The Young Demon Lord and her Maid-Knight

Everleaf smiled warmly and said, "Now let's chit-chat until Mila comes with snacks and tea. Then we can talk about your business without any disruptions."

They spent a few minutes discussing the bandits they had encountered recently. The conversation was lively and filled with animated gestures as they recounted their adventures. Just as the story reached a climactic point, there was a knock at the door.

Mila entered, carrying a tray with tea and cookies. She gracefully served each of them tea, carefully pouring it into their cups. After ensuring everyone had their refreshments, she gave a polite bow to them and the guild master, then quietly left the room.

Everleaf took a sip of her tea and smiled. "Now, where were we?" she asked, ready to dive into the main topic of their meeting.

Lilith began, "I took a job at the adventurer's guild in Bez'eru." She then started recounting the full story of the necromancer and the mysterious orb when Elara interrupted her, "Lilith, tell her about Jakinn."

Lilith nodded and continued, "Jakinn is a formidable being I encountered in the ruins. He defeated Elara with a single attack, and it was clear he was merely toying with me. After he overpowered us, he surprisingly healed me and began talking. He said he was testing us to see if we have what it takes to find the World Tree or, rather, a sapling of the World Tree."

The room fell silent as Everleaf absorbed the weight of Lilith's words, which hinted at the significance of their quest and the challenges that lay ahead.

"Oh, really?" Everleaf said, amused at some point. "I can tell you that the World Tree is no more, at least the old one, as Jakinn has told you. We elves, like dragons, are more connected to the world than most beings. But ever since the dragons left or disappeared, the World Tree vanished too. We elves know that the world can't live without a World Tree, so we had some theories about it. One of them is that around 10,000 years ago, the World Tree created a sapling as a safety measure because it knew its end was near. The World Tree is hidden, even from us elves. Only dragons know its true location, and I guess Aurora can find the sapling the closer you get to it. This theory is now backed up by what Jakinn told you about the sapling."

The room remained hushed, the gravity of Everleaf's words sinking in. Their quest, once daunting, now seemed to hold the promise of renewal and the hope of restoring a crucial element of their world.

Everleaf began again, "So, your plan is to gather supplies and leave Everwood when the time comes and Aurora is ready to guide you?"

"Yes," Lilith answered. "At the moment, I can only talk to Aurora in my dreams. She told me to travel east, but that's all I know for now. That's also one of the reasons we came back here. It was on the way, and we wanted to talk to you."

They talked some more, exchanging information and plans, then bid Everleaf goodbye. Lilith and Elara walked out of the guild and headed toward the merchant district, ready to prepare for their next steps. The bustling streets were filled with vendors selling exotic goods, adventurers bartering for supplies, and the air was thick with the scent of spices and the sounds of lively commerce.

"Look, there it is," Lilith said, pointing to a store with a big sign that read "Santos Merchant Group" over the entrance. It was one of the larger stores in the district, bustling with people coming and going.

"It's a lot bigger than I thought," Lilith said, baffled.

Elara nodded and said, "Yes, he is doing well. Now, Lilith, let's go meet him. He did tell us to drop by."

They made their way to the entrance, weaving through the crowd. The store's interior was just as impressive as its exterior, filled with a wide variety of goods neatly arranged on shelves. Customers were engaged in lively discussions with the merchants, examining wares, and making purchases.

As they approached the main counter, a tall man with a friendly demeanor looked up and smiled warmly at them. "Welcome! How can I help you today?" he asked.

Elara stepped forward and said, "Hello, Santos. It's good to see you again. We came by to discuss some supplies we need for our upcoming journey."

Santos's smile widened. "Elara, Lilith! It's been a while. Come, let's talk in my office. We can discuss everything you need in detail."

He led them through the store to a back office, where they could talk privately about their plans and gather the necessary supplies for their quest.

As they entered his office, Santos guided them toward an area designed for business discussions.

"Wow, this is a big office, Mr. Santos," Lilith exclaimed. "How come you were at the counter just now?" she then asked.

Santos smiled. "Well, you see, young miss, sometimes even the owner has to work. Working at the counter helps me stay connected with the customers. Who would ever want to stay away from business opportunities? And I was hoping to see you guys again after you saved my son and his caravan."

Santos stood up, walked over to his main office desk, and pulled out a trinket. He walked back and sat down. "This trinket is for you guys. If you are ever in need and you see one of my stores, just show them this and tell them what you need. They will help you in any way they can."

He then stretched out his arm and gave Elara three trinkets. "I notice that Ella is not here. Will you give her this too? It's from the adventurers she healed." He handed over a small pouch.

Elara accepted the trinkets and the pouch with gratitude. "Thank you, Santos. Your generosity means a lot to us."

Santos nodded, his expression warm. "It's the least I can do. You all have done so much for us. Now, let's discuss the supplies you need for your journey. We'll make sure you have everything necessary for your quest."

The group settled into a detailed discussion about their upcoming journey, listing the supplies they would need and planning their next steps with Santos's expert guidance.

"Well, with all those supplies, it might take me a week or two," Santos said with a smile.

"Oh, really? That fast?" Elara replied, amused. "I thought it would at least take a month. But I guess this just shows us how big a merchant you are."

Lilith nodded in agreement, not chiming in much since Elara was better at handling these kinds of discussions.

They bid each other goodbye and left the store behind, feeling a renewed sense of readiness and anticipation for the journey ahead. As they stepped back into the bustling streets of the merchant district, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the capital. They made their way through the crowd, their minds focused on the tasks ahead and the adventure that awaited them.