I watch as their eyes get huge. At first they were looking at me, then I see their eyes rise above me. I turn slowly to see a twenty foot tall sand person behind me.

“Um hello you huge hunk of sand. Can I help you?” I ask. I watch as a wave ripples up through it from the ground.

I have seen a sand creature talk on TV, but it does not compare to seeing it in person. “The master requests your audience,” it says. It's voice sounds from everywhere. Its booming sound is felt as well as heard.

“Well let's not keep your master waiting. That would be inconsiderate of us,” I say.

“Follow me please,” it says.

“Lead the way big guy,” I say as it heads in the direction Oaky says the ancient power is.

We all follow it in silence. I see what looks like a fin in the sand ahead of the sandman. The fin gets within a few feet of the sandman and I see what looks like a shark leap up at the sandman. The sandman simply aims its huge arm at the shark in the air. Its arm extends and hits the shark. Upon impact the shark splatters everywhere. I think, 'thank god we didn't have to fight this thing.’

We walk and watch the sandman knock creature after creature into mush. After about an hour and half I see a large group of rocks in the distance.

When we get close enough, I notice a large cave opening. The sandman heads right to the opening. As we get to the opening and the sandman stops, “Master awaits,” it says and collapses into the sand.

I slowly enter the cave. As we enter I can only see slightly ahead of me from the light of the sun. We get past the part where the sun penetrates and I have to stop to let my eyes adjust.

I see a slight blue glow ahead of me and slowly head toward it. I notice the cave is slowly heading down into the earth. The blue light never seems to get closer as we progress. I am horrible at distance, but I would guess we progressed slowly for a quarter of a mile.

We finally start to approach the blue light. The cave expands to the point I can't see the ceiling or the far wall. The blue light radiates from the walls itself.

After a short distance into the larger cave I see a dark pile. As we get closer I realize it is a scaled dragon. I have seen many shows where a man walks up to a sleeping dragon. I decide the movies cannot portray the fear and awe of actually doing it.

Its scales reflect the blue light in lines. The scales look like large flat fingernails. The legs that are visible look as large as redwood trunks. The four visible nails of its foot look like extended cat’s claws, but much, much larger.

Its folded wings look like black leather. We walk within several feet of what I am guessing is the head and neck, then stop. A flexible tree trunk with scales pulls around from its other side.

Its head floats level with us. There has been no movies I have seen to compare with this head. It looks like a solid scale yet still looks leathery. I expected to see horns but there were none.

Its eyes were like looking into a deep dark pool. They were recessed a bit farther in the skull then I expected. They had a glow from deep within. I see what looks like oil or water glistening off its skin.

As it talks its scales look more like skin then scales. “Why do you hide Rock?” he asks.

“I am not hiding. I stand before you,” Rock returns.

“You hide in human skin,” he returns gruffly.

“I do not hide. It is merely due to convenience,” he returns just as gruffly.

“Call it what you may, you are hiding,” he says.

“How dare you,” Rock retorts.

I put my hand on Rocks chest, “Settle down, he is just baiting you. He's hoping for a reason to kill us,” I say.

“For a human you are observant,” Drake says.

“For a dragon you are acting more like an ass,” I say defiantly.

He pulls his head up and back, “How dare you,” he grumbles.

“I dare because you know it's true,” I say calmly.

“It may be true, but for your impudence I should kill you,” he says.

“If you wanted us dead we would be,” I say.

“Who is to say I don't, now?”

“I can't be sure, but you know as well as I do that it would be fatal in here.”

“What makes you think that?” he asks angrily.

“I may not have all of Balthazar's memory, but I do have his intuition. The cave is too small for your size since you still refuse to take on illusions. And our magic is matched. The watchers' powers are still mine. I cannot tap them consciously, but in battle they will do what is needed,” I say sternly.

He lowers his head back down. “I was in question, but you are him reborn,” he says sorrowfully.

“Why did you let him convince you to swear against oblivion?” I ask.

“How did you know he made me swear?” he asks.

“Because you are still here and miserable. No one would choose this misery,” I say.

“Very wise for human world raised. Why have you come to torment me?”

“I have no want to torment. You are still a great dragon. Your heart is not stone yet.”

“What inclines you to that assumption?” he asks.

