Chapter 315: Back Home!
The elevated treehouse slowly settled back into its peaceful morning rhythm after Jax spoke.
"To meet Willow and pick up Serika before we leave."
Seraphina immediately stood from her chair, "Oh!"
Her hand instinctively moved toward the small enchanted pouch of sweets the witches had gifted her, carefully clutching it against her chest like treasure.
Then her expression shifted.
"...Wait."
She looked around the treehouse again, spotting the glowing lanterns drifting lazily through the branches and the beautiful breakfast spread still lingering beneath warm morning sunlight.
Finally, Seraphina looked at the witches who had spent the last day treating her with unexpected kindness and the realization that she was leaving and probably won’t see any of them for quite a while settled in.
Several witches noticed immediately, one smiled softly, "Don’t worry. Lord Jax just needs to reunite you with your family. Once everything is settled, you can come back and visit for as long as you want,"
Another one of the Witches nodded, "And we’ll show you the floating gardens," a third added.
Seraphina’s violet eyes widened.
"There are floating gardens?!"
The witches laughed softly, "There are many things you haven’t seen yet. Our dimension is quite massive y’know,"
Seraphina heard that and hugged the small pouch tighter, "...Then I’ll come back."
The confidence in her voice earned several warm smiles from the Witches, "You better."
Jax watched quietly for a moment before finally gesturing toward the staircase.
"Come on."
Seraphina blinked and then hurried after him, "Wait for me!"
The duo exited the tree-house and returned to the exterior, being hit by the beautiful environment of the Witch Dimension early in the morning.
Sunlight was still spilling throughout the endless flowery canopy overhead while crystal-clear rivers shimmered beneath elegant stone bridges they walked across.
Mana drifted lazily through the air like harmless glowing embers. Seraphina walked beside Jax this time rather than clinging to him.
Her bracelet shimmered softly around her wrist as she looked around one last time.
"...It’s really pretty here."
"Yeah," Jax answered simply.
She looked up at him, "You come here a lot?"
"Sometimes," Jax responded.
"To see Willow?" Seraphina quickly asked.
"Among other things, but that’s usually the main focus. Also to help whenever something is going wrong," Jax said.
Seraphina tilted her head, "You’re really close to her?"
Jax thought about it for a second.
"Yeah I am, we work quite well together, " Jax said, thinking back to his last ’meeting’ with Willow, a sly smile forming on his lips.
Meanwhile, that answer seemed to satisfy Seraphina as after that, the duo simply continued walking without any need for urgency or danger, as they knew they were completely safe.
All that could be heard aside from the sound of their steps was the sound of rivers and soft wind moving through the endless flowers.
After around 5 minutes of walking, the duo arrived at the guest quarters Jax had stayed last night, prepared for him by the Witches.
"Woah, this place is so beautiful," Seraphina said as she saw it for the first time.
What should have been a temporary guest residence looked closer to a luxurious retreat built into nature itself.
Elegant white stone wrapped naturally through flowering trees. Vines curled along balconies. Crystal lanterns glowed faintly despite daylight.
Seraphina stared at it and then turned to Jax, "...This was for you?"
Jax glanced at it, "Yeah, it was quite comfortable. It’s probably the best place I’ve stayed at aside from the Demon King Palace of course, they put quite a lot of work into making it comfortable, I can tell that for sure,"
As Jax was responding, he opened the door and stepped inside, already sensing that Serika was already awake and standing in the room.
The moment Jax opened the doors, warm herbal scents greeted them, and once he stepped inside, Jax spotted that Serika was already ready.
The beautiful fox-woman sat gracefully near one of the open windows while sunlight illuminated her silver hair and elegant features.
Her fluffy purple fox tails swayed lazily behind her as she looked up from the tea she’d been drinking, an alluring smile appearing immediately on her lips as she saw Jax, turning into a warm expression as she saw Seraphina.
"There you are, I missed you when I woke up," Serika said to Jax, winking as she took another sip of her delicious morning tea.
Seraphina brightened as she looked at the Fox lady, "Serika! Good morning,"
The fox-woman laughed softly and looked at Seraphina specifically, "Good morning again, Little Princess, I hope you’ve been good,"
"I have!!" Seraphina stressed with a smile.
Then Serika golden eyes shifted toward Jax knowingly, "You took your time."
Jax raised an eyebrow, knowing she was wondering if he did anything with Willow and just smiled, "You were sleeping."
