Valerian flinched when the butterfly turned to him and spoke.
"D-do I have a choice?" He asked meekly.
The butterfly remained silent, hovering in the air.
The young dragon gulped nervously. Then, he turned towards Adam with a concerned look, and couldn't help but ask, "Before that, can you… can you help my big brother? Please? I... I have gold coins... I can pay..."
Towards the end, his words trailed off into a whisper.
A moment of silence ensued before the butterfly spoke again, "Worry not, little one. Your brother will be all right."
Valerian opened his mouth to argue, but the words never came. In the end, he simply let out a quiet sigh and nodded his head.
With heavy steps, he turned and walked back into the temple, settling beside the unconscious Adam. The mystical white butterfly fluttered in after him, her wings glowing faintly as she came to rest atop a broken pillar.
