"Who exactly?" Jayden asked in surprise.
"An old friend. You want to get stronger, right?" Luke asked quizzically.
"Of course, I do! Let's go meet your friend. I hope she'll actually be able to help me get stronger," Jayden replied eagerly.
"Okay then." Luke walked over to a tree he hadn't cut down, crouched, and began to draw strange symbols on the ground.
"Over here," Luke motioned. Jayden moved closer, curious, as Luke inspected the glowing lines one more time.
Peering over, Jayden recognized the pattern. "That's a teleportation magic circle, right?"
Luke nodded. "Let's go."
He muttered an incantation under his breath, and the symbols flared to life in a brilliant green glow. The air shimmered, and before Jayden could say another word, Luke jumped in — Jayden followed immediately.
A blinding flash engulfed them. When their vision cleared, they were standing in a different forest entirely.
It was unlike anything Jayden had ever seen. Towering trees shimmered with emerald leaves, and crystal-clear rivers wound through fields of glowing flowers. The air felt alive — thick with magic, almost humming with energy. The sky shimmered with soft rainbows, and a warm, golden sun hung low, bathing the forest in a dreamlike light.
"This place… where are we, Dad?" Jayden asked, eyes wide in awe.
"This," Luke said, spreading his arms, "is the Fairy Queen's Forest — a sacred realm accessible only to a chosen few. The mana here is almost pure. You can feel it, can't you?"
Jayden took a deep breath, and his whole body tingled. "Yeah. It's… refreshing. The air feels electric."
Luke chuckled. "Enough sightseeing. The person we're looking for is down there." He pointed toward a distant castle, glimmering faintly beneath the rainbow sky. "Let's go."
He sprinted ahead along a yellow brick road that wound through the forest. "Keep up if you can, son!" he called with a grin.
Jayden smirked. "What a loser. Break."
The lines flashed for a second before breaking.
A surge of energy burst through his legs, lightning crackling around him, and he shot forward like a bolt. The wind roared in his ears as the landscape blurred past — trees, rivers, and glowing spirit lights flashing by in streaks of color.
He caught up quickly, but before he could pass his father, Luke stopped abruptly. Jayden skidded to a halt, confused.
"What was that about? Scared I was going to pass you?" he teased.
"Keep dreaming," Luke said, his tone playful. "Our host has arrived."
A radiant figure descended from the sky, surrounded by petals of light. Her long, flowing green hair shimmered like fresh leaves, and her wings — translucent and glowing — fluttered gently as she touched the ground. Her dress was woven from vines and leaves that shimmered with soft golden patterns.
Jayden stared in stunned silence as she glided toward them — and before he could react, she wrapped Luke in a warm embrace.
"Oh, Luke! You came to visit! It's been so long," she said with a musical laugh as Luke spun her around playfully.
Jayden raised an eyebrow as disgust was clearly shown on his face. "So not only are you a cheater, you're also a pedo?"
Luke groaned. "I'm neither," he said flatly. "Let me explain. Flora, this is my son, Jayden. Jayden, this is Flora — the Queen of this forest. And she's… much older than she looks."
Flora giggled softly. "That's true. I'm the Queen here — and an ageless being at that. Your father and I are close friends."
With a wave of her finger, the air shimmered, and the three of them began to float gracefully toward the distant castle.
"Okay, explanation time," Flora said as they glided. "Your father and I met long ago, before you were born. There was a time when the barrier between the fairy and demon realms weakened. A flame dragon broke through and burned half the forest."
Her voice softened, eyes distant. "I was desperate for help. I sent my spirits to the human world, and they brought back your father. Together, we sealed the barrier and slew the dragon. I would have perished that day if not for him."
Jayden stared at Luke in awe. "So that's how you got the title Dragonslayer?"
Luke nodded. "Yeah… but it was a team effort."
"Do you live here alone?" Jayden asked, glancing down at the seemingly empty forest.
"Oh, that reminds me," Flora said with a smile. She leaned forward and kissed Jayden lightly on the forehead.
A green light flashed in his eyes — and suddenly, he saw spirits everywhere, hidden until now.
Jayden could now see spirits of all shapes and colors dancing across the forest floor — tiny glowing beings, animals made of mist, and trees that seemed to breathe.
They danced around trees, sang in flowers, and floated through the air like fireflies.
Jayden sighed in relief. "Oh good, for a second I thought my charm was working on you."
Flora laughed. "We're here."
They landed before the castle — a majestic structure of golden stone entwined with glowing vines, waterfalls cascading down its sides, and great double doors engraved with runes.
As they entered, the doors closed behind them with a soft thud.
"So, what do you seek?" Flora asked as she gestured to a servant fairy to bring refreshments. "Anything within my power, I'll grant."
"I want Jayden to take a mana pill — to awaken his mana core," Luke said. "Maybe I'll take one too."
Flora frowned slightly. "You know his magic isn't… normal, right?"
Luke nodded. "Yup. We're well aware. Let's start the ritual."
Flora sighed and lifted her hand. Two small white orbs materialized, glowing faintly. "Lie down," she ordered gently.
Both obeyed. She handed each a pill. "Jayden, this will hurt. Stay strong. Your father's used to it."
Jayden nodded confidently and swallowed. At first, nothing happened — then agony tore through his body.
He screamed as veins bulged and his body convulsed violently. Foam gathered at his lips while Luke lay calmly beside him, fainted.
Flora noticed residual wind magic traces on his neck.
Flora sighed. "He must've knocked himself out with magic again," she muttered. "Cheater."
Jayden's body continued to thrash until glowing lines began etching themselves across his skin and spreading outward — glowing sigils crawling across the floor, reaching through the castle and out into the forest.
Then, for one brief moment, he stopped. His lips parted, and he whispered:
"Break."
The world shattered.
The castle walls turned into trees, lakes into chocolate, and the soil into cocoa. Flora's eyes widened in horror.
"What… just happened?" she whispered.
A sinister, familiar aura crept across the air — the barrier had cracked.
"No… no, not again! His power— it broke the seal!"
With Luke and Jayden unconscious, Flora had no choice. She summoned her spirits, her wings flaring wide as emerald flames surrounded her.
"I won't let history repeat itself!" she cried, taking to the skies as the air filled with the scent of ozone and war drums of magic thundered in the distance.