The day before Seungcheol's father left for the battle that would take his life, he had sat Seungcheol on his bed and told him a story. It was the story of a knight who fought monsters, slew dragons, and protected his King with all that he had. It was a story Seungcheol already knew by heart by then, having already heard that story ever since he could remember. But he was never tired of it: of the lull of his father's voice as he told his tale and of the knight who would accompany him into his dreams, where he would take on many quests with the knight by his side. It was one of his most precious childhood memories, to hear his father tell the tale he loved so much.

But that night had been different. That night his father had paused in the middle of his story - when the knight slew the great dragon that has been terrorizing the kingdom, Seungcheol's favorite part - and told him: "Son, I have a task for you."

Seungcheol, who had nearly drifted to sleep, stood to attention then. What could his father need of him, so close to his departure to the front lines? Seungcheol gazed at his father in curiosity as the man unclasped something from around his neck.

"This, Seungcheol," he told Seungcheol, clasping the amulet onto the boy's waiting palm, "is the pride of our family. Within it is the legacy of dozens of generations; the legacy of my father, his father, and the ancestors before him. I want you to keep it safe, for it is now yours to keep."

Seungcheol stared at the amulet in his hands in awe and wonder. It was a tooth, seeming too big for his child-sized hands. The piece of ivory was embedded with diamonds that reflected the candle lights and hanging from a golden chain. It was the most beautiful thing Seungcheol had ever seen in his young life and he had it in his hands.

"What is this father?"

His father leaned in close and squeezed Seungcheol's hands together. "This is a Drakeslayer, Seungcheol. Hold onto it tight, for it'll give you the strength you would need to slay even the mightiest of dragons."

"Like the knight in your stories?"

HIs father smiled then, his grave demeanor ebbing away like the ocean waves, and Seungcheol would remember that smile for the rest of his life. "Yes, son, like the knight in our stories."

He had said something else, then, but the memories of the rest of the night was drowned out by the memories of the next morning: him and his mother waving his goodbyes as his father galloped away like the regal knight he was, and the memories of one week later: when all was bleak and dreary and grey and the only thing he could think about was, 'Father is dead.'

A/N: I've decided to show my love of Seventeen by publishing this fic. This is going to be a pretty long story, not going to lie, but hopefully you'll all have a fun time reading. Please do comment and tell me how you're liking it so far, comments are my one true motivation to write. Thank you for reading!