The Young Demon Lord and her Maid-Knight

The next day, Lilith and Ella walked at a steady pace, the warm sun filtering through the dense canopy above. As Aurora had predicted, a little after noon, they felt it—an unexplainable pull—and then they heard it.

A gentle voice echoed in their minds, serene and inviting. Come closer.

Ella's face lit up with a beaming smile. "Did you hear that?" she asked, her wings fluttering excitedly. "It must be the sapling!"

Lilith nodded, her expression calm but curious. "Yes, I heard it. But... I don't see anything yet."

They continued forward, Ella perched on Lilith's shoulder to stay close. The air around them grew heavier with a strange, magical energy, almost as if the forest itself was alive and watching.

And then, out of nowhere, it appeared. A massive, ancient tree stood before them, its trunk wide and towering, its branches reaching high into the sky. The bark glimmered faintly with an otherworldly glow, and the leaves shimmered like they were made of light.

Ella gasped, her eyes widening in awe. "How did we miss this?" she exclaimed.

Lilith tilted her head, inspecting the majestic tree. "It might have something to do with magic," she said thoughtfully. "And the barriers Levy has maintained for years. They must have hidden it from sight until we were close enough."

"You are correct," a calm, soothing voice sounded in their minds, rich with wisdom and kindness. Come closer, my children.

Lilith and Ella exchanged a glance before stepping forward, the weight of the sapling's presence both humbling and comforting. They were finally here, standing before the heart of their journey.

"But how is this a sapling?" Ella gasped, her voice filled with awe. "It's so huge!"

The sapling spoke again, its voice calm and resonant, echoing gently in their minds. I am still young. When I am fully matured, this entire island will be me. Everything here is already connected to me, but for now, only what you can see is directly tied to my essence.

Ella's eyes widened, and her wings fluttered in excitement as a strange but exhilarated smile spread across her face. "So big... It took us a whole day to get here, and you're telling me you'll grow even bigger? How long will that take?"

The sapling chuckled softly, a sound like the rustling of leaves in a gentle breeze. Ah, young one, it takes time. A World Tree requires around 100,000 years to fully mature. And I am but a mere 10,000 years old.

Ella's jaw dropped. "A hundred thousand years?" she repeated, her voice a mix of disbelief and amazement. "That's... that's forever!"

Lilith couldn't help but smile at Ella's reaction, though she remained silent, her gaze fixed on the colossal tree. She felt the immense age and wisdom radiating from it, like a timeless heartbeat that resonated with the land itself.

"You've already grown so much in 10,000 years," Lilith finally said, her tone respectful. "It's hard to imagine what you'll be like at full maturity."

Patience is key, my children, the sapling replied gently. Growth is not measured only by size, but by what is nurtured and sustained within. The journey ahead is long for all of us, but we each have a purpose to fulfill in time.

Ella hovered near Lilith's shoulder, her expression thoughtful for once. "I guess that means we're lucky to meet you now, huh?" she said, her tone softer but still laced with awe.

The sapling's presence seemed to hum with warmth. Indeed, young ones. This moment is as special to me as it is to you.

Now come closer, you two, the sapling spoke, its calm and powerful voice resonating within their minds. Place your hands on my trunk, and I will connect with your souls. In your soul realm, we will speak with one another. Though you will each have your own space, you will still feel as though you are beside each other.

Ella glanced at Lilith, her excitement tempered by a flicker of nervousness. Lilith gave her a reassuring nod before stepping forward, her hand reaching toward the glowing bark of the sapling.

And, Lilith, the sapling added, place the necklace in one hand and hold it between us. That way, I can also connect with Aurora and include her in our conversation.

Lilith hesitated for a moment, then gently removed the necklace, cradling it in her palm. Its gemstone shimmered faintly, as though Aurora was already aware of what was about to happen. She placed the necklace carefully in her hand and extended it toward the tree alongside her other hand.

Ella, her small hand trembling slightly with anticipation, placed it next to Lilith's on the glowing bark.

The moment their hands touched the tree, a warm, soothing energy flowed through them, wrapping around their beings like a gentle embrace. The world around them faded, replaced by a soft, ethereal light.

"Here we go," Lilith whispered, her voice barely audible as the connection deepened.

The three of them found themselves in their own soul realms, suspended in a tranquil, ethereal space where time seemed to stand still. Then, a serene and ancient voice echoed in their minds:

My name is El. I am the daughter of Eldoria, the former World Tree. I know you have many questions, but what I am about to share is for you alone. You may choose to share it with the others when we are done, but the choice is yours.

The voice carried a deep wisdom, and each word seemed to resonate within their very beings.

Many years ago, I began gathering mana, as is the nature of all saplings. It took a long time, for I am still young and fragile. That mana, once gathered, became the essence that created the demon lord, Lilith.

Lilith's soul resonated with recognition as the words sank in, but she remained silent, listening intently.

As for you, Ella, El continued, you may have noticed how much you resemble Lilith. This is because, during my process of gathering mana, a fragment of it was accidentally lost. That fragment was absorbed into the necklace, and through some miraculous convergence, it birthed you into existence.

Ella's soul fluttered with emotion, both astonishment and wonder.

So, in a way, El said gently, you and Lilith are sisters. And as for Aurora and me, we are, in essence, your mothers. Through us, you came to be in the realm of Eldoria.

The revelation settled over them, profound and overwhelming.

Know this, El continued, her voice soothing, a World Tree is always female, for only a female can birth life. There are beings in this and other realms capable of shifting between male and female forms at will, but that is not our concern. What matters is that you, young one, are a daughter of the World Tree.

The words lingered in their souls like a melody, filling them with purpose and identity. Each of them absorbed the truth in their own way, unsure of what this newfound knowledge would mean for their futures.

Now, what I am about to tell you is for your ears alone, El's voice echoed softly in their minds, carrying both wisdom and gravity.

Lilith, she began, her tone turning thoughtful, I know you wish to unbind Elara. It is, in a sense, an easy task—simple in concept, yet impossible in execution as you are now. You see, Elara is a split soul, which is why Oria bound her to this world by naming her the Hero of the Realm.

Lilith's soul flickered with both hope and concern as she listened.

To undo that bond, El continued, you must ascend to become a true Demon Lord. A true Demon Lord is not merely a being of chaos but the Champion of the world—a perfect balance of hero and demon, one who brings harmony and peace to the realm.

The weight of the revelation settled heavily over Lilith, but El was not done.

However, there is a consequence. When you become a true Demon Lord, Elara's soul will become bound to you. This is not something to take lightly, as such a bond carries immense responsibility. If you are unprepared or careless, it could lead to ruin. But do not fear, my child. Together, we will create a sanctuary in your soul realm—a place where a fragment of Elara's soul can reside, safely bound to you. This way, the bond will be stable and manageable. Yet, the choice to proceed and the work required will be yours. And you must speak with Elara about this; she deserves to know.

El's voice softened, almost motherly. Understand this: if you take this path, you and Elara will be bound forever, even in death. Should she perish, her essence will return to your soul realm to be reborn. But if you die, both of you will vanish completely.

Lilith's soul quivered as she absorbed the gravity of those words.

The reason for this, El explained, is that while Elara is bound to this world as its Hero, you, as a Demon Lord, cannot be bound to me or to anyone. A Demon Lord's essence is free, and only a Hero can carry such a tether. This freedom is your strength, but it is also the reason for the fragility of the bond you will create. Choose wisely, my daughter.

The air within the soul realm seemed to still as the weight of El's words hung over them. The path was clear, but it was not without risk.