Realmwalker

As Lilith stumbled out of the portal Ratatoskr had created, she found herself enveloped in the shadows of an old, crumbling throne room. The heavy silence and the sense of desolation tugged at her memories. "Oh, this is familiar," she murmured, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

But before she could process further, pain tore through her chest. She crumpled to the ground, coughing violently, blood splattering on the cold stone floor.

A low, mocking voice resonated from the shadows. "You look confused, young demon lord. You made me wait far too long. And worse—you let your guard down in a place that felt familiar. How disappointing."

Lilith, still coughing, raised herself onto her knees, glaring into the darkness. "Show yourself!" she demanded, her voice raw but filled with defiance.

The shadow obliged, stepping forward to reveal a tall figure. The dim light revealed sharp features, a cruel smile, and an aura of unshakable confidence.

"You..." Lilith croaked, her vision narrowing as rage boiled within her. "You..." Her eyes darkened, magic surging uncontrollably as her body gave in to the strain. Everything went black.

The figure, unfazed, chuckled lightly and walked toward her unconscious form. "Did I really hit you that hard, or did all that training with the squirrel leave you spent?" He knelt down, scooping her up effortlessly, and placed her onto the cold, abandoned throne. "Rest now, little demon lord. You've much to learn."

When Lilith awoke, her body still ached, and her magic flickered weakly. She murmured a name: "Jakinn…"

"Ah, so you do remember me," the same voice said, this time with a cheerful tone. Jakinn leaned casually against the side of the throne, arms crossed. "I'm honored, really. It's been quite a while since we last spoke, hasn't it? And I see a lot has changed. Imagine my surprise when your dragon companion started chatting with me. I didn't think Aurora could manifest like that, but it seems the mana-rich realm of Babelheim worked wonders."

Lilith sat up slowly, wiping dried blood from her lips. "How did you know I was in Babelheim? Did Aurora tell you?"

Jakinn laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, I spoke plenty with Aurora, but not about that. You see, Lilith, I'm what you might call… a travel agent of sorts. It was my plan to send you there and get that ancient squirrel to teach you."

"Wait… Ruby sent me there, though," Lilith interjected, confusion lacing her voice.

Jakinn smirked. "True. But who do you think sent Ruby to you?"

Realization dawned on Lilith, her eyes narrowing. "It was you, wasn't it? All of this—was it your work?"

Jakinn's smirk widened. "Precisely. Everything I've done was to prepare you. Your world, Eldoria, needs balance, and you're the one destined to bring it. While you've been gone for about five months here, nothing bad has happened. If anything, your absence brought some much-needed calm."

"Five months?" Lilith gasped, her voice rising in shock.

Jakinn nodded, nonchalantly. "Yes, give or take. In that time, your group has camp on a beach, just waiting for you. They're waiting for you near the World Tree."

"But enough of that," Jakinn continued. "Let's talk about you. Your journey in Babelheim wasn't just training—it was transformation. You're no longer bound to a single realm. You're a Realmwalker now. With this power, you can traverse worlds just as I and a few others can. And believe me, few possess this gift. It was meant to be."

Lilith listened, processing his words carefully.

"Your strength has outgrown Eldoria," Jakinn said, his tone turning serious. "But strength without knowledge is dangerous. You'll need more to protect your world—especially if other demon lords or heroes discover how to realmwalk themselves and come knocking on Eldoria's door. To defend her, you'll need to learn far more than you know now."

Jakinn leaned closer, his expression softening slightly. "That's why I'll guide you to other realms. The first one I recommend is Xandoria—a realm where you can delve deeper into magic. You've barely scratched the surface of what you're capable of. In Xandoria, you'll find an academy that specializes in magic, and I suggest you focus on shadow magic. It's versatile, subtle, and will help you protect yourself and others in ways brute strength can't."

Lilith's gaze hardened, determination flaring. "So you want me to leave Eldoria again?"

"Not forever," Jakinn replied. "But if you wish to stand as its protector, you need to become more than you are now. Seek the knowledge and return stronger. Only then will you be ready for the challenges ahead."

Lilith stood, her posture resolute. "Fine. Show me the magic signature for Xandoria. I'll go and learn everything I need to."

Jakinn smiled, his eyes glinting with approval. "That's the spirit. But don't forget—you need to go to the World Tree sapling first. It's where your journey truly begins. The sapling holds knowledge and power you'll need to protect Eldoria. And Lilith…" His tone softened, a rare gentleness lacing his words. "You don't need to go alone."

Lilith's eyes widened for a moment, but her small smile remained. "That's good to hear," she murmured.

Jakinn's tone shifted, growing stern. "But remember, Lilith," he warned, "don't speak to others about your ability to travel between realms. It can end badly for you. Realmwalking is a rare and dangerous gift, and many would seek to exploit or destroy it out of fear or ambition. And one more thing—be cautious of worlds too advanced in technology compared to yours. You'll feel out of place, and worse, you might not survive."

Lilith frowned, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean by that? Advanced how?"

