The Guardian

And so, it Begins.

Historians claimed that Alexander defeated Hades on their first encounter, but as with much of recorded history, the truth is often distorted by the biases of the person telling the tale. The young defender’s only goal was to return the favor Jason had given him thirteen years ago by saving him from the Jikininki, who were sent to hunt him down. There is an old saying that goes, “No good deed goes unpunished,” and this instance was no exception.

Clouds gathered, blotting out the warm rays of the sun, which only increased the chill Alexander was feeling. His shivering was caused by a sweat-soaked wool tunic covering his body, accompanied by the realization that people he looked up to since arriving at the Citadel had been lying to him for the last thirteen years. How could the rulers of the Citadel be Beast Masters blood relatives? Was all this talk about interdimensional beings invading his home planet nothing more than a massive cover-up to protect the ruling families? And the biggest disappointment of all–Draco. He told Alexander that dragons were incapable of lying, but isn’t failing to bring the truth to light the same thing? So many questions, and no way of telling who was telling the truth.

Alexander let his gaze scan the massive stone walls of the Citadel one last time before deciding on his next course of action. Option one, he could remain safely tucked away behind those massive walls, at least up until the Citadel's rulers decided he was a threat, then no place would be safe. Option two would be to try to work out a solution with the elders that would benefit them, the citizens they rule, and Alexander. This option was highly unlikely because it would require trust, something the young warrior found impossible to feel at the moment. True, Cronos had joined with him to defeat Hades, but what were his true motives? Alexander wasn’t prepared to risk his life on such a dubious alliance. The more he thought about his situation, the more frustrated he became. He needed someone he could confide in, a person to offer sound advice. The only one he could think of was Dr. Jason. There were pluses and minuses to relying on the good doctor. On the positive side, Alexander could contact him telepathically any time he needed him. On the negative side, connecting this way meant others with similar abilities could tap into their private conversations. No, if his go-to person was Jason, they had to be face- to- face, and the doctor had been on his own so long that Alexander didn’t get the impression he wanted more than a part-time associate. Nothing seemed to be the right solution. Alexander took one last look at the Citadel, turned, and walked off into the unknown.

“Where are you off to, my young friend?” Draco’s baritone voice rumbled in his mind.

“I’m off to find the truth and a cure for this sickness that has infested my world.”

“That is a noble quest, my friend, but one fraught with danger. I would be honored to accompany you on your journey.”

“I can think of no stronger partner, my friend, except for one thing. You may not be able to lie, but you have neglected to share vital information with me. Why didn’t you tell me who the Beast Masters really were?”

“This may be difficult for you to understand, but I will try to explain. When the great divide between the brothers occurred, my fellow dragons had just finally resolved a rift of our own. It was an ugly time in our history, and many of us, as well as many humans and other creatures, perished in the conflict. It was the parents of Cronos and Hades that eventually brokered a peace between our warring factions. By then, the war and a disease unique to dragons had almost made my species extinct.

When the breach between the brothers occurred fifty years later, we returned the favor and created a truce of sorts between them. As part of that truce, Cronos, being the older brother, and his followers would rule the Citadel and Hades, and his followers could have whatever lands he was able to conquer. To protect the founding family's reputation, the story about interdimensional traveling beasts was born. It was a short time later that Hades and his faction created the Jikininki, and his great army of ghouls was born.”

“Now it makes sense,” replied Alexander. “It looks like you tried to do the right things for all the wrong reasons. I’m not judging you, Draco, it’s just how things look to me. The big question is, how are we going to make it right? From my point of view, one brother is as bad as the other. Hades is trying to rule the world by violence and evil, while Cronos is ruling by manipulation and deceit. In the end, the people lose no matter which one wins.”

“You are wise beyond your years, my friend. It’s a problem we will not solve immediately, but I’m sure it is solvable. I will discuss it with my fellow conclave of dragons. Perhaps you should find some trustworthy humans like Dr. Jason to work on it with you, then we can compare ideas.”

“That will be difficult for me, but I will try. Stay in touch, my friend.”