The Final Technique/Meeting of the Celestial Dragons

“Good, Tatsuya, you remembered!” praised Senshi.

Tatsuya executed the moves with pinpoint accuracy and perfect form. Having Senshi there watching him only made his performance more precise and powerful; he wanted to look good in front of his uncle after all and make him proud. He poured all of his thoughts, his sweat, and his heart into each and every move; he did everything he can to perfect every chop, every kick, every punch, every strike, and every jump.

“That’s good for now!” said Senshi. “I’m proud of you for remembering everything that I taught you!”

Tatsuya was beyond happy to receive his uncle’s praise and recognition. He bowed and said in a proud and loud voice, “Thank you very much, sir!”

“I’m amazed that you were able to memorize all ninety-nine techniques,” said Senshi with a laugh.

Hearing his uncle’s words made him recall a conversation he had with his father just before he left. “Uncle Shin, if I remember correctly, there’s one hundred techniques in all, right?” he asked his uncle.

“That’s right,” answered Senshi with a nod. “I apologize for leaving before teaching you the very last technique of Dorajutsu.”

“Well, now that you’re here, and if it’s not too much of a burden to ask, can you teach me the final technique right now?” asked Tatsuya.

“You know, you’re father told me the same thing not too long ago when he came to see me,” said Senshi. “Speaking of your father, how was he when he returned home?” asked the Celestial Dragon.

“Like always, I can never tell what he’s thinking. He’s just like a little child,” said Tatsuya with a shrug.

Senshi wore an exasperated look on his face and shook his head. “He’s always been like that. I sometime wonder if he’ll change and learn to take things seriously for once,” said Senshi with a very deep frown. “It’s so exasperating to work with someone like him. Especially when that person is supposed to be your king.”

“I still can’t believe that he’s a king,” said Tatsuya.

“Tell me about it,” agreed Senshi with a groan. He shook away those thoughts and then said, “Anyway, shall we begin our lesson?”

“Yes sir!”

Both Senshi and Tatsuya were currently using one of the palace’s many open fields on the palace grounds as a training spot. They were a safe distance away from the palace building and any passing pedestrians. Tatsuya stood very still and waited for his uncle’s instruction. Senshi was standing right next to him and slowly got into a stance. He spread his legs slightly apart and had his fingers clasped together with his arms perpendicular to his abdomen.

“Now, watch what I do and listen to what I’m about to tell you,” said Senshi. Tatsuya nodded in reply with an affirming grunt. “First, you must channel all of your energy into your core. Unlike the other techniques that draw on energy from your core and focuses it in certain locations within your body, this technique does the opposite. Instead of dispersing energy, you are now absorbing energy. Draw on all energies from your limbs, your cells, your organs, your mind, your heart, your lungs, and your surroundings. Draw on them and focus them into your core. Once that is done, you can move on to the second step. Now, look at how I do it.”

Tatsuya quietly observed his uncle’s execution of the move. Senshi stayed very still and closed his eyes. And then, like some special effect from an action movie, he was suddenly surrounded by a large yellow aura. The aura was being absorbed into his body and concentrated right in the center of his abdomen—his core. Once the aura was completely absorbed and gone from sight, Senshi brought his hands up while still having them in a perpendicular position. He then executed a series of stances before eventually bringing his right hand near the back of his right side with the palm open. All of the energy that was focused in his core went through a series of expansions and contractions within his body through the stance progressions, and it now covered his entire right hand in a positive golden glow. With a breath, he pushed the hand forward and unleashed a powerful blast of energy that razed the field in front of him in a straight line, tearing away the green grass and leaving behind a trail of dead earth. The sonic boom and bright light that accompanied the move was more powerful than the most dangerous heavy metal live concert!

Tatsuya was shocked by how powerful it was. His eyes were wide and his jaw hung open like a window. Senshi noticed Tatsuya’s expression and laughed. “I can see that you’re quite impressed,” he said.

