Finally the battle with the red dragon was over. After going through a hard fought battle, Rowan was now at the final step of thrusting the final blow. While every step brought him closer to the dragon’s body, his body couldn’t help but tremble the whole time. Whether it was trembling due to blood loss or from anticipation of victory, it was hard to say. As much as Rowan would like to savor this moment, his body wasn’t in the best condition and would not let him.

  Rowan lifted his foot and put it down on the dragon’s neck. His plan was to bring an end to this legendary monster once and for all by stabbing it through the head. Nothing could survive without their head working and he was confident to pierce through the dragon’s head. As he raised his left arm to bring the newly formed pike down, he stared at the dragon's eyes. Curious to see what the final emotions it felt just before Rowan ended its life.

  The dragon's eyes stared back at Rowan. It was clear as day that it understood what was about to happen. There was frustration in its eyes. Frustration that it had lost to an inferior being, but there were also other emotions. One that Rowan could not understand.

  Acceptance.

  The dragon accepted it had lost and the victor would be the one who lives. It accepts what was about to happen.

  Why?

  How could the dragon accept that it’s life was about to come to an end? This was a legendary monster! It should be struggling up until the last moment! Instead of meekly accepting its fate it should be fighting back.

  The dragon's lack of effort and its calm composure seem to infuriate Rowan even more. He didn't understand the reason behind his own anger. The anger felt like lava that was going to blow from an erupting volcano. Rowan didn't know what to do, but he felt if he yelled at the dragon, it may help his anger.

  The only issue was that he didn't even have enough energy to shout.

  Rowan shook his head. It didn't matter where the anger came from. He could always figure out the reason why later. The most important thing was finish off the dragon. He bought his left arm down, ready to stab the dragon's head with his pike and end it once and for all.

  The red dragon closed its eyes as it saw the incoming edge. Just as the pike was about to pierce the dragon’s head, Rowan’s arm froze.

  Rowan stared at the spot where he was trying to stab. His head was a mess as he didn’t understand what was happening. Just moments ago his body was moving just as he wished, maybe even better. Now that he was at the last step, not to mention the unexplained anger, his body was refusing to properly obey him.

  Rowan raised his left arm once again and then bought it down with more force, only to be met with the same result. The pike stopped right before piercing the dragon's head and would go no further. The dragon eyes flutter open, just in time to witness Rowan’s failure.

  Rowan's left arm remained rigid and no matter what Rowan did, the pike remained a few inches away before the dragon eyes. It was a small distance, but one that never decreased no matter what Rowan did. It was as if there was a small barrier between his pike and the dragon.

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  Eventually Rowan gave up on using his left arm. He’ll try his right arm instead. After strapping the bow to his back which took a bit of effort, Rowan sharpened his right hand with mana. Even after pouring so much mana onto the onslaught of arrows, Rowan could feel that there was still plenty of mana left in him to use. Ironically, the only thing stopping him was that his ragged body couldn't handle the mana. However slightly altering his right hand was manageable as it caused the minimalist of changes.

  Rowan's right arm struck down like a lion, only to be stopped in the same manner as his left.

  Why?

  Why would his body suddenly decide to stop listening to him at this point? He was so close. He could practically taste the victory. He would finally have his revenge once and for all.

  Rowan paused at the thought.

  He felt as if he suddenly slightly understood the reason why his body refused to obey him. Just a small part, and that part made no sense to him.

  Revenge was not part of killing the dragon.

  That was not the whole reason why Rowan’s arms refused to budge, but only a small factor. Even this small part he could not understand.

  Why wouldn’t revenge be a part of the reason for killing the dragon? Rowan still remembers the night when the black dragon arrived at the farm like a storm and left destruction everywhere it went. While he wasn't at the farm for long, it had been his home for that limited amount of time.

  That home was now in ashes and he didn’t know if he would ever return.

  It was an unacceptable reason for why his arms refused his command. Besides, it was part of a knight's job to kill dragons right? That's what the stories were alway saying. Sure not all dragons were evil, but in most cases, the knight had to slay the evil dragon in the end.

  If Rowan couldn’t become an official knight, at least he could perform the act of one. Except his body refused to even allow him to carry out that wish.

  As these thoughts whirled though Rowan's mind, he unconsciously stared at the red dragon's eye the whole time. Not once had the dragon turned away from his watch. It’s eye was a bright scarlet mixed with orange hue, reminding him of a lit campfire on dark night. It was a pretty sight which was all the more reason why he should put the creature out of its misery instead of prolonging its pain. If Rowan's body kept refusing, he might even begin to admire the monster even more.

  A possibility that frightened Rowan more than death.

  This time Rowan tried with both hands to stab the dragon. One pike and one hand was raised and then brought down with force, only to be stopped once again. However this time Rowan refused to give up as he pushed with all his might. HIs right foot dug into the dragon's neck as his left foot tried to push the rest of his body forward. Unfortunately this attempt ended in failure and with it, the last of his energy.

  Rowan was already fatigued from the fight and did not wish to further burden his body. Otherwise he wouldn't be able to make it back to camp. His original plan was to end the dragon quickly only for him to be stopped at the last step.

  Rowan wanted to scream at the sky and punch something in order to vent his anger and frustration. Sadly he didn't even have the strength to cry out. What came out was a low guttural groan.

  In the end, Rowan stepped off the dragon and began to slowly walk away. With each step, his heart felt heavier as what could have been a fulfilling victory had now been replaced with a feeling of disgust with himself. The red dragon stared at Rowan’s fading back, befuddled at its sudden second chance of life.