>>5301283>>5301157>>5301116>>5301083>>5301075>>5301074>>5300877>>5300868>>5300864>>5300852You shake your head in disagreement. You know well that that you have no more dragon-blood in your veins than the Bastard does. However, you look at the rest of your retinue, and see that virtually all of them understand the world in the same way the Bastard does—in the same way YOU did, until very recently, and still do on some level. Blood IS truth, or at least a foundation upon which the true self can be built. You were shaped from stranger clay than they all know, but would you breathe fire at all, or be able to master ANY magic, if you were not dragon-kin on some level. Instead, you just say:
“You have the blood of a Dragon King, the king of the very Blooodrise Mountains which we now trek beneath, in you. THAT is truth, however you came to have it. Take solace in that, and let it motivate you to keep striving.”
“…Yes, Dragonborn.”
The Bastard verbally agrees with you, and bows his head respectfully, but you can tell from his posture that he does not believe it. None of the others do, either, save perhaps for the Novice, and maybe Glowie—who KNOWS what she believes of such things? Even Paeris inherently understands the inferiority of his Degenerate nature, and thus the similar-but-distinct inferiority which must com with being a casteless hybrid.
And… Your own inferiority, if you were to reveal your true nature.
No, it is better you say nothing. The Novice nods , as if to agree with you in yoru decision to stay silent on this matter.
A short while later, you and your retinue pack up and begin moving again.
