I slowly advanced towards the monarch on his knees, the tip of my sword hovering over the ground. As he realized what could happen, he panicked and broke down in tears. « Please, the monarch pleaded, I implore your kindness to not kill me. I know how angry you are with my ways and how you wish to avenge dragons I hurt, but please let me live. I promise to change for the better. »

The room held its breath, as the cold, indifferent edge of my sword kissed his neck.

« Do you know this feeling ? This is what innocent people feel deep in their soul when you approach, them on their knee and you with a sword resting on their neck: fear, panic and despair, I explained coldly. They cry for help and implore your kindness because they still believe in you, until their last breath. That is, until you do the irreversible action. You are doing exactly that.
– I'll do everything to prove you I'm not as bad as it looks. Just, please, give me a second chance !
– Do you promise correcting your wrong-doings, cease your bad habits of sending innocent people to their demise, shattering the lives of innocents just because they pissed you off and bothering dragons that wanted nothing to do with you in the first place ?
– I promise !
– You are still a young adult, I'll spare you and consider this moment a mistake of the past. You live. (The room breathed a sigh of relief as I sheathed my sword and walked back.). I didn't set foot in your castle to spill blood. I give you a second chance, and hopefully we'll enjoy many happy moments together, for example our next buffet. However, the next time I have to challenge you to a duel for the same background reasons, you will feel the boiling fury of a dragon, and I'm not exaggerating.
– Thank you, the king sniffled in tears, thank you. I will not disappoint you.
– Until we meet again, hopefully in a happier context and around a lovely buffet. »

Immobilized guards were freed from their position. I collected Samuel, limp and as white as a ghost, off the floor and put him on my shoulders. The guards, stupefied by what transpired, were cheering up the king who took a day off or two from daily business. I was lead back outside of the castle by a guard who was still stunned. A bit of crowd outside gathered and was cheering something about their king being defeated by a dragon. I thought not much of it, aside from a feeling of something good accomplished, a trigger of the change of mind of that leader. I climbed on my broom and took off towards home.

Upon arriving at my cave, I took a seat with Samuel on my side to watch the serene landscape and the nearby prosper territory buzz with life. Once he caught up with the whirlpool of emotions, he promptly got up and hugged me as if I were a giant plushie, arms around my waist and head resting on my chest. He was still a bit emotional from the ordeal of the day but very grateful for my help and serene for the future. He was very happy I took his defense at this most vulnerable moment and felt relieved he wouldn't have to endure the caprices of his former governor anymore. A couple of dragons flying in the area spotted the human hugging me like a teddy bear, landed nearby and complimented how fitting and adorable that was. We talked about how the meeting went down and how it ended. My draconic friends nodded along with a few exclamations. They were more than happy to no longer have to deal with slayers pulling up every few days, the rare persistent ones would be dealt with appropriately.

I let my new human friend process the big changes happening to him. While he was indecisive, he accepted my suggestion of living in the prosperous nation at the foot of my mountain, as he was free to come and go as he pleased. For now, he wished to stay up here with my company. Of course, I prepared a proper bed with some hay and an array of blankets to choose from. This was much better than sleeping on a log.

A few days later, the time for Samuel to settle in, I paid a visit to the nearby royal family to discuss about the potential newcomer in their population. As predicted, they were thrilled to accept Samuel in the daily life of the kingdom, if he ever decided to establish himself. Later that day, the mailkobold handed me a letter from Charles the fifteenth inviting me and Samuel to a buffet. While Samuel predictably declined the invitation, I accepted it, looking forward to improve my relationships with that monarch after teaching him a good life lesson.