The excitement in the fairy village slowly settled into something more organized.
Fairies still buzzed around Jax and the Vixens, but the queen raised her golden tulip wand and gently waved it in the air.
A faint shimmer spread outward.
Immediately the fairies hovering around the group calmed, floating back several feet to give their honored guests some breathing room.
The queen cleared her throat.
"My apologies," she said politely. "Our people can become… enthusiastic."
Nyxian smirked as a few lingering admirers reluctantly drifted away from her.
"I noticed."
Jax chuckled.
"No apology needed, Your Grace."
He looked around the colorful mushroom village again.
"If anything, this is one of the most welcoming places we've visited."
That seemed to please the queen immensely.
Her wings fluttered with pride.
"Please," she said, gesturing with her wand. "Let us move somewhere more comfortable to talk."
Several fairies immediately rushed forward to guide them.
The group was led to a large open clearing near the center of the village.
Compared to the tiny fairy houses, the clearing was enormous.
Clearly it had been designed with visitors like them in mind.
Soft moss covered the ground, forming a natural carpet.
Small glowing lantern flowers lit the area despite the daylight.
The queen floated to a small raised platform made from woven vines.
She grew to be about 5'6" tall. They were able to speak to her face to face.
Despite being queen, she looked to be in her late teens, or early twenties.
She radiated elegance and charm. But her cheeks were still bright red from her encounter with Jax. A school girl's excitement was hard for her to contain.
"Please sit if you please," she said.
The Vixens settled comfortably in the clearing while the fairies gathered in a wide circle around them.
Thousands of tiny glowing figures watched with open curiosity.
Jax leaned forward slightly.
"Your Grace mentioned Merriweather sent word ahead."
The queen nodded eagerly, face becoming visibly red again with the mention of Your Grace.
"She did."
"Our cousin said the hero Jax Darquebane and the legendary Vixens might be traveling toward the World Tree."
She glanced toward the massive tree visible in the distance.
The trunk rose like a mountain of living wood, its branches stretching into the clouds.
Even from a mile away, the tree radiated a faint glow of ancient magic.
"It is a rare event when one appears," the queen said quietly.
Jax folded his hands.
"That's actually why we came here."
"We're planning to attempt the raid."
The fairy queen tilted her head.
"Ah."
Her wings fluttered again.
"Then it is good you stopped here first."
She lifted the golden wand and gently pointed toward the distant tree.
"You should understand what a World Tree truly is."
The fairies around them all grew quiet.
Even Nyxian leaned forward slightly with interest.
The queen began.
"Long before the kingdoms of men existed… before empires rose and fell… the World Trees were already here."
Her voice carried a note of reverence.
"They are ancient conduits of magic."
"Living bridges between this world and the deeper currents of mana that flow beneath reality."
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"So… they're not just giant trees."
The queen laughed softly.
"No."
"Not at all."
She gestured toward the distant trunk.
"World Trees grow when magical energy accumulates in a location for long periods of time."
"When the energy reaches a certain threshold, the world itself creates one."
"It is the land's way of stabilizing the flow of magic."
Llandra nodded slowly.
"That explains why fairies migrate toward them."
"Exactly," the queen said.
"Our people are naturally attuned to magical currents."
"The presence of a World Tree feels like… home."
Zee added quietly,
"It radiates peace."
"Yes," the queen agreed.
"But it also creates something else."
She raised the wand slightly.
"A trial."
Jax leaned forward.
"The raid."
The queen nodded.
"When a World Tree grows, it forms a magical dungeon within its trunk."
"Layers of trials appear inside."
"Creatures born from pure magic guard the inner chambers."
"Adventurers from across the world come to challenge it."
Nyxian crossed her legs.
"And the rewards?"
The queen smiled knowingly.
"World Tree drops are among the most valuable materials in existence."
"Living wood."
"Mana nectar."
"Seeds capable of growing magical forests."
"Even weapons crafted from World Tree bark are legendary."
Jax whistled softly.
"No wonder everyone is racing here."
The queen nodded.
"And yet…"
Her voice became more serious.
"The World Tree does not function like a normal dungeon."
Jax tilted his head.
"How so?"
The queen held up one finger.
"First rule."
"Only one group may enter at a time."
Bunny blinked.
"So everyone else just waits?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"There is currently a line of adventuring parties already waiting outside the tree."
"Each group must wait six hours after the previous party enters."
"Which means only four groups can attempt the raid each day."
Nyxian groaned dramatically.
"That's going to be a long line."
The queen continued.
"The second rule is stranger."
"Time behaves… differently inside."
Llandra frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The queen's wings shimmered slightly.
"If two groups enter the dungeon hours apart…"
"They will never encounter one another."
Jax leaned forward.
"They're in separate timelines."
The queen looked impressed.
"That is one way to describe it."
"Each party experiences the dungeon independently."
"The bosses."
"The guardians."
"The trials."
"They reset for every group."
Zee nodded slowly.
"So every team fights the same enemies."
"Yes."
Nyxian smiled.
"Now that sounds fun."
The queen raised a third finger.
"Third rule."
"There are extraction points along the way."
Bunny tilted her head.
"Extraction points?"
"Safe zones," the queen explained.
"If a group realizes they cannot defeat the next guardian…"
"They may leave the dungeon safely."
Jax nodded.
"And try again later."
"Yes."
"Some adventurers conquer only one floor before leaving."
"Others reach deeper levels over time."
"But the deeper you go…"
Her eyes drifted toward the distant tree again.
"The more dangerous it becomes."
Llandra asked quietly,
"How many floors?"
The queen smiled mysteriously.
"No one knows."
A ripple of excitement passed through the Vixens.
Jax leaned back.
"Sounds like exactly the kind of challenge we were hoping for."
The queen studied him for a moment. Her eyes lingered longer into his than they should have.
Then she smiled like a super fan.
"I had a feeling you might say that." she shouted excitedly.
Around them, the fairy village buzzed with anticipation.
And far beyond the clearing…
The colossal World Tree stood silently.
Waiting.