He is a father, and his sons are here for power. Volterra himself has his dragons, his golems, his structures, and - if he can force his frigid body to feel anything deeper than roiling hatred and wanton lust - his ability to transform into a mythical monster. He wants more; he wants magic that ripples through his body, magic as strong as the muscles that lace his sturdy frame. A well-placed stroke of magic could be the difference between victory and defeat in battle (although, as the leviathan constantly reminds himself, a true warrior must rely on nothing except their natural assets). Powerful magic commands respect, incites fear; it adds to the reputation of a king when he's alive, and the legacy of one when he's dead.

But his sons....is their need not greater than his? Tyrath can shift into a dragon, a mighty gift in itself, but imagine what else he could do if he received the blessing of this event! Kid, to Volterra's knowledge, has no magic, and perhaps gaining some could elevate him from crude-tongued boy into budding warlord.

The beast hardly notices the creatures speak, asking what he sees. His focus isn't on them - it is on his sons, the boys he brought into the world.

Being a father is not just about snatching a quick release from a willing mare and then leaving her to her fate; it is about claiming responsibility for his actions. It is about making a lifelong vow to protect and nurture this life he's created, no matter how unintentional that creation was. It is about selflessness, and putting somebody else before himself, because he's the reason they're here. It's about sacrifice, it's about doing the right thing and not the easy thing.

None of these traits come easily to the blackened goliath. He is selfish, he is avaricious, he is prone to irresponsibility; and yet what he does next feels completely and utterly natural to him, as though any other option would have been impossible. He looks to the creatures as they ask what the gathered crowd sees; his thunderous rumble of a voice is assured, as though completely at ease with what he's saying. "Whatever prize it is you offer, I am counting myself out of the running for it. Your power would be far better suited with one of my sons." He gestures proudly to each boy in turn.

And with this, he steps backwards. He does not look to either Kid or Tyrath for their approval or thanks - he does not need that, he does not want that. Again, this is unusual. Rarely does Volterra ever do something without an ulterior motive, without some potential for self-gain, but this...this is altruism.