Steam rose from the jacuzzi’s surface in lazy spirals. I stretched my arms along the smooth stone edge, letting the hot water work at muscles I’d forgotten could be sore. Swimming for hours had consequences apparently.

  Faith sat across from me, her head tilted back against the rim with her eyes closed. Isabella occupied the adjacent corner, perfectly still except for the occasional shift of her wings beneath the surface.

  Aria floated in the centre, her tail swishing contentedly through the bubbles.

  “Did you get everything you wanted?” I asked her.

  Aria opened one eye. “Everything’s safe in my ring. Clothes, food, couple of trinkets that caught my attention.” She grinned. “Though it’s a shame we can’t take anyone back with us.”

  Faith’s eyes opened. “What do you mean?”

  “Saw this cute Verdani girl working at the spa yesterday.” Aria’s expression turned wistful. “Would complement Bellas perfectly. Different aesthetic, you know? Variety.”

  Isabella straightened slightly. “The Academy has rules, Aria. How exactly were you planning to transport a mortal? Stuff her in your spatial ring?” Her tone carried dry amusement. “We’ve got at least six more realms to visit.”

  “I know about the rules.” Aria waved a hand, sending ripples across the water. “Doesn’t mean I can’t complain about missed opportunities.”

  Faith’s fingers drummed once against the stone edge. Her jaw worked like she wanted to say something, then thought better of it.

  The silence stretched for a beat too long.

  Faith shifted forward, breaking the moment. “What’s the Academy actually like?” Her voice was carefully neutral. “Since I’ll be attending soon.”

  Aria’s expression brightened immediately. “You’re going to love it. Mostly.” She counted on her fingers. “Mathematics with Professor Vox is straightforward if you can handle numbers. History’s interesting when Professor Scarlet isn’t punishing students for breathing wrong. Biology with Tiamatha gets hands-on, which keeps things engaging.”

  “Hands-on how?” Faith asked.

  “Demonstrations. Live specimens.” Aria’s grin turned wicked. “Actually, speaking of demonstrations, there’s this whole section in Seduction Theory where Professor Moira brings in—”

  “Save some details for Faith to explore on her own,” I interrupted.

  Aria turned to me, eyebrows raised. “What? I’m being helpful.”

  “You’re being you.” I met her gaze. “Let her discover some things herself.”

  “Spoilsport.” But Aria’s tone was playful. She settled back into the water with an exaggerated sigh.

  Faith’s shoulders had relaxed slightly. “I appreciate the warning anyway.”

  “The warning is that Aria will absolutely try to drag you into terrible decisions,” Isabella said without opening her eyes. “Plan accordingly.”

  “Hey!” Aria splashed water in Isabella’s direction. Isabella’s hand rose, deflecting the spray with a small barrier that shimmered and vanished. “I make excellent decisions.”

  “You make entertaining decisions,” I corrected.

  “Same thing.”

  Faith laughed quietly. The sound was becoming more common. Less guarded.

  Aria stretched her arms overhead, back arching. “You do have a point though, Lily. Half the fun is figuring it out yourself.” She let her arms fall back into the water with a splash. “Ready to get moving soon? Arborea’s waiting.”

  “Forests and elves and probably terrible decisions,” Isabella murmured.

  “The best kind,” Aria agreed.

  I closed my eyes again, letting the heat soak deeper. “Few more minutes.”

  No one argued.

  * * *

  The jacuzzi’s warmth still clung to my skin as we padded back across the tile floor. Water dripped from my hair, leaving a trail of dark spots behind us.

  Inside our suite, I pulled magic through the familiar pathways, focusing on the moisture saturating my hair. Heat built between my palms as I held them near the white strands. Steam rose in wisps. The dampness evaporated within seconds, leaving my hair dry and slightly static.

  Faith stood nearby, running her fingers through her own wet locks with visible frustration. Water still dripped down her neck.

  “Come here,” I said.

  She turned, eyebrows raised.

  I gestured. “Let me help.”

  Faith approached slowly. I positioned my hands near her hair, careful not to make contact. The spell activated, drawing moisture out through controlled heat. Her hair lightened from dark brown to its natural shade as it dried.

  “That’s useful,” Faith murmured.

  “One of the first practical things I learned.” The last drops of water vanished. “Done.”

