thefictionvixens Page 189
Page 189
Brandon then put his sword to the test: "Show me your swordsmanship, and let me see if you are worthy to fight alongside a dragon."
One of the middle-aged golden-scaled dragon paladins, named Leon, stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and spoke respectfully but not servilely: "Lord Brandon, I am Leon Starshine, a paladin of Bahamut. I studied a commentary version of the Ptarian Code in Deepwater Territory. I am well aware of the golden dragons' pursuit of wisdom and justice, and I am willing to fight alongside you with my knowledge and conviction."
Brandon looked down at him, a hint of interest flashing in his golden, vertical pupils: "Oh? You've read the commentary on the code? Then tell me, how do you choose between justice and wisdom when faced with a moral dilemma?"
Leon remained calm and composed, speaking eloquently: "Justice is the standard of conduct, and wisdom is the cornerstone of decision-making. When the two conflict, wisdom should guide us to find a balance in justice. For example, between saving the innocent and punishing the guilty, if the innocent would suffer as a result of punishment, wisdom would lead us to postpone punishment and prioritize the protection of the innocent."
Brandon nodded slightly, his tail swaying gently. "Interesting. Now, if you were faced with an evil red dragon that claimed it was willing to reform, what would you do?"
Leon pondered for a moment, then replied, "I will observe its actions, not believe its words. The chromatic dragon is cunning by nature. If it truly repents, I will guide it onto the right path with the code of law; if it is hypocritical, I will not hesitate to eliminate it to prevent further harm."
Tamarand approached, its voice deep and resonant: "Lion Starshine, your answer demonstrates a rare balance. But I wonder, are you willing to sacrifice your life to protect others?"
Leon answered without hesitation, "If my death can save the innocent, I am willing to give my life without hesitation. This is the oath of every paladin, and it is also the belief in my heart."
"Then, what if you need to give up your personal glory and status to complete the mission?" Tamarand continued to ask.
"Glory and status are illusions; only justice is eternal. I am willing to give up all personal interests, as long as it makes the world a better place."
Tamarand gave Leon a deep look, then turned to Brandon: "This paladin's character is trustworthy. Brandon, I think you could consider forming a partnership with him."
Brandon's attitude softened noticeably upon hearing the Crown Prince's suggestion: "Since His Majesty Tamarand has said so, I'm willing to give you a chance. But empty talk is useless. Tomorrow morning, I will set up a deeper test outside the city, simulating a moral dilemma. If you can pass it, I will formally sign a contract with you."
Leon bowed, his eyes resolute: "I look forward to your test."
Similar scenes were playing out around the other golden dragons. Tamarand, the crown prince, skillfully navigated between the various trials, occasionally offering sound "advice," but in reality, he was subtly influencing the dragons' choices by leveraging his position and influence within the dragon harem. He would tell a hesitant young dragon, "Wisdom lies not in setting the most demanding tests, but in recognizing true character." He would also tell another dragon, "We seek partners, not servants. Equal cooperation is the key to maximizing power."
It wasn't that none of the Golden Dragon Lords noticed their Crown Prince's strange behavior, but they didn't stop him. As elders among the Golden Dragons, they all gave Tamarand ample respect, and in hindsight, these adjustments did indeed allow more outstanding paladins to pass the test.
A young golden dragon named Eric was still hesitating about whether to accept a paladin when Tamarand approached him and whispered, "Eric, I can see you admire this paladin's character. So what's there to hesitate about? Times are changing, and we need to adapt to new challenges. The era of fighting alone is over."
After listening to the Crown Prince's advice, Eric finally made up his mind: "You are right, Your Majesty Tamerland." He turned to the paladin, "I am willing to try cooperating with you."
Under Tamarand's continued influence, the trials for the golden dragons, while still rigorous, became noticeably more practical and benign. Ultimately, with the exception of a few of the most traditional and conservative ancient golden dragons, most chose to form partnerships with the paladins.
Casalos watched this scene from afar, inwardly grumbling: "Golden Dragons are such a troublesome bunch, insisting on this philosophical discussion, making it sound like a company interview." However, Tamaland didn't disappoint, preserving the Golden Dragons' face while achieving his own goal—voters are voters, their political maneuvering is indeed skillful.
