Primordial Soul's Rebirth

The imperial city of Melanochelys was unlike anything the others had ever seen.

It was built into and around the enormous roots of the world tree as if it were a living organism as much as a settlement.

Houses were grown, not built—curved structures of woven branches, bioluminescent vines coiling gently along their surfaces, casting soft, dreamlike glows in hues of blue, violet, and pale gold.

Bridges of root and moss crisscrossed the air, connecting levels of the city like threads of a great tapestry.

The scent of blooming flora and damp earth filled the air as strange creatures flitted through the shelter—winged lizards, glowing moths, and sentient pollen sprites that giggled as they passed overhead.

Alex walked calmly at the group's center, hands in his pockets, gazing across the surreal cityscape.

Alice was at his right, her eyes dancing with fascination as she leaned slightly against him, her curiosity clear in every subtle motion. "This place feels... ancient. And alive."

Ann nodded on his left, expression thoughtful as she glanced at a flower that bloomed in response to their presence. "It's like every step we take is being watched."

"Watched... or welcomed," Seraphyra murmured as she summoned her wings, which, unlike normal demons, who had fleshy wings, were feathered.

She floated an inch above the ground, enjoying the peace.

'Are those the wings of an angel?' Alex wondered, recalling how her race was a mix of angel and demon.

[Her mother was probably an angel.]

Sophia spoke in his head, looking at Seraphyra in wonder, as even she was surprised when she saw Seraphyra's race.

'Probably since her father, as the son of the demon ancestor, was a demon.'

Alex nodded inwardly, wondering what kind of backstory she had.

Did angels really exist? If they did, where were they?

Also, what happened to Seraphyra's mother and father? How did they die?

There were many questions but no answers.

All he knew about Seraphyra was that she was an antagonist candidate, and after turning evil, she was probably supposed to awaken her demon bloodline, which was still dormant in her.

Once it awakened, she would likely become a fallen angel.

However, he wanted to know more.

So, he will talk to Azaroth next time they meet.

His gaze then found Violet, walking a little behind, her pace quiet and measured.

Her expression was distant, but her eyes scanned constantly, never lingering long enough to be noticed but always alert.

She clearly hadn't relaxed since the encounter with Barbara, especially when she learned Emberlyn's identity.

Oh, and Emberlyn wasn't with them.

She had stayed behind to talk with Barbara, as it had been a long time since they had talked.

Soon, the group passed a trio of young elven children chasing a floating dandelion seed the size of a melon.

Unlike Vaelith, they weren't depraved; they were pure and innocent.

They stopped to stare at the foreign visitors, their eyes wide. Their gaze was especially focused on Alex and Seraphyra.

One of them even waved shyly.

Seraphyra returned the wave with a flutter of her fingers, smiling just slightly. The child gasped, then ran off giggling.

"You're surprisingly popular," Ann teased under her breath.

"Hehe," Seraphyra giggled, loving the atmosphere.

It varied from the atmosphere of the demon empire she was used to, but she liked this more.

If she could, she would just stay here and never go back.

Walking through the city, they reached a wide, elevated square nestled in the crook of two enormous roots.

It was bustling with activity—elven merchants called out in melodic tones, peddling goods made from forest silk, crystal honey, mana-infused fruits, and even tiny, bottled sunlights.

The marketplace was lively yet peaceful.

There was no shouting or pushing, just gentle laughter and song-like conversation.

Ann raised a brow at a stand selling "soul-flavored tea" and muttered, "I certainly want to try it."

She was intrigued to discover a drink with a soul flavor. After all, her bloodline revolved around souls, and her main attacks were also related.

"Try it if you want," Alex nudged her, encouraging her to try, and Ann, with a smile, stepped forward.

She was going to try it.

Alice, on the other hand, suddenly grabbed Alex from the side and dragged him toward a nearby stall where translucent fruits pulsed faintly like tiny hearts. "Try this one! It smells like moonlight!"

Alex blinked. "What does moonlight smell like?"

"I don't know!" Alice laughed. "That's why you're trying it!"

He let her press the glowing fruit to his lips.

It was oddly cold, then warm, and then... somehow nostalgic. He blinked in surprise. "Tastes like... our first night together."

Alice's eyes widened, then softened. "...really?"

"Why would I lie?" He smiled faintly, picking up another one under the owner's smile. "Try one yourself."

Looking at the fruit with his all-seeing eyes, he discovered they were called the fruit of memories.

These fruits helped one remember any one of their favorite memories.

"Hehe," Alice giggled as soon as she bit the fruit, probably seeing something funny.

"What was it?" Alex asked when she came to, but Alice laughed again.

"Come on..." He groaned, and Alice finally revealed.

"It was about when I had covered your face with paint while you were asleep."

Alex sighed, wondering why that was one of her favorite moments.

Violet, walking behind them, watched all this, her face unreadable, but she turned her gaze away when Seraphyra floated beside her.

"You okay?" The angel asked gently.

"I'm... fine," Violet answered, though her voice was distant. "Just making sure no one here tries to be an idiot."

"Don't worry," Seraphyra said with a quiet smirk. "If anyone does, Alex will just sigh and erase them."

Now, she called him Alex, as he had asked her to.

Violet, however, just sighed at her words.

