章節 74: M.I.A. Demon Lord?!
In the divine realm, where time flowed like rivers of gold and the very air shimmered with celestial light, Oria hummed to herself as she sat upon her throne in the temple of stars. Her fingers danced along the air, trailing streams of radiant energy as she sang. Her voice, ethereal and melodic, intertwined with the winds that swept through the open arches of her sanctuary, filling the temple with a serene, almost hypnotic harmony.
The chamber around her reflected her essence—walls of translucent stone glimmered softly, adorned with delicate murals of cosmic events, showing the birth of stars, the rise and fall of empires, and the constant, intricate balance between light and darkness. Massive, polished columns framed the room, each one engraved with divine symbols of balance, peace, and order—the very ideals she sought to maintain across the realms.
But her peace was shattered when the doors to her chamber burst open with an unceremonious clatter.
"Oria! Oria!" came the frantic voice of her most trusted servant, the hurried footsteps echoing like thunder across the polished floor.
Oria's song cut off instantly. The soft glow around her dimmed as she turned, eyes wide with surprise, fixing the servant with a questioning gaze. Her pale hair, glowing faintly like the last light of dusk, fluttered slightly as she shifted in her seat.
The servant, breathless and trembling, dropped to their knees. Their robe, a deep violet hue of celestial silk, rustled as they knelt, head bowed low. Oria could feel the panic emanating from them, sharp and chaotic, disturbing the calm aura of her temple.
"Speak," Oria commanded, her voice still soft, but underlined with a note of urgency.
"My goddess..." the servant gasped, barely able to get the words out, "I... I lost track of the Demon Lord. She... she's nowhere to be found. I have tried to trace her magic, to feel her presence, but... nothing. I fear it may be my failure, my weakness, that prevents me from sensing her." The servant's voice trembled with guilt and fear. "I beg your guidance, Lady Oria."
Oria stood abruptly, her eyes narrowing as shock rippled through her. "What do you mean you cannot sense her?" she asked, her tone sharp now. The very idea was unthinkable. "She should be with Levy, heading toward the World Tree sapling. Her power should be unmistakable, like a dark star in the night."
The servant dared not raise their eyes. "Forgive me, my lady... I swear, I felt her presence alongside Levy only moments ago, but then it was gone. As if... she had vanished entirely."
Oria's heart skipped a beat. This was no minor failure. The Demon Lord was an essential part of the delicate balance between realms, her dark presence necessary for the stability that the gods, demons, and mortals depended on. She had been entrusted with the critical task of reaching the World Tree sapling to ensure its protection, and Levy, the guardian of the sapling, was meant to guide her.
The World Tree, in its infancy, was the source of life and order, its roots spanning across dimensions and realms. If something happened to the sapling, or if the Demon Lord failed to reach it, the consequences could ripple across all of existence, disrupting the fragile peace.
Oria stepped forward, her long gown sweeping behind her like liquid light. Her usually serene features were now marred with worry as she paced, deep in thought. This couldn't just be a simple failure of tracking magic. There were few forces powerful enough to conceal the Demon Lord so completely.
Oria's chest tightened as she whispered, "Could it be Jakinn...?" The very thought of him made her stomach churn with dread. The dark god of chaos, whose mere presence warped reality, was the last being she wanted to encounter again. Memories of their last meeting—a confrontation that had left her shaken—flooded her mind. But no, she quickly reminded herself, Jakinn had said. As long as Lilith, the new Demon Lord, existed to maintain the balance of chaos and order, Jakinn would not to interfere in the realms.
Still, the absence of Lilith, the sudden disappearance of her presence—it all felt wrong. Oria closed her eyes, willing her racing thoughts to still. Think, Oria. Jakinn may not be the direct cause, but there had to be something, someone else at play. If Lilith had disappeared, it could unravel everything.
With a deep breath, Oria decided on her next course of action. "Levy," she whispered, focusing her divine senses on the Guardian of the World Tree. Levy would know what was happening. The faerie had always been attuned to the natural flow of magic, and her bond with the Demon Lord was supposed to ensure Lilith's safe passage to the World Tree sapling.
Oria stretched her consciousness across the vast expanse of Eldoria, the mortal realm where the World Tree resided. The air shimmered with magic as she scanned the land, searching for Levy's essence. At first, the faerie's presence was faint, like a flicker of light in a storm, but slowly, it became clearer.
"There," Oria breathed. "I've found you, Levy."
