The Chase : Volume One

Mars

"You'd think she'd be nicer" Soteramose said under his breath as the agon  continued toward East Castle.

"See something you like?" Delius poked as he came up on the gon from around the same corner. "Tears move you?"

"I was just about to give up on you." he sighed turning to face him.

"I say the same thing every time I come to see you. Yet here I am Mars" The older gon smiled.

"I haven't the slightest idea why, I must admit." Mars chuckled. " You will never let me live that down." He breathed, thinking back. It has been his nickname from Delius and his mom since he was twee gon. He couldn't pronounce his name well. He would introduce himself as Sottamarz.  He even argued with his mother over it before he understood he was saying wrong.  Now  he had grown into an Asantegon with a true regal countenance that seamlessly merged the elegant features of is eyes, a red like two lava pools, and his skin, a sun-kissed golden hue reminiscent of desert sands at dawn. While the subtle curve of his lips hinted at a grace, his high cheekbones spoke of confidence. His shoulder length hair was mostly pulled back, red at the roots before slowly turning from auburn to black at the ends. The deep red markings on his skin danced like  fire around his temples that flowed down his neck. 

"For as long as I can remember you have been randomly coming to see me and giving me annoying advice you know I am never going to use."  He looked up again now. Nothing less than an O'zheni, the gon was wearing a long violet outer robe with the royal red and gold trim. His red harem pants also had a gold design on the waist belt and his shirt was white with a red design. Even his attire was tapestry of his Yzhen heritage.

"You mind filling me in?" Delius questioned, motioning back to where he had seen Semiramishe walk off.

He sighed. "I've no time for silly emotional agons."

"Bet you'd have time for the W'eisi" Delius lifted a brow.

"Oh no... What now?" Sot'Erumavor put his hands behind his head and stood looking at the sky as servants opened the castle doors so they could enter the wing.

"When zheragon are born why have do we have a chosen name and then given another?"

"Here we go" he breathed.

"Hey I am serious just answer the question." Delius smirked.

"Dragons are - one of the races closest to Ylohim... We are among the longest lived, we have the most potent Rahisi. We have two names because we are born with a fate we cannot change - granted by ylohim - and a fate we can shape... Because of free will or something." Mars half mumbled. He hoped Delius Eli would not push for more as he only pulled that from one of the tutoring sessions he bothered to pay attention to.

"Almost. You are right - there is a fate we are born with that we cannot alter - we cannot change. What you missed young gon, is that we don't have two separate fates. The first name represents our choices we will make, our second name is the symbol of the fate we are given and how we live out that fate - whether we fight it, embrace it, or make it greater" Delius sighed waving the young gon to head toward the palace with him. "I suppose you could say, because I know your name, I am interested in being part of the fate you have. I see you as being more than what you appear and I value what you will bring to the world. The moment I laid eyes on you Soteramose, I knew."

"What?" he asked curiously stopping to turn back toward his mentor.

"Ata  special Mars." He placed his hand on the young gon's back.

"I don't know whether to be honored or just throw up." Mars laughed. At this they both turned toward back toward the palace and continued to walk.

"You are much smarter than your attitude. I know you have your heart set on one agon, but you can't allow that to cloud your judgement."

"What judgement?" he begged as he walked in finally. "why does it seem like you are upset at me over that  agon, should not even be alive by all accounts as the daughter of that traitor... I don't know wha-" Delius pushed him inside to the left and straight onto the cold wall holding him by his collar.

"There is always more to the story - and that agon was only three years when all of her family but her brother was slaughtered. She has gone through more just being alive than you probably will in your next century. By all accounts you are hardly much older than her and in my eyes still no more than a greatless! So listen to me." He whispered barely inches from his face as he gripped him tightly. 

Mars simply nodded still shocked. 

"You won't live to have much of a fate if you insist on believing whatever said within these walls. You must learn and think critically about things. If you allow yourself to become clouded by palace politics, you won't stand a chance." Eli Delius said releasing the younger gon and stepping away.

"Coming from the one who gave everything up." he spat shrugging to fix his crumpled clothes..

"Watch yourself  cub. I have more power in my hand  than ata in your entire being... Don't make me use it to take you down a notch." Delius smiled and roughed up the gon's hair with his hand. "Come on, let's go. I wanted to speak with you about the An'Zahut."

 "Del Unpen (uncle)"

"Nothing in life is guaranteed Mars. Even if you have someone you want, once Andraemon says any different, it is over... But..." he looked up under his brow at the young gon with a smirk.

"But?"

"I have been given the list for The Chase and... a certain W'eisi name... might be on it?" Delius sighed, pretending he was oblivious to the significance of his own words. Mars  came up behind and threw his arm over his shoulder.

"Hey.... don't get quiet on me now.  You knew this could happen didn't you?"

"I don't know how well you know that agon,  but she seems more ambitious than you know."

"No no, Unpen, she is even better than I give her credit for. Everyone knows my.... father was gonna have me listed... Now whether Andraemon agrees to it, or  anyone else...." he smiled wide. Then looked at Delius with a raised brow. "I am... on the list right?"

"Oh, but I thought you were tired of hearing of it.... I wouldn't want to upset you with silly"

"Eli Unpen!"

"Oh now it is Eli instead of Del? Where did all this respect come from?"

"Unpen!" 

"Yes, of course your name is on it... Ylohim knows Andraemon can't wait to have you married off, I have a feeling there might be something more going on here... This world we live in as Yzhen and O'zheni at that, it is a dangerous one." he grabbed Mars by the shoulder with one hand and softly pushed him to continue walking on. He leaned in close and lowered his tone. "You need to spend the next few years preparing and training.  The Amaranthyne may not be the only thing trying to kill you this 'Zahut."

Mars nodded, he looked back for a second suddenly reminded of the tears he witnessed. He couldn't afford to be weak. He nodded his head and stood up straight, slightly lifting his chin. 

"Anything, or anyone that tries to stop me, is already dead."