"Veil of Ruin"

Chapter 17: The Dragon's Jest

As the group walked through the winding streets of the elven city, heading toward the queen's chambers, the air was thick with tension. Liora's revelation still lingered heavily in everyone's minds, and the news that her family was involved in whatever the elves had discovered only added to the weight. Yet, in the midst of it all, one member of the group seemed as carefree as ever-Orren.

He strolled at the back of the group, hands behind his head, whistling a merry tune as if they weren't on their way to face a possible threat to their entire journey. Every few steps, he would crack a joke or comment on something ridiculous, keeping the mood from sinking entirely into gloom. But today, something about him seemed different. There was an undercurrent in his jokes, a sharpness behind the laughter that felt more like a defense than ever before.

Kael, walking alongside Vera, chuckled as Orren made yet another ridiculous remark about how he could solve their problems with "a few well-placed pies."

"You ever get tired of making jokes, Orren?" Kael asked, grinning as they passed a pair of elven guards who clearly weren't sure what to make of the jesting trickster in their midst.

Orren gave a wide, toothy grin. "Lad, laughter's the spice of life! If we can't find something to laugh about, what's the point of all this adventuring and saving the world? Besides, I'd look terrible with a permanent frown."

Vera smirked, nudging Kael. "He's got a point, you know. Better to face danger with a laugh than to be constantly terrified."

Kael nodded, but something in Orren's response nagged at him. Orren always deflected seriousness with humor, but today felt different, like there was something deeper beneath the surface. As the group approached the queen's palace, Kael decided to pull Orren aside for a moment.

"Orren," Kael said quietly, "you've been with us through thick and thin, always keeping us laughing. But there's something you're not telling us, isn't there?"

Orren's grin faltered for the briefest moment, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. But then, as quickly as the crack in his armor appeared, he slapped Kael on the back and laughed. "Me? Holding back secrets? What do you think I am, some mysterious old wizard with a dark past? I'm just a humble spoon-wielder with a penchant for pies and pranks!"

But Kael wasn't buying it this time. He raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady. "Orren, we've all shared our stories. If there's something you need to tell us, now's the time."

For the first time since Kael had met him, Orren seemed genuinely uncomfortable. His usually mischievous eyes darted to the others, who had gathered around to hear what was going on. Dorian, Lysandra, Liora, Vera, and Krisan stood by, watching curiously.

With a long, theatrical sigh, Orren scratched the back of his head. "Ah, well, I suppose you lot deserve to know the truth. But, I warn you, it's not nearly as funny as my usual tales."

The group watched in silence as Orren's usual playful demeanor shifted. He straightened, his usual slouch replaced by a posture that was regal in its own right. And then, to everyone's surprise, his voice dropped into something far deeper, more ancient, and powerful.

"My name is not truly Orren, though I've worn it for a long time. Once, ages ago, before the world was divided into its kingdoms and empires, I was known by another name-an ancient name, a dragon's name. For I am Orrendralas, the Last Guardian of the Ancient Flame."

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. The group stared at him in stunned silence, unable to process what they had just heard. Orren-Orrendralas-smiled faintly at their reaction, but this time, the smile was different. It wasn't the wide, carefree grin of a jester. It was the melancholic smile of someone who had seen the world rise and fall countless times.

"I've lived many lifetimes," Orren continued, his voice softer now. "And in those lifetimes, I've fought to protect this world from the forces that would see it undone. But such battles come at a cost. Every time I used my true power, I was forced into a long, deep slumber to recover. Each time I woke, the world had changed, kingdoms had risen and fallen, and I found myself a stranger in a world I no longer recognized."

Kael could hardly believe what he was hearing. "A dragon? You're... you're a dragon?"

Orren nodded slowly. "Aye. But not just any dragon. I was one of the Ancient Guardians, sworn to protect the balance of the world. But that was long ago. Now, I'm just Orren, the wandering fool who tells jokes to keep himself from thinking too much about the past."

Dorian stepped forward, his face pale. "Wait... my father, Elion Ravenshade, he always said he had met a dragon once, one who wasn't like the others. He said that dragon saved him from certain death during a great battle. Was that... was that you?"

Orren chuckled softly, his eyes flickering with memories long buried. "Ah, your father. Elion was a fierce warrior and a good man. Yes, that was me. He never knew my true name, of course, but we fought side by side during one of the darkest days of the war. I saved his life, and in return, he kept my secret."

Dorian's face was a mix of shock and admiration. "I always wondered why he spoke of you with such reverence. He knew all along, didn't he?"

Orren nodded, his smile turning slightly wry. "Elion had a sharp mind, sharper than most. He pieced it together after a while, but he was kind enough to let me live my life in peace. He knew that I wasn't interested in power or glory anymore."

Vera, who had been quiet throughout the revelation, finally spoke up. "But why hide? Why spend all this time pretending to be something you're not?"

Orren's eyes softened as he looked at her. "Because, my dear, after so many centuries of fighting, I grew tired of it all. Tired of war, tired of watching those I care about die. I wanted to live, to laugh, to enjoy the simple things. And I found that being a fool-a jester-was far more rewarding than being a legend."

He paused, his gaze drifting to the horizon, as if seeing something far beyond the present moment. "Laughter... laughter is the one thing that has kept me sane all these years. It's the one thing that connects us, no matter how much the world changes. When you've lived as long as I have, you start to realize that the moments of joy-however fleeting-are what make it all worthwhile."

The group was silent, each of them processing this revelation in their own way. Orren had always been the heart of their little band, the one who kept them laughing even in the darkest moments. But now, they understood that there was far more to him than they had ever imagined.

Kael stepped forward, his voice soft but filled with admiration. "You've protected us all this time, even when we didn't know it. But Orren, or Orrendralas... we wouldn't be the same without your laughter. You may be a dragon, but you're still our friend."

The others nodded in agreement, each of them smiling at Orren. Dorian placed a hand on his shoulder. "My father trusted you, and so do I. You've earned that, and so much more."

Orren grinned, though this time, it was a smile filled with genuine warmth rather than deflection. "Ah, you lot are far too kind. But enough about me. We've got an elven queen to see, and I'm sure she's not interested in hearing tales about ancient dragons."

As the group resumed their journey, the air felt lighter despite the weight of what they had just learned. Orren's laughter rang out once more, though now there was a new depth to it-a depth that spoke of centuries of wisdom, pain, and joy.

Yet, as they approached the elven queen's chambers, Orren allowed himself one final moment of reflection, his mind drifting back to a time long forgotten. A time when he had soared through the skies, fire in his veins, protecting a world on the brink of destruction. He remembered the battles, the friends he had lost, and the long, lonely centuries spent in slumber.

But now, here he was, surrounded by friends who knew his truth and accepted him for who he was, not what he had been. And for the first time in a long, long while, Orren-Orrendralas, the Last Guardian-felt truly at peace.

As the doors to the queen's chambers opened, Orren muttered under his breath, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, here's hoping the queen's got a good sense of humor."

And with that, the Dragon of Legends, now a humble jester, stepped forward to face the next chapter of their journey.