Matt
I was a bit shocked to see the dragon lower its head and not even fight anymore. It sighed.
“It seems you have turned my people against me.”
Lia exhaled slowly, her gaze steady. “No, what I did was try to stop you from killing them by reaching out to them specifically. I was hopeful that they would listen to reason if they knew the truth, and the fact is that they do understand it. You should allow them to choose their path. Isn’t that the point of free will?”
The dragon’s golden eyes darkened with something unreadable. “Free will,” it murmured. “A gift and a curse.”
Lia frowned. “Why do you say that?”
“Because with free will comes division. Choices lead to conflict, to betrayal, to suffering.” The dragon’s voice was low, rough with age and wisdom. “When my kind ruled, there was
