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Somewhere in Europe...

The peacefulness of the meadow, refreshed by the spring breeze and partially illuminated by the moonlight, didn't suggest that centuries ago, it may have hosted a ferocious battle against two legendary figures. It was a favorite with the locals, who enjoyed having relaxing picnics with the arrival of the warm season, admiring the statue that stood at the center. It depicted a large, rampant, reptile-like figure with membrane wings, with a mouth opened up in a big, silent roar. It was Tarant, the legendary dragon defeated by the hero Begor in the early Middle Ages. The town took pride in that legend, having the dragon depicted in their own crest, despite it not exactly being benevolent towards the villagers back then - at least according to the story.

For Hans, who was traveling for work, that was a sight that deserved a look, however, all the meetings and conventions he was supposed to attend would make it impossible to enjoy it under the sunlight. But under the diligent worker appearance he had to show, he hid a free spirit, so here he was, walking alone in that meadow the night before his return flight.

He was still crossing the small forest that separated the meadow from the rest of the town. On his hand, his smartphone was acting as a torch, leading him to the path. Beneath the trees, the glimpse of the dragon statue appeared in all its magnificence. Hans smiled. In all fairness, it was better to pay homage to the dragon like this, in solitude, rather than surrounded by dozens of people more interested in taking pictures of themselves with the statue behind...

The forest finally finished, and Hans was in the meadow. There, in the center, stood, Tarant, the mighty dragon that terrorized the town so long ago.

Except it wasn't the only dragon there.

Just a little behind it, appeared what looked like a second dragon. Another statue? Hans thought. In none of the photos he had seen did it appear. Maybe they installed it recently?

But it didn't really look like a statue. It wasn't made on iron like Tarant - this almost looked real. It had scales of a vivid green, and two yellow eyes that were really well done, supposing they were painted. It wasn't rampant, nor did its mouth open up, but instead observed the statue of Tarant, with something like...melancholy?

Hans got closer. That unexpected presence, was nevertheless not unwelcome. There had to be some plate that explained the legend behind the two dragons, supposing the second dragon had a role in Tarant's tale. His smartphone illuminated the way, then pointed to the two dragons-

Suddenly, the second dragon's eyes moved.

"GASP!" Hans instinctively shouted. He retreated one step back and stood still. No way it could be real. Yet he didn't even feel like he had imagined those eyes moving. He had seen it.

Is it an animatronic, or what...? But what happened next, he was sure it wasn't just his imagination. The green dragon's head moved towards him.

"So, have you come to pay homage to my ancestor too?"

Hans could have decided to escape; it didn't matter though. He wasn't sure his legs would have obeyed. As much as absurd that thought was, something inside his mind suggested to him that wasn't an animatronic. He could still move his mouth, thankfully. He decided to make a test.

"Who are you...?"

"I am Karlsainz." the dragon replied, and his head turned back to the rampant dragon statue as he finished.

"You...you...you're real? You're alive?"

"I am as real as you are, human."

Hans trembled. He was in front of a real live dragon. Maybe he was living a hallucination, maybe not; that wasn't the time to think about it. "Please don't hurt me!"

Karlsainz snorted. "That is not my intention, and I have no reason to hurt any human. I come here once a year to give my tribute to my ancestor."

"You mean...what...I don't understand..." Hans wasn't sure of what to ask next. It was all so incredible, that he had nothing intelligent to reply with.

"I suppose you know about his story?" Karlsainz continued, pointing at the statue. "What is that you were told about him?"

That was easy to answer. "He, like, terrorized this town, didn't he? He demanded to have a woman sacrificed to himself once a year, or he'd set everything on fire, until Begor faced him in duel and won."

"Yes. That's what you humans are being told," the dragon nodded.

"And it isn't true?"

"It is."

Hans scratched his head. "I mean, that means he was a pretty bad guy, right?"

"My ancestor did what he had too. He was old, and no more strong as he used to be. Anything faster and less tender had become impossible for him to hunt. He was lucky enough to manage to live seven centuries; most of us don't reach five, and those who do, rapidly decline. He didn't ask that much, in the end. There are so many more humans than dragons, than one human a year was a perfectly bearable price to live in harmony."

"A terrible price for the maiden's family, though!" Hans replied.

"He was content with old ones. It hadn't to be female."

Hans moved a hand, like for wanting to make an objection, but not much came from his mouth. "But...the story..."

"It is strange how your kind came up with the idea he only wanted young females. He was trying not to be too much of a burden. He only wanted to live his last years in peace."

"And you are his descendant?"

"Yes."

"How old are you...?"

The dragon laughed. "I know why you're asking me that. But even if I get to be as old as Tarant, you do not have to fear me. Some centuries after he died, we dragons made a pact. We would never disturb humans for any reason, not even to save our own lives. Too many of us were being reclaimed by your swords." He paused. "This night is the only night in the year when I come to pay a visit to my ancestor, to remind me of that pact and remember the injustice we had to suffer."

Hans now was limiting himself to listening to the dragon, in silence.

"Tomorrow will be the 1205th anniversary of his death," Karlsainz continued, "this town will make big celebration around the statue of my ancestor. Despite making him suffer a great injustice, they still take pride in the fact he chose them as a mean to keep surviving. I don't know how to feel about that. Do you know why they do it?"

"Hem..." Hans scratched his head again. "I have no idea either. Guess dragons are just memorable."

"I see. It is difficult to understand for you too."

"Pretty much." He took some more courage and decided to make him a question he had been holding. "If you dragons still exist, where are you?"

"I can't tell you. We'd be in danger if one of you knew."

"Fair enough. Then I must not talk about our encounter to anyone, right?"

"No one would believe you anyways."

Indeed, Hans conveyed. It was useless to talk about his experience. It was a shame that he couldn't share it with anyone - how many had met a dragon? But maybe, even if someone could believe him, he had the sensation Karlsainz would trace him.

"Then I'll leave you alone with your ancestor," he finally said.

"Goodbye, human," Karlsainz replied, and his head turned back to the statue.

Hans turned back to the small forest and onto the village. A pair of times, though, he found himself trying to give some last look to the dragon he had just talked to. His smartphone was still in his hands, providing him with light. What if he just took a small photo from a distance...? Would Karlsainz realize it? Did he even know what a photo is? His index wandered around the menu, making small circles around the button of the camera app. Then he reflected on the dragon's words. He had justified his ancestor's actions...he believed he had been victim of an injustice. Better not take any risk with that kind of creature. He turned off the screen and resumed walking towards the hotel he was supposed to be in.

The next morning, as he walked towards the bus station that would lead him to the airport, he saw the town getting ready for the celebration. Street artists played all around the city center, stands selling dragon themed merchandise occupied the roads closed to traffic, and hundreds of people walked towards the park where the dragon statue resided. Hans went to the opposite direction, towards the light green bus that was waiting for him, wondering if the last descendant of Tarant was observing the town, maybe together with other fellow dragons, showing their rancor to the human species - which he could understand, although not approve - from a safe distance.