57. The situation is very good.
On the other side of Casalos, Uriel and several bronze dragons huddled in a corner of the plaza, their human forms staring down at the ground as if they wished they could bury themselves in the earth. A group of bronze-scaled dragonborn paladins cautiously approached, led by a dragonborn female paladin named Irene. She had bronze scales that shimmered with golden light and dragon wings on her back, clearly a "Winged Phase" dragonborn.
Surprisingly, the team also included a Goldscaled Dragonborn and a Silverscaled Dragonborn—a rarity among paladin teams that interact with Bronze Dragons. However, the Bronze Dragons' inclusiveness made them willing to accept these "cross-border" compatriots.
Even more striking was the presence of Agatha. This tungsten dragon paladin was dressed in the robes of the Bronze Dragon Knights of Imptu. Her arrival instantly drew the attention of the bronze dragons.
"My lords, Bronze Dragons," Agatha's voice was firm yet gentle, "I am Agatha, the temporary partner of the current Grand Master of the Bronze Dragon Knights of Imptu. I would like to share some practical experience in our cooperation."
Uriel looked up, curiosity flashing in his eyes: "The Bronze Dragon Knights of Imputu?"
"Exactly." Agatha nodded. "Lanrim's original companion was named Quel'Sanders, who was controlled by Samaster and nearly caused the annihilation of the entire royal army. It was Lanrim who saved Quel'Sanders's dragon soul from Samaster's curse and personally sent it to the other side... Later, I accepted his invitation to become his new battle partner as a tungsten dragon. Now there are twenty-six bronze dragon knights here, each pair of partners proven in battle. Their stories may serve as a useful reference for you all."
The experienced paladin sensed the bronze dragon's social anxiety. Instead of approaching directly, he stood at a distance and began discussing the recent battles with his companions: "Lord Vicariturar's deployment on the northern frontier is truly brilliant. Utilizing the terrain's advantages, he has held back the undead army with a small force..."
Sure enough, Uriel's ears perked up.
The old paladin continued, "Especially that ambush, luring the enemy deep into the valley and then using the canyon terrain to encircle and annihilate them—it was a textbook tactic."
"That's nothing," Uriel finally couldn't help but speak, his social anxiety instantly dissipating by half. "The truly ingenious part is the subsequent pursuit. What appears to be a retreat is actually a ploy to lure the enemy into a pre-set trap..."
Eileen interjected at the opportune moment: "Lord Uriel, I am Eileen Thunder, and I have participated in several battles against the Vasa demon army and the undead legion. I would like to ask you for advice on how to set up defensive lines in complex terrain."
Surprise flashed in Uriel's eyes: "You... have a defensive strategy against demons? Then tell me, when facing demons like Soul Reapers that possess the aura of fear, how do you use terrain advantages to weaken their mental attacks?"
Eileen smiled slightly, clearly prepared: "The demons' aura of fear doesn't cover as wide an area as the dragons' terrifying majesty; it relies on both visual and mental targeting. In defensive battles, you can use terrain and obstacles to create blind spots, while simultaneously disrupting their formation with ambushes. Valleys and fog can generally achieve a similar effect."
Uriel's eyes lit up: "That makes sense! But you missed one point. The barrier of a high-level demon can withstand most attacks from sharp weapons, so we still need... uh, never mind, let's go over there and discuss the specific tactics." He pointed to a quiet corner at the edge of the plaza and quickly led Eileen there, followed by several equally interested bronze dragons. (The last two lines appear to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated text.)
Agatha watched this scene and nodded in satisfaction. She turned to the other bronze dragons who were still hesitating: "Gentlemen, bronze dragons are born to be the best warriors and strategists. Cooperating with paladins will not only allow you to leverage your strengths but also make the battle more efficient. The twenty-six dragon riders of Imbutu have already proven this."
Casalos's tail wagged even higher: Tsk, bronze dragons really are war maniacs. They get all fired up the moment war is mentioned, even forgetting their social anxieties. Gaelos's move was spot on. Sending a few dragonborn with military expertise, plus Agatha's personal testimony, and these bronze dragons will probably be scrambling for dragon riders in no time.
Brass dragons weren't nearly as particular as gold and bronze dragons. A group of talkative dragons surrounded several hundred paladins, their mouths chattering non-stop. These paladins were almost all descendants of brass-scaled dragons, inheriting their curious nature and talkativeness, perfectly suited to keep up with their chatter. The leading brass dragon, named Salomes, was speaking at length to a young brass-scaled dragon paladin named Thomas:
"Wait, wait, wait! Where are you all from? How many people are in your family? What do you usually eat? How long have you been a Bahamut believer? Why do you want to be a dragon rider? Do you have a lover? What's your favorite color?"
