It’s... it’s blood

Aqualina sat down, her face contorted with deep frustration as she muttered under her breath, "So you're telling me... he's the last hope of the Phoenix bloodline, and that's why you want to 'buy' him and free him from his life as a servant?"

Raven, seemingly unbothered, took another calm sip of tea, leaning back in her chair. She nodded. "Yes, exactly."

Aqualina's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "And you believe that by freeing him, there's something in it for both you and him, something that could help you achieve your goals?"

Raven nodded once more, her expression unreadable.

Aqualina exhaled sharply, her gaze shifting to Aether, the concern now flickering across her face. "I can't just leave him alone after finding out he has the Phoenix bloodline... who knows what those shitty lizards would do to him!" Her voice was laced with anxiety as she thought of the consequences.