After a long while,
Elia came to a stop.
“We’re here. This is the place.”
The cave Gaji had told her about appeared before their eyes.
She asked Gaji quietly.
‘Gaji, is this really it?’
[Yes, this is it.]
“This is the place.”
Elia climbed down from Dmitri’s back.
Alexis had gestured for her to come stand by his side.
Campbell pulled out a lantern from his magic bag and lit the way ahead.
“I’ll lead the way. Follow behind me.”
The knights remained alert as they followed Campbell deeper inside.
Flutter!
Bats hanging from the ceiling swarmed toward them, but Felix scattered some powder, startling them into fleeing.
“Impressive, Sir Felix.”
Campbell gave a thumbs-up, and Felix scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
“Well, now I’m embarrassed.”
Felix had packed all sorts of things for this expedition.
Who would’ve thought it would come in so handy?
When he heard they were going to collect legendary herbs, Felix had begged to come. When told it was too dangerous, he looked dejected.
He understood he might become a burden—but his expression had been so earnest that they ended up bringing him along.
“Hold on a moment.”
Elia stopped walking and looked at Alexis.
“Your Grace…”
A chill ran down her spine, and goosebumps rose on her skin.
Sensing something, Alexis shouted to the knights.
“Everyone, prepare for battle!”
At his command, all the knights drew their swords.
Ssssss—
A powerful bloodlust engulfed them.
“Elly, get back.”
Elia did as instructed and pressed herself against the cave wall.
A moment later, a massive snake appeared before them.
Just like Gaji had said, it had golden scales.
Alexis was just about to engage in battle when—
[Guardian of the World Tree.]
The golden snake locked eyes with Elia.
Its gaze was so intense that she couldn’t look away.
At that moment, Gaji jumped off Elia’s shoulder.
[Elly, I’ll go talk to it.]
Gaji walked up to the golden snake.
Meanwhile, Elia ran over to Alexis and grabbed the hem of his coat.
He looked at her, puzzled.
“Your Grace, please wait a moment.”
“Wait?”
“Yes. Just for a little bit.”
The Duke looked at her as if asking for an explanation.
Elia pointed to the snake.
“I think… that snake has something to say to me.”
Alexis turned his gaze to the golden snake.
The snake gave a slight nod.
He looked back at Elia.
“You’ll be alright?”
“Yes, I think so.”
With a nod, Alexis sheathed his sword.
“All units, stand down. Retreat.”
“Your Grace?”
“I said, retreat.”
At his firm command, Dmitri slung his greatsword back over his shoulder.
“You heard His Grace! Sheathe your weapons and fall back—move!”
Dmitri pushed the knights to the rear.
Elia approached Gaji.
Gaji and the snake were already speaking.
[Elly, come here.]
When Elia stepped forward, the golden snake lowered its head and looked at her.
[It says it wants to go with you.]
‘What?’
[It says it used to be the spirit beast of Amanda.]
‘Amanda?’
[Yes.]
Among the rules of the World Tree was one stating that current guardians must not be informed about the previous ones.
Thus, current guardians knew only that there had been predecessors—they didn’t know who they were.
Elia had never heard of the previous guardian either.
[Amanda was the founder of the Duke Cartellani family.]
Then why did this snake want to follow her?
And why was the beast Amanda had raised here?
‘I want to speak to it myself.’
Gaji hopped back onto Elia’s shoulder.
With that, the communication previously going through Gaji now connected directly between Elia and the snake.
Apparently, the only reason the snake had spoken earlier was because Gaji had been there.
[My master once told me I would meet a new master someday.]
‘That’s me?’
[Yes. Guardian of the World Tree.]
She couldn’t understand it.
‘Why me?’
[That, I do not know. I only follow orders.]
The snake’s loyalty was unwavering.
But it was strange.
In her three past lives, she had never come to this place.
Why had she come here in this life?
She didn’t know the answer.