Thomas was a little overwhelmed by the barrage of questions, but he still patiently answered, "Uh... it's just me and my mom in my family. My dad died in the war a long time ago. I come from a small town north of Damara, and we usually eat bread and..."
"Bread? Just bread? That's so boring!" Salomes interrupted him, flapping his wings so hard he almost overturned the table next to him. "Do you have any specialties here? Want to try scorpions? I love desert scorpions, especially that poisonous stinger... By the way, what does your mother do? What does she do all day? Do you paladins have to pray every day?"
Thomas blushed, but his excitement was palpable: "My mom's a seamstress, and we wear ceremonial robes when we pray..."
And so, the brass dragons began their favorite activity—endless chatting. Each brass dragon was surrounded by a circle of brass-scaled dragonborn paladins, all sharing a similar curiosity and desire to express themselves. Topics ranged from mundane family matters to philosophical debates, from culinary culture to romantic experiences—they could practically dig up every detail of a person's ancestry. If Thomas, this brass-scaled paladin, chatted for another half hour, he'd probably even find out what his dog's name was. But once you get into a conversation with a brass dragon, things become easy; he quickly became familiar with Salomes.
The area around the copper dragon Chaturio was as lively as a circus. It stood in the center of the plaza, wings outstretched, tail swishing, surrounded by nine paladins. Interestingly, these paladins weren't all copper-scaled dragonborn—besides six with copper scales who inherited their mischievous nature, there were two brass-scaled dragonborn and a young human paladin. Clearly, only the naturally lively and adventurous dared to approach these "mischievous dragons." Chaturio was enthusiastically playing a prank—it secretly drew a magic circle on the ground with the tip of its tail, pretending it was a trigger trap, which resulted in a human paladin named Karl stepping on it and being blasted in a harmless cloud of colorful smoke, leaving his face covered in a patch of grime.
"Hahaha, look at your face, it's like a color palette!" Chaturio laughed so hard he rolled on the ground. "Come on, try this!" He pulled out a stone engraved with runes and handed it to Karl: "Press it, I guarantee you'll be surprised!"
A young paladin of the Copper Scales, Ron, mustered his courage and stepped forward: "Your Excellency, the Copper Scales Dragonkin, my name is Ron. Although I am a paladin, I believe laughter is also part of justice. I know many jokes, and... I have also played some harmless pranks during training."
"Really?" Chaturio's eyes lit up. "Then tell me, what pranks have you played?"
Ron was a little nervous, but he still spoke up: "Once, I put soap bubbles in a bucket of water on the training field, and when the instructor was fetching water..."
"Hahaha! Interesting! But that's too childish. I'll teach you what a real prank is!" Chaturio laughed, then suddenly leaped into the air, spinning Karl around in the square, startling him into screaming. The surrounding paladins and dragons looked up, letting out gasps and laughter.
Seeing this, the other bronze dragons joined in. Soon, the bronze dragons and the group of dragonborn paladins, who shared a talent for pranks, were engaged in a lively discussion, first exploring various possible pranks, then putting them into practice, creating a chaotic and noisy atmosphere. The brass-scaled dragonborn were not to be outdone, sharing the "prank techniques" they had learned from the brass dragons, making the atmosphere even more "lively," to the point that even the brass dragons kept their distance.
Casalos watched this scene and felt a pang of pain in his teeth: these idiots can't even hold back for three seconds, who knows what will happen if they really start fighting.
The silver dragons were much more harmonious; their attitude was completely different from the other metal dragons. Silver dragons never minded being ridden; in every sense of the word… in their eyes, kind humans were like good cats—the kind you could pet and cuddle with, and that was incredibly satisfying. And the Silverscaled Dragonborn Paladins were more like adorable juniors to them, naturally deserving of protection and care. Even though the Claws of Justice had stricter self-discipline, it couldn't change the silver dragons' nature.
Hevilan and Gerlesk almost immediately walked towards the Silverscale Dragonborn team, while Azak, the Claw of Justice's second wing, nodded frequently, clearly very supportive of this cooperation.
