As the evening descended, Alex entered the serene world of Mín Heimr, soaring high above the vast and enchanting landscapes.
Lily accompanied him, her excitement palpable as she flew beside him. Below, the wonders of his creation unfolded, vibrant and thriving.
The unicorns he had transferred into this realm had acclimated beautifully. They now lived peacefully, cared for by the elves, who had established a settlement in the largest woodland of Pediás.
Their homes, crafted within the trees, blended seamlessly with the forest. With their innate magical talent for manipulating wood, the elves shaped their surroundings into a simple yet dreamlike forest village.
In another part of the realm, the Fey tribe had formed close bonds with the Pegasus herd. Their villages, scattered across their region, were a testament to their expertise in metallurgy and smithing, coupled with the knowledge Alex had shared with them. They traded actively with the elves and even other races, their connections strengthening with each passing day.
The Mermaids had built their own palace on a partially submerged island. Their village shimmered with the treasures of the sea, seafood, luminous pearls, crystals, and other aquatic gems. They traded these with the Fey and elves, acquiring tools, herbs, and meat in return.
Meanwhile, the Dryads chose the forest nearest to the twin trees as their gathering place. They had no need for sustenance or traditional homes. Instead, they cultivated a magical forest filled with vibrant flowers, fruits, and plants, many of which had mutated due to the magic suffusing the land.
Fireflies that once glowed a single hue now sparkled in multicolored patterns, illuminating the nights with breathtaking beauty. Bioluminescent mushrooms and other plants added to the dreamlike landscape.
At the heart of this magical realm stood the twin trees, their brilliant light cast a guiding light to the world, silver-winged and gold-winged fairies tends to them. These fairies flitted around, collecting dew at dawn and dusk.
"Do you plan on going back, Alex?" Lily asked as they flew above the enchanting scenery.
"Yes," Alex replied. "I'll visit Arwen first, then I want to show her this world."
"That's okay too. Let's bring Eira next time as well," Lily suggested with a grin.
"You're having fun here?" Alex asked, glancing at her with amusement.
"Yup! I even have my own house. The fairies built it for me," Lily said proudly.
"Really? Not the pixies?" Alex asked, intrigued.
"Oh, they don't have houses," Lily explained. "They follow the sun all day. They don't stay after dark."
"Is that so? I didn't know pixies disliked the dark. How about the fairies?" Alex mused.
"They stay in the flower valley. Come, let me show you!" With that, Lily grabbed Alex's hand and led him to the valley.
The flower valley was a sight to behold. It stretched endlessly, filled with flowers of every imaginable color. At its center lay a pond surrounded by massive lotus flowers, some nearly a meter wide. These flowers glowed softly, their petals reflecting the fading sunlight.
"I'm home!" Lily called out.
At her voice, the flowers bloomed, revealing tiny fairies that emerged one by one. They surrounded Alex and Lily, ten centimeters in height, their wings shimmering like starlight.
The fairies bowed respectfully, their voices ringing like chimes. Though their language was foreign, Alex understood their thoughts and responded with a nod.
"They're beautiful. I modeled them like the elves, but winged and small," Alex remarked as Lily led him to the largest flower in the center.
Alex shrank his size to match the fairies and followed Lily inside.
The flower's interior resembled a throne room, but instead of a throne, a luxurious bed lay within. Alex laughed. "This looks like Buckingham Palace! Did you model it after that?"
Lily giggled mischievously. "I did! I asked the elves to design it, showing them the image we scanned during our visit."
"Oh, I remember that. I was curious about treasures under the palace or dungeons," Alex said, recalling their trip.
"Yes, yes! The elves did a great job. And the Fey tribe provided the metal parts," Lily added with a smile.
"I'm glad you like it here. So, are you the uncrowned queen of the fairies?" Alex teased.
"No," Lily replied with a laugh. "But they respect me a lot. I receive gifts from them and the others."
"As long as you're happy, that's what matters," Alex said warmly. "I'm heading out now; I need to see Arwen."
"Okay, tell me if there's anything you need," Lily said as she waved him off.
Alex smiled and exited Mín Heimr, returning to his study in the villa. He felt reassured knowing Lily was having fun in the magical realm.
Inside Mín Heimr, Lily could take on a physical form by separating from his consciousness, a limitation they had imposed when Alex completed the world. Likewise, Alex had to remove the ring to assume a physical form inside the realm.
With a contented sigh, Alex prepared for his visit to Arwen, eager to show her the wonders of his creation.