With peace and balance now restored to the world of Sera, Jakinn sat beside the towering World Tree. "We did it, Sera," he said softly.
A shimmering fae spirit appeared before him, her voice gentle and filled with gratitude. "Yes, Demon Lord Jakinn. We did it—all thanks to your help. My world is once again safe, and now all is as it should be."
"What will you do now?" Sera asked, her form glimmering faintly in the light of the tree.
Jakinn tilted his head, lost in thought. "Hmm," he murmured. "I suppose I'll start by rebuilding the Demon House's so they can govern the demons. The orcs will return to the steppes, and the goblins to their forests."
He paused, his crimson eyes gazing into the distance. "I understand that there will never be true peace, for peace without conflict is not balance. But I will remain neutral, stepping in only when necessary.
"The elves, as always, act as if nothing has happened. They'll likely stay near you, Sera. The dwarves will continue their ways as they always have. Perhaps the realms of light and darkness will begin to open trade, though nothing is certain."
He sighed, his voice tinged with resolve. "As for the humans, I will travel to Algren and rule for a time. I'll ensure Queen Rhyna understands the path forward and help rebuild their cities. They are the last human kingdom, and it's only right that I guide them out of the ruin they've brought upon themselves through their greed."
"Do you truly think you can help them and guide them?" Sera asked, her delicate voice carrying a mix of hope and doubt. The soft glow of her spirit illuminated the space around the towering World Tree, casting faint flickers of light on Jakinn's contemplative expression.
"I believe I can," Jakinn replied after a moment of silence. His crimson eyes met hers, steady and resolute. "I have traveled to countless worlds, Sera. Each one taught me something different—how civilizations rise and fall, how they fight, build, and, at their best, support one another."
He leaned back slightly, resting his hand on the ancient bark of the tree as memories flooded his mind. "I've seen worlds where magic is scarce, almost non-existent. There, they rely entirely on their ingenuity. In one of those worlds, they created something extraordinary called trains—great machines powered by steam engines. Without magic, they designed these to carry people and goods across vast distances, connecting cities and fostering unity."
Sera tilted her head, her light shimmering with curiosity. "Steam engines? Machines carrying people? It sounds... wondrous, yet strange."
Jakinn chuckled softly. "It was both. And it inspired me. Such innovations may seem unnecessary in a world like ours, brimming with magic, but they could be invaluable. With the dwarves' unmatched craftsmanship and ingenuity, we could introduce similar inventions here—machines to ease labor, foster trade, and strengthen connections between kingdoms."
He paused, his gaze growing distant. "But progress is never without risk. These same advancements could also make war easier. Faster weapons, more efficient armies—tools that could be turned to destruction as easily as creation. That is the burden of progress."
Sera's light dimmed slightly, as if troubled by his words. "If that's true, isn't it dangerous to even begin?"
Jakinn's expression softened, a small, reassuring smile touching his lips. "It is a danger, yes. But the alternative is stagnation, and that breeds its own kind of chaos. I will not simply leave this world to chance. I've seen what happens when leaders fail to guide their people, when innovation is left unchecked and used for greed.
"My role will be to balance progress with wisdom. I'll work with the dwarves to build tools that strengthen unity, not division. I'll teach the humans how to lead with purpose, not greed. I won't let Sera fall into ruin again—not while I still walk this land."
Sera floated closer, her gentle light flickering warmly. "You carry so much on your shoulders, Jakinn. You've seen so much, and yet you still believe in them. Perhaps that's why the World Tree chose you."
Jakinn glanced at the mighty tree, its roots anchoring the very fabric of Sera. "Belief is all we have, isn't it? If I can help Sera grow stronger—if I can guide its people to build a world where balance endures—then everything I've done, every choice I've made, will have been worth it."
"And Sera," Jakinn said, his tone gentle, "even though you are the daughter of the World Tree, you did your duty as best as you could. It was Sera herself—the tree—who was too slow to react to the turmoil in this world. You carried more than your share of the burden."
Sera tilted her head, her light shimmering faintly as she pondered his words. "But... is it not strange for me to bear my mother's name?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"Not at all, Sera," Jakinn replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You and the World Tree are one. You feel her emotions, and she feels yours. There is no separation between the two of you—just different forms of the same soul."
