Van hung his head, conceding the sad points but Sera simply Looked back at him with a bright grin.

“Don't let it bother you, I've encountered a few hunters since leaving my village and they weren't able to put so much as a scratch on me. I know some fire magic I can use in emergencies too. And besides..."

She proceeded to coil herself about him with one Loop of her body before taking his arm and leaning up against him with a coy Look on her face, making sure to press her breasts against his arm.

“I'LL have you to protect me now too, right, my big strong Van..."

Van blushed and tried half-heartedly to pull away, to no avail of course. "Now you're just being silly. Sure it'd do my ego some good if

I could protect you but from what you've been saying I'd just end up getting in your way if I tried to help.”

Serafina pressed closer and traced circles on his still-bare chest with one finger. "Oh come on now, don't you know we all fight our best when fighting for something important to us? For me, keeping you safe will definitely be that something. But as much as I want to, I can't guarantee I'LL always be around to protect you. So maybe I could teach you a bit, you're definitely in good enough shape for it. Wouldn't sparring with me be fun?" she added in a sweetly seductive tone,

“Teacher could even give you special services when you do well.”

“Y-yeah, that sounds n-nICe!" Van's voice noticeably rose in pitch at the intense tickling sensation as the Lamia playfully used her tongue to toy with his ear.

She giggled a bit and unwound herself from him before slithering into the rays of the sun at the cave's mouth. She squinted a bit at the bright light but her slit-shaped eyes quickly narrowed to adjust. She then looked back in puzzlement at Van's stare. "What is it? Van?"

Van blinked his eyes as he realized she was talking and broke out of his sudden daze.

“N-nothing wrong, I just... never seen you completely in the sun like this. You look amazing, radiant even." Indeed, aside from the allure of her feminine features in the bright light one could also better appreciate the way her tail-end's reddish scales glittered, seeming to spark and sparkle at times.

The snake woman blushed cutely and wound her coils close to her body in embarrassment at how his words caused a reflexive pulse of pleasure through her body. Her smug smirk soon reappeared in the blush though.

“Quit tempting me like that Van, any more compliments and I really will ravish you here and now.”

Van, now fully dressed and ready to go, smiled in answer, glad he could tease her a bit too. He then Laughed at a sudden thought.

“What's so funny? I mean it!" she maintained vehemently, though a bit of her blush remained that made her protest cuter than she intended,

“I'LL strip you right here and make you cum till you bleed!"

Van raised his hands in appeasement.

“Calm down, I wasn't Laughing at you Sera. I was just thinking it's a bit ironic. I grew up making shoes, it's all I've ever done as far as professional skills go. And now I'm off to start a life with a race of beings who don't wear shoes," he finished, still laughing a bit.

Understanding now, Serafina laughed as well before slithering up and taking his hand in hers.