

The dragon chuckled again. “Consider it a gift. Now go. The path ahead is clear.”

Zearon turned and saw a glowing tunnel leading out of the cavern. He hesitated, glancing back at the dragon. “You’re not coming?”

“I cannot leave this cave,” the dragon said. “Not yet. But perhaps our paths will cross again.”

“Right. Because that’s not ominous at all,” Zearon muttered.

With one last look at the dragon, Zearon stepped into the glowing tunnel. The light enveloped him, and when it faded, he found himself standing outside.

The sunlight was blinding after so long in the cave. As his eyes adjusted, he saw a small village in the distance.

“Finally,” Zearon said, breathing in the fresh air. “No more caves. No more dragons. Just normal, peaceful—”

A loud roar echoed behind him, shaking the ground. Zearon groaned. “Why do I even bother?”

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