The scales were torn and the dragon’s talons fell to the stone floor one last time. I watched as the beast heaved one last breath, and then it settled, eyes rolled back in its head, never to incite fear again. The silence was defeaning after such a battle.

And there it was: its chest, riddled with jewels and golden inscriptions. They said that beneath that layer of armored flesh was the greatest treasure anyone could find. I would be the first to find out, and with nobody to help me, I would take it all for myself.

I drew my sword and hacked, hacked a gems flew all over the crevice and fell to the snowy floor below. Hacked and hacked and looked at the bleeeint treasure within. But I hadn’t expected to find this …

Inside, there was nothing, save for a heart that would never beat again. All of this, the journey, the rumors, the grotesque murder of the beast in its own home, for nothing.

I jumped from the precipice with nothing but contempt in my heart and let the snow fall over me.