Chapter 77 Southern Ties
Inside the Dragon's Lair, Brian glanced at Luna.
She wore an apologetic expression and explained. "This Dragon's Lair feels a bit cramped to me, so I'll stay in human form."
Despite Luna's apparent superiority in strength, but she seemed oblivious to it, displaying a friendly, approachable demeanor rather than arrogance.
Brian shook his head nonchalantly. "It's fine."
All dragons were proud, silver dragons included.
But silver dragon pride manifests differently.
For instance, a red dragon's arrogance was overt and domineering, demanding submission and tribute.
Conversely, silver dragons considered themselves so superior that they fear harming others' self-esteem. Hence, they adopted a courteous and friendly demeanor, often morphing to avoid causing environmental damage with their massive forms.
Thus, Luna's humility was also a form of pride.
She believed herself superior to Brian, maintaining a kind, considerate attitude to preserve his dignity.
Brian suspected her choice to stay in human form was partly to honor his feelings, because Luna's size was twice as large as his.
'I am a Time Dragon...'
Brian remained silent.
He said, "You may call me Brian."
After a brief pause, Brian asked directly, "Are you here for Morton's descendants?"
Luna nodded, sitting elegantly on an ice crystal, saying, "Yes, but not entirely."
After some hesitation, she added, "I'm here for Morton's relics—his Red Flame Staff and Research Notes."
To preclude misunderstanding, she elaborated, "They are rightfully yours now, so I wish to trade for them with items of equal value."
Brian scrutinized her expressions, probing, "What was your relationship with Morton? Are his relics very important to you?"
Luna fell silent for a moment, then replied awkwardly, "When I first explored human lands upon coming of age, I met Morton. He was a human friend who assisted me greatly."
"Now that Morton's gone, his descendants sought me out. I can't ignore them and will care for them until adulthood."
"His grandson shows promise in evocation spells, but I lack expertise in that area, thus desiring Morton's Red Flame Staff and notes to better instruct him."
It sounded fine.
But Luna's tense tone, hesitant pauses, and furrowed brow suggested dishonesty.
Brian stared at her knowingly and said, "I don't believe you."
Luna's lips parted slightly, her face flushed, voice stuttered, and expression awkward.
Brian patiently awaited her response.
Her odd demeanor lasted several minutes until, with a lengthy sigh, she recovered her poise and gently smiled at Brian. "I'm bad at lying, forgive me."
Brian was speechless.
So, her odd conduct stemmed from lying, astonishing yet baffling to Brian.
"Then tell me the true reason you need these items."
Brian demanded.
Upon acquiring the Red Flame Staff and those notes, he'd studied them extensively.
Initially, he noticed nothing unusual, but repeated use of the Red Flame Staff revealed a faint connection to somewhere far south.
This connection, though weak, was undeniable.
As for the notes, they seemed ordinary.
After a lengthy inner struggle, Luna avoided clarifying, saying, "Sorry, but I can't tell you."
She said sincerely, "Believe me, neither the Red Flame Staff nor Morton's notes hold value for you."
Brian chuckled and retorted, "Why is that?"
Luna gazed at him intently. "You appear to be a white dragon, yet you seem different, lacking their aggressive, evil nature. But still, a white dragon, right?"
Brian calmly nodded. "You are right."
While he mostly resembled a white dragon, he was distinctly more majestic, appealing even to dragon standards.
"The Red Flame Staff amplifies fire spells, and Morton's notes mainly explore fireball techniques. As a white dragon, why would you need these?"
White dragons typically despise flames.
Brian, fundamentally a Time Dragon, welcomes all elemental energies impartially.
All elements were his assistance.
To Luna's query, Brian provided a practical demonstration.
Chanting a spell, he conjured fire elements, forming a pea-sized fireball suspended before him.
"Though a white dragon, I'm not ordinary."
"To me, fire elements hold no distinction from others."
"Contrary to your belief, I cherish the Red Flame Staff and find Morton's notes immensely beneficial."
Luna's eyes widened in disbelief for several seconds before slowly calming down.
A young white dragon mastered fireball spells self-taught? Unprecedented.
Luna struggled to comprehend this.
Observing Brian's adept spellcasting, she now suspected he had mastered even higher-level spells.
Simultaneously, Brian appeared increasingly enigmatic in Luna's eyes.
"Whether the Red Flame Staff or the notes, I won't part with them."
"If there's nothing else, please leave."
Brian issued his directive, his gaze narrowed, as his Time Magic had prepared for combat.
Luna stood within his sixty feet range. And transforming from human to dragon form took time—if necessary, facing hostile intent, Brian would invoke Time Stop followed by the Seven-Ring Scroll.
This wouldn't kill but could grievously wound and repel her.
Such an outcome invited significant repercussions, likely retaliation from multiple silver dragons.
Gentle didn't mean weak for metallic dragons.
Under Brian's gaze, Luna appeared dejected. "Alright, I understand."
Brian inwardly sighed, appreciating Luna's unwavering benevolence despite repeated refusals.
If all beings shared such temperament, many conflicts and casualties would be averted.
"Please leave."
Brian reiterated his directive.
He wasn't keen on prolonged interaction with an adult silver dragon, even a beautiful female one.
In Brian's eyes, Luna's shining silver scales and colossal elegant dragon form were alluring, stirring faint affection.
Yet such feelings were too subtle for action.
When searching for a mate, he'd prefer someone of equal standing.
