Realm Wars

In another dimension, somewhere in a rift, all sorts of creatures flew and sang above the blue sky. The river glided freely along its path, and the gentle ripples it created were peaceful in the ears.

In the middle of the lush forest laid a house. A house built with the big barks of trees. Its wood became its shelter, and its leaves became its roof. There was a small waterfall beside the river, and two bridges connected the treehouse to the other side.

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There were all sorts of plants and herbs surrounding it as well as exotic mushrooms and herbs, from Screaming Mandragons to shape-shifting Deadly Nightshade to Hawthorns holding portals to the deferent realms. 

At the entrance of every bridge, underneath the dense ferns stuck out lichen-covered wood. Barely visible letter carved and burned into its plank: Lizzaforth's Tavern

Ferris always found herself amazed every time she ventured into Lizzaforth's domain. Since she had nothing to do, hole up in her quarters to pass the storm, she might as well visit Lizzaforth and asked about that Legion Steel.

In the bushy plant and greeneries, Ferris spotted Lizzaforth's tail sticking out. 

"Yes. Yes. Three moons are the best season to grow my herbs," a raspy voice of an old man said, "Fleshy leaves, tapering roots, is grey on the outside and white on the inside with a sweet taste and burning after taste. You've grown perfectly, my Deadly Nightshade."

Lizzaforth picked the cherry-like fruit of the Deadly Nightshade and casually popped it inside his mouth. His long pointy nose turned red, and the tiny horns scattered on his scrawny bald head emitted smoke.

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"Wee. Deadly." Lizzaforth laughed, and Ferris wondered if you have to be mad to be a legendary alchemist?

"Lizzaforth," Ferris bellowed just in case he didn't hear her obvious footsteps.

Lizzaforth's big Elfen-like ears pointed up, and his long beard and brows shook at the sight of Ferris. "Ah. Ferris, it's good to see you again. How's the Demon Realm?"

Ferris restrained a scowl. Why is everybody asking that? "I didn't make it. Still stuck in the Mortal Realm. Currently stuck in the Nightmare Sea."

"Ah. I see. I see." Lizzaforth pretended to be interested before he trotted to his next plant.

He examined a thin stem of flowers with blooms of white, tiny petals like clouds. "Elders are sacred flowers that protect and bless a house. Hung over doorways, it stops curses and hexes. A perfect ingredient to make any blessed items."

Ferris yawned but didn't stop Lizzaforth. The older man was like that. She deduced that it would take at least half a day for him to finish his explanations.

Lizzaforth was an eccentric, moody old man, but once you hit the right way of conversing with him, then you'd have his friendship and services. The trick was. .. never to interrupt when he was talking about his precious plants.

Ferris might as well take a nap while Lizzaforth was talking. It's not like he cared as long as he wasn't interrupted.

"Don't you know that Parsley is called the devils oatmeal?" Lizzaforth laughed. "Now you do."

Ferris just snored.

"I think I might be out of Knotgrass soon with all these orders of Love potion." Lizzaforth brushed his bushy dirty white beard. "I always wondered what love is. What do you think, Ferris?"

The bubbles in Ferris's nose popped, and she snorted into waking up. "Huh?"

Lizzaforth raised a brow. "I said, have you ever been in love? What's it like?"

Ferris didn't know what emotion to portray. Did the old man just ask about love? Did she hear it right? But the seriousness in Lizzaforth face told her that he was not joking and he needed answers. Fast.

Love? It was a foreign word to Ferris. Not that she wanted to delve into that feeling. She was always alone and only thought of herself before Ryu.

".. ." Ryu. . . she didn't know why she wanted to protect that halfbreed. Didn't know why she was so fond of him.

Was it love?

Ferris shook her head and said with a stoic face, "Love is like what you feel towards your plants."

".. ."

".. ."

Lizzaforth and Ferris looked at each other for a whole minute before Lizzaforth laughed heartily.

"Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! That's it! You're right! You're absolutely right! Love is between my plants and me!"

A grin so wide made into Lizzaforth's mouth with a knowing expression on his face. "So you've finally been in love, ey? Good for you, Ferris."

Ferris was unmoving for a second before she stepped back and shrieked. "W-what! Of course not!" She was red all over.

"Ho! Ho! Ho! Don't be embarrassed. Even if you're a demon, you'll still not immune to love! Even the Demon King is not immune to love. It's a powerful universal thing!"

"Grr.. ." Ferris had enough of the old man. She didn't need him to fill her thoughts with unnecessary things. Thanks to him, she grew hot, her chest felt constricted, and the palpations of her heart hurt, and Ryu's face was hammering in her head.

She didn't think of it before, but now that someone pointed it out –– she was bothered.

At first, she was only fond of Ryu because he was too innocent. She wanted to protect that innocence. But lately, as he grew, Ferris didn't know what to do with him anymore, and she knew he would grow into a man.

An older, mature-looking Ryu. Ferris imagined his beautiful face matured as his chiseled body hardened and filled out in excellent proportions. . .

Saliva hung on her lips. She liked the thought more than she wanted to admit.

Ferris shook her head, trashing those thoughts at the back of her mind. Composing herself, she said in a no-nonsense tone, "Enough games, Lizzaforth. Let's get down to business as to why I'm here."

Lizzaforth chuckled, and he went back to his gardening. "And what that might be?

"I'm here for the Legion Steel."

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A/N

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* Generation of Heroes

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MiuNovels