“You stole your friend’s research?” I asked. “Am I supposed to congratulate you or something? I’m pretty sure that’s not what a good leader would do.”

“Well, child. I’d do anything for my people. And so I did. I ordered my legion of researchers to create dragons for one sole purpose—soul crystals.”

“Didn’t you already mention—”

“And we flourished!”

I sighed. “Please stop cutting me off—”

“But that blasted fool, Morgan! Do you know what he did? Do you know what kind of insane fool he was? He created a morph serum! To morph sakonians into dragons! Spouting all this nonsense about nature and how valuable a dragon’s life was.” Sakon gripped the armrest of his throne tightly. I could see his veins bulging from his arm. “He broke into our facility, released all the dragons, and injected as many of my researchers as he could with his dragon morph serum. He almost single-handedly ruined Sakoria! Those researchers—They lost their intelligence, sanity, everything! Without a mind of their own, they simply attacked anyone within their sights.” He looked downcast, placing his face within his palms. “They killed so many. So many innocent lives lost that day… And Aurelia, my wife… I was too late.” He wiped a single tear away from his eye. “I cannot believe her final words to me was to promise her that I’d save those morphed sakonians—those insolent dragons that had attacked her… She told me to save them.” He chuckled while shaking his head. “Yet I could not manage to save one life that I had so cherished.” Sakon pulled off his crown and suddenly wrinkles formed all over his body. He aged drastically, almost fifty years within the span of a few seconds.

Whoa. How did he do that?

All of the guards around me started begging to put his crown back on, but the emperor ignored them. Sakon spoke in a much raspier voice than before. “Child, I’ve lived long enough. I’ve done many wrongs; I know of this. But I’ve tried my best to live as an emperor who could be respected by his people.” He held up the black crown. “This is a super condensed soul crystal as it is also my lifeline. Many call it the philosopher’s crown. This has kept me alive for a few millennia. But I’ve gotten to a point in my life where I long to be with the rest of my family.” He put the crown back on and all the wrinkles and age disappeared from his physical body. His voice reverted back to normal. “However, I will never abandon my people. I will not die before Morgan Merlovak. I chose to do what I thought was best for the survival of Sakoria, but if you still wish to judge me, so be it.”

“Morgan… Merlovak?”

“Yes, did you really think I spouted all that for no reason? The researcher who created dragons and the self-proclaimed dragon king—Morgan Merlovak. They are one and the same.”

Merlovak did all that? I thought back to the kind, bearded dragon. Could he have done that? He did burn the soldiers… But why would he do all that?

“As the emperor, I will apologize for my rash actions.”

“Apologize?” What is happening?

“I was impatient. I shouldn’t have tried to execute Captain Dans—”

Suddenly, a loud thump vibrated throughout the room. It continued for a few seconds. And then a thunderous shatter soon followed. Broken pieces of glass shards and metal went flying through the air from behind Sakon’s throne.

“Mel!” Someone yelled from the direction of the levitator.

Dans? I thought. Seriously, what is happening?

Dans and Mark, a little banged up and disheveled, burst past one of the guards. They ran up to me and pushed the guards who were holding me away.

Darrell poked his head out from Mark’s back. “Oh! Hey, mister!” He giddily waved.

“Wait, what happened with you guys and Ada?” I asked.

Mark cleared his throat. “Nothing much. Just a small tussle.”

“Captain,” Sakon interrupted. “Why it’s quite a surprise to see you.”

“Emperor.” Dans growled back.

“What a splendid reunion. But this is perfect.” He gestured for a guard. The guard handed back Sakon’s rod again. He twirled it around like a wand, pointing it at each one of us. “Now, now. Relax everyone. Please. I won’t kill any of you. Not yet at least.”

“What do you want?” Mark demanded.

“No need for hostility. I’ve actually got a proposition. The others may do as they wish, but you…” He pointed at me. “Since you have a connection to Merlovak, I might have a special request just for you.”

I took a deep breath. “Alright, fine. Let’s have a listen then.”

“The dragons you’ve all seen down there… Well, Captain Dans may already know this. They are all sakonian. You do know what that implies, child?”

Sakonian? “They were created here?”

Sakon palmed his face in silence. “No, you fool! They are the researchers that I’ve been speaking of this entire time!”

Oh, right. The guys that got morphed. “Like the ones who attacked your wife.”

“Yes.” Sakon sighed. He tried to whisper to one of the guards next to him, but I could hear him very clearly. “Is it me? Am I not being clear? Or is this child truly intellectually stunted?” He pointed at me.

Wow, rude, I frowned. I’m just overwhelmed with new info.

Mark cut in. “Am I supposed to understand any of this?”

“Wait, does he not know?” I asked Sakon.

“It is only natural he does not know. This has been kept secret to the public.”

“Ah, okay. Keep going then,” I replied. “And stop talking to that guard, please.”

“I’m not sure I follow,” Mark responded.

Dans tapped Mark on the shoulder. “Just stay quiet. I’ll fill you in later.”

Mark hesitantly nodded.

Sakon faced us and continued on with what he was saying before. “I will suspend all investigation and mention of your crimes committed today if you so choose to do this very simple task.”

Simple? That’s clearly a lie. But I gestured for him to continue.

“Save the sakonians that have been morphed into dragons.”

“What?!” I yelled. “How am I supposed to do that? I’m no researcher!”

“I know of the serum you’ve stolen from the factory.”

I pulled out the vial of pink that I had pocketed earlier. The liquid glowed dimly in my hands. “This? So what? Does it make me smarter or something?”

“No. That is a truth serum.”

Well, damn. This isn’t poison.

“Give it to Morgan—”

“Merlovak?”

“Yes, Morgan Merlovak. Throw it. Shatter it on his scales. The serum will seep through the skin. He may know of a way to bring the others back to their former selves, so ask, interrogate, command, anything! And only use the serum after you have questioned him. It would be a waste to use it when he is so willing to divulge the answer.”

“You sure he knows?”

“No, I am not sure! But we haven’t been in quite… good terms. And since he somehow does not find you a threat, there is no better option left… except perhaps to kill him. And”—Sakon raised an eyebrow—“I have a feeling you do not wish for that.”

“Okay, and what makes you think I’ll do it? I can just leave and never come back.”

“I don’t. You may as well leave. That is a risk I am willing to take. But I believe you want answers. And I assure you, Merlovak has plenty. He has a bright mind. Although, I don’t wish to admit it.” The emperor slumped back on his chair. “Go now. I must rest. It has been quite the morning.”

The three of us all reluctantly turned around to leave. Darrell was still holding onto Mark’s back.

Emperor Sakon called out one last time. “Ah, and Captain Dans, you are free to do as you wish.”

Dans sternly nodded. We all walked out of the throne room. After all that, we were too tired to say anything.