Jakinn folded his arms, his gaze distant as if recalling another time and place. "In those realms, magic becomes intertwined with technology, giving rise to something called Technomancy. It's a rare discipline, combining magical energy with advanced machinery. But such realms have little natural magic left, and their focus shifts to innovation instead of tradition. If you find yourself in such a world unprepared, it could be overwhelming."

"So, magic dies in those realms?" Lilith asked, a slight edge in her voice.

"Not dies," Jakinn corrected, "but it changes, adapting to fill gaps where natural mana is scarce. The less magic a realm has, the greater the chance technology takes over. When they strike the right balance between the two, Technomancers are born. A fascinating concept, but one you may not encounter—at least, not yet."

He leaned forward, his expression softening. "But that's a lesson for another time. Right now, you've got more pressing matters."

Jakinn straightened and gestured for Lilith to come closer. "Come, lean your head here," he said, his voice calm but insistent. "I'll give you the knowledge you need for your journey. This will point you to the World Tree sapling and prepare you for the road ahead."

Lilith hesitated briefly before obeying. She leaned forward, closing her eyes as Jakinn's hand reached out. With a single finger, he touched her forehead. A surge of magic flowed from his hand, hot and heavy, sinking into her mind like molten light.

The sudden influx of knowledge hit her all at once—images of the World Tree sapling glowing with ancient energy, pathways through Eldoria that seemed hidden yet familiar, and flashes of potential dangers along the way. Her knees buckled slightly, but she kept herself upright.

Jakinn withdrew his hand, watching her intently. "There. You now have the guidance you'll need to reach the sapling. It's not a straight path, and it won't be without challenges, but I trust you'll figure it out."

Lilith took a moment to steady herself, blinking as the vivid visions settled into her mind. "Thank you," she said quietly, her voice filled with a newfound resolve.

Jakinn gave her a rare smile. "Go, Lilith. The World Tree awaits. And remember, you're not alone. Even in the darkest moments, your strength lies not just in power, but in the bonds you've forged and the lessons you've learned. Don't forget that."

Lilith smiled warmly at Jakinn, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes as she suddenly blinked next to him. "But Jakinn," she began with a teasing tone, "why don't I just blink to Elara? I can sense her, after all."

Jakinn raised an eyebrow, then chuckled, clearly impressed. "Oh my, I see. That old squirrel taught you well," he said with an amused grin. "If you can already sense and lock onto someone's magical presence, then yes, finding her should be easy. But let me warn you, young one—just because you can doesn't always mean you should. Direct jumps without understanding the terrain or the situation can leave you vulnerable."

Lilith tilted her head curiously. "When did you meet Ratatoskr, anyway?"

Jakinn paused, his amusement shifting to a more thoughtful expression. "Well," he began, "I didn't actually meet him. I met his wife, Zecond. It was… quite some time ago, when I was around your age. Well, your age in appearance, not in years. I was what—14, 15? I had just become a demon lord and was in over my head. I was on the brink of death, cornered by enemies I wasn't ready for. And then…"

He trailed off, his gaze distant as if reliving the memory. "I felt a presence far away. It was faint, almost like a whisper on the wind, but it gave me a sense of safety. I focused on it, desperate for anything to save me. Before I knew it, I was in another realm entirely. That's how I discovered realmwalking."

Lilith's eyes widened. "So you didn't learn to realmwalk—it just… happened?"

Jakinn smirked. "Desperation has a way of unlocking potential. But enough of that," he said, waving off the conversation with a flick of his hand. "We can talk about my past another time—when you've grown into a true demon lord."

Lilith's smile faltered briefly, her curiosity unsatisfied, but she nodded. "Alright, Jakinn. But one day, I'll want to hear the full story."

Jakinn chuckled again, his gaze sharp and proud. "One day, little one. But for now, focus on your journey. You have a long road ahead, and Elara is waiting."

Lilith smirked with a playful glint in her eyes. "Alright, Jakinn. Goodbye, and… thanks, I guess, for being my travel agent."

Jakinn laughed, shaking his head. "You're welcome, young one. But remember this, Lilith—a True Demon Lord always strikes first. Never let others get the upper hand. If you hesitate, it can cost you everything, and clawing your way back from that is no easy feat."

His expression darkened slightly as he continued, "It's better to ask for forgiveness later than to beg for your life. Like when you arrived here—I hit you hard because you let your guard down. Never let that happen again. Always be ready when stepping out of a portal or blinking. Stay alert, no matter how familiar the surroundings seem."

Lilith's smile softened as she nodded. "I understand. I'll remember your advice, Jakinn. Thanks for everything."

Jakinn gave her a small nod, his stern demeanor giving way to a hint of pride. "Good. Now go, young one. Your journey awaits."

With that, Lilith turned and stepped through her next portal, the magic swirling around her as she disappeared from sight.

Left alone in the crumbling throne room, Jakinn leaned against the old throne, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest. "What a special one she is. It'll be entertaining to watch her grow… and to see just how far she'll go."

His laughter echoed through the empty halls, the shadows seemingly dancing to his amusement.