Dante approached slowly, his eyes taking in every detail of the tree. He could feel the power flowing through the air, a natural and pure energy that seemed as vast as the world itself—well, in theory, it was the world itself.
"Fey..." he finally managed to speak, still processing the grandeur of what he was seeing. "This... is unbelievable. You are... this."
She smiled softly, her bare feet touching the ground near the roots. "This is my original body, the true World Tree that sustains the entire planet. All the natural energy you feel... comes from here.
I am the guardian of balance, and this tree is my oldest physical form, the first existence of the planet," she said with a gentle smile, not resembling the woman he had met weeks ago when the demonic invasion began, and Lyrianna had been kidnapped.
Dante stepped closer, now with a mixture of reverence and curiosity. He extended his hand, hesitantly, and touched the trunk of the tree. The contact was like an explosion of soft energy, a current of power that surged through him from head to toe. He felt the heart of the earth, the breath of the forests, the flow of the rivers—all through Fey.
'!!!' Dante's body trembled slightly as his entire being seemed to travel through all realms in a single second!
"You are so much more than I could have ever imagined," he said softly as he withdrew his hand from the trunk, recovering from the initial shock, looking at her. "This... this is incredible, Fey."
She stepped toward him, her eyes glowing with emotion. "I wanted you to see this part of me, my dear. I wanted you to know that behind everything we've created, behind the magic and the beauty... there's something deeper. Something that connects everything... I gave up my home for all of you."
Dante felt touched by the honesty and vulnerability Fey was showing. He knew this moment was rare, a glimpse into something few could fully understand.
"You didn't need to show me this for me to know how amazing you are," he said, his voice soft as he took her hand. "But I'm honored you trust me with something so important."
Fey moved closer, her eyes meeting Dante's. "You're part of this now, Dante. This realm... this body... we're connected. And I wanted you to know that."
Dante smiled, pulling her close and wrapping her in a firm embrace. He felt the calm and vastness of her power surrounding them, but also something deeper—a bond of trust and love that went beyond the physical or magical.
"Thank you for showing me who you really are, my Fey," he murmured, his voice sincere.
Fey smiled against his chest, and together, they stood there in silence, immersed in the natural power and the connection they shared.
This was the home that Fey and Morgana had created for him, but more than that, it was the home Fey was sharing with him in a way that transcended any castle or structure.
...
In the training arena, the sky was covered by dark clouds that seemed to reflect the intensity of the battle happening below.
Voralith and Eldrax, both in their dragon forms, were completely immersed in a duel of power and technique.
The two colossal creatures, though limited to a height of two meters, moved with the agility and ferocity of much larger predators.
Their eyes gleamed with an almost animalistic intensity, and the air around them seemed to vibrate with the heat and energy they emitted.
'Her elemental control has improved... She couldn't use ice before, and now she wields it as if it were natural...' Voralith thought.
The older dragoness spun swiftly, her own claws blocking Eldrax's attack, sparks flying, and a deafening clash echoing through the arena. "Good! Now control the fury. Feel the power flow, but don't let it control you!"
Eldrax roared, her body vibrating with accumulated energy. She was beginning to understand, but it was still difficult. Each strike, each movement brought with it a primal urge to unleash everything, to explode in pure power. But she held back, channeling each bit of strength into precise blows.
Voralith gave no respite. She quickly retaliated, unleashing a blast of fire straight toward Eldrax. This time, Eldrax didn't attempt to block or dodge with a direct response. Instead, she let the fury flow into her legs, leaping into the air, her wings beating with force, and then she dove toward Voralith with near-invisible speed.
The impact was devastating. Eldrax's claws scraped the ground around Voralith, creating craters where she landed. Though impressed by her opponent's evolution, Voralith managed to defend herself at the last second, spinning in a fluid motion and releasing another wave of flames.
However, this time Eldrax was prepared. She moved her wings to form a barrier, and the fire was partially absorbed and dissipated.
Voralith smiled. "Well done, little one. Now you're starting to understand."
Eldrax landed softly, panting, but her eyes glowed with a new understanding. "I... I did it?"
Voralith nodded, slowly approaching. "You managed to control your fury... for now. But remember, controlling power is a journey, not a destination. Every battle will be a test, and you'll need to reassess yourself constantly. But today, you took a big step."
Eldrax took a deep breath, relieved but still vibrating with excitement. She felt the power within her, but now, instead of being at its mercy, she began to feel like she was in control.
"But..." Voralith continued, her tone more serious. "The true test comes later. When you reach your full adult dragon form, that control will become even more difficult. You're still in your limited form, but once you fully evolve, the temptation to unleash all your power will be far greater. That's when the real battle begins."
Eldrax nodded, absorbing her mentor's words. "And when... when will that happen? The full evolution?"
Voralith crossed her arms, her wings folding around her body. "You're close. I can feel it. Your energy is boiling, ready to overflow. But evolution is not just about physical power. Your spirit and mind need to be ready too.
You must accept the responsibility that comes with that strength."
Eldrax closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the words. She knew the path ahead would be tough, but she also knew she was ready to face it. With Voralith by her side, she had a mentor to guide her.
However, before she could respond, a distant sound caught her attention.
Dante.
He stood at the arena's entrance, watching the battle with a curious and impressed expression. His eyes scanned both dragonesses with a mix of surprise and admiration.
"Seems like I missed the best part of the show," Dante said, walking slowly toward them, a playful smile on his lips. "Or do you two still have more tricks up your sleeves?"