The applause lasted far longer than Lyra expected.
The grand ballroom echoed with cheers, congratulations, and countless voices speaking at once.
Golden chandeliers illuminated hundreds of smiling faces.
Crystal glasses reflected warm light.
Music played softly in the background.
Servants moved gracefully between guests carrying trays of food and wine.
And at the center of it all...
Stood Lyra.
The ancient serpent who had spent centuries hidden inside a cave.
The ancient serpent who preferred the company of books over people.
The ancient serpent who had spoken more with snakes than humans throughout her life.
Now stood before an entire ballroom full of nobles, merchants, scholars, and officials.
The situation felt absurd.
Completely absurd.
Yet something even more absurd happened.
People started approaching her.
Immediately.
Not cautiously.
Not fearfully.
Not with weapons.
They approached her smiling.
The first person to arrive was an elderly noble.
His hair was completely white.
Deep wrinkles covered his face.
Yet his eyes remained sharp.
The man bowed respectfully.
"Lady Lyra."
The serpent woman almost looked behind herself.
Lady?
Who?
Then she realized he was speaking to her.
The noble smiled warmly.
"My name is Baron Frederick Halven."
He extended his hand politely.
"I wished to personally thank you."
Lyra blinked.
"Thank me?"
The Baron nodded.
"Indeed."
A pause.
"You saved Count Kel."
Another.
"That alone makes you worthy of my gratitude."
The ancient serpent froze.
Because technically...
She had done the exact opposite.
The memory of trying to swallow Kel flashed through her mind.
She silently decided not to mention that.
The Baron continued.
"Frostbound Coast needs him."
A pause.
"The North needs him."
Another.
"Perhaps even the Empire."
His voice carried sincerity.
No politics.
No manipulation.
Just honesty.
The noble genuinely believed those words.
Lyra slowly nodded.
"...You're welcome."
The answer felt strange.
Very strange.
Because she wasn't certain what exactly she was being thanked for.
The Baron smiled.
Then moved away.
Immediately another guest arrived.
A merchant.
Round face.
Expensive clothes.
Sharp eyes.
The man bowed deeply.
"Lady Lyra."
Lyra already felt exhausted.
The merchant smiled brightly.
"I am Guildmaster Tobias."
The man lowered his voice slightly.
"May I ask a question?"
The serpent nodded.
The merchant immediately leaned closer.
"How large was the monster you fought?"
The question surprised her.
"...Large."
The merchant looked excited.
"Twenty meters?"
Lyra considered.
"Bigger."
The merchant gasped.
"Thirty?"
"Bigger."
The merchant nearly dropped his wine.
The surrounding merchants instantly gathered.
"What?"
"Thirty meters?"
"Bigger than thirty?"
The guildmaster nodded dramatically.
"Lady Lyra confirmed it."
The merchants collectively lost their minds.
Meanwhile Lyra wondered how the conversation reached this point.
Then a scholar arrived.
Followed by another.
And another.
Then five more.
The researchers immediately surrounded her.
The serpent woman suddenly understood how prey animals felt.
One scholar adjusted his glasses.
"Lady Lyra."
Another opened a notebook.
A third already had a pen ready.
The serpent sensed danger.
Academic danger.
The first scholar smiled politely.
"How long did it take to achieve your human form?"
The second immediately followed.
"What cultivation method did you use?"
The third.
"Can all serpents achieve human transformation?"
The fourth.
"What are the biological changes involved?"
The fifth.
"Can you demonstrate?"
The sixth.
"Do you lay eggs?"
Silence.
The ballroom became quiet.
Every scholar froze.
Several nobles choked on their drinks.
A servant nearly dropped a tray.
The scholar who asked the question realized his mistake.
Immediately.
His face turned pale.
The ancient serpent slowly looked toward him.
Very slowly.
Dangerously slowly.
The scholar started sweating.
Profusely.
"...Academic curiosity?"
The excuse sounded weak.
Very weak.
The scholar immediately retreated.
His fellow researchers abandoned him instantly.
No loyalty whatsoever.
Far beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren laughed so hard ancient ruins shook.
"Humans truly are fascinating."
Lyra completely agreed.
Then another guest approached.
This time.
A Mage Tower representative.
The elderly mage wore deep blue robes covered in silver runes.
His gaze carried wisdom.
Experience.
Knowledge.
The mage bowed respectfully.
"Lady Lyra."
The serpent returned the greeting.
The old mage smiled.
"I am Magister Corvin."
A pause.
"I wished to congratulate you."
