They were there. After the long and perilous journey they had finally reached their destination. They were at the Third Tower and were about to fight the Final Being. The group was silent as they watched from the grassy promontory at the marvellous black structure. A flock of mutant gulls were all that could be heard, screeching at one another.

Azrael stepped forward to the edge of the plateau at gazed at what would, or rather could, have been his home.

“Be careful,” Dash told him. “You don’t want to fall.”

Azrael smiled at him and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

“Are you ready to go?” Dash asked.

Azrael shook his head. He obviously needed time to reflect. His dragon, Xavier, nudged him lovingly, and at that moment Azrael noticed that although Xavier was a drone just like him, he had adopted the human emotion of love. Azrael petted his armor-studded head.

Dash sat back-to-back with his dragon, Roc, the evening breeze blowing against his shaggy blonde hair. This was the first time that he had relaxed since his adventure began. He felt something poke him from behind. At first he though it was one of Roc’s wings but he was shocked to see what it was. It was his diary that he had been keeping records of their travels. He thought that he had lost it for good.

He opened the wet, battered cover and began to read his first entry, which was smudged and difficult to read.

Date: 02/11/29

Entry: 1

This is my first entry in this diary, and might I say, it’s a strange one indeed. A few months ago the Neo-Empire discovered an ancient Tower constructed during the reign of the Old Empire. Myself, as a captain in the Imperial army, was sent there after the decision to excavate was made. The Tower’s purpose had yet to be known. Today, while working in the ruins of the massive tower, the miners made a phenomenal discovery. They found a centuries-old laboratory deep under the tower, probably constructed before shortly after the Tower’s construction. Five hundred feet to be exact.

Inside they found an armored, silver dragon sleeping in a cage-like contraption, and were too scared to go anywhere near it! When I came in to investigate, the floor collapsed beneath us, sending both the dragon and I plummeting at least a hundred feet.

But the dragon woke up before we fell to our deaths, and for some reason, the dragon felt it necessary to save my life. I have no idea why it decided to do this, but it flew underneath me and allowed me to land on its back, right above its shoulder blades.

Right now, I am on its back flying somewhere far south of the North Continent. I wish the dragon would let me go so I could continue my duty, but I feel a sentimental bond with myself and this dragon, whose name is yet to be known by me. Something tells me that the dragon had a reason to save me, and wherever it is taking me, it has a purpose to go there, and I will gladly allow it to take me there, in return for saving my life.

Dash closed the diary for a moment at looked in his dragon’s eyes. Throughout his travels, Roc had changed in appearance, morphing with experience in battle, but his eyes had not changed once. They still had the same lively shine in them that they had since Dash first met him.

Dash glanced up at Azrael, who was still standing motionless at the end of the promontory, staring at the Third Tower as if he were in a trance. For a moment, he felt the urge to say something, but withheld the temptation, knowing that although Azrael was strange, he had his reasons. He was after all, the incomplete prototype for the Final Being. Dash could only wonder what it felt like to have to destroy something you were created to become. It would be like killing yourself in a way.

He tried not to focus on that right now, and opened his diary to the next entry, which was much clearer than the first, although some of it was missing. His eyes began to scan the page.

Date: 03/11/29

Entry: 2

I’ve just woken up after I accidentally fell asleep on this remarkable dragon’s back. I have no idea what the current time is, nor do I know where we are. The sun is going down now so I can guess it is still today, because I fell asleep in the afternoon. While I was asleep though, I felt a telepathic conversation between myself and the dragon. He said his name was Roc, and that I was the chosen one.

I have no idea what that means, but I will soon find out, for although he has said little to me about it, I believe we are going to another Tower located somewhere on the South Continent. The South Continent is treacherous land, filled with vile creatures of the past, but I somehow feel safe with this dragon, Roc.

The rest of the page was gone. Dash to the next page and continued reading what he could make out.

The dragon seems to be getting more alert as if there are villains about. The air is going to soon envelope us in a deep fog. Roc acts as if we are about to be ambushed. Unfortunately, I have no way of knowing, and nothing I can do, for I cannot get off his back. Wait, there is something approaching!