Real Men and Real Beasts

"Welcome, my friend." Since the young red dragon Vaelastrasz was not an enemy, Rend was the first to welcome him. Though he and Vaelastrasz had not gotten along at first, over time, Rend, Vaelastrasz, the old blue dragon Azuregos, and the bronze dragon prince Anachronos had become close friends.

Thus, Rend did not want to be enemies with Vaelastrasz. Yet one was a prince of the Blue Dragonflight, while the other was a prince of the Red Dragonflight.

"Why didn't you say so earlier, my good brother? Come, let your big brother take a look. I didn't beat you up too badly, did I?" Azuregos said with a sly grin, like a weasel paying respects to a chicken.

Clearly, Azuregos had known from the beginning that Vaelastrasz was not an enemy. He had merely wanted to seize the chance to beat him up.

Vaelastrasz was so furious that it took him quite a while to force out a single word. "Scram!"

"Since you are not an enemy, I welcome you on behalf of the Blue Dragonflight. But I still have to ask: what is your purpose in coming alone to the Azure Dragonshrine at such a sensitive time?" Even if Vaelastrasz was not an enemy, he should not have come when the Red Dragonflight and Blue Dragonflight had just clashed. He must have had an essential reason.

"I came for Keristrasza. I learned that she had been captured by the Blue Dragonflight, and I hope to take her away. I promise that she will no longer participate in the Nexus War." Vaelastrasz revealed his purpose. He had come for the captured Keristrasza.

When Rend and Azuregos heard Vaelastrasz's reason, they both looked at him with admiration and the knowing smiles of men. Braving danger alone to rescue a beauty—what a