I darted through the forest as the dragon, in a fit of rage, spewed fire, turning the woods into a sea of flames. With no place to hide, I sprinted out of the forest. "Let's face off!" I shouted at it. "Looks like you're ready," it replied, charging toward me. I fused my Thunder Sword with Wind Blade magic, creating a longer Stormblade, with lightning and gales swirling around it. This was my final move. "Hah!" I rushed at the dragon as it unleashed a massive fireball. I desperately blocked it with my sword, but the flames began to engulf me. I leaped back, then dashed toward the dragon again, using Sprint Magic to close the distance for a strike. The dragon, sensing my intent, prepared to take flight. I cast Spring Magic, instantly leaping to its face. It opened its mouth to breathe fire again, but it was too slow—my sword was already aimed at its eye. The battle was decided. We stood frozen for a moment before the dragon suddenly laughed. "Remarkable performance. I've lost," it said, acknowledging me. Overjoyed, I lowered my sword and stepped back. "Well done, congratulations," a voice chimed. Ennis appeared out of nowhere. I immediately knelt before her. "Please honor your promise and take me as your disciple, Master!" "I don't like that title. Just call me by my name from now on," she said calmly. "Yes!" I replied excitedly. "Well, my job here is done. I'll be off, Lady Ennis," the dragon said, flapping its wings to take off. "Thanks for your help," Ennis waved it off. "See you! Let's spar again next time!" I called, waving too. "Ennis, can we start training now?" I asked her. "First, prepare me some fine food. This lady is hungry," she said with a smile. "Uh, alright, I'll go hunt," I shrugged helplessly.
The forest in the Demon Realm was rich with resources. For some reason, no beasts appeared when I was with Ennis—probably because they feared her. I gathered edible plants, caught fish in the river, and hunted a black-feathered fowl resembling poultry from the human world. Carrying a pile of ingredients, I wondered where to cook. "How about my courtyard?" Ennis suggested. "Your courtyard? You mean your home?" I asked. "Something like that," she replied, grabbing my hand. Her hand was flawless, soft, and warm—the first time a woman had ever held my hand. I felt nervous. With a flash of teleportation magic, she brought us to her courtyard. I gazed at the endless black roses in the garden, amazed that such a beautiful place existed in the Demon Realm. "This place is unbelievably stunning," I marveled. "Even a thousand beauties can't outweigh eternal loneliness," Ennis said cryptically. Not fully understanding, I asked, "Where's the kitchen?" "Kitchen? What's that?" she replied, puzzled. "Uh, never mind. Can I have an empty room? I'd like to turn it into a cooking space," I said helplessly. "Pick any room in the palace back there," she said. I thanked her and carried the ingredients inside. Pushing open the grand doors, I was greeted by ornate, classical decor—black and white tiles interwoven, a wide staircase leading to the second floor. It felt like a Baroque palace from a fairy tale. I expected servants, but the place was eerily empty. I began to grasp what Ennis meant earlier. I found a lavishly decorated room on the first floor—almost too grand for a kitchen, but there were no other options. Using magic, I envisioned a kitchen and its tools, conjuring up equipment. These creations, sustained by magic, wouldn't last long, so I had to cook quickly. They'd hold for about half a day. After confirming the ingredients were safe, I cooked using methods from the human world. An hour later, I'd prepared several dishes. Now, where to dine? Exploring the palace, I found a conference-like room on the second floor with tables and chairs—perfect for a temporary dining room. I brought the dishes upstairs, then went to find Ennis. I spotted her in a nearby pavilion, playing with butterflies. "Ennis, dinner's ready!" I called. She looked up, teleported to my side, startling me, and I led her to the dining room. The tablecloth and utensils were all conjured by my magic. "Ennis, can you teach me how to make permanent items with magic later? My skills are too weak—my creations don't last," I said. She glanced at the table setup. "You made all this, didn't you? Quite crude." With a wave of her hand, the items glowed briefly. "Now they'll stay permanently," she said. "That's amazing! Please teach me next time. Oh, I haven't introduced the dishes yet." I invited her to sit and lifted the covers one by one. "This is pan-seared steak, this is vegetable mushroom soup, this is fish in sour broth, and this is a cold platter." After explaining, I stood aside, waiting for her to try them. "Why are you standing? Sit and eat with me," she said, waving me over. I sat down shyly. "These are quite good. It's been a while since I've dined with someone," she praised after tasting each dish. We ate quietly, enjoying the meal. Some wine or drinks would've been nice—maybe I'd try making some later. "Do you always live alone in the Demon Realm?" I asked while eating. "Yes. Is that a problem?" she replied. My heart sank. I put down my fork, walked over, and gently patted her head. "What's that for?" she asked, looking at me. "In my hometown, this comforts lonely people," I explained. Ennis paused, then said, "Thank you. You can go back now," lowering her head shyly. After dinner, I cleared the table and headed to the kitchen while Ennis returned to her room.
In her bedroom, she lay on the bed, touching her head and smiling softly.
The Demon Realm had no day or night—just a constant gray haze, with an ever-present orange moon. I was exhausted, so I found a sofa in the palace to lie on. Ennis came downstairs. "No place to rest?" she asked. "I'm fine anywhere. You should rest," I replied. "As a host, I won't let my guest suffer." She waved her hand, conjuring a bedroom somewhere on the first floor. "Down that corridor, to the right—it's your room," she said, then left. "Thank you!" I called, heading over. Opening the door, I saw a lavish bed and luxurious furniture—a five-star room. Without changing, I flopped onto the bed, sinking into its comfort, wondering why Ennis was so kind to me. Drifting off, I fell asleep.