The room’s atmosphere shifted as Yuuto stood silently for a moment. Lady Aiko adjusted her glasses once more, her expression unreadable. Finally, Yuuto broke the silence.
“I believe it is time I properly introduce myself, young lord,” Yuuto said, inclining his head slightly. “My true name is Yu’Keto Von Chrono-Void. I once served your mother as one of her generals.”
Alister’s eyes narrowed, as he gazed at Yuuto. The name Yu’Keto stirred something deep within him, a sense of familiarity that he couldn’t quite place.
“You served my mother?” Alister repeated.
Yuuto nodded. “Indeed. And for that, I must apologize for withholding this truth from you until now. It was not my intention to deceive, but I thought it best to wait until the time was right. I feared revealing my identity prematurely might hinder your growth.”
Alister’s gaze sharpened. “How interesting… I had my suspicions, but I could never make up my mind because of how normal your aura seemed.”
Yuuto’s lips curved into a faint smile, his expression calm but tinged with respect. “Understandable, young lord.”
The air around Yuuto began to ripple softly, and a faint shimmer surrounded his body. A silvery sheen spread across his neck as scales materialized, glistening in the dim light.
From his back, a sleek, silver tail emerged, curling slightly as if stretching after years of dormancy.
Lastly, a pair of curved horns sprouted gracefully from the front of his skull, gleaming like polished steel.
Lady Aiko’s expression remained neutral as she watched the transformation unfold.
“I am a Silver Time Dragon,” Yuuto… no, Yu’Keto… explained.
“I was tasked by your mother to safeguard the remnants of her legacy in this realm. You, young lord, are that legacy.”
Alister stood up from the bed and took a step toward Yu’Keto, his golden eyes narrowing further as he inspected him.
“I have three questions I hope you can answer honestly.”
Yu’Keto lowaed his head as he said, “Go on.”
“First, if you truly served my mother, then why remain hidden for so long? Why not reveal yourself sooner?”
Yu’Keto’s expression softened, though a loom of regret passed over his face. “Like I said earlier young lord, I felt as though my presence would hinder your growth, I needed you grow and experience things for yourself before you’d be ready to reclaim your rightful place.”
Alister’s fists clenched at his sides as a storm of emotions brewed within him—confusion, frustration, and curiosity mingling in equal measure.
“Your logic is flawed and doesn’t make complete sense. Would I have grown better if someone as experienced as you taught me, gave me the right directions?”
“I presume you know a lot, fact I’m sure you do… Wouldn’t it have been far better if you taught me everything I needed to know?”
Yu’Keto sighed deeply, the silver glow in his eyes dimming slightly. “You are right to question my logic, young lord, and I will not deny that my actions may appear flawed from your perspective. But allow me to explain.”
“Teaching you everything from the beginning might have seemed like the best course, but knowledge given freely is often undervalued. Your mother believed—and I agreed—that for you to truly reclaim your destiny, you needed to struggle, to make mistakes, to learn through trial and error. That is how strength and resilience are forged.”
Yu’Keto paused, his gaze a bit intense. “Had I guided you too closely, you would have relied on me. And while I might have imparted wisdom, I would have robbed you of something far more valuable: the ability to think, to adapt, and to lead on your own.”
He lowered his head briefly, acknowledging his own regret. “Perhaps I underestimated how much you would have benefited from my guidance. Perhaps I could have struck a better balance between supporting you and allowing you to grow. For that, I take full responsibility.”
Raising his head again, his voice became resolute. “But know this, young lord: I never abandoned you. I watched from the shadows, ensuring you were never in mortal peril, even if it seemed like you were alone. I was there, protecting the path ahead when you couldn’t see it. And now, I kneel before you, ready to share everything I know, because you are ready—not because I deem it so, but because you have proven it through your actions and strength.”
“If what you say is true, then tell me this,” Alister said, his voice low and commanding. “What do you intend to do now?”
Yu’Keto’s silver eyes gleamed with determination as he knelt once more, placing a hand over his heart.