  “Thanks.”

  Aria emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel, her own hair already dry. She headed straight for the pile of clothes on the nearby chair. “So, what’s the plan? Casual comfort or something with flair?”

  I pulled a simple outfit from my spatial ring. Black pants, dark shirt. Nothing complicated. “Just dress quickly. We’re changing again once we reach Arborea anyway.”

  Aria held up a purple top with strategic cutouts along the sides. “But I want to look good before we get there.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “We’re literally walking through a cave to a transport gate.”

  “Your point?” Aria examined a matching skirt. “Standards, Lily. We maintain them.”

  I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Fine. Just be quick about it.”

  “Always am.”

  Isabella was already dressed, her silver hair perfectly arranged despite the recent swim. She checked the room methodically, opening drawers and scanning surfaces.

  I pulled on my clothes, then retrieved the bundle of cash Aria had taken from Osweald’s wallet. The week-long booking had been mandatory—apparently the resort didn’t rent by the day. Fortunate that the trio had been carrying enough to cover it with plenty left over.

  “Ready?” Isabella asked.

  Faith nodded, adjusting her shirt.

  Aria smoothed down her skirt with a satisfied smile. “Now I’m ready.”

  The corridor outside was quiet, carpeted in soft blue that muffled our footsteps. Sconces along the walls cast warm light across the polished wood paneling. We passed three doors before reaching the elevator alcove.

  I pressed the button. The mechanism hummed somewhere above.

  The doors opened with a soft chime.

  Three Malani men stood inside. Osweald’s eyes widened slightly. Ilos and Deort flanked him, their expressions shifting from neutral to interested.

  Faith went rigid beside me.

  I leaned close, keeping my voice low. “Relax.” My shoulder brushed hers. “They don’t even remember the details. And if they do?” I shrugged. “From their perspective, they had a pleasant evening with four beauties.”

  Faith’s jaw remained tight, but she nodded.

  We stepped into the elevator. Isabella moved to the panel, her finger hovering over the ground floor button.

  “Ladies!” Osweald’s voice carried practiced charm. The decorative bands on his horns caught the light as he turned. “What excellent timing. We were just discussing—”

  “We’re in a real hurry.” Isabella’s tone was pleasant but final. Her hand pressed the button.

  “Surely you have a moment?” Osweald shifted closer. “Perhaps breakfast? My treat, naturally.”

  Isabella’s eyes met his directly. Magic whispered through the air—subtle enough that most people wouldn’t catch it. “We appreciate the offer, but we truly can’t spare the time.”

  The suggestion settled over Osweald like invisible silk. His expression smoothed slightly.

  “Of course.” He stepped back. “Perhaps another time.”

  “Perhaps,” Isabella agreed.

  The elevator descended in silence broken only by the mechanical hum. Ilos watched Aria with obvious appreciation. Deort’s gaze lingered on Faith, who stared determinedly at the door panel.

  The doors opened on the ground floor.

  “Enjoy your stay,” I said over my shoulder as we filed out.

  “You as well,” Osweald called after us.

  We crossed the marble lobby without looking back. The entrance doors opened automatically, letting in the salt-tinged air from outside.

  Faith exhaled slowly once we were clear of the building. “That was…”

  “Fine,” I finished. “See? No problem.”

  “They were staring.”

  Aria laughed. “We are succubi! Of course they were staring. Appreciatively.”

  The path to the transport gate wound through carefully maintained gardens. Purple-tinged sunlight filtered through the unusual foliage overhead.

  “Next stop,” Isabella said. “Let’s see what Arborea has to offer.”

  * * *

  The world shifted.

  My feet touched solid wood. The air changed—lighter, cleaner. Softer somehow.

  I blinked away the portal disorientation. We stood inside a massive hollowed tree trunk, its interior smoothed by centuries of use. Carved runes spiralled up the inner walls, glowing faint amber. Natural light filtered through gaps in the wood above.

  Faith inhaled deeply. “It smells… fresh here.”

  She was right. Not the salt-and-spice freshness of Yocasta’s ocean breeze, but something earthier. Green. Living.

  “We need glamours,” Isabella said. She was already reaching for her magic. “The mortals here aren’t accustomed to seeing demons.”