Sera seemed to glow a little brighter at his words, but before she could reply, Jakinn straightened and clapped his hands together. "Ah, but don't worry. I have a gift for both of you. Wait here. I'll be right back."
Before Sera could ask what he meant, Jakinn stepped through a swirling portal, its light shimmering like liquid silver. The air around the World Tree stilled, the faint hum of its ancient roots filling the silence as Sera waited.
Roughly an hour later, the portal reopened, and Jakinn emerged, carrying something large and carefully cradled in his arms. Sera floated closer, her light flickering with curiosity.
"Wow," she gasped, her glowing form flitting around the object. It was an egg, as large as she was, its shell shimmering with hues of gold and deep blue. "What... what is this?"
Jakinn set the egg down gently at the base of the World Tree, brushing a hand over its smooth surface. "Well," he began, "one thing this world still lacks is true order. To bring balance and maintain it, I thought you might like a companion." He met her wide, glowing eyes and continued softly, "I'll be leaving this place eventually, but I wanted to make sure you are never alone. Not again."
Sera's glow dimmed slightly at the thought of his departure, but her attention quickly returned to the egg as he spoke.
"This egg," Jakinn said, his voice reverent, "comes from an Empress I once met—a dragon of immense wisdom and power. She vowed to grant me one of her eggs if I ever needed it, but only one. I've kept her promise in my heart, waiting for the right moment, and I believe this is it."
Sera floated closer, her light illuminating the intricate patterns on the egg's shell. "A dragon?" she whispered, awe filling her voice.
Jakinn nodded. "Yes. This egg comes from a race of dragons known for their magical knowledge and their mild yet firm way of seeing the world. They value balance above all else and act as guardians of order. I believe this dragon will not only be a companion to you but will also help you guide Sera into a new age of harmony."
He stepped back, watching Sera as she circled the egg. "Take care of it, Sera. In time, it will hatch, and when it does, you'll have a bond unlike any other. Together, you and this dragon will be the protectors of this world—guardians of the World Tree and its balance."
Sera's light shimmered brighter than ever as she turned to Jakinn. "Thank you, Jakinn. Truly. This gift... it's more than I could have ever hoped for."
Jakinn smiled softly, his gaze lingering on the egg. "It's the least I can do for you and this world."
"Now, let's build a nest for it," Jakinn said, his voice brimming with purpose. "As close to the World Tree as we can manage. The magical essence around the tree will flow naturally into the egg, nurturing it. When it hatches, it will know everything about this world and you, Sera. It will be ready to stand by your side as a guardian."
Sera's light shimmered with excitement, and a bright, radiant smile spread across her face. "I'm soooo excited! I can't wait for it to happen!" she exclaimed, her glowing form practically vibrating with energy. "How long do you think it will take?"
Jakinn scratched his chin thoughtfully, glancing at the egg resting beneath the World Tree's sprawling branches. "Hmm... let's see. The Empress told me it can take anywhere from 500 to 10,000 years for an egg like this to hatch. It all depends on the magical essence it absorbs. The purer the essence, the longer the process—but the dragon that emerges will be stronger and more attuned to its purpose."
Sera tilted her head, her glow dimming slightly as she murmured aloud, "Wow... that's such a long time. How am I supposed to wait that long?"
Jakinn chuckled softly at her impatience. "Don't worry, Sera. The Empress poured all her love and essence into this egg before entrusting it to me. Because of that, it's already brimming with potential. The only thing left is for your mother—the World Tree—to channel her magical essence into it through the leylines. Once that's complete, the hatching process will begin, and it will take much less time than you think."
Sera brightened again, floating closer to the egg. "So all I have to do is be patient and let my mother's magic do its work?"
"Exactly," Jakinn replied with a reassuring nod. "In the meantime, we'll focus on building the perfect nest for it. Something strong, protective, and infused with magic from the tree itself. That way, the egg will be surrounded by everything it needs to thrive."
Sera beamed, her light shining brighter than ever. "Let's get started right away! This is going to be amazing!"
Jakinn watched her with a faint smile, his heart warmed by her excitement. "Yes, Sera. It's going to be amazing indeed."