“That wasn’t a martial arts move,” said Tatsuya in awe, “that’s a superpower! It’s like something right out of a video game!”

“This move is the final technique of Dorajutsu,” said Senshi. “Technique 100: Wrath of the Dragon God.”

“Is that move even legal?” commented Tatsuya dazedly.

Senshi let out another chuckle. “Now then, are we ready to learn?” he asked.

Tatsuya followed his uncle’s instructions and did his best to execute the same technique. He calmed himself and perfectly entered the same stance as his uncle. He cleared his mind and drew in the energies inside and around him. The same yellow aura that had surrounded Senshi now surrounded him and he calmly absorbed them and willed them into his core. Once he was confident that all of the energy were now collected in his core, he executed the same stances as his uncle and brought his right hand behind his right side. A dull yellow glow surrounded his hand. It was very different than the bright yellow glow that had surrounded Senshi’s hand. Despite this difference, Tatsuya pushed his hand forward. The result he received was on a very different scale than his uncle’s, one that he wasn’t at all proud of. The energy blast was more of a energy blip and only lightly grazed the grass in front of him in a small straight line before disappearing into thin air.

He groaned miserably at his failure. “I knew it,” he said with a sigh. “All of the other moves were easy for me to get because they were all physical, but I don’t think I’ll ever get the hang of something like this. It’s like magic!”

“It’s not magic,” said Senshi with a chuckle, “but I can understand where you’re coming from. This move relies on the same principle as the Chinese martial arts concept of neijia. It is an internal martial arts move that is based on energy cultivation and requires focus and discipline. You must learn to focus your mind on the task at hand and discipline your body to bend to your will and yours alone. With constant practice, you’ll get the hang of it.”

“Discipline my body?” wondered Tatsuya.

“Basically, when you’re fighting, you rely on two things: intuition and instinct,” explained the Celestial Dragon.

“Aren’t they the same thing?” asked Tatsuya.

“In fighting, intuition and instinct are two completely different things,” corrected Senshi. “Both are innate functions that are important for fighting and survival, but their foundations are different. Intuition is an innate function that we gain through experience while instinct is an innate function that has already been built into our primal senses. For example, if you running through a forest and you come across a downwards slope, what is the first thing you do?”

“You would slow down,” answered Tatsuya.

“Correct! Now, was that intuition or instinct?” asked Senshi.

“Intuition?” answered Tatsuya.

“Correct!” said Senshi with a nod. “Having had gain some experience, either through understanding physical concepts of downward slopes or having made enough mistakes through encountering them that you understand how they work, you now gained the intuition to know to slow down when you come across a downward slope. Now, say that you run through the forest and you suddenly see a bear. What do you do then?”

“Well, my first reaction will be to run away,” answered Tatsuya honestly.

“Correct!” said Senshi. “That, Tatsuya, is instinct. The keyword you used there is reaction. When you are naturally reacting to something, you are using your instinct. It is only natural for you to react that way when faced with a dangerous beast even without any experience with them. Your very being has already been preconditioned to act that way since the dawn of time.”

“I see,” said Tatsuya with an understanding nod.

“When you fight, you naturally rely on both your intuition and your instinct,” began Senshi. “When someone throws a punch or a kick, you automatically know how to respond. You either reflexively block or you move out of the way. That is your instinct at play. On the other hand, when you fight against a very strong opponent, you learn to adapt to their fighting style and you recall other similar experiences you’ve been through and draw on them to use to your advantage. This is intuition.”

“I’ve never really thought about it like that,” admitted Tatsuya. “So what do you mean then by disciplining my body?” he asked.

“In order to discipline your body, you must learn to control your intuition and instinct,” explained Senshi. “In order to use this technique, you must learn to not give in to them. Control your body and will it to obey your thoughts only. Disregard all reflexes, discard all primal urges, throw away everything you’ve been taught and everything you know. This technique requires a blank and focused canvas. A simple disturbance of your mind is enough to disrupt this power.” Senshi placed a hand on Tatsuya’s shoulder and said with a warm smile, “Why don’t you try it one more time?”

