Ryu walked closer to Alex, leaning in to whisper, "So… what are you gonna do?"
Alex let out a deep sigh before kneeling down in front of Serafina. He gently took her hands in his, his grip firm yet reassuring.
"Don't bow down," he said, his voice steady. "You're a dragon. Stand with pride."
Serafina's golden eyes widened slightly at his words. For centuries, she had been hunted, feared, and forced into hiding. Yet here stood a man—no, a god—who acknowledged her not as a relic of the past, but as an equal.
Slowly, she rose to her feet, her expression unreadable. Then, with a newfound resolve, she nodded.
"Very well, Alex," she said softly. "Then I shall stand beside you—not as a servant, but as an ally."
Lumi, still bouncing with excitement, clapped her hands. "Yay! We got a dragon friend!"
Akiko, however, simply watched in silence, her sharp gaze lingering on Alex.
Akiko crossed her arms, her expression calm but firm. "How about we go back to our place and start talking?"
