Inspiration

For once, Aika restrained herself. Pulling her fist back, she looked toward Ryu, a swirl of complicated feelings in her eyes. 

In truth, Ryu was an inspiration to her. She hadn't said anything when she noticed his change, but she was a Dao Sovereign. After she had made such a comment about Ryu's Dao Heart being too rigid once before, how could she not sense his change now? 

But this action taught her something else. 

He might have changed, but the core of his being remained the same. Bowing for him was just as hard as it had been in the past. Rather than saying that he had changed for other people, it was more accurate to say that he had changed for his own sake, feeling that this state of mind was better for him… but he never lost his own sense of self.