Beneath the sunlight, which fell like a sacred curtain, the Spirit Tree Pavilion shimmered like a treasure displayed in a museum. It brought a sense of comfort and stability to those who gazed upon it.
However, Nidhogg currently had no leisure for such appreciation.
These stones, large and small, tall and thin, had grown limbs. Some swayed awkwardly and moved forward side to side. On their chests were inverted triangular magic sigils.
Nidhogg dismounted and drew his Lordsworn's Greatsword.
He remembered that if these stone guardians were simply destroyed in the usual way, they would continue to regenerate. Only by directly striking their weak point could regeneration be halted and them truly be defeated.
Their weakness was the small doll hidden within the magic sigil. If it was destroyed, the stone guardian would lose its automatic regenerative power and could be easily damaged.
Torrent also stomped his hooves on the ground, looking eager for a try.
At that moment, a soft feminine voice resonated in Nidhogg's mind: "It's alright. Come in. I'll have them stop."
And indeed, as soon as the words were spoken, the moving stone statues halted.
Then they all returned together, retreating back into their original holes, as if nothing had happened.
Nidhogg couldn't help but look up in surprise at the second floor of the Spirit Tree Pavilion, at the closed latticed window.
Was that "recitation"? Magic initiated by a sorcerer, allowing conversation directly inside another's mind?
Suddenly, flashes of white light coalesced beside him. A slender figure in a hooded cloak, short chestnut hair fluttering in the wind, emerged and stood next to Nidhogg.
"Huh? Xiaomei? Why are you here?" Nidhogg asked in surprise.
Melina kept her eyes closed, ignoring Nidhogg's repetitive form of address. She first glanced at the Spirit Tree Pavilion, then at Nidhogg, and said quietly, "It's alright."
After she finished speaking, she quickly dissolved into white light and vanished on the wind.
"Huh? Xiaomei? Mei Mei? Messi?" No matter how Nidhogg called this time, Melina didn't reappear. "Finally shows up once and runs away in less than two sentences. No wonder so many people say it's just you."
"Am I right, Torrent?"
Torrent snorted white vapor from his nostrils, baring his big teeth and gums at Nidhogg. This was presumably agreement.
At that moment, the door of the Spirit Tree Pavilion creaked open.
A short figure appeared at the doorway. She first glanced at the stone guardian statues that had returned to their holes, then at Nidhogg and Torrent. Her big eyes were full of curiosity and confusion.
At the same time, Nidhogg looked at the small figure who had pushed open the door. If he wasn't mistaken, this should be the little witch, Schierke.
Today's Schierke was still a bit immature. The magic robe on her body fit well, but her pointed witch's hat was too large for her, as if it wanted to cover her entire body, revealing only a bit of green hair.
And the magic staff, also a head taller than Schierke, was quite conspicuous in comparison.
As Nidhogg looked at Schierke, he suddenly sensed something strange nearby. He immediately spotted a small pink figure flitting before his eyes, flapping nearly translucent wings and emitting a faint, tinkling sound.
A goblin.
Nidhogg had finally met the legendary goblin.
"He looks like a handsome fellow." Ivalera, the tiny goblin only the size of a palm, flapped her wings and hovered in the air, staring intently at Nidhogg. She half-covered her mouth with her hand, half acknowledging, half teasing.
Then Ivalera executed a figure-eight dance in the air and landed on one of Torrent's horns.
She sat there, her little legs dangling, and asked curiously, "What kind of elf are you? Why have I never seen one before?"
Torrent whinnied, shook his head, and shooed the goblin perched on his horn away.
"Stingy!" Ivalera made a face at Torrent, then returned to Schierke and landed on her shoulder.
"You're an invited guest, aren't you?" Schierke finally spoke, a little nervously. She hadn't seen anyone besides her teacher in a long time. "Please come with me. My teacher wishes to see you."
"Alright." Nidhogg agreed. Then he touched Torrent's mane, and Torrent dissolved into a flash of white light and merged into his golden ring.
Schierke and Ivalera blinked in surprise, then looked at each other, but remained silent.
Nidhogg walked across the lawn, stepped onto the slope and the carved wooden stairs, and approached the door of the treehouse, standing next to Schierke.
Due to the height difference, Schierke had to look up to see Nidhogg's face.
"Please follow me." Schierke was short. She lowered her head a little shyly and entered the house first.
Ivalera on her shoulder waved at Nidhogg with a rather enthusiastic smile.
Nidhogg followed Schierke inside and saw the structure within the hollowed-out treehouse. Bottles and cloth bags were placed on carved shelves, and strange plants grew in pots.
There was also a door leading to other rooms, and a wooden staircase leading to the second floor. It seemed the interior space of the entire Spirit Tree Pavilion was utilized to the maximum.
"Teacher is upstairs," Schierke said, leading the way up the wooden staircase. She lifted the hem of her magic robe and climbed up carefully and cutely.
This scene gave Nidhogg a sense of déjà vu—that she might be a bit careless and roll down like a ball.
However, thankfully, this embarrassing and unfortunate event didn't occur. Nidhogg deeply regretted it.
Nidhogg followed the little witch again, climbed the wooden staircase, and after passing through a short tunnel, entered a spacious room on the second floor.
Nearby, on the latticed window, was a magic pentagram. The window, like a branch, reflected warm sunlight, enveloping the noble lady sitting on the chair.
The woman sat on a wooden chair, simply dressed, yet possessed an indescribably noble character. Though her face bore wrinkles, one could barely discern the beauty of her youth.
She smiled slightly at Nidhogg, Schierke, and Ivalera, and said, "Schierke, sorry for the trouble. Hello, Mr. Nidhogg. Welcome to the Spirit Tree Pavilion. I am Flora, the mistress of this place."
"Hello, Lady Flora. Forgive my presumptuous visit." When Nidhogg saw this woman, he couldn't help but be impressed.
"It seems my friend from the astral world's intuition is not wrong." The witch Flora looked at Nidhogg, her gaze fixed on his chest. "You truly possess strange abilities."
"They do not belong to the Four Kings, do not belong to the astral world, do not belong to the Mad God, do not belong to the Sage, do not belong to the Abyss. This power simply emerged from nowhere. I have never seen it before."
"Since you hold the compass, you are an invited guest. Please, sit. Forgive my inconvenience and poor hospitality. Schierke, please trouble yourself once more. Pour tea for our guest."