“I intend to serve, young lord,” he said firmly. “To guide you, protect you, and ensure the legacy of dragon kind is not only preserved but thrives again. The time has come for the Overlord of dragons to rise once more.”
“But… Young lord, before we proceed, there is something I must ask of you—something of utmost importance.”
Alister raised an eyebrow, curious. “And what might that be?”
Yu’Keto hesitated, he looked away briefly, as if searching for the right words. “Forgive me for my boldness, but… are you the reincarnation of the Overlord of Creation, Sonoris?”
Alister blinked, the name sending a strange jolt through his mind. It felt familiar—like a word he’d spoken in a dream but couldn’t recall.
“Sonoris…” Alister repeated slowly, tasting the name on his tongue. “I recognize it, but I can’t say why. What are you implying, Yu’Keto?”
The dragon’s silver tail flicked behind him, a rare sign of unease. “The name Sonoris is not just any name, young lord. It belongs to the Overlord of Creation—One of the two sons of the Dragon god. According to ancient myths, Sonoris was the one who created the rest of the dragon race, some even consider him the dragon god.”
Alister’s eyes narrowed, his tone guarded. “And what does this have to do with me?”
Yu’Keto straightened slightly, his horns glinting under the dim light. “Because of a legend tied to him.” He paused, gathering his thoughts.
“Sonoris once faced his own brother, Lord Alameck, the Overlord of Ruin. Their battle raged across the planes, threatening to unravel existence itself. In the end, Sonoris triumphed—but he could not destroy his brother’s soul. Alameck’s essence was too powerful to be undone.”
“So what did he do?” Alister asked.
Yu’Keto’s gaze locked onto Alister, his tone grave. “Sonoris made the ultimate sacrifice. Knowing that only he could contain his brother’s soul, he sealed Alameck within his own. By doing so, he ensured that destruction could not roam freely—but at the cost of his own mortality. Legends say that his spirit shattered, scattered across time, waiting to be reborn when the balance was threatened again.”
Alister frowned, stepping back as he processed the revelation. “And you think I’m his reincarnation?”
Yu’Keto lowered his head in respect. “It is not a certainty, but there are signs. Your power, your lineage, the way the world itself seems to bend around you… and the soul I sense within you.”
Alister’s golden eyes sharpened. “What do you mean, the soul within me?”
Yu’Keto’s expression grew even more somber. “Young lord, I have felt the presence of Alameck’s essence lingering inside you. It is faint but unmistakable. If my suspicions are correct, his soul remains sealed within you—just as it was within Sonoris. That is why I must know if you are truly his reincarnation. If you are, then you are the only one who can contain or destroy Alameck if he stirs again.”
A strange weight settled in Alister’s chest as he recalled memories of strange dreams, moments of inexplicable rage, and flashes of overwhelming power surged through his mind.
“And if I’m not?” Alister asked quietly.
Yu’Keto hesitated before answering. “Then we must find a way to protect you. If you are not Sonoris reborn, then Alameck’s soul could consume you, corrupting you into an avatar of destruction.”
Alister turned away, pacing the room as his thoughts raced. He hated the uncertainty, the feeling of being caught in a web of forces he didn’t fully understand. Yet something about Yu’Keto’s words rang true.
“Let’s assume I am this reincarnation,” Alister said, his tone sharper. “What am I supposed to do about it? I don’t even remember this past life you claim I had.”
Yu’Keto rose to his feet, his silver scales gleaming. “If you are Sonoris, then your memories may return in time. For now, I will stand by your side, as I did for your mother. I will teach you what I know, guide you in unlocking your true potential. And, should Alameck’s soul stir within you, I will do everything in my power to ensure it does not consume you.”
“But for now I belive we should focused on reviving the dragon race.”
“We can sterted by going to one of the dragon kin settlements out in the wastelands.”
Alister turned to face Yu’Keto, his gaze steady. “Then we start now.”
“No young lord…” Yu’Keto said, “As for now it is still best you recover your strength.”