The day is young...(Rai, Elias, Faye, open)

[Kaia Galanos]

Faye gives a shrug.

"That depends on the information I could obtain beforehand. Or if I would have to do some...convincing."

She's maybe joking..?

"But for the sake of just picking, I suppose the mirror."

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

Rai would tilt his head at Faye's answer. The mirror was by far the hardest trial, but for someone like Faye... hmmm.

"Interesting. Seems all three of you are quite gifted in vary different ways. Rhona, if you would like to meet with the Gods some day, you may seek me out and I will introduce you to whomever you would like to see. Though I'll only introduce you, you'll have to earn their respect on your own."

To Elias.

"No, Mathews trial will be much harder than mine I'm sure. I and Kyir, the Shadow Dragon, went through this trial as part of our training under Mathew."

He would turn to Faye then.

"I also chose the mirror. It proved to be the most difficult, and yet most rewarding, matter of fact its because of that decision that I unlocked these."

Rai would tap the side of his head indicating his eyes. Then he would turn back to Elias.

"I'll be honest with you. When I first discovered that Leon had selected you as his apprentice I thought he had made a mistake in his old age. I assumed he was finally going senile, the old fool. But I see now that there is something about you after all. What, I'm not entirely sure, but definitely something."

[Rhona Hall]

She nodded. "I appreciate it." she was grateful for the offer. She imagines hearing the Gods call her before she goes to them. But in desperate times she might need their aid and if Rai is a foot in the door for her she won't dismiss the opportunity.

But hearing these answers; seems her star was not the only one aligned for this meeting. She thought this was a strange voluntary mission but one that reaped good insight.

[Thorn Wyatt]

"Hm."

That's all Elias has to say about Mathew's test being harder.

"I'm surprised you thought so badly of me."

No he's not.

"Though I guess it sounds like I'm not the only one who could potentially be a Dragon."

[Kaia Galanos]

Faye gives a nod of understanding.

"Unfortunate that this trial is for a different purpose."

Difficult but rewarding things were always things of worth, especially since she'd been struggling with her own....improvement. There would likely be other opportunities, however.

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

Rai just stared blankly at Elias, they both knew he was lying. Then he would nod to Rhona.

"Of course, and since you aren't participating in Dragon trials I won't try to trick into completing a task for me or anything. I only challenge those that wish to be Dragons. And of course young Elias, there are many potential candidates out there that could attempt the trials, in fact there is already one out there fighting to gain her own Dragon title right now. The thing is not many people survive the trials, and with each successful Dragon, the harder it becomes."

Rai pondered for a moment before deciding something.

"I assume all three of you have your own views and ideas of us Dragons. But I want to show you something."

With that Rai turned around and took off his shirt revealing the 15 whips scars on his back.

"To become a Dragon you have to be strong enough to complete quests and trials true. But you also have to be strong enough to endure hardships outside of quests. I recieved these from Mathew. For completing one of his trials, but I did it in a way he didn't approve of so he tied me to a post and whipped me 10 times, then he gave the whip to his wife. She wanted to hear me scream and beg so she made sure her strikes were more harsh and painful. But I didn't give her the satisfaction, because that too was a test."

Rai put his shirt back and turned around.

"Part of becoming a Dragon is learning that succeed or fail you will suffer pain. But despite this pain you get back up, and you carry on. Because defeat only happens when you refuse to get back on your feet."

[Rhona Hall]

Her gaze grew dark. Fingers covered her mouth elbow resting in her other palm, and she looked him up and down with a deep discomfort. She had a plethora of scars on her own body. But hearing this and even simply imagining the suffering brought her back to the experiments slaughtered by Mathew's hands... On Leon's orders no doubt. People looking for a better life and a cure to their sickness only to be lied to and betrayed, put to death to cover up the secrets. Bailey was stricken with grief and no doubt Rhona held her share of the blame. It was the worst victory she had ever recieved.

Raikotsu's positive outlook on these lessons went over her head. She listened and understood but she couldn't agree with such madness. She didn't say anything this round.

[Thorn Wyatt]

“I see.”

Elias looks on without judgement, sympathy, or pity. He just sees it as fact of what happened to Rai.

“Why did you become a Dragon then?”

[Kaia Galanos]

Faye watched with little emotion as well, though she cared more than she let on.

“I do not believe in the world of dragons.” Faye says simply.

If what he said was really their outlook, then she simply couldn’t relate.

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

Rai looked at Faye and shrugged.

"That is what you believe I would not change it even if I could."

Then Elias asked a good question, one that is rarely ever asked.

"Well, back then, when I was still young, Dragons were respected and seen as one of the strongest groups that not only stood against but were successfully fighting back against Barker and his horrid experiments. I looked up to Leon back then as well, he was a proud warrior that would rather walk his own path than be held down by the restrictions of our clan. Well, when I came of age and completed my Clan trial I discovered I was next in line to become the leader of our clan. But I wanted to earn that right, not inherit it. So I choose to pursue the trials of becoming a Dragon, to become a legend and symbol of strength so that I would be worthy to lead my Clan down the right path when the time comes for me to Lead them."

Rai would smile as he reminisced.

"Though... I ended up learning a new path during that journey. I learned to grow strong for myself. To have self worth and see myself as an individual and not as a cog in a machine. I learned that I have to be strong enough to stand against the tide on my own if I wanted to have other stand with me."

[Rhona Hall]

"And that makes genocide and torture okay?" Those were her immediate thoughts of which she glad were not voiced for She doesn't quite mean them.

She had started walking once more after the images faded from their path.

Taking a deep breath... She quickly realized she was taking this too personally. It wasn't like the Dragon's murdered her parents and while they did commit mass genocide on helpless experiments. She wouldn't hold Rai to blame when he wasnt even apart of it. The thought never crossed her mind.

More so it wasn't like the gods were clean of the blood they shed or wrongs committed. In short she just didn't agree with that one incident, doesn't agree with the scars across Rai's back, and on a greater scale, cant agree with anyone saying there wasn't a better way when no one tried.

She wants to try thats all.

While that being said she didn't think less of Rai. Nor did she not believe he gained more by enduring his flesh ripped off his bones at the crack of a whip. She could see some pride and respect in his journey as long as it got him where he wanted to go.

So to Rai she would simply say. "I'd say you earned it. You've got my vote." she would grin.

[Thorn Wyatt]

"So you don't run your clan, after all of that."

Elias tilts his head.

"...how strange."

[Kaia Galanos]

"Mm." Faye nods. Who knows to what part.

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

Rai would follow after Rhona.

"While I appreciate the thought, I disagree. I think I have a lot more learning and growing to do before I am ready to lead. In fact, I might find that leading the clan is not the path I should follow. If that is the case I will pass it on down to someone I think is more worthy of such a position."

Then he would look to Elias.

"Why do you think it strange?"

[Rhona Hall]

She actually had no part in this she would just focus her job and keep going to Cabal