He found himself again sitting on the side of his bed, staring at the glowing Armor of God hanging on the wooden rack before him. Kyria’s presence filled the blessed metal and looked at him with her piercing blue eyes. Now you understand, she said.

“Yes, guardian,” Caleb responded, still overwhelmed by his experience. “Had I killed the golden dragon, nothing could have saved our realm from the destruction of the rabid black drake. It sacrificed its life to protect our nation.”

And do you know why it sacrificed its life for your kingdom?

The paladin couldn’t imagine. Perhaps the hand of God had guided it.

Yes, the hand of God did guide it, Kyria said, reading Caleb’s mind. But he did so because of your honesty and integrity. You saw the true nobility of the creature, the nobility that God designed into it. More than this, you gave the dragon something it had never felt before, something that dramatically changed its perspective of human beings.

“Tell me guardian, what did the creature experience to cause such a radical transformation?”

You showed love, true love – the kind that can only come from the Almighty. As it has in the past, so it has again; love has saved your people.

Kyria began to fade from view and the Hebraistic runes on the Armor of God paled as well. Caleb was sad to see her go. She carried such a gentle peace about her that he wished she could stay longer. “Will I see you again, guardian?” he asked.

Perhaps she answered, then vanished from sight.

“Watch over me Kyria. As God wills it, watch over me.”

I always have, came the reply from somewhere above. And for as long as you live, I always will.

Caleb Nazareth fell backwards into his bed and smiled. He was asleep long before the grin faded from his lips.