2 Chapter 2 - Birth

Fragmented

Worlds

Whom to trust?

Fleeting lives

Just mortals?

Lives in heavens

But.... Why me?

In a back alley of town, the surrounding air begins to split. Swirling lights of blue mana naked to the eyes circle around a location while the air is seemingly sucked into a vortex. Small elemental spirits hide behind various objects in order to not be caught within this raging madness. In mere seconds, a body appears out of the storm.

The surrounding elemental spirits, frightened to the core, watch the sight of a woman appearing out of the vortex. She appears to be drained of her energy and covered in wounds. Once the presence of mana diminishes, she is seen lying on the ground face first. To the spirits it would seem as if the girl had fainted from fatigue, but as the mana completely dissipates, the calm air returns and their fears drift away.

An air spirit picks up a twig and walk towards the body. It pokes her with the twig to check if she was dead or not.

No response, the spirit thought to itself.

The air spirit then swings the twig around signalling the spirits to come out of hiding. It appears to be ecstatic about the response it had received. But in reality, it still feared the consequences of her waking up. However, its confidence was through the roof that it feared nothing… or that's what it thought at first.

"Ughh"

The girl lifts her head and looks around with hazy eyes. She notices that she has been surrounded by a crowd of little spirits. But what caught her attention the most, was the air spirit swinging a twig in the air.

"What's… going.. On?"

"Where…. Am I?"

She checks her surrounding a bit more as her eyesight slowly returned.

"Is this an alleyway?"

"How in the world did I get here? Or more.... Did the teleportation spell miss its mark?"

While still observing the surrounding area, a small crowd had burst through an entry of the alleyway.

"Whoah! There's someone that had appeared from that violent wind!"

"What? Really?"

"No way.. There's no one that could had survived that.."

"Look! There's a girl there."

The crowd look towards her and notices all her injuries.

"Hey! Get out of the way! Anddd stop staring at her!!"

A young girl bursts through the crowd and appears in front of them. With her arms forming an "X". It can be seen that she was trying to protect the injured girl on the ground.

"She's right, quickly… let's get her to the village doctor."

"Hey miss, do you have a name?"

While still a bit groggy, she looks up to the guy that was above her head, asking her a question.

"It's Sofia.. "

"Can you tell us what happened to you?"

Sofia pauses for a second and decides to keep quiet.

"That's fine, harsh experiences. No need to talk about it… but first, let's get you to the doctor's home."

Listening to a the man's concern, she replies.

"Ok…"

The man then helps her up and wraps her arm over his shoulder. They both slowly move toward the exit of the alleyway and onward to the home of the village doctor. The rest of the crowd then dissipates while the young girl and a few others follow behind.

Can I trust these people to tend to my wounds?

"By the way… can you tell me where I am?"

"Oh right.. You're currently in the village of Alserica. It's not much, but we're a farming village."

"I.. see. "

"Yeah, big sis!"

"Eh?"

I need to get back as soon as possible, and report what happened.

"Our village is quite peaceful these days, but we're so isolated that we rarely get visitors."

An isolated village? Maybe this is where they made those teleportation stones. It could've just taken me here instead of where I'm supposed to be.

"By the way… does this village make teleportation stones?"

"Hmm? No… not us."

'That's right! Only the village doctor does that! He said its to bring more visitors but it seems like people were using it for different things..."

A doctor that makes teleportation stones to get visitors? Seems suspicious.

Moments later, the group arrived at the doctor's home. It was a cottage that is raised above the ground, in a cylindrical shape. The home's walls and roof is made out of wood but enchanted with magic in order to prevent it from destruction. If one were to pay close attention to the pieces of wood used, they can surely see the different types of runes etched to strengthen the spell.

"Here we are. The village doctor's home."

"This…"

"I know, I know. We ask him everyday… why make it like this?"

"Right?? But, I almost forgot! My name is Eliane. I kind of saved you from the others for being suspicious of you!"

"Right…"

Eliane's face glows red from embarrassment and starts to pout.

"Fine! Don't believe me then!"

Seeing Eliane's reaction, Sofia starts to secretly giggle, while the others were staring at Eliane, confused.

"Hehe, I was just kidding. I just wanted to see how you would react."