“Our ideals are aligned,” Gerlesk said to the Silverscaled Dragonborn around him. “The Claw of Justice and the doctrines of Bahamut almost completely overlap. More importantly, my collaboration with Galos has proven the value of a dragon knight partnership.”
Geros appeared at the opportune moment, drawing respectful glances from all the silver dragons: "My lords, in these years fighting alongside Jelllesk, we have shared countless battles. I can assure you, the right partnership only makes both sides stronger."
In this atmosphere, the pairing of the silver dragon and the silver-scaled dragonborn paladin was almost a natural progression and didn't deserve much attention.
Casalos surveyed the plaza with satisfaction; the interactions between dragons and paladins were in full swing. As the sun set, pairings were largely complete, with approximately sixty dragons choosing to cooperate with the dragonborn paladins. This included all the silver dragons, most of the young gold dragons, half of the bronze dragons, and the unexpectedly enthusiastic bronze dragons. The brass dragons were still hesitant, mainly because they were getting along very well with each of the brass-scaled dragonborn, and it would probably take several more days—if time weren't so pressing, they could probably talk for months…
However, whether one directly believes in Bahamut or signs a contract with Bahamut's dragon knight, it can only be considered the first layer of protection. This cannot guarantee safety. There are still many measures to be implemented.
It raised its head, and the quiet, tumor-like power of fate, along with the calming aura of Chronips and the slowly rising light of Suren, gently enveloped the entire plaza. All the dragons felt that calming power, and even the most restless bronze and brass dragons quieted down one after another.
"The rumors are true; you received the blessing of the Dragon God of Destiny." Tamaland's tone was full of surprise.
"The Calming Aura can effectively suppress the current dragon frenzy. Once the battle begins, as long as you don't stray too far from me, you can remain clear-headed and rational. This is my second layer of protection... As for the third layer, that requires training." Casalos's voice deepened. "Dragon frenzy is unpredictable; dragons will inevitably lose control and fall into dragon rage. How can we ensure that an out-of-control dragon doesn't harm its companions? Can we redirect its destructive power towards the enemy...?"
It paused, then continued, "I have a plan: dive bombing! The main fighting force of the Dragon Cult consists of dragon liches and those purple-robed wizards. Due to their physical structure, dragon liches fly much slower and lower than we do now. High-speed dives to unleash magic and breath attacks will ensure efficient offense, significantly reducing our vulnerability. Even if we become enraged during the approach, the inertia will cause the out-of-control dragons to crash directly into the enemy ranks. The conscious dragons can pull up in time to avoid it, but as for the out-of-control ones… well, good luck."
Klaus, Amuris, and Elvia had remained silent throughout, their wicked nature making it impossible for them to accept the paladins. Now, finally finding an excuse to speak, Klaus let out a hoarse laugh: "Sacrificing a runaway dragon to gain losses for the enemy, how cruel, you iron dragon brat."
"War is never without its cruelties." Casalos patted the ground lightly with his tail. "Rather than letting runaway dragons wreak havoc among our own forces, let them crash into the Dragon Cult's ranks. At least we can take a few more down with us—compared to metal dragons, you colorful lizards are far more susceptible to dragon wrath. Since you're getting involved, you'd better think about yourselves."
Despite saying that, Casalos wasn't worried at all—Klaus was his clone, and he had his own way of helping the Blue Dragon and White Dragon deal with the Dragon Frenzy.
Upon hearing this, the red dragon glanced disdainfully at the busy paladins, its tail swishing impatiently as if it were genuinely considering a countermeasure.
58. There will always be a straight man/woman.
Casaloz's teenage age meant he didn't have much of a voice in traditional dragon society, but the vast wealth of Deepwater Territory and his strength comparable to that of the Primal Dragons earned him respect. Even so, it was still unlikely that a proud Primal Gold Dragon would willingly accept training from a "young" Iron Dragon.
Even if they could persuade Haivilan and Delacor to train those golden dragon lords, it wouldn't be very effective.
Fortunately, there's someone here who can make those golden dragon lords obedient, and this guy is easy for Casalos to win over, all he needs to do is...
At the public invitation of King Gaelos Dragon Nightmare of Damara, the Supreme Dragon, disguised as a heavily armored warrior, and the Crown Prince of the Golden Dragon Court were able to meet privately in the palace, undisturbed by any dragons and with no onlookers—Gaelos, being tactful, dismissed all his servants, then toasted the two "Dragon Lords" before making his escape.
