I was a trainer of dragons. Although dragons aren't trained in the way other animals are trained. Dragons are magical creatures, and so have in them the potential to be turned for any purpose. A dragon trainer merely guides them to one purpose. Whether for war or work, a dragon will accomplish what is required of it, very well. Often, the training can be done in a week.

I trained many famous dragons, both privately and publicly. It was known that my dragons were disciplined into strong, capable workers. A lazy dragon is useless. A disciplined dragon is envied and admired. Most trainers were defeated by the will of their dragons. I knew how to set my dragons to their purpose, by working with them, not against them. In that, I bonded, just a little, with each dragon I trained.

My reputation spread beyond my home village.

One day, a small band of soldiers approached me.

"Are you the dragon trainer of this village?"

"Yes."

"You are being summoned to the high court"

It was a three days' journey to the east, to the High Court; further from my place of birth than I had ever traveled.

The High Court was the domain of the Emperor Clanleader, Judge of All Things. The Emperor Clanleader was the patriarch of the most powerful, richest clan.

We arrived at the High Court. It was the grandest building I had ever seen.

We entered, and eventually we saw the Emperor Clanleader, Judge of all Things.

"Trainer. Welcome."

"Thank you, Lord Emperor."

"Next month, our people will enter into war with the clan of the river valley."

"Yes, Lord Emperor."

"You will train my dragon. He will be the greatest wardragon of all, and he will lead our people to victory. You will train the dragon in one week, and he will be exibited in challenge at the festival."

"I will. And thank you."

The first day I trained the dragon.

The second day I fed the dragon.

The third day I befreinded the dragon.

The fouth day I disciplined the dragon.

The fifth day I punished the dragon.

The sixth day I hated the dragon.

The seventh day I loved the dragon.

The training was done.

Came the festival. The open courtyard was filled with all manner of creations and oddities.

The tournament was the highlight of the festival's entertainment. It was the display and exhibition of the great wardragons and warriors to fight in the upcoming conflict. One by one, the dragons were unveiled and shown to the crowd. Finally, my dragon, the Emperor's own, was brought out. The crowd swooned. It was beautiful; all proclaimed it the greatest wardragon of all. The dragon was my finest accomplishment, as a trainer. I was prouder of this dragon than of anything else I had ever done.

"For this, you will be rewarded amptly."

"Thank you, Lord Emperor."

"Let the tournament commence."

The tournament was the chance for the dragons to display their prowess in fighting, for the citizens to see which dragons to form legends around. My dragon surpassed all others in skill and strength. I knew my life's work was complete.

The tournament ended. The Emperor looked at me.

"And you, trainer, you may go."

"Thank you, Lord Emperor."

And I turned, and I walked back home.

And the war came. The Lord Emperor led into the river valley, astride his magnificent wardragon.

The war became a glorious thing, spanning many leagues, spanning many years. Throughout, the tales of my dragon became the most reveared. Even when the Emperor himself was killed, my dragon survived. The stories and adventures of my dragon grew into many hundreds of individual tales. All of them testified that my dragon was the most powerful wardragon of all.

I was proud of my dragon.

I grew older. I heard the legend of my dragon grow deeper and richer.

The time came when the land was taken over by the enemy forces.

My dragon was captured, and trained to the other side.

I learned to live under the rule of the new conquerers. They restricted and policed us, and their presence was unescapable.

One day, on the street, I saw my dragon, on patrol.

We looked at each other.

"You. Citizen. Away from the dragon."

I mounted my dragon. It took flight suddenly. We flew together, across the land. It was not enough for me. I had to leave the dragon.

I subtracted the dragon. I turned the dragon inward, and removed it from the world. The dragon became its own egg, everything about the dragon vanishing into a small pocket, not even memory remaining.

Perhaps one day, the dragon will be needed. When that age comes, this is the dragon that will be released. And at that time, the world will end.

Until then, the world will wait, gathering more knowledge of dragons.

The dragon sleeps.