There’s something called a heads-up, but our Lord doesn't know that, apparently...

There was a difference between knowing 'oh, I'll live there someday' and 'oh, we're going there now?' and it was apparent in my dazed expression as I stared at Natha blankly.

"Like...right now?"

He caressed my hair and answered with a smile. "Mm, right now. Doesn't have to be long," he paused while tucking the hair blown by the wind behind my ear. "Just a night is fine. How about it?"

"Oh..." I blinked to ponder about it. So it was kind of like his weekly visit, just that I would be the one visiting there. Perhaps he just wanted to see if I found it okay there. "So...like a trial?"

"We can call it that," and then he leaned down, not toward me, but to talk to Jade. "Unfortunately, the little bird had to stay."

Obviously, the little guy chirped angrily at the Demon Lord. "Then get strong quickly, brat," Natha smirked childishly at the baby bird.

"Do we depart now?" I asked curiously.