"Lord Casaloz, what is the meaning of this?"
Perhaps out of interest in the image of the Dragonborn, or perhaps simply out of respect for her own divine creation, Tamarand chose to attend the banquet in the form of a Dragonborn with golden scales and wings.
Casalos, too lazy to engage in any roundabout tactics with this difficult-to-define golden dragon, chose to get straight to the point: "Lord Tamarand, I know your secret."
The Golden-Scaled Dragonborn was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained his composure: "What is Lord Casaloz referring to?"
"A chosen one of Bahamut," Casalos said casually, watching the other's scales tremble slightly. "Don't be nervous, I have no intention of threatening you. I am a chosen one of the Fate Dragon God Kuronyps; we share similar identities. The Fate Dragon God is not an enemy god of Bahamut, therefore we have ample grounds for cooperation. Simply put, I want to make a deal with you."
Tamarand paused for a moment, then said, "Tell me."
"I will help you lead the Vanir dragons, not just those currently willing to participate in the Dragon Frenzy, but also those hiding throughout Faerûn, those sheltered within the barrier, to worship Bahamut; including the Aether dragons who follow me, who are also willing to become followers of the Platinum Dragon God." Casalos produced a thick manual. "In exchange, you must persuade the Gold Dragon Lords of the Gold Dragon Court to accept new tactical training. This is the complete technical data; you will be responsible for teaching them."
Tamarand opened the manual titled "Energy Maneuver Warfare Theory," glancing over it briefly. The relationship between high and low speed envelopes, energy angles, and instantaneous turning rates—these novel concepts challenged Tamarand's traditional thinking. The instinct to soar through the skies for thousands of years, along with the innate mechanical power of the Golden Dragon, had already shown it how these things meant for the dragon's aerial combat.
"Why are you looking for me?" Tamarand asked, looking up.
"Because within the Golden Dragon Court, only you understand the value of these tactics, and only you have sufficient influence." Casalos looked directly at him. "The threat of Samaster is imminent; we need every ounce of our strength."
Tamarand pondered for a long time before finally nodding: "Deal. But I need time to convince those old fogies."
"We don't have much time. Training starts tomorrow. I believe you'll find a way." Casalos got up and left...
The following morning, looking at the dragons on the training field, Casalos knew that Tamarand had kept his promise. Although several ancient golden dragons from the Golden Dragon Royal Court stood far behind the golden dragon ranks without any intention of interfering, at least they had come.
The golden dragon of the Dracol family, Vera Marandes, and the silver dragons of the Silver Wing and Claws of Justice were all present, which meant that the good trust relationship Casalos had previously established with them had come to fruition.
While the Bronze Dragons are socially awkward, they are even more unwilling to miss out on any knowledge related to war.
As for the bronze dragon and the brass dragon... how could they possibly be absent from such a lively event? You Lin, I'm currently busy...
The three disdainful colored dragons also arrived. After all, the blue and white dragons had come with Klaus, and since Klaus was interested, they would inevitably accompany him. Although metal dragons generally wouldn't break their promises, this wretched place was full of hateful paladins who disliked evil forces. If anyone got separated from the group and was surrounded and torn to pieces by a bunch of paladins with metal dragon scales, they would have no way to complain...
"Fellow descendants of the Metal Scales," Casalos proclaimed, his tone far more serious than usual, "we are about to face the undead dragon legions of Samaster and the Cult of Dragons—dragons' traditional tactics and methods stem from their hunting instincts; we are accustomed to fighting individually, relying on our powerful bodies, using our claws and fangs to wrestle. However, the Cult of Dragons has studied us for millennia; those undead dragons are transformed from us. They possess physical strength no less than ours, yet are highly organized, and know all our weaknesses!"
More importantly, the ever-increasing Dragon Madness Curse, which constantly affects our Dragon Soul, has absolutely no effect on those immortal dragons!
Clearly, the fighting instincts and fighting awareness that we have been accustomed to and relied on for tens of thousands of years have become a thing of the past in the war that is about to break out.
Now, I will introduce you to a completely new tactical approach…
The scene erupted in uproar as Casalos resonated with the four elements, unleashing a long, resounding dragon roar that echoed for tens of kilometers.
