Chapter 228: Meeting with Aunt

After bidding farewell to the girls and securing Aria's staff, I made my way back to my room, ensuring to lock the door behind me as a precaution.

With the staff in hand, I could feel the protective magic imbued within it activating, ready to defend its master at a moment's notice.

As I examined the staff, I couldn't help but marvel at its remarkable craftsmanship and the potency of its enchantments.

'Truly whoever made you was someone out of this world'

'Even back on my previous world I can't imagine even the highest-ranking mage being capable of imbuing this much magic circles on a single item'

As always It was clear that this was no ordinary weapon; it was a powerful tool imbued with ancient magic and imbued with a fierce sense of loyalty to its master.

However, as it recognized me as its master's beloved, the protective magic softened, allowing me to handle it without fear of triggering its defenses.

With a wry smile, I remarked on its spirited personality, reflecting on the charred ceiling and floor from a previous activation of its defense mechanism.

If I hadn't been its master's lover, I would have likely met a less than favorable fate.

As I settled into my room, lost in thought, a voice suddenly roused me from my musings.

"Master?" Meralda said as she rubbed her eyes while yawning.

"Sorry, it seems I woke you up"

"It's fine," Meralda said, her voice soft and serene as she stood upright, her emerald dress slipping slightly down her chest to reveal more of her delicate features.

Despite the unintentional display, she seemed unfazed by my gaze, her attention fixated on the staff in my hand.

"That's Master Aria's staff," she remarked, her voice still tinged with drowsiness.

"Yeah," I replied, activating various functions of the staff with ease.

The synchronization magic imbued within it was remarkable, allowing me to utilize its abilities effortlessly.

With a few adjustments and the authority granted by my sister, I was able to initiate a teleportation portal without difficulty.

The coordinates to the Kaksan forest were familiar to me, making it simple to pinpoint the location.

Turning my focus back to Meralda, I issued a brief command. "Meralda, I'll be away for a while. Keep the girls safe."

"Away? Where are you going?" Meralda inquired, her curiosity piqued by my sudden departure.

"To meet my aunt," I replied simply, knowing that Meralda was already acquainted with my family and understood the nature of my journey. With a nod of understanding, she offered her well wishes.

"Okay, take care, Master."

With Meralda's blessing, I conjured a portal before me, its dark, swirling depths lined with a faint blue glow.

Without hesitation, I stepped through, leaving the safety of the room behind and venturing into the unknown.

As the portal closed behind me, I bid farewell to Meralda.

Surveying my surroundings, I confirmed that I had successfully teleported to my intended destination. However, the sight that greeted me was far from welcoming.

I found myself standing in the midst of a desolate forest, where dead trees reached towards the darkened sky, shrouded by ominous clouds and a red mist that hung heavily in the air.

Dark fumes rose from the lifeless ground, casting an eerie pall over the barren landscape.

To an outsider, this place would indeed resemble the very depths of hell.

As I took in the grim scenery, my gaze was drawn to a towering tree in the distance, its immense size and blood-red leaves marking it as the world tree of this forsaken land.

It was a stark reminder of the corruption that had overtaken this once sacred place.

"Looks like the world tree of this place has completely turned into a demonic entity," I mused aloud, my voice carrying a tinge of disappointment at the sight before me.

While it was inevitable given the circumstances, it was still disheartening to witness the transformation of something once revered into a symbol of darkness and decay.

Despite its current state, I couldn't help but reminisce about the tree's former glory, its verdant foliage and majestic presence now a distant memory.

'Well things are bound to change for this world in the future anyway'

I just hope mom won't change too much...

Judging by the distance to the castle, I estimated that I was only a few kilometers away.

The fact that I could see the world tree from this far indicated that the castle wasn't too far ahead.

Despite my concerns, I remained hopeful that Nyarla would emerge from the encounter unscathed.

Still, the memory of Mother's unpredictable behavior lingered in the back of my mind, a constant reminder of the dangers lurking within her realm.

Aunt's touch brought me back to the present, her gentle caress tracing a path from my face to my shoulder and eventually settling on my chest.