"That's mean big sis!. Hmph!"

The group begins to walk up the stairs and into the home of the doctor.

They notice that the doctor is quite busy with something and decided to help Sofia down on one of the beds that is free. The doctor is wearing a robe and has long gray hair that reached his lower back. Inscribed on his robes were different symbols that gave different effects as well as identifying his status. In normal conditions, if there were no symbols inscribed, one would be a common mage or a high tier wizard. But if there were symbols, one could be considered to have a title since a person's robe is connected to them. Also, if the doctor were to turn around and look at the group, one could see that he is wearing a pair of glasses to help him see more clearly when he conducts his research.

"Hey! We have someone that needs attention."

"Hmm?"

The doctor turns around and sees the group. He notices that there is a girl of medium stature with purple eyes and long turquoise hair whom was covered in injuries.

Did we finally get a visitor after all these years? Did the stones finally work?

He is curious indeed, as well excited. For it had been ages since he had seen someone come from a different place.

"It seems that the stones finally worked."

"So you wer.."

"Let's forget the formalities right now and get you healed."

The doctor walks over and places his hand on her.

"『Grand Light Healing』..."

"Grand light healing?"

This is not a skill no one can normally use… what's going on?

"You seem to be confused. Don't worry, I won't harm you. In fact, I'll tell you. I have no care for what happens in this world."

"What? Then why the stones?"

"It's because, it tends to get quite lonely here."

"Is that it?!"

"Not just that. I'm nearing the end of my life. So before that happens, I want to pass down all my knowledge to someone. Only then, will I be able to pass on."

"But with all these people here… Couldn't one of them be a candidate?"

"No, it can't. "

"They don't have the capacity required to use these spells."

"But if you train them! They would be able to"

"You're missing the point here. These humans, they are children of Yggdrasil."

"So they're only being used as fodder."

"But that means…"

"That's right. They don't get freedom."

"The moment they were born into this world, they're life was already forfeit to the tree."

"That's…. But can't they choose their own destiny?"

"Many tried! I have been watching OVER this village for years!!"

"It has brought me nothing but regret…. I've tried everything and even with my title. I still couldn't do a damn thing!"

The village doctor vents out his frustration and reveals the truth to Sofia and the villagers. That he indeed, spent countless years trying to remove the grasp of Yggdrasil from them. But in the end, the results remained the same.

"But what if you got rid of Yggdrasil?"

"That would kill them."

"But have you tried reasoning?"

"Sigh… No matter what questions you ask, it'll still be the same."

"I've tried everything that could be thought of. Anyone that was born under Yggdrasil, returns to Yggdrasil."

"It's okay. We already knew."

Sofia and the doctor turn around to face toward Eliane. She looks quite depressed and understand fully what the doctor has been trying to do for years.

"It's fine! You did your best grandpa, or should I say… Sage of Space: Rheulk."

"Rheulk? The one that disappeared years ago?"

"That's me. I did it all, in order to save someone precious to me."

In the past, the sage of space had committed multiple crimes after receiving his status. No one knew what his intentions was, but the stern look on his face was one who had lost everything. He would sacrifice countless individuals and even countries to achieve his goals.

"You sacrificed an ENTIRE KINGDOM!"

"I KNOW! I already know that won't be forgiven!"

"Then all these teleportation stones?"

"I made them… in order to atone for my sins!"

"Did you know! My precious friends are being held captive because of you!?"

All the pent up anger had finally caught up. Without hesitation, she decides to charge towards Rheulk while materializing a sword but ends up being held back by the same guy that helped her earlier. While Eliane rushes in front of Rheulk.

"Stop! I won't allow you to hurt him!"

"Ughh! Let me go!"

"No, you need to calm down."

"Never! If it wasn't for him… we wouldn't had need to do a scouting mission! If only we…."

Feeling the weight of her emotions, he realizes his mistakes had caught up to him. His ambitions of trying to revive his daughter. Was it truly in vain? Contemplating on his past mistakes, he responds to her.

"I know it's too late, but at least let me help you get your friends back."

"How are you going to do that then?!"

"I'll just pass everything I know… onto you."

'What? Are you insane?"

"It's better than wasting time here!"

"Besides! In order to repent for my mistakes! I'll do anything!"