“No assumption at all You laughed,”

“What makes you think I could laugh?”

“The land is one with you. It reacts with you. When you laugh the sand rippled it.”

A smile crosses his face, “I see by your companions expressions they missed that clue.”

“Not everyone is as unfocused as I am.”

He looks at me confused, “Human you do not make sense. Has the sun baked your brain cells?”

“Nope. focus pulls the mind and attention. If I was focused I would not have seen the ripples. My attention would be on the task at hand. Thus it means I could not be focused.”

Drake vanishes and a young man of about twenty appears before me. His hair is short and dark black. His eyes are a dark brown. He wears a black t-shirt and jeans.

“You are still disturbingly brilliant.”

“Nope just disturbing,” I say.

Drake laughs deeply. “I agreed to never seek oblivion for Elisa's sake. Why Balthazar felt I should live I do not know. I was one of the council. I'm the one who changed the curse.”

“Balthazar knew the curse was changed by the dragons.”

He looks at me shocked, “Then why did he allow it?”

“Your curse alteration is not what caused the humans to be destroyed.”

“You do not know that,” he says angrily.

“But I do. What destroyed the humans was that Vena altered, or didn't finish the curse at the last. Balthazar had set the curse to be spoken in its entirety to reduce all magic. But Vena altered it as it was being spoken. That was not anticipated by Balthazar.”

“If he knew all this why did he not stop it?” he returns angrily.

“That is what we are trying to find out. We talked to Manstorm and found out that all curses have a back door, so Balthazar could have countered it at any time. But he didn't. He allowed himself and others to die or disappear. We came here to see what you know of him and possibly help find out why he allowed it.”

“Because he hated all dragons. His vindictiveness done him in,” Drake retorts.

“If he was vindictive then why did he force you and Star to stay alive, and befriend Star. Not to mention he erased her memory so she did not grieve or regret her life?”

“What did he do to Elisa?” Drake asks shocked and confused.

“Balthazar erased her memory of being a participant in the curse. He also erased her memory of Vena. Although she did eventually remember Vena was her best friend.”

“I can see why he forced me to stay alive. He wanted me to suffer. To always know what I had done. But he loved Star as a daughter. This makes no sense.” he says. I notice that as I talk Drake is losing his superior attitude.

“Drake, why did you want the humans to lose all their magic?”

“Not all humans, just the five including Balthazar. They were getting too powerful and stuck on themselves. The dragon council feared what they would do so we agreed only to stop them.”

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“So the dragon council did not want to have all the magic?”

“What good would that do. Then we would be hounded endlessly. We just wanted to squelch the five.”

“Did you ever tell Balthazar this?”

“No he was one of the five,” Drake returns.

“So you did not know Balthazar linked with the watchers?” I ask, more and more confused.

“He what? How? When?”

“We don't know how. The watchers just told us he did, I didn't ask when.”

Before he was in the council. Butler says in my head.

“He must have did it after the curse to protect himself,” Drake spits.

“Actually before he joined the council.”

“What game are you playing human, you just said you didn't know,” he remarks with a sneer.

“I didn't know. Butler just told me.”

Drake loses all expression, “You lie.”

Tell him his name is Drako of the stars. Butler says in my head.

“You are who Star seeks, Drako of the Stars.”

“How?” he collapses to the ground and stares at his lap.

“She was with Rock that long ago. Now I'm confused how?”

“In the old days all dragons were mated at incubation. When we are of age a spell is cast on us and our destined mate. Just like humans we had to restrict our population. So only a chosen few are allowed to propagate.

Elisa and I were to be one of the lucky few. The spell cast on us allowed us to have a child. But the spell will only allow one child. It was not meant to impregnate.

I gave in one time to see her. But we never got close to each other. I thought Rock was her mates child, but when I saw him at twenty I knew he was mine. There's no way it could have happened,” he says defeated.

“So my mother is not an adulterous?” Rock asks.

“No,” Drake says angrily “Your mother is the most honorable dragon that is alive. She would never do that.”

“That is how Balthazar knew of Rock. He had to know about the coupling,” I say.

“Yes he did. He suggested our coupling. I was angry at the notion of being coupled with hierarchy. I was a commoner so I should have had a commoner wife.”

“Hierarchy? You mean Star is royalty?” I ask.