Lyra tilted her head.
"For what?"
The old mage chuckled.
"For surviving Lord Kel."
The answer came immediately.
The ancient serpent stared.
Then unexpectedly...
She laughed.
A small laugh.
But genuine.
The old mage nodded knowingly.
"You understand."
Lyra nodded.
"More than I should."
The two shared a moment of mutual understanding.
The old mage continued.
"His Excellency possesses a frightening talent."
A pause.
"Not merely for magic."
Another.
"Not merely for swordsmanship."
Another.
"For changing people."
The words lingered.
Lyra found herself listening carefully.
The mage looked toward Kel.
Across the ballroom.
The young Count was currently being cornered by nobles.
Again.
Yet somehow he looked completely calm.
The old mage smiled.
"People meet him."
A pause.
"Then leave different."
The statement felt strangely accurate.
Because Lyra herself was proof.
The conversation continued.
One guest after another arrived.
Some asked about cultivation.
Others asked about serpents.
Others asked about monster ecology.
Several nobles asked political questions.
Many merchants asked economic questions.
Researchers asked dangerous questions.
And somehow...
Lyra answered all of them.
Gradually.
Something changed.
The initial nervousness disappeared.
The fear disappeared.
The uncertainty disappeared.
Because the people weren't treating her like a monster.
They weren't treating her like an enemy.
They weren't treating her like an outsider.
They were treating her like a person.
The realization felt strange.
Very strange.
Then something even stranger happened.
A young noblewoman approached.
Perhaps seventeen years old.
The girl looked nervous.
Very nervous.
She bowed politely.
"Lady Lyra."
The serpent smiled gently.
The girl visibly relaxed.
Then asked quietly.
"Is Lord Kel always like this?"
Lyra blinked.
"What do you mean?"
The noblewoman gestured toward the ballroom.
Toward the Mana Crystal.
Toward the guests.
Toward Frostbound Coast itself.
"Everything."
A pause.
"He built all of this in four months."
Another.
"Is he always working?"
Lyra considered.
Then remembered.
The roads.
The sea.
The departments.
The mines.
The snakes.
The contracts.
The city.
"...Yes."
The answer came naturally.
The noblewoman sighed.
"I was hoping the rumors were exaggerated."
Several nearby nobles overheard.
One laughed.
"We all hoped that."
Another nodded.
"Unfortunately they're true."
A third sighed.
"Do you know how difficult it is competing with him?"
The noblewoman immediately agreed.
The conversation somehow shifted toward collective suffering caused by Kel's productivity.
Lyra listened quietly.
Then suddenly realized something.
People weren't merely admiring Kel.
They genuinely liked him.
Not because he was perfect.
Because he was human.
Capable.
Competent.
Reliable.
Yet still human.
The realization warmed something inside her chest.
Hours passed.
The celebration continued.
Music filled the ballroom.
Guests laughed.
Conversations flourished.
And eventually...
Lyra found herself standing near one of the balcony doors.
The cool night air drifted inside.
For the first time all evening...
She was alone.
Or so she thought.
Footsteps approached.
Kel.
The young Count stepped beside her.
Holding a glass of juice.
Not wine.
Juice.
Because he was fifteen.
The image almost made Lyra laugh.
Kel looked toward the ballroom.
"You survived."
The serpent immediately groaned.
"Barely."
The young Count nodded seriously.
"The scholars?"
"The scholars."
Kel winced.
"Understandable."
The two stood quietly.
Then Lyra finally asked.
"Why?"
Kel looked toward her.
"Why what?"
The serpent woman frowned.
"The story."
A pause.
"The ballroom."
Another.
"The way you introduced me."
The night became silent.
The music sounded distant.
Kel remained quiet briefly.
Then finally answered.
"Because first impressions matter."
The answer came simply.
The serpent stared.
Kel continued.
"If people first see a monster."
A pause.
"They'll always remember a monster."
Another.
"If people first see a guardian."
Another.
"They'll remember a guardian."
The words felt simple.
Yet profound.
Lyra slowly looked toward the ballroom.
Toward the people who had welcomed her.
The people who smiled at her.
The people who spoke with her.
The people who treated her as one of them.
And suddenly...
She understood.
Kel hadn't changed who she was.
He had changed how others saw her.
The difference was enormous.
The serpent woman smiled faintly.
Then looked toward the city lights beyond the balcony.
For centuries she had lived alone.
Tonight...
For the first time...
She felt like she belonged somewhere.
And somehow...
That feeling frightened her less than she expected.