The Young Demon Lord and her Maid-Knight

"Come see me, young Demon Lord. I will make you a true Demon Lord. Just follow the path in your heart."

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At the morning table, the group had gathered once more, enjoying their breakfast. Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air as they reflected on the previous night.

"Wow, I slept so well," Ella said with a wide yawn, stretching her arms.

"Me too," Levy chimed in, her eyes still half-closed. "What about you guys?"

"I slept peacefully, knowing Lilith is back with us," Elara replied with a warm smile. "And I can see Tami is happy, too—she's been sleeping so snugly with Lilith."

Lilith let out a soft yawn, rubbing her eyes. "I slept well enough," she said, her voice still groggy, "but I had a strange dream just before you woke me up. I was talking to someone... or maybe just hearing a voice. I think it was the World Tree sapling, telling me to seek it out."

The room fell silent for a moment as her words settled in. Aurora's translucent spirit form shimmered faintly from the necklace Lilith wore, her ethereal gaze thoughtful. Tami, the little Fenrir pup, tilted her head as if sensing something important.

"That sounds... significant," Elara said after a pause. "The World Tree is connected to the balance of magic itself, isn't it? Maybe this is part of your destiny."

"Destiny or not," Levy added with a grin, "I guess it's time for me to bring you to the sapling I've been guarding for so long. Our journey might be coming to an end. With your portal magic, you might even be able to create a portal for all of us to reach her. But if no one else has heard a whisper in their dream to 'come see me,' then it means the sapling only wants to see you, Lilith. You should go alone. When you enter my barrier, you'll be able to sense her."

"Her?" Lilith and Ella asked in unison, their curiosity piqued.

Levy nodded. "Yes, all World Trees are female. They give birth to worlds. More often than not, male gods watch over them. I guess I just got unlucky with this stupid goddess," she murmured, her voice dropping to a barely audible grumble.

Ella stifled a laugh while Lilith tilted her head, intrigued. "A goddess watches over the sapling you're guarding?"

Levy rolled her eyes. "Not by choice. She's... persistent and bossy, but she hasn't interfered too much." Her expression softened as she looked at Lilith. "What matters now is that you find her. The sapling's chosen you for a reason. Trust the path in your heart, just like the dream said."

Ella's face fell, her usual cheerfulness replaced by disappointment. "Oh," she said softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "I wanted to see the sapling too..."

But before another moment passed, her expression shifted dramatically. Her cheeks flushed a rosy pink, and her eyes lit up with excitement. "Really?!" she exclaimed, her voice almost a squeal of joy.

"Come see me, child of the Fae. I will allow you to go with Lilith, i got some thing to tell you too" a gentle yet commanding voice had whispered in her mind.

"What happened?" Levy asked, puzzled by the sudden change in Ella's demeanor.

Ella didn't answer immediately. Instead, she shot into the air, her wings shimmering as she twirled in excitement. "I'm allowed to go with Lilith!" she yelled, her voice brimming with joy.

Lilith raised an eyebrow, sharing a curious look with Levy. "You... heard the sapling?"

Ella nodded eagerly, her energy infectious. "Yes! She spoke to me! She called me a child of the Fae and said I could come with you!"

Levy crossed her arms, her expression softening. "Well, I suppose that settles it. If the sapling has given her blessing, you're coming along too, Ella. Looks like it won't just be Lilith after all."

Lilith chuckled at Ella's uncontainable excitement. "Guess I'll have some company on this mysterious journey."

"It is time," Levy said as the sun climbed high into the sky, its warm rays casting vibrant light over the island. "You should head that way. Just walk straight ahead, and yes, Ella, you can fly alongside Lilith. We faeries don't really walk that much, after all."

Ella giggled, fluttering her delicate wings in the sunlight. "Oh, Levy, you know me too well by now."

Elara and Lilith exchanged amused smiles, their laughter blending with the rustling leaves around them.

Lilith knelt down, gently scooping Tami into her arms. The little Fenrir pup nuzzled against her as she hugged her tightly. "Goodbye for now, Tami," Lilith whispered. "Watch over Elara and Levy for me, okay?"

Tami licked Lilith's face affectionately and answered in her mind with a confident tone. Don't worry. I'll watch over everyone here.

With a final pat on Tami's head, Lilith rose, ready to begin the journey. She and Ella set off under the bright midday sun, their path illuminated by its golden glow.

As they traveled toward the sapling, neither knew what to expect. They relied only on the feeling deep within that they were heading in the right direction. The vibrant daylight made the mysterious island feel less foreboding, though its stillness remained unsettling.

