Ageranu, and whomsoever else sees fit to read this,

The Dragons betrayed Manoa, as did their leadership. Their crime was
two-fold. They turned away from the guild, and they turned away from the
path of righteousness. For the first, forgiveness can be sought; the
second is a heresy so terrible no punishment can be sufficient. To have
the light, to understand it, and yet to discard it so freely -- this is
one of the most crass crimes that can be.

A moment of laxity upon the path of righteousness claimed the leadership
of the Dragons, and many thereafter still followed -- a moment of laxity
from which has spawned a lifetime of heresy, revelling in the corruption
that is magic. You would say "they are not Dragons" and yet I ask "who
then is? The lone handful that remain?" The problem with having an open
mind is that there are far, far too many in this world who would fill it
with utter garbage.

Perhaps you think the faith of the zealots that tread today something of
sin, or somehow misguided. You would be wrong. It may have been a time
since I was Kunteki of Manoa, but I have seen the fruits of courage and
faith. It can make virtuous out of even inexperience. I have watched
students who have achieved great things -- not because of their guild,
nor their skills, alone, but because their faith was infinite, and they
were too inexperienced to realise their goal would be deemed impossible.

Now say you I imagine that I think redemption is impossible, yet this is
also untrue. But I say thus: "The Dragon's flight is in itself
sufficient reason to presume the guilt of their acts. And by shortening
their lives, I am saving you from committing more sins, and thus
receiving harsher punishment. But if you are truly innocent, then accept
your fate with resignation ... and thank me for handing you a martyr's
crown."

That is all I have to say upon the matter.

- Rudha V. Starfire

Penned by my hand on the 17th of Artificium, in the year 533 AD.