Drake gets up and looks at me seriously, “Of course, didn't she tell you?” he asks.

“No, but someone tried to,” I say stunned.

“Who?” Drake asks.

“Me master Drake” Sesney says.

“Why did she not tell them herself?” Drake asks.

“I did not know she hadn't. I used her title before I knew that she kept quiet.” Sesney returns.

“I do not understand. Why would hierarchy not announce themselves?” Drake asks confused.

“Because, she is not royalty anymore,” I say.

“How dare you,” Drake responds angrily, “She will always be hierarchy.”

“Drake, this is not ancient times any more. Things have changed. There is no hierarchy anymore.”

Drake looks at me angrily then his look softens, “What have I missed?”

“Apparently a lot,” I say, “I just don't get why he would want royalty to marry common just to have the child long after set divisions are long lost,” I say.

“He could not have known what the curse would do that long ago,” Drake says.

“I'm not so sure. He prophesied the three long before he could have known of Oaky and me. You know come to think of it how could he come to Shadow in a night walk?” I ask.

“What prophecy?” Drake asks.

I tell him the prophecy and he remains silent for several seconds then says, “There is no way he could have known a dragon was going to be gold. Even back then dragons don't always change to gold. It is very rare and there is no indication it will happen.”

“What do you mean back then? The prophecy occurred after his death,” I say.

“Night walks refer to a skill that is no longer used. It means to walk the night before. It is a technique used to send messages in time. Time is not truly linear.

Time appears linear because of how the mind works. If you learn how to perceive it as circular you can jump time in thought and send messages through dreams.” Drake says.

“So everything that Shadow got was sent while Balthazar was alive? But how? There's no way Balthazar could know of Shadow that long ago.” I say.

“That is an interesting question. The only races capable of receiving a night walk back then were humans and dragons,” Drake says.

“Could Shadow have been human in a previous life?” I ask.

“I doubt it,” Drake says, “But I can't be sure. Life after is as much a mystery to dragons as it is to humans or any other race,” he says.

“I was hoping coming here would clear some things up, but all I now have is more questions.

Balthazar sent messages to the future he couldn't have known about. Forced two dragons to stay alive to fulfill a prophecy no one can see how he knew. And didn't counter a curse that he could have, that killed many people,” I say and pause then add, “I'm beginning to think he just created a cosmic joke that could not be solved.”

“I never liked Balthazar, but one thing he was not is one to do anything without a reason, or purpose,” Drake says.

“But why such an elaborate mess?” I ask.

“The only way to find out is to solve the first puzzle,” Drake says.

“That would be the hidden city then,” I say.

“What is in Mount Poo Poo?” Drake asks.

I explain what happened in the room in the city. “Are you sure that it is another ancient that is required?” Drake asks.

“No we just figured we need four in the room from the dream I had.”

“You were there Sesney?” Drake asks.

“Yes,” Sesney answers.

“Did he do anything out of the ordinary?” Drake asks.

“Everything,” Sesney says.

“Explain,” Drake says.

“I was there when Balthazar told Dessey what to do in the room. Balthazar deliberately confused him to switch the numbers. He did that a lot to Dessey. I just thought he didn't care for Dessey.

Then there was no need to have them close their eyes. Nothing was in the room the whole time. Even the spell that was used did nothing to help the city.

I never saw where the explosion came from, but it was not in the room. It echoed throughout the whole city. He also hid even from me what he was doing in the dimensions,” Sesney says.

“So the whole scene was for this future event. Why would he need that whole scene to give a message to us?” I ask.

“Because the number of people is important, not the race,” Drake says.

“Explain please,” I say.

“There were three visible people in the room. The fourth is not, but he found it important to include a phase shifter.

I can see two reasons for that. One the phase shifter is needed to activate the message or two the phase shifter is needed for information.

That leaves the third visible participant. I find it deceptively obvious that he refers to himself and the only two living beings that were participants in the curse.”

“Why obvious?” I ask.

“Because he took me to the city. Elisa and I are the only dragons I know of that he allowed in that city.”

“Crap,” I say.

“What?” Drake asks.

“I got pissed at Rock for deceiving us so I removed all dragons from the city's records,” I say.

“That just keeps the race from using the lift. It cannot prevent anyone who has been there from seeing the city.”