But something was strange. As she extended her awareness, she noticed other presences near Levy. Who were these companions? One aura in particular stood out—the Wanderer. Her presence was unmistakable, an enigma wrapped in mystery, always appearing where she wasn't expected. Oria had crossed paths with her before, a being who moved between realms with an agenda no one could ever quite understand.
Alongside her were others—another faerie with a strong, pure magical signature, and Elara, the soul of a Valkyrie and a forgotten hero from the last great war. Oria's brows furrowed. Why are they all together without the demon lord? And where is Lilith?
Her mind raced. Levy and the Wanderer being together was already a strange occurrence, but the absence of Lilith was more alarming. The Demon Lord was supposed to be at Levy's side, yet she was missing.
"This has something to do with the Wanderer," Oria murmured. She was always surrounded by mysteries, never staying in one place for long, always at the center of some cosmic event. Her involvement could not be a coincidence. If anyone could lead her to the truth of Lilith's disappearance, it was her.
But the question remained: What had she done?
Oria clenched her fists. She couldn't afford to delay. Every moment that Lilith remained missing was a risk. Jakinn's wrath, but the balance was fragile. If the Demon Lord was lost, that balance could tip, and Jakinn would punish her again.
"I need to reach them," Oria decided, her voice firm. She sent a pulse of divine energy toward Levy, a signal only the faerie would recognize. If Levy could feel her, she would respond. But Oria's patience was already thinning. If there was no reply soon, she would intervene directly.
Her gaze turned toward the horizon, eyes fixed on the distant World Tree sapling. "Levy, Wanderer... Elara… You better have answers for me," she muttered under her breath.
Her thoughts flickered briefly back to Lilith. Where was the Demon Lord? And what role did the Wanderer play in all of this?
Oria felt the weight of the cosmos on her shoulders as she waited, knowing that the path ahead would lead her to truths she may not be ready to face.
Oria's connection with Levy sparked tension in the air, the goddess's voice reverberating through the faerie's mind. Levy flinched slightly, not out of fear but out of annoyance at being interrupted during an already complicated situation. Oria's tone, however, was far from patient.
"Levy, it's me—Oria. Can you hear me?"
Levy sighed, taking a breath before responding. "Yes, Oria, I can hear you." She couldn't hide the irritation from her voice, wondering what the "foolish" goddess wanted now.
Oria wasted no time. "Levy, tell me. Where is Lilith—WHERE IS THE DEMON LORD?!"
Levy paused, not expecting the urgency in Oria's tone. She had to think carefully about how to explain it without causing more panic. "Oh," she murmured casually, "she's not here. Lilith is on another world. Ruby, the "human" next to me, sent her there. It's been... what? Weeks since she left? We're planning to meet her again at the World Tree sapling."
Oria's confusion deepened. "Another world? Why isn't she with you?"
Levy, still feeling nonchalant, shrugged. "Ruby thought it would be a great idea for Lilith to learn teleportation magic. So she sent her off to another world. Lilith can only return once she learns how to teleport herself back. It was, uh, all part of Ruby's plan. And Elara... well, she supported it too." Levy's voice trailed off, realizing she hadn't really thought through the details before now.
Oria's voice grew sharper, a mix of disbelief and frustration. "Learn teleportation magic? Who will teach her? How?"
Levy's face paled slightly. She hadn't considered the practicality of Ruby's plan. "Oh, well... I'm not really sure. I never thought about it. I just went along with Ruby's idea... and Elara thought it was a solid plan too."
Oria's mind raced. The Wanderer, Ruby, always had her reasons. The Wanderer was known for her unpredictable nature, but she never acted without purpose. Was this part of a larger plan? Could Jakinn be involved? The Wanderer was a just person, after all, never one to play dirty. But there were always layers to her actions. If Lilith was learning teleportation magic, there had to be a reason beyond mere training.
"The Wanderer wouldn't send someone to another world without a purpose," Oria muttered to herself, deep in thought. Jakinn's shadow still loomed in her mind, but this didn't seem like his usual way of interference. The Wanderer was more of a neutral force—a guardian of sorts, who helped, yes, but on her own terms.
One question still burned in Oria's mind. How in the world is Lilith supposed to learn teleportation magic if Ruby is here, and not guiding her?
"Levy," Oria's voice broke through once again, more measured now. "You need to tell me everything Ruby and Elara have planned. I need to understand why Lilith was sent away. There's more to this than just learning magic."
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