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.