I want my Dad to be proud of me

My dad is a hero. I'm not being biased, he's just that good. He's the lead singer in a band, he's also a professional wrestler, coached my hockey team, and has a masters degree in psychology. Some may say that's just a normal artist type of man, but he's actually a dragonslayer. When a bloodthirsty dragon threatened to destroy our city, my dad stepped up and defeated it. He didn't have a sword, nor a shield, nor a fancy set of armor. Just his guitar.<br><br>This happened when I was a kid, and helped him with the armor, so I have a small claim to the fame. The dragon had a weakness for stringed instruments, so when my dad strummed the final note of his epic solo, the dragon could not handle the vibrations and exploded its own brains. He then took the teeth from the dragon and made a necklace to wear around his neck. He told me the dragon's spirit now haunts the halls of his house, warning his enemies that every time my dad crosses his heart, he is remembering the time he defeated a dragon. I wasn't actually there for the fight, he's just told me the story so much, that I remember it. I was still just a kid when it happened, so I was put in safekeeping.<br><br>But now that I'm an adult, I don't think I will ever be good enough for my father. I've never even touched an instrument. I've never seen bloodshed in a fight. I don't have a degree nor a booming voice to yell out commands. I'm nothing compared to him, so I've left the city to try and make something of myself.<br><br>I've been on a long journey, and my last destination is this city. The city of legends. Some call it the city of the gods. This is where the greatest heroes are made, where the strongest warriors are trained, where the most bloodshed has happened. I have to get a job, so I walk down the streets to see what's all available. I've been walking down the street for a while, and have yet to see a help wanted sign. I am about to give up, when I see a poster. *Wanted: Dragonslayer*<br><br>Oh, what a coincedence. Here I am, a dragonslayer's son, in a city that needs a dragonslayer. I walk into the nearest tavern, and look around for any clues. The tavern is empty, but there's two people sitting at the bar. The bartender and the patron. I approach the bartender and ask if he's the one who wanted a dragonslayer. He points to the patron, and tells me to talk to him. I approach him.<br><br>He's a worn man, with tattered clothing, and a look that I couldn't quite describe. He doesn't look worried about the dragon, nor anxious, nor even excited that I might be a dragonslayer. I might as well be just another man in the streets. I approach him and say a quick hello, and then introduce myself. He looks at me and tilts his head a little, almost like he's confused. I ask him what's wrong, and he replies *I can only see half of you.*<br><br>Half of me? What does he mean? Does he have a condition? Is he saying I'm half dragonslayer? I ask him to explain, he tells me to sit first. I sit, and he begins to explain.<br><br>*Listen, I know you're probably just a guy answering the job ad. But you have to understand what's going on. With great power comes a great cost. I can see that cost on everyone. My wife cost her memories. My daughter cost her looks. My dog cost his smell. My friends cost their sense of touch. But you don't have a cost.*<br><br>I'm confused. What is he talking about? What are these costs? I ask him if he's okay, if he's being serious. He tells me he's completely serious. I ask if these costs are hypothetical. He just laughs and says my dog can't smell anything. He's blind, deaf, and dumb, but my dog can't smell anything. He leans in closer.<br><br>*A long time ago, three demons came to our city. They each had the power to manipulate a different aspect of reality. One had the power to manipulate matter, one to manipulate time, one to manipulate magic. They were bored, so they decided to have a bet. They each picked a villager at random, and gave them immense power at a random cost. My wife was given the power to heal any wound, no matter how bad. But she cannot remember a single moment from her life. Not even her name. My daughter was given superhuman strength. But she's as weak as a child to anything beautiful. My dog can shapeshift into any animal he wants. But he cannot smell.*<br><br>I'm trying to process all this information, but why are my answers so vague? Why can't he answer any of my questions? I ask if I can see his daughter, and his wife, and his dog. He tells me *no*. He says to do that I need to see the dragonslayer trainer first. I ask him where, and he points to the window. I look in the direction he points and see what appears to be a church. I look back at him and ask if that's where the trainer is, but he's gone.<br><br>There's a flash of light and I see him outside. I run out the door to catch up to him, but he's already walking away. I chase him through the streets until he reaches the church. He opens the door, and steps inside, then turns around and says "good luck".<br><br>What does he mean? What's going to happen? Is he telling me good luck or am I about to be attacked? I hesitate and step back, but then I hear a voice. "Hello! Welcome to the House of Legends! We've been expecting you. Are you here to destroy a dragon?"<br><br>I see an old crone standing in my direction. She's just as vague as every other person I've met. I ask her to explain, and she says "not much else to say. You either go outside or you leave."<br><br>I ask her where the trainer is, and she says *the trainer is outside*. I ask her what *the trainer* is, and she says its the trainer for dragonslaying. I ask her what *dragonslaying* is, and she says it's the act of slaying dragons. This conversation isn't really going anywhere. I ask her what's outside and she says *dragons*.<br><br>I'm not really in the mood for being attacked by dragons right now. I don't even have a guitar. But I also don't have anything to lose. The old crone says she doesn't want my life, but I just ignore her and step outside. I'm in the middle of a circle of dragons. Old dragons, young dragons, dragons of all sizes. I hold my arms up in defense, ready to be attacked.<br><br>But none of the dragons do anything. I stand there for a while, when suddenly, I'm hit from behind. I fall to the ground, groaning in pain. I feel a hand grasping my head, and my vision blurs. I feel myself being lifted to my feet. I look and see a dragon holding me up.<br><br>"You're not from around here," it says. "I am the dragonslayer trainer."<br><br>I ask it what the fuck it is talking about. It tells me to calm down and listen. I ask it to let go. It tells me to stop interrupting.<br><br>"You are seeking to slay a dragon, correct?" it asks.<br><br>"Yes," I reply.<br><br>"Well I'm here to train you."<br><br>"But you're a dragon," I say.<br><br>"I know."<br><br>"What the fuck is wrong with you people?!"<br><br>"I know!"<br><br>"It's okay, it's okay. Let's start from the beginning. First you need to pick your power."<br><br>"What?!"<br><br>"The power to slay the dragon. What is it?"<br><br>"I thought my father was stupid when he said he defeated a dragon with a guitar."<br><br>The dragon just stares at me. I realize I haven't actually answered its question. "I'll just have my father's power, please."<br><br>The dragon smiles and asks me if I'm sure. I ask it if it has any other options. It tells me I can choose between a few different options. I ask it to tell me, and it tells me.<br><br>"Well, there's the power to manipulate the elements. Winds, rains, snows, that type of thing. There's the power to manipulate your surroundings. Make walls out of nothing, make objects disappear. And there's the power to manipulate reality itself."<br><br>"Reality?"<br><br>"Yes."<br><br>"That sounds like everything else."<br><br>"It's different. Reality is everything, but only reality itself. Not anything inside reality. Do you understand?"<br><br>"No."<br><br>"Well, maybe you'll just pick the elements. That's the most common one."<br><br>"Why?"<br><br>"Because it's the easiest. That's why."<br><br>"Why?"<br><br>"Because it is."<br><br>I sigh. I just want to go home. But I really want my dad to be proud of me. I tell the dragon I pick the elements. It nods. I ask it when I can expect to see any results. It tells me I can see them now, and just walks away. I watch it as it leaves, and then I see an object on the ground. I pick it up, and see it's a mirror.<br><br>I look in the mirror, and I only see half of me.