[Take the herbs, Guardian. You will need them.]
The golden snake moved aside.
There, two luminous herbs sparkled brilliantly.
One was the Breath of the Unicorn.
The other—the Star Crystal.
‘Are you sure it’s okay for me to take both?’
[Yes.]
‘Thank you.’
Elia quickly collected the herbs.
Then the golden snake lifted its head toward her.
[Place your hand on my forehead.]
Up close, she saw a gem embedded in its golden-scaled forehead.
Elia placed her hand there.
A bright light exploded—and the golden snake transformed into a bracelet that wrapped around her wrist.
From the golden gem set in the ring-shaped bracelet, a faint hum could be heard.
[I will accompany you in this form. If you wish, I can return to my original shape at any time.]
‘What’s your name?’
[…Gold.]
‘Did your previous master name you that?’
[Yes. Her naming sense was truly terrible.]
‘So is it okay if I call you Gold too?’
[Call me whatever you like.]
‘Gold, I’ll be in your care from now on.’
[…Could you maybe give me a different name?]
‘You don’t like it, huh?’
[Now that I think about it, being called that by a new master too is kind of sad. Give me a new name. Something cool and pretty, if possible.]
He must have really been yearning for a better name.
Elia thought for a while and then decided.
‘How about Stella? It means “star in the night sky.”’
[I like it.]
Elia looked down at her wrist in amazement.
She’d never imagined something like this.
Suddenly, a thought popped into her head, and she asked,
‘Stella, do you know about the dragon’s lair?’
[Yes.]
‘Really?’
[I do. But I can’t tell you right now.]
‘Why not?’
[An evil spirit guards it.]
‘An evil spirit?’
[The spirit that once protected the lair turned into a wraith after the dragon, its master, returned to the gods.]
When Elia showed interest in the dragon’s lair, Stella spoke firmly.
[Its loyalty to its master was so strong that no human who entered the lair ever came back. In your current state, you wouldn’t survive.]
She had to admit it was true.
Elia’s young body wasn’t yet strong enough to wield the World Tree’s power.
‘Would it be possible once I’m older?’
[I’m not sure.]
But Stella saw the determination in Elia’s eyes.
[Even if I stop you, you’ll go, won’t you?]
‘Yeah. It’d be a waste not to.’
But she wasn’t planning to go just yet.
Just like Stella said, she was still too young.
‘Let’s go after I grow a bit more.’
Then, using the World Tree’s power wouldn’t hurt her body.
When Elia turned with the herbs in hand, Alexis’s shocked face came into view.
Alexis had watched Elia walk toward the golden snake, clenching his fists tightly.
His hand hovered over his pommel, ready to strike if anything happened.
But nothing did.
He glanced at the knights.
Dmitri and Campbell also had their hands on their weapons, observing the situation.
They all knew.
That Elia was the Guardian of the World Tree.
And that such a young guardian already seemed to bear a great burden.
The lives of the World Tree guardians had never been easy.
They were used, betrayed, killed.
‘Elly must’ve known that too.’
That if she continued on as a guardian, dangers would be inevitable.
Which is why Alexis believed she had chosen him as her guardian.
That’s why he wanted to protect her.
What had she gone through to come and ask him, personally, to be her guardian?
While he was tense and watching closely, he saw something astonishing.
Elia… was speaking with the golden snake.
‘Are they… communicating?’
After some exchange, the golden snake bowed its head to her.
As if recognizing her as its master.
“Ugh…”
When Elia’s hand touched the snake’s forehead, a dazzling light burst forth.
When the light faded, the golden snake had vanished.
Only Elia stood there, holding the herbs.
She turned and looked at Alexis, then walked over to him.
Alexis simply stared.
“Your Grace, were you surprised?”
“…Yeah, a little.”
“Let me put these in the magic bag.”
“Of course. Campbell, bring the bag.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Campbell opened the bag, and Elia placed the herbs inside.
