The World Tree

The Perennial Forest has always been a region of thick vegetation. This made it hard for humans and even elves to traverse it freely, so more in the deepest parts of it. From some point onward, it was almost impossible to go deeper without taking special measures. This flow didn't change even after they entered the elf village. As they left the empty residential area and walked deeper into the woods, the thicker the vegetation became. 

Still, after venturing a bit more into the region, the group found themselves in front of another area void of any trees. 

No. Rather, there was one sole tree that made it impossible for any other to grow. 

"Here we are."

A giant tree.

Too enormous that its shadow alone felt like a high mountain. It was impossible to see its peak. Even the attempt gave the onlooker an intense neckache. The tree was so massive that it completely blocked off the sun, creating a huge shadow that rendered it impossible for other trees to grow more than a few meters.

The people standing under the tree seemed no more than ants in front of a giant. The comparison in size was simply ridiculous. 

"Is the World Tree usually like this...?"

However, something didn't seem right about this tree. It was so obvious that a glance was enough to point out the problem. 

Hearing the question, Amelia shook her head at the human doctor.

"Obviously not."

There were black and dark purple marks all around the tree trunk. The roots, which extended in all directions till the elf village, were rotten here and there, with corruption visible all around them. Black smoke rose from the dark spots, gradually polluting the whole area, a sign of how intensely the impurities had affected the tree. 

Running under the tree roots was a stream of water. Deep and vast. The Everflowing River, which passed across the whole jungle, the blood running on the veins of this landscape, now looked more like a flow of black mud. The sticky and disgusting liquid smelled of rotten meat. Wherever the water touched, corrupted, and withered away. 

"...This is even worse than when I saw it last time..."

In the past few weeks, it was almost impossible for anyone to enter this region as wild elementals blocked all the paths, attacking whoever that came close. The last time Claus got a look at this tree was the day of his father's death, the day they came here in a group to search for a possible solution, but were attacked by the corrupted elementals. 

"Stay back for a while."

Once Ian spoke, as if hearing an order, everyone gradually moved away from the tree.

In the meantime, after making sure that nobody was paying attention to him, Ian secretly pushed the clingy wolf pup to Alaric, before making his way towards the World Tree. 

'How many times has it been?'

Whistle Whistle

The still branches of the tree began to shake despite there being no wind. The water underneath his feet splashed, and the roots twitched ever so slightly. Ian reached out his hand towards the tree trunk. Leaves rained down on his head. 

"Yeah, we've met before, indeed."

Despite not being able to hear the tree's voice, he could guess what it was trying to convey.

The World Tree. One of the few existences that could understand Ian's unique life and respond to it. The tree could neither remember Ian nor know what was so different about him, but it could understand his distinction from the other humans. 

Letting out a sigh, Ian caressed the tree trunk before closing his eyes. 

A surge of energy shot out of his body. Starting from the tip of his fingers on the tree trunk, a golden light seeped into the tree, spreading out in all directions.

As if a napkin was brushing clean everything it touched, the trail of Aether cleansed any form of corruption, leaving a fresh trail of natural colors behind. 

"...Wow..."

The scene in front of their eyes was a pure picture out of fantasy. Something that was hard to even imagine. The sight was of life returning to a dead land, of the infusion of future to a long ruined ground.

Golden dust sparkled around, glowing like miniature stars. A hush of green spread out starting from where Ian was standing, enveloping the whole place. The splashing waters flowing beneath them rippled transparent blue as if a drop of color was dripped right at its center. The foul stench gradually faded, replaced by the refreshing scent of wet grass and damp soil. 

The gloomy air of seconds ago vanished in an instant. 

In the blink of an eye, the whole region began flourishing with life. 

. . . . . . . 

After a whole day of celebration and festival, finally, the day of departure arrived. 

"Thus, Claus Regford will be expelled from the village due to the sins he'd committed. The duration of this sentence, after taking into consideration the heroic deeds he'd committed and the lives he'd saved, was reduced to three years from this date.

In addition to him, those listed below will face the consequences of their actions during the chief's absence. Starting from Anton Regford...." 

Stumbling down the podium with a sullen face, Claus sniffled all the way toward where a group of humans was sitting. 

'three years...'

In fact, the punishment he received was lighter than he expected. Amelia had to negotiate a lot with the other elders to lower his punishment, which resulted in the other bastards also getting lighter sentences. 

Standing before them and staring at the blue-haired young man, he couldn't help but be reminded of the conversation they had yesterday.

'I really got expelled...'

Not that he didn't expect such an outcome, but he was still perplexed at how this human slave could tell thighs outright.

"Yo!" Seeing him, Ian raised his hand. "Pack your stuff and prepare to leave."

"...."

There was no other choice, was there?

Claus stumbled all the way back to his home. Opening the door to his cold and empty house, the elf glanced at the walls and furniture covered in dust. He would probably not set foot here for a long time. Despite him being granted some authority in secret and being sent as an envoy, he was still banished from this village.

