Dragon Lord Alfor was the greatest of the great and has been a legend for their people for hundreds of years. He bonded with a massive, two headed dragon he called Rekijin. He united warring clans under one banner and conquered lands that have since been lost to their civilization. His reign was unquestioned by many, and those who did challenge him submitted to their ruler, or died protecting their honor by his hand.

The magic that ran through his dragon's bond was unlike anything the world had seen, or even believed possible, and many regarded him as a god. For all they knew, he could have been. His legend survived centuries of changing lands, changing peoples. With Rekijin by his side, who was regarded as a King of Beasts, legendary by its own right, Alfor ruled far longer than any other leader. It was suspected that his bond's magic was so powerful it extended his life, for he stopped aging, and lived well past the normal expectancy, sowing peace, prosperity, and power.

Until suddenly, he disappeared. With his disappearance, the clans that once lived united fractured into sects, some old, some new, and the Great Years ended. Since the fall, their civilization has slowly dwindled to what they are now, but there are rumors that there are other clans out there, surviving just as they were.

Mitsuki slowly paced in front of her students, suddenly transforming into the village and clan leader that she was. There was a reason she'd told them of Alfor's legend. Their people are struggling now because magic has been leaving the earth, and that's why it's revolutionary that Katsuki has brought back two dragons, why it's so important that they manage to get along. In all of their otherworldly glory, with their iridescent skin and horned skulls, they're likely the last of their kind. As they sat cross-legged in front of her, Mitsuki couldn't imagine that her unruly, beautiful son, who sat glaring at her beside these two magnificent creatures while she lectured, could be their last hope.

He was the only thing her husband left behind, the only thing she had left of the love of her life, and now, looking at him and his accomplishments, the two dragons sitting next to him, she selfishly decided she'd keep her son at her side for just a while longer.

Because although the dragon lord disappeared centuries ago, it was suspected that his soul had returned. She stared into a reflection of her own eyes, eyes mirrored back to her by her only son. Yes , she thought. He very well could have returned .

But she wasn't about to fill his head with silly fantasies. "So," she clapped her hands together. "What do you think of my lesson?" The red haired dragon, the sweet one, spoke up immediately. "It's the best one so far!" he exclaimed. Mitsuki nodded her head fondly.

"Thank you Eijiro. You're the only one to appreciate me these days."

"It's good," his sister mumbled. She'd been sitting slightly off to the side, far enough to express discomfort, but not far enough to disrespect her teacher. Mitsuki smirked at Miko, who stubbornly kept her gaze elsewhere. So they were still fighting. "Only good? I tell you history of one of your greatest ancestors and all you can say is 'it's good'?"

"The most interesting," she amended, though she didn't seem to be taking the usual pride she did in dragons, Mitsuki noted. Eijiro ignored the tense atmosphere brewing between his companions and leaned forward eagerly. "How did he unite the clans? How many battles did he win?"

"I couldn't tell you. Unfortunately, our ancestors weren't ones for keeping written records, and most of it has been lost with time since the Splintering."

"And you cannot rely much on oral history," Miko mumbled. "No, you can't," Mitsuki agreed. She looked to Katsuki. He had yet to say a word. Perhaps a different tactic, then, would amend the two's tumultuous relationship. "Actually, since you're so interested, Eijiro, why don't we go ask the council if they remember anything different?" Delightedly, Eijiro wasn't as simple-minded as he came off. He got up easily with a single fluid movement and trailed after her with a smile and a knowing look in his eyes. With one last glance at the pair, they walked out.

Miko and Katsuki were both very aware of the reason they were abandoned. Stubbornly sitting with their backs to each other, it was Miko who spoke first, to both of their surprise. "I told you if you wanted me to follow you, you would have to tame me, Katsuki."

Swirling around, Katsuki leaned into Miko's face, snarling as he spoke. "You're here aren't you? I named you, clothed you, got you to speak . I've tamed you!" The dragon moved away from him, disappointed in the human's obstinate bullheadedness. Clenching her jaw, she swallowed whatever scathing reply that was about to chew its way out of her mouth, choosing instead to be patient with the child. "...Do you know what it means to tame?"

For his part, Katsuki nodded his head indignantly, and only a small bit of spittle flew as he yelled. "Of course I know what it means! Who do you think I am?!"

"You have to make me choose you over myself."

"Tch," he scoffed. With a roll of his eyes, he stood up with obviously ruffled feathers, fully intent on leaving her there before noticing that she had already left him behind. It was like hearing her secretly speak his tongue all over again. Red faced and angry , he yelled after her. "Dragon! Get back here! Miko!"

"Calling her like that isn't going to make her come back."

Katsuki grumbled under his breath, pissed as hell as Eijiro came in. "You here to lecture me too?" he asked. Eijiro shook his head. "Not at all Katsuki. Just here to make sure you listen to sis's advice." The red haired dragon walked forward right in front of Katsuki, staring straight into his eyes. Vermillion met ruby and Katsuki recognized the challenge for what it was. Eijiro's skin glimmered in the dim fire. "She was right, you know. Miko." Katsuki remained silent, waiting to hear what his more sensible companion had to say, though he was still fuming. Gone was the cheerful playfulness Eijro usually exhibited, replaced instead by somber seriousness so unlike him it demanded Katsuki's full attention no matter what was being said.

"To tame means picking you over our own survival. To give up our share of food for you, to bleed for you. You're close, with me that is. But still, if she asked it of me, I'd abandon you for her. You haven't done enough to warrant her devotion or her loyalty and therefore you haven't earned mine either. As it stands, we'd pick each other over you. The only reason she's bothered to warn you is because of me."

Stunned, Katsuki remained silent, fuming and hiding angry trembles in the tight lock of his jaw, grinding his teeth together.

"Here," Eijiro dropped a small velvet pouch in the palm of his hand. "These are hers. Try not to make her cry anymore." He stepped away, and walked out of the room. Opening the small purse, the blonde found it filled with diamonds. "Where the hell did they manage to find these?" And what the hell did he mean about making Miko cry?

"You've got your work cut out for you, brat." He threw his hands up exasperatedly as his mother leaned on the door to the room.

"So you're next in line? Who's next? The entire village?" His mother snorted bemusedly. "It's true. Why do you think I spent all morning teaching you about Alfor? He's the only one in our history who had such a powerful bond with his beast that it let him live years longer than he should have. Just take it easy on the poor thing. It's bad enough you're so hard to deal with on your own."

Katsuki held back a snarl. "It wouldn't be so hard if she just listened! Eijiro obeys easily enough!" Mitsuki nodded sagely, earrings clinking softly with the movements. "Ah, that he does. But Eijiro is not his sister."

"I thought this shit was supposed to be easy," he muttered.

"Sometimes it is. But you have two beasts at your disposal. You're bound to have disagreements with one of them," she said, then suddenly clapped the back of his head, baring her teeth. "I thought you were Tamer of Two Katsuki! If you're so great you'll make more of an effort to get along with both your dragons!" Her son mimicked the expression.

"I am!"

"You're doing a piss job of it! Do better, you brat! Ya know how shitty it feels to see my only son struggle to bond with both his beasts?! Not to mention how shitty it is to see one of them so obviously be uncomfortable!"

"She has nothing to be uncomfortable with! She's got everything she needs right here!" Mitsuki just shook her head sadly. Sometimes he was just too stubborn. "Go find the girl and figure it out. Don't come back until you've come to an understanding!" In a flutter of fabrics, Katsuki took off, growling all the way, as he sought out the dragon responsible for all this reprimanding. Damn beast better be worth all this effort.