Tatsuya nodded and got into position. He executed the same technique again, except this time, he cleared his mind and did his best to satisfy all of the prerequisites that his uncle had told him: a clear mind like that of a blank canvas, disregard for instinct and intuition, and complete control over his body. Once again, the yellow aura of energy surrounded his body and slowly absorbed into it. The energy focused in his core and expanded and contracted along with the progression of stances he executed upon absorbing the entire aura. His right hand was then coated in a more brighter golden glow than the first time he did it. With a breath, he unleashed the blast with a push of his right hand. A powerful blast of energy razed the grass in front of him in a straight line. The sonic boom and bright glow that accompanied the blast told him that he had successfully executed the technique.

“Great job!” praised Senshi, applauding his student. “You were always quick at picking up on new things.”

Tatsuya was very surprised at himself. Although it wasn’t as powerful as Senshi’s example, it was still a success nonetheless. He would never have thought in a million years that he would be able to learn this move on his second try. He truly believed that he would need at least five years of practice max in order to get this. This move was on par with magic and Tatsuya was surprised beyond disbelief that he had accomplished something of that level just now.

“With enough practice, you’ll be able to cultivate it to become as strong as mines, maybe even stronger,” said Senshi while nodding his head.

Helen appeared before them and informed Senshi that the other lords were waiting for him. She led them both to the main hall, located within the West wing of the palace. King Rexus and Queen Liana were seated on their thrones with Aika and Nobi by their sides. Shori and Yunqi were standing before them, waiting for their fellow Celestial Dragon to arrive. Once Senshi and Tatsuya arrived, Helen closed the door behind them and walked over to stand next to Nobi, opposite her sister.

“We were waiting for you,” said Shori with an exasperated sigh.

“Sorry,” apologized Senshi with a laugh. “I was teaching Tatsuya a brand new move.”

“That’s right, you know Dorajutsu,” said Yunqi.

“It’s kind of refreshing to know that the art is still being kept alive by a new generation,” said Shori with a satisfying sigh. “Only a few masters still know the secret art, and that’s not including the Celestial Dragons. All of the Celestial Dragons know the art very well, since we were the creators of it after all. But it is long lost and forgotten by much of the lower realm residents. Even those who claim to know it really only knows a few techniques, which are typically either simplified or overly altered from its initial form.”

“And we are very ashamed of ourselves for forgetting a precious gift from the gods and of having only used it for granted during our times of struggle and war,” said King Rexus with a bow of his head.

“At least some of the moves have been incorporated into your war dances, so the art isn’t exactly forgotten at all,” added Yunqi positively.

“We are extremely humbled by your praise,” said King Rexus.

“Anyway, it’s time for us to go,” Shori told Senshi.

“Wait, what? You’re leaving already?” Tatsuya asked his uncle.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this earlier, but I have to leave right now for an important meeting,” said Senshi. “All of the Celestial Dragons are gathering for the very first time in six hundred years.”

Tatsuya understood, though he was still very much displeased at the thought. The Draco royal family, Tatsuya, and the maids all lined up before the Three Lords and bowed their heads. They then said in unison, loudly and with veneration, “Praise the gods! We are forever humbled by your divine presence and shall remain faithfully loyal to your power! Please accept our farewell, and may your name be praised by the voice of the universe!” Tatsuya had remembered seeing this being done by the girls and their servants when bidding his father farewell. Though he might’ve stumbled a bit on the words, it was a nevertheless perfect farewell if he does say so himself.

The Celestial Dragons accepted the farewell and disappeared in a flash of light. This display of magic surprised Tatsuya a bit, but he held his composure and only rose back up once everyone else did. Aika quickly ran up to him and grabbed him by the arm.

“Say, say, Darling, how did your training go?” she asked him cheerfully.

“It went pretty well, actually,” Tatsuya told her.

