The Legendary Dungeon Master

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Dragon’s Name

Arin stared down at the dragon. The dragon also stared down at Arin. Saira stood nearby silently. No one was talking. Until Arin pointed at himself. ”Master?” The dragon nodded. ”Yes.” Arin ran a hand over his forehead. ”Look, I need someone to explain this to me...” Saira glanced toward Arin. ”You have the Dungeon Master’s Mark.” ”I’m aware of that.” ”You reached Level Ten,” Saira continued. ”I know,” Arin replied.

”The Mark appeared.” Arin looked at his hand. ”It is obvious why you recognized it.”

Saira nodded. ”But why do the demons refer to me as their Master?” Arin looked at the dragon. ”And you?” The dragon lowered his head slightly. ”The Mark is known among some races,” the dragon said. ”Dragons?” Arin asked. ”Some.” Arin frowned. ”So you know what it means?” ”I know what it represents,” the dragon answered. ”Then tell me.” The dragon stayed silent. ”I cannot.” Arin looked at him. ”Why?” ”I do not know its origin.” Arin sighed. ”Of course.”

He was growing quite tired of that answer. Saira crossed her arms over her chest. ”The Mark predates any knowledge of it.” Arin looked at her. ”How far back does it go?” ”I do not know.” He turned to the dragon. ”You. Do you know?” The dragon shook his head. ”No. I don’t.” Arin sighed again. ”So, you know nothing?” ”We know enough,” the dragon replied. ”Such as?” ”The one who bears the Mark is acknowledged as a Dungeon Master.” Arin looked at his hand. The strange mark was still there. ”But what is a Dungeon Master?” The dragon shook his head again. ”I do not know.” Arin stared at him. ”You don’t know?” ”No. The Mark is real.” The dragon looked at the black symbol on Arin’s hand. ”And those who bear it are acknowledged by some races.”

”That’s it?”

”For now.”

Arin sighed.

”Marvelous.” Saira gave him a sidelong glance. ”You expected more.”

”I did.”

”You’ve only been here for less than a day.” Arin looked at her. ”That does not give you the right to criticize my impatience.” He looked at the dragon again. ”You never told me your name, I’m Arin.” The dragon slowly raised his head. ”My name is Ayan.” Arin repeated it. ”Ayan.” The dragon nodded. Arin smiled. ”Easy enough.” Ayan looked confused. ”What?” ”Nothing.” Arin opened his System.

Monster Appraisal.

A blue window appeared.

[Name: Ayan]

[Race: Dragon]

[Level: ???]

[Status: Information: Restricted]

Arin sighed. ”I guess nothing works out the way you expect it to.” Ayan chuckled. Arin looked at him. ”What’s so funny?” ”You speak without fear.” ”Should I be afraid?” Ayan’s golden eyes narrowed slightly. ”Perhaps.” Arin pointed at himself. ”You were the one nearly trying to kill me before.” ”I know.” ”And now you’re calling me Master.” ”Yes.” ”That’s still kind of weird.” ”I understand.” Arin crossed his arms.

”Then explain one thing to me.” Ayan waited. ”Why did you attack me before?” The dragon’s golden eyes grew serious. ”I sensed a human entering the deeper part of the dungeon.” Arin nodded. ”Me?” ”Yes.” ”I assumed you were an intruder. You were weak.” Arin’s face twitched. ”Thanks.” His voice was clearly sarcastic. ”I attacked and nearly killed you.” ”Yes.” Ayan lowered his head. ”I apologize.” Arin studied him. There was no condescension in his voice. No attempt to cover up his fault. Just a simple, sincere apology. ”Fine.” Ayan looked up. ”But you recognized me this time because of the Mark.”

Arin looked at his hand. ”When I fought you before, it wasn’t visible.” ”No, it wasn’t,” Ayan replied. ”But after I reached Level Ten...” ”It appeared,” Ayan finished. Arin nodded. ”That makes sense.”cArin was silent for a moment. Then something clicked. He looked at Ayan. ”Wait.” Ayan’s eyes narrowed. ”What?” Arin looked at Saira. Then back at Ayan. ”You know Saira, don’t you?” The dragon fell silent. Saira said nothing.

Arin pointed at him. ”You’ve met before, when you attacked me.” Ayan nodded. ”Yes.” Arin remembered the battle. The seemingly unstoppable dragon had nearly killed him. Then Saira appeared, and the monster ran away. Arin slowly turned to look at Saira. Then back at Ayan. ”You ran from her.” There was a long pause. Ayan looked away, slightly embarrassed. ”Yes.” Arin’s eyes widened in surprise. He looked at Saira. ”You beat a dragon?” Saira shook her head. ”We didn’t fight.” ”But he ran,” Arin said, surprised. ”He chose not to fight.” Arin turned to look at Ayan. ”You ran.” Ayan’s expression was serious. ”I knew the difference in our power.”

Arin blinked. That explained a lot. Saira was stronger than the dragon. Much stronger. Arin looked at Saira differently now. ”You never told me.” ”You never asked,” Saira replied.c”Of course.” Ayan slowly stood. Though his body was huge, he made no move toward Saira. His focus remained on Arin. ”I recognize you as the Dungeon Master.” Arin looked at him. ”But?” ”Recognition is not loyalty.” Arin nodded. ”Good.” Ayan looked surprised.

Arin continued. ”I do not want people to follow me just because some mark tells them to.” Saira looked at him. Ayan was quiet for a moment. Arin pointed at himself. ”I do not even know how to use this power properly.” He raised his marked hand. ”I’m certainly not going to act like some kind of master.” Ayan studied him for a moment. Then he nodded. ”That is satisfactory.” Arin smiled. ”Good.” Ayan’s wings fluttered slightly. Arin took a step back. ”Are you leaving?” ”No,” Ayan replied.

Arin blinked. ”Then why are you moving your wings?” Ayan looked at them. ”I was going to change my form.” Arin was surprised. ”Change your form?” Ayan nodded. ”Yes. I have another form.” Saira looked at him. Arin’s eyes widened. ”You mean...” Ayan’s body began to glow. A strange energy pressed down on Arin’s chest. His huge wings slowly folded against his back. His scales began to change. Arin took a step back. ”You’re serious.” Ayan’s body began shrinking. A flash of light engulfed him. Arin stared at something incredible. A human figure was slowly forming out of Ayan’s body.

The transformation continued. Arin swallowed. ”So, it seems that dragons can really change their form.” Saira watched calmly. Ayan’s transformation was nearly complete. Arin took another step back. ”This is going to be interesting.”