"Quiet. I know what questions and disdain you hold in your hearts. But before that, let me ask you a question." Iron Dragon summoned the wind, spreading its wings to cleave through the oncoming airflow. As if casting a flight spell, it floated lightly off the ground and hovered steadily in mid-air: "Can any of you go back to the past, like a bird flapping its wings, struggling against the wind with all its might, supporting its heavy body, and slowly flying through the sky?"
Although the dragons were confused, none of them were willing.
"Do you all know where the method of completely stabilizing biplane flight used by the Scaled Clan today comes from?"
Hevilan responded first: "Lord Casaloz, we Silver Dragons began studying your theories on fixed-wing flight ten years ago. It has proven that embracing new knowledge has greatly benefited us."
"That's right," the other silver dragon added, "the wind tells us that this way of flying is more in harmony with nature."
The silver dragon did not directly answer Casalos's question, but it undoubtedly announced the answer to the dragons.
“Indeed, the dragons I know all know that I spread the knowledge of fixed-wing flight…” Casalos landed steadily back on the ground: “But do you know where this knowledge of flight comes from?”
Before any of the dragons could react, Casaloz answered his own question: "You all already know that I am the chosen one of the Dragon God of Destiny!"
The dragons suddenly realized.
"However, the Dragon God of Destiny is merely an absolutely neutral observer."
Several brass dragons had their tails knotted, while the bronze dragons were leaning to one side and to the other.
"Those who are closer to me may know that, in addition to being chosen by the Dragon God of Destiny, I am also the magic mentor of Isis, one of the Twin Goddesses, during her mortal period, as the new Goddess of Magic of Faerûn. I am also one of the chosen ones of the Goddess of Magic."
The dragons erupted in uproar once again.
"That's right, this fixed-wing flight method was created by the goddess of magic for dragons!" Casalos wasn't lying, and even the gods couldn't find fault with it. He simply omitted Isis's motivation and the time she spent researching aerodynamics: "And what I want to share with you next is the accompanying tactics and strategies—energy aerial combat!"
What could be more effective at fooling a proud dragon than by invoking the banner of the gods?
Now, even the golden dragon lords entrenched in the rear began to move their facial tentacles in a subtle, intriguing gesture.
Meanwhile, Tamarand, who had made a deal with Casaloz, also stepped into her role as the straight man—or perhaps a test for the Golden Dragons: "Lord Casaloz had already had in-depth exchanges with me before, and the opportunity showed me the great significance of the new tactics and strategies for the Scaled Race."
As far as I know, Lord Casaloz has compiled his new tactics and strategies, which he wishes to disseminate, into a theoretical guide. The manual has now been sent to the Temple of the God of Knowledge, where his followers are extensively copying it using dragon language. It will soon be delivered to you all… I think what you all, like me, are most eager to see is how these theories will actually play a role in combat. Would Lord Casaloz be willing to personally demonstrate it to us?
“Of course.” Casalos wagged his tail. “Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth… So, esteemed dragon lords, who is willing to condescend to play the role of my opposing wing and engage me in a purely aerial combat cover?”
No ancient golden dragon responded; they would never respond to such a thing. An ancient golden dragon occupying the highest peak of the pyramids of Faerûn, fighting an aerial battle against a teenage iron dragon? Even if this iron dragon bore the name Garugosingo, even if it was rumored to possess power no less than that of an ancient dragon, the ancient golden dragon's victory would be a foregone conclusion, while its loss would be a humiliating defeat…
Dracol and Vera Marandes had witnessed firsthand how Casalos smashed the Terasque beast to pieces, so they were unwilling to be the target.
Hevilan didn't care about losing face, but she couldn't bring herself to bully the weak. As for the other subspecies of metal dragons, even Uriel, who was nominally acting as the temporary leader of the bronze dragons, was still not qualified to be Casalos's counterpart.
Just as things were about to fall flat, a certain stubborn old silver dragon who had long disliked Casalos but had been unable to find fault with him for various reasons finally seized this rare opportunity.
"I'll fight you!" Azak, the second wing of the Claw of Justice and the second most powerful silver dragon paladin on the continent of Faerûn, arched his back, stood up with his scales erect, and folded his tail into an "n" shape, leaping in front of Casalos like a large silver cat.
"Then come on."
Casalos chuckled, spread his wings and soared into the sky, the silver dragon following closely behind... Five minutes later, the ancient silver dragon landed on the ground dejectedly, no longer making eye contact with Casalos.