"Then repent by staying alive and pay for it!"

While still squirming and being held back, Rheulk instructs the man to tighten his grip on her.

"I know that me dying would be worthless, but at least for you. I'll give you another chance… besides, I'm just really exhausted."

Rheulk places his hand on top of Sofia's head and begins to send the knowledge he had accumulated among the years. Little by little, wrinkles start to appear more around his skin, and his life force starts to slowly decline. His robe, which was inscribed with various symbols, begin to fade one by one until there was nothing left.

Minutes quickly flew by and Rheulk can be seen slowly, lowering his arm. He notices that Sofia has calmed down and is now in a deep trance. Holding onto the last minute of life he has, he gives his last words.

"With this, my job is done. Sofia, I'm terribly sorry for what you went through, but I hope this power will help you. And as for you Eliane, I treated you just like you were my daughter, so please, take care of this village. And when this girl wakes up, tell her not to find me… it'll be pointless"

"Yes, grandpa…"

With his final words, his body begins to break into fragments and disappear into thin air.

Eliane falls onto her knees and begins to cry while watching their caretaker fade away.

It seems I'm finally coming, my daughter. After all these long years, I can finally return to you and your mother.

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In a far off kingdom, a person is seen reading a book at his desk. Time around him had slowed, while he was engrossed in his studies and sipping tea.

"Crack"

"Hmm? What's going on?"

He closes his book and places it on top of his desk. He looks around his room and notices there was nothing wrong so he leaves in search of the sound.

He looks around the castle in search of the cracking noise and eventually walks into the room where the sages leave a stone to represent if they're still alive. He inspects the stones and notices that one of them has crumbled.

"No… It can't be."

In shock, he quickly storms out of the room and sound the bells.

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In a remote forest, mana begins to swirl near a waterfall. In the midst of it, a light sphere forms, and cracks starts to appear. After the cracks have fully wrapped around this sphere of light, it begins to break and the shell of the sphere starts to disintegrate. A baby is gently placed onto the ground and crying can be heard throughout the forest.

Within the forest, a young girl with green hair is seen picking different types of herbs, until she was disturbed by the sound of crying. She quickly grabs the remaining herbs and runs toward the noise.

After traversing through many brushes and climbing over hills and trees, she manages to get to the source.

Mhm? There's a baby here. Did someone leave their kid here?

She looks around to find the infant's parents, but there was no one. After searching and asking the spirits of the forest, she then returns to the crying baby and gently lifts it up.

"Since there's no one here. I guess I'll take you with me and see what the others say."

She then takes the infant with her and they both venture deep into the forest leaving no trace of them.

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A pillar of light sprouts into the sky. It can be seen by those in heaven, hell, or even in the mortal realm.

In a far away castle -

"I guess it's time. Those punks in the dungeon will never be able to get out anyways. So I guess this is the last time they get to see this light. Hahaha, the "Watcher King" selection has begun and it shall belong to me!."

In the Dungeon -

"Hey, it's happening. "

"Really?"

"Yea…"

"Just gotta put our faith in Sofia now."

"Yea."

In Alserica -

"The light of the watchers. It's beginning."

"Someone is going to become king, but who?"

"Is Yggdrasil going to be named the next king?"

"If she does, then all realms will crumble."

"What's going to crumble?"

"!!!"

In the kingdom where sage's leave their indicator stones -

"It's starting."

"This is going to be chaotic."

"Maybe it was a bad idea for me to ring this bell… right?"

"No. no. It was needed. But this light has nothing to do with us."

"Right…"

In the depths of hell -

"We should probably disrupt this selection."

"Nah, don't. There's no need to."

"Why not?"

"Cause this is where the angels that are "kings" in heaven become corrupt. So, why bother?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, this is a great position that can belong to anyone. So it basically becomes a competition."

"I see."

"Most likely, they're gonna eliminate each other. So… there's no point in starting chaos when there's already chaos."

"True…"

"Besides… less work for us and less death on our end.

In the a distinct forest in the world of mortals -

"This light, something must've happened."

"Don't bother, it's a signal."

"Yea, seems like everything is here."

"That girl, where is she?"

While carrying a infant with her, this young girl looks towards the sky and see a pillar of light.

"What's… going… on?"