“May I ask you to show us?” came King Rexus.

Tatsuya and the royal family were now at one of the palace’s many clear fields. The royal family watched Tatsuya from a safe distance with intense eyes. Tatsuya was a little unsettled by how intense they were and sweat formed around his temples and neck. ‘Remember, clear your mind,’ he told himself, regaining his composure and blocking everything else around him. He executed the technique just as he was taught. He drew in the energies inside of and around him, and focused it all into his core. Once it was collected and focused, he executed the next few stances and finished by bringing his right hand behind his right side with the palm open. A bright golden glow encased his entire hand and he pushed forward. The energy shot forward and razed the grass before him in a straight line.

Once the sound and light dissipated, the entire royal family cheered and applauded him. “That’s amazing, Darling!” shouted Aika happily.

“Just what I expect from you, Tatsuya-kyun!” joined in Nobi.

“This is cause for celebration!” announced King Rexus. He quickly grabbed Tatsuya’s right arm and loudly declared, “Come, Tatsuya, we must hold a party in your honor to celebrate this wonderous achievement!”

“No way!” protested Aika. She grabbed Tatsuya’s left arm and forcefully pulled him away from her father’s grasp. “Darling and I are going to celebrate by ourselves! Besides, he’s my fiancé, Father, not yours.”

Those words struck the king sharper than a knife and he lowered his face with sad eyes. “Y-Your right,” he said glumly.

“Come, Darling!” said Aika cheerfully, dragging him along with her as she ran back to the palace.

“My, our daughter has truly grown up,” said the queen with a smile as she watched her daughter disappear back inside. King Rexus simply replied with a sniffle.

Far away in the heavens, above the world of mortals, lie a golden hall. This hall was more than just a simple hall for gathering. It was the sacred hall of the Celestial Dragons, the very sacrosanct location where they come to discuss universal matters and hold meetings regarding the governing of all the realms. Shining brighter than the universe’s brightest star and surrounded by a holy aura that transcended divinity, this sanctimonious location was the personification of celestial holiness.

Inside the hall, the Celestial Dragons, the true gods of the universe, gathered for the very first meeting in six hundred years. The Celestial Dragons all sat in their respective thrones along a long marble table. They all waited for the appearance of their leader and king, who was the only one not currently present.

“Can you believe it? Six hundred years has passed us all in a blink of an eye,” said Yunqi in an attempt to start conversation.

“The last time we all met was when we discussed the prophecy,” said Shori.

“And it seems that the prophecy is being played out very well before our eyes,” said Amora with a giggle.

“And it looks like it’s about to get even more interesting,” added Sapiens with a nod. He was the Celestial Dragon of wisdom and knowledge. He was a tall and skinny man with light brown skin and thin paper-like white hair. His face was long and he had high cheekbones. His eyes were a very mysterious gray color, the very eyes of an enlightened sage. His earlobes were long and drooped to the same level as his lips.

“Everything is according to plan,” said Orichalchos, the Celestial Dragon of foresight and prophecy. He was a man with sad blue eyes and tight, thin lips. He had a very pointed nose and short, spiky pale blonde hair. The look he carried was that of a man who knew exactly how everything will end and has submitted himself before fate. His ring shaped pupils were his most defining features and looked just like sundials.

“But how it’s all going according to plan is the interesting part,” added Sortis, the Celestial Dragon of fate and destiny, with a smile. He was a short and skinny man with long shoulder-length rose gold hair and golden eyes with cross shaped pupils. Hanging from his left ear was a thread earring tied around a needle. His face was small and long, giving him a very feminine appearance. He also had talon-like nails and a pair of sharp fangs peeking out of his upper lip.

“Is there not a better way to approach this?” questioned Alita, the Celestial Dragon of reality and truth. She was a broad-shouldered woman with long raven black hair that flowed down her back and stormy blue-grey eyes behind a pair of crescent-shaped frames. She dressed in a very demure and conservative outfit consisting of a long lace dress with a closed collar around her neck and a pair of silver-white gloves.

