Staying With You

"That's just..."

"Harsh, I know... Well, that's what you get for challenging the authority of heaven."

"..."

Elric went for a momentary silence before he started talking again,

"Considering you are already 159 years old does that mean ..."

"I have already overcome my first tribulation. This is my test for the second level of Tribulation of Light which has double the lightning number and power from my first tribulation. I am one of the young Dragons who qualified for the second level of tribulation before even reaching 300 years old. If I can survive this final strike, I can finally evolve to my mature stage and expand my lifespan up to 500."

A hint of pride appeared in the girl's stance.

"I see. By the way, I have been talking to you for quite some time now. May I know your name?" Asked Elric.

"Knowing my name is pointless if you don't leave now. You will end up dead anyway..."

Elric gave the woman a curious look. She seems to be determined to face the incoming lightning.

"Sigh..."

Elric decided to stay beside the girl and looked up at the sky as if waiting for something as well.

"What are you doing?" Asked the woman in bafflement. "The final lightning tribulation of light is about to come. With your current half-dragon strength, you are guaranteed to turn into dust and become forgotten!" Scolded the woman.

"How about you? Are you confident you can face it? It doesn't seem you are in perfect condition to face it. If I am not mistaken, I saw you knocked unconscious by the last lighting which resulted in this mess. I could never forget that scene you know."

"You must be hallucinating human."

A hint of shame covered her face as Elric's words pricked her overwhelming pride as a dragon.

"Truth be told, I am not confident if I can face the final strike with my current state; let alone facing the strongest lighting with almost triple the power compared to the last strike."

"Why not run away from it then?"

"Running away doesn't help as the Tribulation of Light has absolute power and authority. Don't forget, running from the Tribulation of Light we summoned means we must be confident to face it. I have trained and prepared for this day. Not just me, but the whole Kingdom prepared me for this, running is considered cowardly and does not coincide with our Dragon values!"

"You mean Dragon pride?"

"Yes. That's how you humans call it."

"You dragons value pride huh." Elric thought.

"I can hear you."

"..."

KRUUUUUGGHHHHH!~

"It's finally coming..." Elric said with his eyes glued to the dark raining sky. His body could not stop shaking and his mind wanted him to run right away. But his curiosity got the best of him, anchored by his conscience of leaving a frail-looking girl behind.