"Hmm, it seems the goddess didn't do anything to you... except for the growing divinity inside you, not much has changed," she remarked, her red eyes shimmering faintly in the dim light.

"Well, she did forcefully make me enter her realm once more, but she didn't do much there," I admitted, recalling the unsettling experience of being summoned into Mother's domain.

"Oh my, how bold of her," Aunt exclaimed, her expression shifting from surprise to amusement.

"Knowing that goddess's pettiness, she probably tried to do something to you but gave up, as she knew what would happen if she did, no?" Her laughter filled the air, echoing off the walls of the chamber.

It struck me as odd how accurately Aunt seemed to grasp the nuances of the goddess's intentions, but I chose not to dwell on it.

Instead, I simply nodded in response, acknowledging her insight while silently contemplating the implications of the goddess's actions.

"Come now, we have much to talk about," Aunt beckoned, her voice carrying a sense of urgency as she began to stride purposefully into the depths of the castle, flanked by her attendants.

It struck me as somewhat peculiar to see demons willingly following her lead, their entranced expressions hinting at an underlying fascination or perhaps fear.

Nevertheless, I followed closely behind, falling into step beside her as she linked arms with me.

Loki trailed behind us; his carefree demeanor evident as he hummed a tune.

Observing Aunt's gestures and mannerisms, I couldn't help but notice the similarities she shared with Mother, not just in personality but also in the way she carried herself.

If Mother embodied chaos, then Aunt could be considered the embodiment of gentleness, yet beneath their outward differences lay a shared essence that was undeniably familial.

As we traversed the grand halls of the castle, I found myself pondering the whereabouts of Elaniel.

I had expected her to make her presence known the moment she laid eyes on me, yet her absence was conspicuous.

It was unlike her to refrain from seeking me out, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at the edges of my consciousness.

...

In Louise and Ana's room, Aria found herself awake despite the peaceful slumber of her companions. She gazed at Louise and Ana, nestled together on the bed they shared.

It had been a while since the three of them had slept together like this, and Aria couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment, relishing the opportunity to embrace the soft and comforting presence of Louise once more.

However, her thoughts soon turned to more pressing matters. Aria couldn't shake the nagging question from her mind: Why was Adrian suddenly so far away?

She could sense the presence of her staff, which was linked to her, but it seemed to be located somewhere distant.

Adrian asked for her staff just a few hours ago, leaving Aria to wonder why he had ventured so far from their current location.

As she pondered this, Aria couldn't ignore the fact that it was already nighttime.

'At this hour?'

The late hour only added to her sense of unease and curiosity.

Adrian rarely kept secrets from them, and any enigmatic actions he took were usually for their benefit in some way.

Shouldn't she respect his privacy and trust that he had a valid reason for his actions?

Yet, despite these rationalizations, Aria couldn't quell her curiosity.

After spending so long in the dark about Adrian's whereabouts, her desire for answers had become overwhelming.

With a conflicted sigh, Aria made a silent promise to apologize to Adrian for her intrusion.

Standing up from the bed, she reached for her cardigan to cover her sensual nightdress, which was very see-through in the dim light of the room.

Her red eyes began to glow with a vibrant blue hue, sparkling with the faint light of distant stars as she prepared herself for what she had to do.

There was one more thing she hadn't disclosed to Adrian about her staff since she began practicing with it back at the mansion: its ability to teleport her to any location where the staff resided, and vice versa. It was a handy and useful feature, built-in magic that added to the staff's versatility and utility.

Glancing one last time at the sleeping forms of Louise and Ana, Aria felt a pang of guilt for leaving them behind, but she knew she had to follow her instincts.

With a whispered incantation, she cast a protective barrier around the room, ensuring their safety in her absence.

While Louise's spirits were more than capable of defending them, Aria didn't want to take any chances in this unpredictable place.

With her preparations complete, Aria closed her eyes and focused her mind on the distant location where she sensed her staff's presence. In the next moment, her surroundings blurred and shifted,