"Was," Serika immediately responded, standing up smoothly, "But not anymore."
Seraphina looked between them curiously, wondering what internal lingo she was missing out on but instead just deciding to ask, "You’re all ready?"
Serika nodded to her question, "Mm-hmm."
Her gaze softened briefly as she looked toward Jax, "You handled everything?"
"Dimension’s fully stable." Jax said, and hat immediately made Serika relax.
"Good."
Jax stepped closer while Seraphina wandered toward one of the glowing window displays, distracted by floating magical butterflies outside.
"You feeling better?" he asked, about the earlier morning.
Serika smiled faintly, "Completely."
She reached up briefly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Though sleeping in a Witch Dimension might’ve helped."
A small moment of quiet passed between them. Then Serika stepped closer.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Jax smiled, "You’re certainly welcome,"
He said, resting a hand lightly against her shoulder for a moment, "We should get moving."
She nodded, "Ready whenever you are."
With Serika with them, they headed to the Star Sanctuary.
The trip toward there felt much quieter and less tense than the last time Jax headed there, as the instability that had hung over the dimension before had completely vanished.
Celestial currents flowed perfectly overhead. The stars above shimmered brighter now, alive again, and when they finally arrived, Willow was waiting.
The tall Witch stood near the edge of the sanctuary gardens, emerald hair moving softly beneath the breeze.
Her glowing green eyes lifted the moment they approached, and unlike when they first arrived, she actually looked well rested.
"Looks like it might be time to say goodbye huh," Willow said.
"Looks like it is," Jax muttered with a smile.
Then, Willow just nodded, turning her attention back towards Seraphina. The beautiful witch crouched slightly so they were closer to eye level.
"You enjoyed your stay here Little Princess?" Willow asked.
Seraphina nodded immediately, "Very much!"
Her eyes lit up, "The flowers glowed and everyone was nice and I got gifts and there were floating fruits and—"
She stopped only because she ran out of breath but Willow just smiled softly, "I’m glad."
Then her gaze shifted toward the bracelet, "Looks like they claimed you."
Seraphina blinked, "Claimed?"
"Not literally."
Jax interrupted immediately.
Willow looked mildly disappointed.
"I was joking."
"You’re bad with kids."
"I disagree."
Seraphina looked increasingly confused.
Serika quietly hid a laugh.
Eventually Willow straightened.
Her expression softened as she looked toward Jax again.
"...Thank you."
This time there was no teasing.
No humor.
Just sincerity.
"If you hadn’t come..."
She didn’t finish the sentence and she didn’t need to as Jax already understood.
He shrugged lightly.
"You called."
Something faint shifted in Willow’s expression after hearing that.
Then she smiled.
"...Still annoying."
"You like me."
"Unfortunately."
That earned the faintest smirk from him.
Silence settled briefly afterward. Finally Willow crossed her arms.
"So...When are you visiting again? You didn’t even come until we had a problem and called you,"
Jax thought briefly, "I’ll be back sooner than last time for sure, and I won’t need you to call me,"
"Keep your promises Jax," Willow said, and her expression softened as she said that, glancing back towards Seraphina, "And bring the Little Princess back sometime,"
The little Princess herself heard that and brightened instantly, "Really?!"
"Of course, you still haven’t seen half the dimension. There’s a lot for you to explore," Willow said, and that alone left Seraphina feeling very excited for her future visit.
The trio talked a bit for while longer but eventually, there wasn’t much left to say. Goodbyes lingered softly beneath drifting petals and artificial starlight.
Then Jax finally stepped forward.
"Alright."
Mana gathered around him. Golden energy spread quietly outward as space itself bent beneath his authority.
Seraphina instinctively moved closer and Serika stood calmly beside him.
Willow folded her arms lightly.
"Don’t disappear for too long."
"I know," Jax said and smirked.
Then, reality around the three of them folded. The Witch Dimension vanished in a pulse of celestial light, and moments later, they reappeared within the Demon Capital.
Warm familiar mana greeted them instantly. Towering obsidian architecture stretched across the skyline. The palace stood proudly against the horizon while morning activity had already begun below.
Servants moved through the halls. Mana lanterns glowed softly. The atmosphere shifted immediately from dreamlike serenity to structured royal order.
Seraphina blinked rapidly.
"...We’re back already?"
"Yeah."
Her shoulders slumped slightly.
"...Aw."