Nymeri smirked as he saw the dragon be called a leader. It reminded him of his young days in training. He flashed back to a time where he was on his first mission:<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">54 years ago, Keymoust Fortress</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #800000">"Nymeri? Would you come here, I have your first mission."</span>A very young, but determined Nymeri came forward to his master. "Yes master, how can I serve thee?" he asked.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800000">"You must go to the village just outside the fortress, and go to a shopkeeper. There he will give you more information on what you have to do,"</span>he answered. "Wait, Master, is that it? That is so little information, but if that is what the council wishes for, I will respond to thee with haste, Master." He bowed, grabbed his clan sword and bow, and left.<br/><br/>It only took him a little time to get to the village, but once he did, he saw three elven kids run away from the shopkeepers' vendor post, the same shopkeeper his Master told him to go to. He stopped the kids just as they got close to Nymeri, and grabbed the lead kid, with the kid holding a yellowish-brass sheathed sword.<br/><br/>"Halt, child! Why is it that you steal from a wise old shopkeeper? Answer quick," Nymeri asked the child.<span style="color: #00FFFF">"It's because the old man is not selling to my friends. I wanted something to eat, but he said that it was midday, and that lunch was to be given by my parents. My parents! He doesn't know..."</span><br/><br/>"I get the story, but why the sword? Is that the keepers' sword?" he asked again.<span style="color: #00FFFF">"No, I took this from my father, the smithy. But I suppose you are gonna take me home?"</span>the child looked a little worried.<br/><br/>"Yes I am, this is my duty as..." he started, only to be stopped by shopkeeper.<span style="color: #FFFF00">"Why are you holding this pathetic child? He is to be whipped!"</span><br/><br/>"He is to be taken home, I will talk with you later, good sir," Nymeri responded to the shopkeeper, and began to take the sword away from the child. The shopkeeper, being suspicious, began to creep behind Nymeri. He stretched his arm, trying to get the sword away from him, only to be stopped by the smithy, who came to look for the same child responsible for the theft of the sword.<br/><br/><span style="color: #80FFFF">"Noble Paladin, I believe this sword belongs to me. May I have it back?"</span>"Yes, as soon as I..." Nymeri began again. This time the shopkeeper began to growl, and from his cloak he was wearing, revealed a knife, and grabbed the smithy.<span style="color: #00FFFF">"DADDY!"</span>The child began to cry, and went behind Nymeri, who still held the sword. "Shopkeeper, I ask that you release the smithy. I can bring you to my Master so that he may give you a peaceful judgement, or do you want me to show you my skills to smite you?" he asked the deranged shopkeeper.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000000">"Well, I like choice number two. Let me see what you got, you little...GWAH!"</span>As fast as he was close, Nymeri got close enough to stab him with the stolen sword. As soon as he sheathed the sword, he began to tremble. The 'shopkeeper' had a secret dagger hidden in his cloak, and he began to bleed. He fell on the dusty ground, eyes growing heavy from the loss of blood. The next thing he could remember was waking up in the fortress healing section, surrounded by his master, the child he rescued, and the smithy.<br/><br/><span style="color: #80FFFF">"You not only saved me, but you saved my son as well, Paladin. I would like to present you with a gift."</span>Nymeri couldn't believe it as he saw the same sword he used to kill the man who held the smith hostage.<span style="color: #80FFFF">"This sword was made not only by me, but a mage bestowed upon it magical electricity, or Thunder. This is my gift to you. May Eltsii bless this and you on you journeys ahead,"</span>the smith said, and left with his son, but before the boy left, he bowed to him and said,<span style="color: #00FFFF">"You are a leader. May you be a leader of all someday, Paladin."</span><br/><br/>Nymeri smiled, and looked at his master, who was pleased to see that his mission, although brought him some pain he did not want to see or feel, was a success, and he gained a powerful weapon as payment.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Present day</span><br/><br/>Nymeri grasped the hilt of his blade, and he remembered the face of the smithy who gave him the blade, and it reminded him of the task he did to gain this weapon. It made him feel good knowing he was using it for a justice bringer.