The cave’s gaping maw loomed in front of him, an ominous gateway into the unknown. The knight paused for a second, lit his torch, and then with a determined step, crossed the threshold and strode resolutely down the tunnel. Soon after he entered the cave, the knight noticed the floor had started sloping downwards, and the air had become hotter, searing his lungs with every breath. After only a few minutes, the mere act of walking became a burden, the ever intensifying heat combined with the weight of full plate armor was beginning to take it’s toll.
The cave it’s self seemed to mock the knight as he dragged himself along. Where the walls had once been pure gray stone, they were now burned black, and seemed alien and tortured to the knight. Long gashes ran down all parts of the cave, deeply scarring the rock. The knight shuddered thinking about what sort of beast was capable of such power, and knew that he must fight it soon.
The knight now fought for every breath, and dreamed of when he could take his armor off, but he resisted such urges knowing that it would soon be the only thing protecting him. He desperately wanted to leave this hell, to walk freely and unencumbered back to his village, breathing fresh air as he returned to his family unharmed. But he knew he could not, his honor prevented him from doing so. He would return with the beasts head, or not at all. Shedding such thoughts of home, he pressed on further into the lair.
Coming around a bend, the knight noticed the passageway had opened up into a large chamber of an indeterminable size. His torch was almost out, and there was only a few meters of visibility in front of the knight. He crept slowly forward, trying to keep a strait line after losing site of the walls and ceiling. Suddenly, a golden glowing sphere materialized out of the darkness in front of the knight, and his blood froze. He had walked right into its lair, and it probably knew he was there.
Throwing the torch to the ground, the knight backed up, hoping to find a cave wall. As he silently slunk along the wall, a second sphere appeared as the beasts’ attention became focused on the torch light, it’s golden eyes staring intently at it. The silence broke in an instant and a piercing shriek reverberated through the cavern as the creature roared, the sound alone knocking the knight over. As the knight picked himself up off the ground, he heard the sound of wind rushing by. Acting upon years of training and experience, he held his shield up just time, as flames rushed throughout the chamber, illuminating the massive cavern, and what it contained.
Large wings unfolded, a giant ruby dragon stood in the middle of the chamber, fire shooting forth from it’s mouth at where the torch lay. Knowing this might be his only chance the knight rushed forward, while the dragons head was still near the ground. In an instant, the dragon spun to meet him, it’s deadly claws glimmering in the still lingering light. Dodging an overhead swipe, the knight rolled forward, and jumped up towards the dragons head, his naked sword aiming for its’ eye. The strike hit dead on, driving the blade deep into it’s head until only the hilt remained visible. The dragon convulsed violently, throwing he knight across the cavern into the wall, where he collapsed.
When the knight awoke he had no concept of how long he had been out. The room was pitch black, and he had no clue what had happened. He crawled forward carefully, until he found a large body in the middle of the room. Embedded in the now lifeless dragons head was his sword. He had done it, he had killed the dragon. Now he just had to find a way out.