“Good thing I don't think when I am angry,” I say then add, “Otherwise I would have messed everything up.”

“You can't prevent anyone from entering the city once they have been in it,” Drake says.

“How do you know?” I ask.

“Because Balthazar gave me the full tour of the place after I swore never to seek oblivion,” Drake says.

“Interesting, and you thought he only kept you alive to torment you. Why would he give you the tour and all that info. That gives you knowledge no one else has.” I say.

“I can't be the only. Star should know,” Drake says.

“If Star knew the city then why did she think she couldn't get in?” I ask.

“Drake and Balthazar were the only ones with full knowledge of the city,” Sesney says, “Well except possibly me, but I cannot interact with the city like those two can.”

“Why did he only allow me to know how the city works?” Drake asks.

“Can you work with dimensional magic?” I ask Drake.

“Yes, It is required as a council member,” he answers.

“I thought dragons considered it dangerous or something,” I say.

“Not dangerous, just overly complicated. Only high magic users even try to use it. One slip can cause a wave effect that could affect other spells in use.” Drake says.

“That would be why he showed you then. You are the only one capable of using it,” I say.

“I have been gone a long time, Why is it not used anymore? It is the most powerful of the magic types,” he says.

“Because no one is capable of casting the initiatory cast,” Sesney says.

“Why not? It is the easiest to do,” Drake says.

“I don't know,” Sesney replies, “I once watched a recent council member try it. Nothing happened.”

“How are you able to watch the council without being kicked out?” Drake asks.

“They can't see me,” Sesney replies.

“When did this happen?” Drake asks.

“I do not know your eminence, I have been away for some time,” Sesney says fearfully.

“Sesney I have not been a council member for some time,” Drake says.

“Sir you will always be the most honorable and kindest council member I know,” Sesney says with a tear in his voice.

“You flatter me Sesney, but I know you preferred Vena,” he says.

“I dealt with her more, only sir. I felt it a conflict of interest with Messa to fraternize with her enemy.”

Drake laughs, “I see your point, Messa thought I was evil incarnate.”

“Has anyone else seen the irony in this whole quest?” I ask.

Everyone looks at me dumbfounded and Drake asks, “What irony?”

“Every time we contact a new person we find that the previous assumptions have all been wrong. It seems like everyone thinks the others were the problem or that they were the problem, when in fact it was the opposite.

We start with the five humans being the problem. Then we go to all ten in the council, then back to the five, then to four and now it is down to three,” I say.

“I see part of the irony,” Drake says, "But I don't see how it is down to three.”

“Well it started with the five then it finally dawned on me that Balthazar was in the council. So that tentatively has to be reduced to four. Then we find that Vena turned at the end. That is now three.”

“Then we are down to two,” Drake says.

“How?” I ask.

“Sen is the human in the council that helped the dragons change the human side of the curse. He agreed with the dragons that the council was corrupt.”

“Make that down to one then,” Sesney says.

“Why?” Drake and I ask together.

“Messa and Mensa were secretly in love. Bensa changed his mind after the curse was originally suggested. He also tried to counter the curse.”

“Why didn't you say this earlier?” I ask.

“Didn't seem important,” Sesney replies.

“Good point. But that means the curse was messed up double,” I say then add, “Could that be where Balthazar got lost?”

“I doubt it, Balthazar told my friend that Bensa fulfilled his promise as she died,” Sesney says.

“Could Balthazar just be saying that to help Messa?” I ask.

“He could have, but she never told Balthazar that Bensa had promised to counter the curse.”

“This is even more ironic. We are down to one that wanted to be god,” I say.

“What is Balthazar playing at?” Drake asks.

“I don't know, but if I were not him I would strangle him to death,” I say.

They all laugh, “Well do I have to hog tie you, to get you up to the city?” I ask Drake.

“No, not that you could,. I am very intrigued to see the end of this puzzle,” Drake responds. “The whirlpool is gone and Butler is on his way.”

“Got any good movies to watch?” I ask.

“What is a movie?” Drake asks.

“Oh yeah back in the magic world again,” I say then add, “Can you ask butler? I'm sure he can explain it better.”

“He already has,” Drake says. “I might have to ask Elisa on a date since she is now single,” Drake says.