“My, we should just let the kids have their fun,” said Anjing, the Celestial Dragon of memory and secrets. She had the appearance of a young woman with long glossy black hair and a hime cut in front. Her eyes were closed, yet she wasn’t the least bit impaired at all by this fact, and she wore a very distant yet calming smile. Her skin was white like snow and her lips were the color of young pink blossoms. Around her neck was a necklace with a rose pendant.

“Kids will be kids, what can you do about it?” grumbled Ammit, the Celestial Dragon of judgement and the dead. They were an androgynous being with long eyelashes and piercing black eyes with red sclera. Their nose was pointed like a serpent's, their lips were black-stained, and they had long purple hair with the sides shaven. Their most striking feature, however, were the rows of crocodile-like teeth that lined their mouth. Around their neck hung a necklace of shiny black skulls.

“Do we really have to do this? I really want to watch them go at it,” whined Aitvaras.

“I wholeheartedly agree,” said Imoogi with a nod of his head. “Everyone who wants to skip the meeting and go watch say ‘Aye’!”

“Now wait a minute!” ordered Senshi, silencing everyone before they could give their answer. “We are here to discuss a very important matter. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be called here. If this was our normal yearly report, we would’ve met in one of our other locations. But to be here at this hall, this tells us just how serious this is. This is no time to be messing around.”

“Boo! Who made you king?” complained Imoogi like a child.

Senshi gripped the table with his hands and his body shook with fury. “It’s not like I chose this position. If only the real king would take his job more seriously, I wouldn’t have to be this way,” he said in a passive-aggressive tone.

“Sorry for being late!” cheerfully announced a voice entering the hall. Everyone turned their head to see Ryujin walking up to the table. He was dressed in a suit and tie with a red fez atop his head.

Everyone immediately got down on their knees and said in unison, “Welcome, our king, mighty lord of the universe, father of creation, and master of us all.”

“Now, now, let’s dispense with the pleasantries,” said Ryujin with a nervous laugh. He happily walked up to his seat and sat down. Everyone else took their seats right after him. “My, everyone is here! How wonderful! Are we all doing well?”

“My King, if I may, can we please get on with the meeting?” asked Senshi.

“Let’s get this over with so we can go catch the fight!” agreed Imoogi.

“Fight?” wondered Ryujin, intrigued.

“It’s bound to be interesting to see their powers clash,” agreed Yunqi. Everyone else around the table immediately filled the room with chatter in response to that statement.

Senshi couldn’t believe how foolish the table was being during what was supposed to be an important meeting and his body boiled with anger. “Enough!” he yelled. His voice echoed throughout the hall and everyone immediately shut up. He then huffed out a breath and said, in a more strict and harsher tone, “My King, the meeting.”

Ryujin cleared his throat and said, “Right. Let’s begin.” Everyone sat very quiet and still as they waited to hear what their king is about to say. “As you all know, I’ve been travelling all over the human realm with Mikoto,” he began.

“We don’t need to hear about your little vacation with your human wife,” jeered Sortis with a laugh.

“And is it really alright for you to talk of your human wife in front of your significant other whom you have known since time immemorial?” added Amora teasingly.

“Now, now, let’s not get off-track here,” said Mizuchi, the Celestial Dragon of healing and the queen of the Celestial Dragons. She was a beautiful woman with sparkling blue eyes like dazzling sapphires and soft brown hair that fell to her shoulders like the down off a duck’s back. Her skin was a soft white hue like that of freshly fallen snow. Her head was covered in a loose white veil, and a golden circlet, the symbol of her authority as queen of the Celestial Dragons, wrapped around her forehead. She is also Ryujin’s wife.

“My Queen, with all due respect, you at least deserve to put your husband in his place,” joked Sortis.

“Your pride is at stake,” joined in Imoogi with a sly smile.

