This chapter was epic but a roller coaster of emotions as well; I cried rivers and I feel like an idiot, lol. Being serious, it really hurt me how she had to went through all of this turmoil in order to finally understand and accept the situation she's in, but I'm really glad she did. Personally I felt anger, sadness, and emptiness through the whole chapter, but the last part with the dragon was dope af.
I think part of the reason why she was in such strong denial is that nobody could talk to her before, nobody could hear or understand her pain and nobody could have talked with her in the level of complexity she needed. Everyone gave her everything without thinking twice, their love, their care, their protection, so ofc she didn't know how to take all that because she didn't have the opportunity to appreciate that with her previous family in a more conscious way. Yeah, she was stupid and cruel in this new world, but now she faced reality and won't deny it. If this whole process has changed her (finally) for good and forever, then I'll take this development of her character with happiness; this is way better than being an ignorant brat forever.
Btw, I really~ loved the dragon, he was a mentor and a friend who talked to her as equals, not sugarcoating anything and forcing her to face everything she did and felt, pretty badass and cool if u ask me. Also, these lines were so cool:
"May the girl's sadness and frustration not make her foolish, and may her struggles not be in vain. I consider her happiness to be my happiness, my protection will be to grant the girl's wish".