"That's what I'm afraid of," Violet muttered.

Meanwhile, Ann, who had tasted the soul-flavored tea, wandered over to a weapons merchant and inspected a strange dagger made of bone and vine.

Just then, Alex approached her from behind.

"So? How was the tea?"

"It was quite bland," she answered without turning back.

"I see," he whispered, his arm wrapping around her waist from behind.

The shopkeeper, an elderly elf holding a cane, looked at Ann's choice of weapon and nodded approvingly.

"Made from a Grimroot Wyrm's rib," he explained. "Unbreakable. Binds to the user's intent."

Ann tested its weight. "Not bad."

"Interested?" the merchant asked.

"No," she said, handing it back. "I'd break it eventually."

The elf blinked before he repeated. "It's unbreakable—"

Crack—Shatter!

But before the guy could complete his words, Alex, with a relaxed expression, broke the dagger into two pieces.

"What was that you said?" He asked, and the shopkeeper, staring at the pieces of the dagger, muttered softly. "Unbreakable..."

Alice, walking toward them, saw the pitiful expression of the shopkeeper and tossed a gold coin at him.

Clink!

"Keep it," she said, waving her hand. "And try to be more honest next time."

"...Um," the shopkeeper, staring at the coin in his hand, called out to her, but Alice just waved again.

"Just keep it."

With that, she walked away, joining the group, only to notice Alex, Ann, and Seraphyra suppressing their chuckles.

Even Violet seemed to be having a hard time keeping her expression stoic.

"...What?" Alice asked, her eyes shifting from one to another.

The others exercised their right to remain silent, but seeing Alice puffing her cheeks, Alex had no choice but to speak.

"You know... that was the demon empire's currency. It isn't worth anything here—"

Before he could complete his words, Alice had already widened her eyes, but controlling her expression, she cut him off.

"I know!" She exclaimed, her voice raised like a cat whose tail was stepped upon. "It was still gold. That's why I gave it to him."

Glaring at Alex, whose lips still trembled as he averted his eyes, she gritted her teeth. "At least I was thoughtful. Thoughts matter!"

"It doesn't seem like that, though..." Seraphyra, looking at the old shopkeeper throwing away the gold coin, muttered.

Her voice was low as she didn't want Alice to hear it, but the girl still heard it, making her stomp and walk ahead.

For a while, Alice kept sulking, but under Alex's soft touches, she soon melted into his arms, smiling happily again.

The group then continued walking deeper into the market; they passed a raised platform where an elven bard strummed a harp grown from living wood.

Her song was a gentle lullaby that seemed to soothe the very ground. A small crowd had gathered to listen, eyes closed, smiling peacefully.

Alice nudged Alex's side. "Let's sit."

He gave a half-shrug and let her pull him to the square's edge.

The others joined, even Violet, though she sat a few paces away, arms crossed but listening quietly.

The strange thing, however, was that she had never seen this bard before, and although it made her frown, she waved it off as the music pulled her in.

The melody wasn't magical in the combat sense, but it stirred something in all of them. A kind of peace none of them had known in a long time.

When the performance ended, the bard opened her eyes and looked directly at Alex.

"You walk with great weight, stranger," she said softly, not unkindly. "But you do not let it crush you. That's rare."

Alex nodded once, a glint passing through his eyes, yet he smiled. "I don't plan to be crushed by anything."

The bard smiled, then returned to her playing.

Later, the group wandered toward a grove where moonlotus flowers bloomed in full daylight, surrounded by floating stones that hovered just above the ground like resting spirits.

Seraphyra lay among the petals, sighing. "This place is going to ruin my standards for beauty."

Alice stretched beside her. "I could stay here for weeks."

Ann leaned against a stone, golden eyes half-lidded. "We won't have that luxury. But for now... this is nice."

Violet stood nearby, looking up toward the upper boughs of the world tree below which Barbara slept.

Her hands were clenched tightly, but her posture remained calm.

Soon, Alex stood and dusted off his coat. "What do you all think about an aerial tour of this empire?"

The girls' eyes brightened at those words, curious to see how the world looked from above, but the problem was...

"Can Miss Ann fly?" Violet asked, making all of them turn toward Ann.

The petite girl, however, smiled, jumping into Alex's arms. "There, I can fly now."

Alice, who had already used her phoenix authority to summon fire wings, groaned as she saw that. "Damn it. Why did I not think of that?!"

Ann, on the other hand, turned to Violet. "The only one left now is you, right?"

That question paused Violet, as the real reason she had pointed out Ann's inability to fly was because she wanted shelter, but now, she couldn't use Ann as a cover.

"...yes," she replied honestly, only to see Alex's arm extended towards her, making her tilt her head in confusion.

.................................

A few moments later.

"...wow," Violet muttered as, for the first time, she saw Melanochelys from above, and it was honestly mind-blowing.

It looked like a living island surrounded by water, as it was a large piece of land away from the mainland, where the demon, dragon, beast, and human empires were.

Turning to Alex, who held her hand, helping her fly, Violet spoke.

"Thank you," her voice was soft and grateful as she really felt grateful.

Alex, however, just smiled. "Anytime."

The others, flying beside him, also beamed.

It was peaceful.

They didn't know if the next day would be the same, but at least today, they could enjoy this peace.