Kain's brow furrowed. "Nāga…?"
Through Bea's connection, the meaning unfolded. Not necessarily a creature. More like a blend between a deity and a symbol. The people of the Azure Serpent Kingdom revered Nāgas as divine beings—guardians of balance and water, bringers of rain, and arbiters of justice. They could take any form: serpent, spirit, man, or woman. Sometimes both.
Perhaps that was why the nation had a very tolerant attitude towards 'fluidity'—boundaries and positions in society weren't so rigid. With the exception of a few hereditary noble household titles that would be nearly impossible to achieve, there wasn't much resistance to commoners moving up in social status and getting high positions in society. Moreover, there were more opportunities for mingling between members of different social statuses. Marriages between commoners and the rich, while still not too common, were met with less resistance than in other countries and cultures.
