"Duty goes both ways, Aleksas."
Berlal didn't call him 'Old Man' as she usually did, as she pushed herself up from the ground, actively resisting his Race Command while she spoke.
"We carried that burden longer than anyone else, longer than any dragon ever has. You speak of responsibility like we abandoned it, but you seem to forget that we were the ones who kept the race alive through the darkest ages, when every other Ancient Breed was either too young or too weak to be useful.
And stop pretending the entire race fell apart without us. We may be pillars, but we're not the only ones. The Dragon Race can endure without us. It's just a shame their Progenitor doesn't see it that way."
Aleksas was about to snap back when Barda cut in, his hands moving to block the gap quickly closing between Aleksas and Berlal.
"Did I not say we are NOT playing this blame game right now?!"
