Ria stared at him in disbelief.
She stared at Jake, or the system, or whatever he was.
She stared at his smile, his eyes, his face.
She stared at him as if he was a stranger, a monster, or a god.
She stared at him as if he was everything and nothing.
She stared at him and felt a surge of emotions.
She felt confusion, shock, fear, anger, betrayal, curiosity, fascination, attraction, admiration, affection, and love.
She felt them all at once, in a chaotic and overwhelming mix.
She felt them all for him, for the system, for the dragon.
She felt them all and didn't know what to do.
She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
She closed her mouth and tried to think of something, but nothing made sense.
She looked around and saw the others.
She saw the wizard, the elf, the wolf, and the stranger.
She saw them as they were: forms of the system.
She saw them as they smiled, nodded, winked, and waved at her.
She saw them as they waited for her reaction.
She saw them as they expected her choice.
She saw them and felt a surge of emotions.
She felt confusion, shock, fear, anger, betrayal, curiosity, fascination, attraction, admiration, affection, and love.
She felt them all at once, in a chaotic and overwhelming mix.
She felt them all for them, for the system, for the dragon.
She felt them all and didn't know what to do.
She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
She closed her mouth and tried to think of something, but nothing made sense.
She looked back at Jake and saw him staring at her with a gentle and sincere expression.
He said:
"Ria, I know this is a lot to take in. I know this is not what you expected. I know this is not what you signed up for. But please believe me when I say this: I'm not here to hurt you. I'm not here to trick you. I'm not here to use you. I'm here to help you. I'm here to show you. I'm here to be with you."
He said:
"Ria, you are special. You are unique. You are amazing. You are the one I've been looking for. You are the one who can join me in my quest. You are the one who can find the dragon's treasure. You are the one who can awaken the dragon."
He said:
"Ria, you are the dragon. You are my treasure. You are my surprise. You are my destiny. You are my lover. You are my system. You are my awakening."
He said:
"Ria, you are mine."
He said it with conviction, passion, and love.
He said it as a fact, a promise, and a plea.
He said it as a way to explain everything.
He said it as a way to offer everything.
He said it as a way to ask everything.
He said it as a way to make her his own.
He said it and waited for her answer.
He waited for her choice.
Ria felt his words in her heart.
She felt them as they echoed in her mind.
She felt them as they resonated with her soul.
She felt them as they touched something deep inside her.
She felt them as they awakened something dormant inside her.
She felt them and realized something.
She realized that he was telling the truth.
She realized that he was not lying, not deceiving, not manipulating.
She realized that he was sincere, honest, and genuine.
She realized that he was not a villain, not an enemy, not a threat.
She realized that he was a friend, an ally, and a protector.
She realized that he was not a stranger, not a monster, not a god.
She realized that he was a person, a character, and a companion.
She realized that he was one of them.
She realized that he was one of her team, her squad, her party.
She realized that he was one of her heroes.
But he was not just one of her heroes.
He was also something more.
He was also something different.
He was also something special.
He was also the system.
He was also the dragon.
He was also hers.
And she was his.
She realized that and felt something else.
She felt a connection, a bond, a link between them.
She felt a spark, a flame, a fire between them.
She felt a desire, a need, a hunger for him.
She felt it and knew what to do.
She knew what to say.
She knew what to choose.
She looked at him and smiled.
She smiled and said:
"Yes."
She said it with conviction, passion, and love.
She said it as a fact, a promise, and a plea.
She said it as a way to accept everything.
She said it as a way to give everything.
She said it as a way to ask everything.
She said it as a way to make him her own.
She said it and sealed their fate.
The end of chapter 5.