Mizuchi’s face quickly turned into a scary frown and it shook the other Celestial Dragons in their seats. Her eyes told them that she had showed them enough kindness and now she means business. “Mikoto is a dear friend and sister of mine,” she told them, squinting her eyes to show the gravity in her words. “Anyone else who tries to say otherwise will have to answer to me,” she added in a subtly threatening tone. Everyone quickly shut their mouths and order returned to the table. With a nod, she turned to Ryujin and said, “Please continue.”

“T-Thank you very much,” said Ryujin nervously. He cleared his throat and began again. “Mikoto and I have been going around to check on the seals,” he said. At the mention of the word ‘seals’, everyone around the table became uneasy. “I’m sure you all are aware of the ‘Incident’,” he said grimly.

“Thirty-six years ago, a disaster swept across the universe,” began Sapiens. “This disaster was found to be rooted in the human realm, with said realm experiencing the worst of it in the form of a deadly earthquake that resulted in the death of millions in the Levant. Upon closer inspection into the cause of the incident, it was concluded that one of the seals was responsible.”

“Shori, Yunqi, you both were assigned to the investigation, correct?” said Ryujin.

“Yes,” confirmed both Celestial Dragons.

“We investigated the seal thoroughly through a period of five days just in case something was bound to happen then,” explained Shori.

“But we didn’t find anything wrong at all,” added Yunqi. “In fact, the seal appeared to still be intact.”

“And it was because of that report that we didn’t look further into it nor held a meeting about it,” said Ryujin. “And this is not to say that I didn’t trust your words. But, ever since Tatsuya’s childhood, I was preyed upon by a very bad feeling. At first, I paid it no mind. But when that accident happened to Tatsuya, I decided that I couldn’t ignore it any longer. You see, the main reason why I decided to spend my time traveling around the human realm with Mikoto wasn’t to enjoy the sights, but to check on the seals.”

“And Mikoto’s background proved to be beneficial to your task,” concluded Imoogi.

“Exactly,” agreed Ryujin. “She was the strongest human ever to possess such an affinity and I knew that it would come in handy in dealing with the seals in case anything happens.”

“So you had spent all this time checking on the seals?” asked Orichalchos.

Ryujin simply answered with a nod of his head. “Through careful inspection, Mikoto and I have found that all of the seals are still intact…except for one.”

“Which one?” asked Senshi anxiously.

“The one in Masada,” answered Ryujin.

“You don’t mean—,” exclaimed Senshi in horror. Everyone else around the table drew in sharp breaths and became really still. Their faces became stone and the atmosphere around the table became heavier than iron. The terrible truth didn’t need to be spoken for everyone to understand just how serious a problem this was.

“It’s only a matter of time before the other seals will open,” spoke Orichalchos, breaking the silence.

“Armageddon is close at hand,” agreed Sortis.

“But we have them on our side,” pointed out Alita in an anxious voice.

“The prophecy only speaks of one,” said Orichalchos with a shake of his head. “Only one shall rise above the rest and become the universal savior,” he reminded the table.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean that we can’t rely on the others for help, nor does it bar them from joining the battle,” argued Imoogi.

“But the question remains,” said Senshi. “Which one of them will become the Dragonborn of legend?”

“Surely what we need is someone who can take care of business,” offered Shori. “This is no time to argue. We all know who is capable of such an undertaking. It should be someone who is a capable leader and who possesses a disciplined mind.”

“Discipline is good and all, but if we’re talking about someone worthy of being a leader, then we need someone with strong charisma,” argued Amora. “A true hero is one who is a reliable figure to the people. It should rest on someone capable of putting others at ease and preventing the worse from happening.”

“That aside, a hero should be someone with the uncanny ability to discern their enemy’s actions. Strong instincts and a natural aptitude for judgement is what a real hero needs,” said Alita. “Only with good judgement can one truly be deemed a worthy hero.”

“Discipline!” said Shori.

“Charisma!” argued Amora.

“Good judgement!” threw in Alita.