Ella occasionally flitted ahead to scout or danced mid-air, her wings shimmering in the sunlight. "You know," she said with a grin, "this place may be mysterious, but it's kind of beautiful, don't you think?"

Lilith nodded, her steps steady. "It is. Peaceful, too. I can see why Levy chose to guard the sapling here."

By the time the sun began to dip slightly westward, the day's warmth persisted, though the air carried a hint of cooling breeze. The journey had been uneventful so far, which Lilith attributed to Levy's protective barrier.

"This must be why nothing has happened," she mused aloud, glancing at the dense trees surrounding them. "Her magic keeps everything safe here."

Ella nodded, hovering beside her. "Yeah, it feels like the whole island is holding its breath, waiting for something. You can sense it, can't you?"

Lilith's gaze shifted to the path ahead. The weight of the journey pressed on her, but Ella's cheerful presence lightened her mood. Somewhere out there, the sapling waited, and Lilith felt a growing determination to meet the being that had called her.

"How far do you think we need to go?" Ella asked, hovering beside Lilith as they moved through the forest.

Lilith glanced around at the dense trees and the faint path they followed. "Hmm, hard to tell. I can only sense that we're heading in the right direction. Maybe Aurora can tell us."

"Aurora?" Lilith called, touching the necklace around her neck. The gem shimmered faintly, and Aurora materialized in her translucent spirit form, her ethereal figure floating gracefully beside them.

"Hmm," Aurora mused, her voice soft but clear. "Not far, but still a bit to go. I'd suggest making camp here. You should reach the sapling tomorrow around noon."

Ella sighed dramatically, her wings fluttering. "Oh, that's still a bit far. But fine, let's camp here then."

Lilith nodded and began setting up. She rolled out a mat to sleep on and unpacked some precooked food from her bag for herself and Ella. As the two sat down to eat, the golden light of the setting sun filtered through the trees, casting a warm glow over their campsite.

While they ate, they talked about everything and nothing—stories from their past adventures, Ella's favorite Fae festivals, and Lilith's training with magic. Their laughter echoed softly in the tranquil forest, the bond between them growing stronger with each shared moment.

Before long, fatigue began to set in. The duo cleaned up their meal and prepared for bed. The forest around them remained calm, protected by Levy's barrier, and a cool breeze rustled the leaves above.

Lilith lay back on her mat, staring up at the starlit sky. "Tomorrow, we'll meet the sapling," she murmured, a mix of anticipation and uncertainty in her voice.

Ella, curled up on a patch of soft moss nearby, smiled sleepily. "I can't wait to see her... Goodnight, Lilith."

"Goodnight, Ella," Lilith replied, her eyes closing as dreams began to take her once more.

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"How far do you think they are now, Levy?" Elara asked, her gaze fixed on the ocean as the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting the sky in hues of gold and crimson. The waves crashed gently on the shore, their rhythmic sound soothing. Nearby, Tami dashed back and forth along the beach, her small paws kicking up sand as she barked at the rolling tide.

Levy leaned against a large driftwood log, her expression thoughtful as the warm light bathed her face. "Hmm... they must be close. Maybe another day or so. It's hard to say; I don't know how fast Lilith is traveling. But if she's keeping a steady pace like before, it should take them two days from here."

Elara nodded, though her eyes remained on the horizon. "I hope they're doing okay," she murmured, her tone tinged with worry.

Levy's gaze softened as she looked at Elara. "Elara, there's something you should know. It might take longer for you to see Lilith again than you think."

Elara turned her head, her brows furrowed in concern. "What do you mean?"

Levy sighed, tilting her head back to watch the streaks of orange and pink fade into the deepening blue of twilight. "Talking to a World Tree—even if it's just a sapling—takes time. The one speaking with her might not even notice how much time is passing. Hours, even days, can feel like moments in her presence. You need to prepare yourself for that."

Elara's lips curved into a sad smile as she absorbed Levy's words. The fading sunlight painted her face with a soft, warm glow. "I see," she said quietly. "Why didn't you tell them before they left?"

Levy shrugged, her eyes returning to the gentle waves. "Because it's not something they needed to know right away. It's something they need to experience and learn for themselves. If I'd warned them, it might've made them overthink or hesitate. This way, they'll face the sapling with open hearts and minds."

Elara sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she accepted Levy's reasoning. "I just hope they're ready for it," she said, watching Tami chase after a seabird that flitted just out of reach.

"They will be," Levy replied confidently, her voice steady against the backdrop of the ocean's symphony. "Lilith is stronger than you realize. And Ella... well, she's nothing if not adaptable."

As the sun sank below the horizon, the first stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky. The two sat in companionable silence, their thoughts lingering on Lilith and Ella, moving closer to the sapling with every step.