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But that was the real trick of it, wasn’t it? The real danger here.

Gohvis was his son.

But also not.

Not truly.

It was a game. A story they’d both agreed to tell each other, long ago.

And for his part, Dozer knew that he’d allowed himself to soften too much because of it. He’d let himself indulge in the fantasy of fatherhood, as he’d done many other times throughout his life.

Despite how much some of his followers might have protested otherwise, Dozer was under no illusion that he was some flawless being. Fatherhood had frequently been his weakness. No doubt, it stemmed from a place deep within his psyche that he would never truly be rid of.

Fostering abandoned youth. Helping the helpless to see the truth of this world.

These things, in retrospect, had always been of little practical utility to him and his empire. But so often, he couldn’t resist the allure.

And Gohvis here... was arguably the pinnacle of that weakness.

From an outside perspective, it would undoubtedly seem nonsensical. He supposed he owed the boy an explanation, at least.

“Son... the truth of the matter is that this concept of ‘trust’ you are referring to... is flawed.” Dozer scratched his brow as he eyed the lad carefully, watching his stony expression and half-expecting him to launch into an attack at any moment. “I might have outwardly ‘trusted’ Suresh, yes. I will not deny that. But you see...” He couldn’t help breaking for a brief laugh, now. “That was because I never actually liked him, son.”

Gohvis’ reptilian stare did not budge. “...What?”

Dozer shook his head, wondering if it was even possible for the boy to understand. “Trusting Suresh was easy. Trivial, even. Because I knew that doing so wouldn’t weaken me. I knew that he was a threat and that, ultimately, any ‘trust’ between us could only go so far. But with you, it is different. You are my son.”

At that, the giant black dragon man opened his mouth, but no words came out. Then he closed it again and merely looked confused.

“You,” Dozer continued slowly, “actually have the power to weaken me, if I allow it. Which is why I must not.”

Silence arrived.

Dozer waited.

Perhaps there’d been a better way to explain it, but Dozer couldn’t think of it, even as he continued to mull his words over in his mind.