“Now, now, let’s all talk about this reasonably,” attempted Sapiens. The three Celestial Dragons turned to him with intense eyes, forcing him to stop and eliciting a nervous chuckle out of him.

“It’s not like it’s your decision to choose who will be the destined hero,” said Orichalchos with a shake of his head. “It’s none of our decisions. Only the universe can choose who will become the hero of legend.”

“And that decision is going to happen really soon,” added Imoogi with a mischievous smile. “I wonder…will it be discipline, charisma, or good judgement that will win? Or perhaps…something else entirely?” The Celestial Dragon smiled widely, showing all of his teeth.

“What are you suggesting, Imoogi?” asked Alita with a raised eyebrow. Shori and Amora exchanged glances. They knew exactly who the Celestial Dragon was talking about. Alita noticed the exchange and could tell by their expressions that she was missing something.

“Before we have another conversation about this, let’s see just who the universe decides on,” offered Shori.

“Huh?” said Alita, confused by the Celestial Dragon of victory’s sudden show of humility.

“I agree,” said Amora with a nod of her head.

“Am I missing something here?” cried Alita exasperatedly.

Senshi tapped on the table and everyone’s attention was turned to him. “Everyone, please don’t try to get distracted with other conversations,” he warned them. “We are here to discuss one thing and one thing only.”

“Everyone, I would like to warn you all to be on your guard,” said Ryujin. “Be prepared for anything. I fear that it won’t be long before the world is plunged into chaos.”

“If they so much as try to rise again, we’ll beat them back into their seals,” said Sortis.

“Last time, we only managed to beat them because we had the Thirteen with us,” said Yunqi.

“Don’t forget, we had the Ancient Ones on our side too,” added Alita.

“But that’s so long ago,” groaned Ammit. “We can’t expect it to be so easy like last time. Millions of years had already passed since the last war.”

“And with most of the Ancient Ones retiring to the upper heavens and entrusting the universe to us, it is up to us alone to figure this out,” added Sapiens.

“The Ancient Ones really left us with the short end of the stick,” complained Sortis with a huge sigh.

“For now, we must keep on observing the situation and prepare ourselves to prevent the worse from happening,” said Ryujin. “I advise you all to watch quietly from the sidelines and only step in when necessary. The most important thing is to collect information to form our own contingencies against our enemy.”

“But don’t we have the best contingency right now?” said Imoogi. “Isn’t the Dragonborn the universe’s contingency for this entire situation?” he reasoned.

“We can’t just depend on the universe’s plan and not do anything ourselves,” argued Ryujin. “It is best to be prepared no matter how much of an advantage we may have.”

“But this is not a matter of advantage,” said Imoogi. “It is the universe’s will. Are you saying that we shouldn’t put our trust in the universe?”

“The universe is but one voice among a million within the greater fabric of creation,” said Ryujin.

“How about the prophecy? Didn’t that already lay out the perfect plan?” said Imoogi.

“I don’t see it as the perfect plan,” said Ryujin. “I think of it more as the universe’s guidelines.” Imoogi was a little taken aback by the king’s words and stifled a chuckle. “Besides, there is no such thing as the perfect plan. The prophecy is simply the synopsis of the greater story. However, it is us, the characters, that drive the plot of the story. We determine whether or not the plan is perfect. The universe may be the narrator, but they have no power over the actions of the story’s characters.”

After hearing Ryujin’s words, Imoogi nodded his head and bowed. “I concede defeat,” he said with a satisfied smile.

“Everyone, I urge you all to play your roles,” said Ryujin. “This means to observe the universe and only intercede whenever it is within the best interest of the universe. This also extends to the development and growth of the Dragonborns. It is not your duty to mold them according to your vision, nor is it your duty to choose who shall inherit the universal role of the Dragonborn of legend.”

“Your wish is our command, my king!” said everyone with a bow of their heads.

“Thank you,” said Ryujin. “Now, this is all we have for the meeting. Everyone is dismissed!”