  Aria tilted her head. “Why bother? We could just pretend we’re deeplings. They’re basically this realm’s version of Malani, right?”

  “Technically, yes.” Isabella’s expression remained neutral. “Not exactly welcomed everywhere, though.”

  I nodded. “Better to blend in. We’re near an elven settlement anyway.” My fingers moved through the familiar motions. Magic pooled beneath my skin.

  The glamour settled over me like a second skin. My horns faded, intangible. My tail followed. The spell created false flesh where needed—nothing too drastic. My ears shifted slightly, elongating to proper elven points. My hair remained white, but now it could pass for an elven variant rather than a demonic marker.

  Around me, the others transformed similarly. Aria’s purple eyes dulled to a more mundane shade. Isabella’s silver hair took on a platinum blonde cast.

  Faith’s transformation was subtle—mostly hiding her small horns and adjusting her skin tone slightly.

  “So.” Aria glanced between us. “Where to now?”

  “There’s an elven town nearby.” I gestured vaguely toward where the guide book had indicated settlements existed. “But this was Faith’s idea.” I turned to her. “Your call.”

  Faith’s eyes lit up. “I want a classic adventure. Maybe not slaying a dragon—I don’t know how I’d manage that yet. But goblins? Bandits? Something like that.”

  “Now that sounds fun,” Aria said immediately.

  Isabella sighed. “We’ll need to reach town first. Figure out what’s actually happening in the area.”

  “Think there’ll be an adventurer’s guild?” Faith asked. “Bulletin boards with quests?”

  “I like how you think,” Aria said.

  “Doubtful.” Isabella stepped toward the exit—a carved archway in the trunk. “That’s more of a human institution.”

  I bit back a smile. “We can always travel to human settlements later.”

  “What?” Faith caught my expression.

  “Nothing.” I couldn’t quite suppress the chuckle. “I forgot how much of a D&D nerd you used to be.”

  Faith’s cheeks coloured slightly. “It’s a legitimate cultural reference framework.”

  “Sure it is.”

  “It is.”

  We filed through the archway. The tree trunk opened onto a wooden platform built into its roots. Massive branches stretched overhead, creating a canopy that filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns. Other trees rose around us—some as large as the one we’d emerged from, others smaller but still impossibly tall by Earth standards.

  A rope bridge connected our platform to the next tree. It swayed gently in the breeze.

  Beyond the forest canopy, mountains rose in the distance. Purple-grey peaks touched low clouds.

  “Pretty,” Aria murmured.

  It was. Different from Hell’s dramatic landscapes or Yocasta’s tropical paradise. This felt… ancient. Patient.

  “Town’s that way.” I pointed along the rope bridge. “According to the book, anyway.”

  Isabella moved first, her steps confident despite the bridge’s movement. Aria followed, then Faith, then me.

  The rope held steady. Below us, the forest floor lay perhaps forty feet down—moss-covered roots and scattered undergrowth visible through gaps in the foliage.

  “How far?” Faith asked.

  “Maybe an hour’s walk through the tree-paths.” Isabella didn’t look back. “Less if we hurry.”

  “No rush.” I tested my weight against the ropes. “We’ve got all week.”

  Three more bridges connected the path forward. Each led to a different tree, the platforms growing more elaborate as we progressed. Some had small structures built into them—storage sheds or way-stations, perhaps.

  A bird called somewhere overhead. Something large, judging by the depth of the sound.

  “Think we’ll actually find trouble?” Aria asked.

  “Probably.” I ducked under a low-hanging branch. “This realm has active conflicts according to the guide. Goblins raid settlements regularly. Bandits target trade routes.”

  “Perfect.”

  Faith glanced at her. “You sound excited about that.”

  “Well, yeah.” Aria grinned. “Why visit if we’re just going to sit around?”

  “We just relaxed at Yocasta,” Isabella pointed out.

  “Exactly. Balance.”

  The path curved left. Through the trees ahead, I spotted what might be buildings—proper structures rather than platforms.

  “There,” I said.

  The town materialized gradually as we approached. Buildings nestled among the branches, connected by more rope bridges and wooden walkways. Elves moved between structures, their movements graceful and unhurried.

  None of them gave us a second glance. The glamours held perfectly.

  “Alright.” Faith straightened slightly. “Let’s see what adventures await.”