"LILITH!"
A loud shout echoed through the guild hall as Lilith stepped inside. Before she could react, a blur of crackling lightning shot toward her, and in the next instant, she was wrapped in a tight embrace.
"Where have you been?!" Maia's voice trembled with emotion as she clung to Lilith. "I thought you died in that dungeon!" Her grip tightened for a moment before she pulled back slightly, her eyes misty with unshed tears. "I was so worried…" she sniffled, rubbing at her face.
Lilith chuckled and ruffled Maia's hair. "There, there… look at me, I'm fine. You should know by now—I'm the strongest one you know." She smirked, trying to lighten the mood.
Maia gazed up at Lilith, studying her for a moment before exhaling deeply. "…I guess you're right," she muttered. Then, her expression shifted, and a small smile played on her lips. "But I bet you have one hell of a story to tell."
Before Lilith could reply, Maia grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward a familiar table surrounded by her usual group of friends. Right behind them, moving with quiet curiosity, was Zenith.
"Well, well, look what Maia found," Gilion chuckled as Lilith approached.
"Told you she was fine!" Jimmy grinned triumphantly, nudging Stella with his elbow.
Stella simply rolled her eyes, while Jess studied Lilith with mild amusement—until her gaze flickered past her and landed on Zenith. Her brows lifted slightly in curiosity.
"And who's this?" Jess asked, tilting her head.
Lilith glanced over her shoulder. "This is Zenith. I met her not too long ago, and she's going to be traveling with me for a while." She gestured for Zenith to step forward. "Come on, introduce yourself."
Zenith hesitated only briefly before stepping up beside Lilith. Though her posture remained composed, there was a hint of stiffness in her movements, as if she wasn't entirely used to social situations like this.
Maia's eyes widened as she suddenly realized the girl had been standing there the whole time. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't even notice you!" she blurted, flushing slightly. Quickly, she held out her hand. "I'm Maia—sorry for all the screaming earlier."
Zenith took her hand and shook it firmly, her golden eyes unwavering. "I'm Zenith. Nice to meet you all."
Maia beamed at her. "So, how did you and Lilith meet?"
Zenith glanced at Lilith before answering in a calm, matter-of-fact tone. "Well… we're sort of cousins, in a way. My mother asked her to take me with her so I could see the world."
A brief silence fell over the table as the group processed that information.
Gilion was the first to break it, leaning forward with an intrigued grin. "Cousins, huh? Now that's a story I want to hear."
Lilith sighed, already bracing herself for the questions to come. This is going to take a while…
As the day faded into night, the guild became even livelier. More mercenaries poured in, filling the hall with the clinking of tankards, bursts of laughter, and the occasional rowdy argument. The air smelled of ale, roasted meat, and the faint hint of adventure lingering in every tale being exchanged.
Lilith leaned back in her chair, stretching slightly as she finished her story. "And there you have it," she said, swirling the drink in her cup. "That's how I met Zenith and how we're… related."
Of course, she had left out quite a few details. No one here needed to know that she and Zenith were born from the magic of World Trees. Some truths were better kept to herself—for now.
Maia, who had been listening intently the whole time, finally spoke up, her expression a mix of awe and disbelief. "So let me get this straight… You found a merchant in a desert inside a dungeon, got teleported to another dungeon, and that's why you've been gone for two months?"
Lilith simply nodded.
Maia blinked, then slumped against the table. "That's insane…" she muttered.
Gilion, who had been silently observing Lilith for most of the night, narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew she was holding something back—she always did. But he didn't push, at least not yet. Instead, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"It's a well-known fact that if you run into the Desert Rats Merchant Group inside a dungeon, you're lucky," he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "They don't show themselves to just anyone. Some say they're a myth, but there are plenty of mercs who've claimed to travel with them in the past."
He leaned forward slightly, giving Lilith an appraising look. "That alone is rare enough. But to top it off, you also met a dungeon pixie? Now that's something to be envious of."
"Damn right it is!" Jimmy cut in, his eyes practically shining with excitement. "I've always wanted to see one of those cuties up close! Are they really as tiny as people say? Do they glow? Do they ride around on floating pebbles like in the stories?!"
Lilith smirked as she took a slow sip of her drink. "Oh, they're definitely tiny. And yes, they glow."
Jimmy groaned dramatically, slumping back in his chair. "Man, that's not fair."
Zenith, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke. "You wouldn't have been able to keep up with them anyway," she said flatly. "They're fast."
Jimmy looked personally offended. "Hey! I'm very fast, thank you!"
Zenith just shrugged. "Not pixie fast."
Maia chuckled, shaking her head as the night continued on, the warmth of companionship filling the air.
As the night deepened, the once-lively atmosphere of the guild began to settle. Conversations grew softer, and the clinking of tankards became less frequent as exhaustion took hold. The warm glow of lanterns flickered, casting long shadows against the wooden walls.
Lilith exhaled slowly, setting down her cup. She looked around at the familiar faces, the people she had fought beside, laughed with, and shared drinks with. A bittersweet feeling settled in her chest.
"Well, guys," she finally spoke, her voice calm yet carrying a weight that made the others turn their attention to her. "I have some sad news."
A brief silence followed before she continued.
"Zenith and I are leaving the city tomorrow. I only came back to find you all and say goodbye."
A chair scraped against the floor as Maia suddenly sat up straighter, her brows furrowed. "Goodbye?" she repeated, her voice uncertain. "Wait, are we not going to see you anymore?"
Lilith met her gaze, a soft yet sad smile forming on her lips. "The world is big… maybe too big," she admitted. "I don't know if our paths will cross again. We can only hope."
A heavy stillness filled the air, the weight of those words settling over the group. The guild had always been a place of reunions and farewells, but this one felt different—more final.
"Let's go," Lilith said to Zenith as they stepped out of the guild and into the cool night air.
"Where to?" Zenith asked, tilting her head.
Lilith gave her a small, knowing smile. "Home."
With that single word, they moved swiftly into a nearby alley. A pulse of magic shimmered around them, distorting the space for a brief moment—and then, in the blink of an eye, they were gone.
When they reappeared, Zenith felt the air shift, warmer and filled with an ancient, lingering power. She gasped as her eyes landed on the massive tree before her, its colossal trunk stretching endlessly into the sky. Its branches spread out like an emerald sea, vast beyond comprehension. At its heart, embedded within the tree itself, stood a grand castle, its structure seamlessly intertwined with the roots and wood, as if it had grown there naturally over time.
Zenith stared in awe. "Lilith…" she whispered, pointing toward the castle. "That… that's your home?"
Lilith nodded, her gaze soft with nostalgia. "Yes, Zenith. That is my home." She exhaled, taking in the sight before her. "It's been about five years since I left… and I see they finally finished it." A smirk played on her lips as she turned toward the entrance.
"Come on," she said. "Let's go say hello."
As they walked closer to the towering tree, Zenith noticed tiny flickers of light dancing through the air, weaving between the leaves and roots like fireflies on a warm summer night. The lights shimmered in hues of gold, blue, and green, their glow soft yet mesmerizing.
"Are those… pixies?" Zenith asked, her golden eyes wide with curiosity.
Lilith followed her gaze and smiled. "No, Zenith," she said gently. "Pixies don't exist here. What you're seeing are faeries and nature spirits." She extended a hand, and a few of the glowing orbs drifted closer, circling her fingers playfully. "I guess they've noticed the World Tree's presence again."
Zenith tilted her head. "Noticed?"
Lilith nodded. "They must have sensed that the World Tree is awakening. And now, they've all gathered here, drawn to its energy." She let out a small chuckle. "Looks like they're welcoming us home."