'It's alright...'

He had a home to return back to. That was enough.

Claus, was in no way, regretful of his decisions. He'd thought about his actions over and over, and he found himself pleased with the course he took. He didn't regret anything he did.

Everything seemed like a miracle to him, still. Their survival, Amelia regaining her health, the elementals gaining back their light, and the world tree returning to normal. All happened in the span of two days. It felt like a dream. It was a miracle. Truly a miracle.

Would this miracle have taken place if Claus hadn't been willing to lose some of himself? 

He doubted it would.

'This is actually better this way...'

Being away from his house wasn't such a big deal. It was better. It'd help him get used to being alone. At least he wouldn't feel the empty house's walls crashing down at him every night like he did while staying here for the past two months.

There was no joy or peace in living in an empty house for him. His mother had long left his world, and now his father too, was gone. Since his father's passing, he rarely set foot here. It was best if he was away for a while to get used to his new life, he thought. After all, with his family gone, there wasn't anyone he'd miss once he left this place. Only Amelia? Maybe a little bit.

'Nah, nope. Ain't no way I'd miss that crazy girl.'

And using this as an excuse, Amelia could finally free herself from this arranged marriage that she loathed so much. Wasn't his absence actually good for the others? 

"Um... Brother Claus...?"

Shattering his thoughts, a young and husky voice reached his ears. Turning to the side, he spotted a tiny head peeking inside the house through the gap in the door. 

"Eloise? Come on in!"

Calling out for the little girl as he opened the door, Claus invited her in. Despite being Amelia's sister and not his, this little girl was still like a sibling to him, so of course, she was welcomed in his house. 

The girl clasped her hands as she walked in, lowering her head, "Uh... Brother Claus... Is it true that you're leaving?"

"Hm?" Bending his back to match the girl's height, Claus looked into her emerald-colored eyes. "Yeah. I shall leave this village for a while."

"Whyyy?? Don't go, please! Brother, hic!"

As if she was already in the brick of crying, streams of tears flowed out of her eyes almost instantly.

"Hey hey, why are you crying??" 

Taken aback, the elf nervously hurried to pat her head several times. 

"There there! I'll be back soon, really. I won't be gone forever."

"Sniff, really?"

"Yeah."

"But they said you can't come back until three years..."

"Well, I might be able to sneak in, hmm?"

"Really....?

"Yep."

Patting her head several times, Calus clumsily tried to soothe the child. After exchanging a few words of comfort, the girl finally calmed down.

Rubbing her reddened nose, Eloise nodded her head, repeating under her lips. 

"Brother will be back soon."

"Yes, yes."

"I'll miss brother."

"I'll miss you too."

"And sister Amelia too."

"Will she?"

"And father too."

"Hmm..."

"I doubt uncle would..."

"Yeah..."

As the girl wiped her eyes, she mumbled in a trembling voice, "Can't you not leave...?"

'Argh, not again!'

"This isn't on me to decide, Eloise, really."

There was no other way. 

Even if he wasn't expelled, living in this village couldn't be as comfortable as before after the incident. The elves were happy and thrilled now about the jungle being saved, but once a few days passed, they'd go back to how they were, strict, with no sympathy for whoever had broken the rules. 

Could he lead a normal life in this land?

Claus doubted that to be possible. 

Even if he was supported by the village chief and was widely known as a hero, the son of the head of the Elder Council, and the future husband of the chief, he wouldn't be safe from all those people's scornful gazes wherever he went. No one would do business with him. No one would want to interact with him. No one would accept him. 

This was the best if he was away for a while. 

Amelia chose this punishment knowing all of this well enough. With her being at the peak of power among the elves, she could simply punish Claus to do some manual work or even serve as a jungle keeper for a few years, but she decided to send him somewhere out of these people's reach so that they would gradually forget about him and their hatred to die down. 

'Or maybe that human's words affected him.'

Though he doubted those words could do much to change Amelia's mind. She must've already decided on what course of action she wanted to take. 

"Don't leave..."

"Hmm?" Leaning closer, a smile flashed across Claus' face, "Tell that to your sister. She's the one who's kicking me out!"

"...Eh? She... is?"

Eloise's eyes widened. She covered her mouth with a hand. 

"Why would she? What's wrong with her?" 

A harmless frown emerged, one that looked no more than a tiny kitten's hissing.

"What is sister doing these days? I don't understand! Father was also asking me about sister earlier, whether I knew someone named Emma!"

Stump stump stump! 

The little girl fumed.

"Cough cough! Ahem!"

What?

Who was curious about who?

"A-alright Eloise, time to leave!"

"Huh?"

Shooting up to his feet as if hit by thunder, Claus ran around the house once, pushing anything that came into view inside his bag. A couple of minutes later, he rushed out the door, waving goodbye to the little girl. 

"Byeeee Eloise, see you later!"

"W-wait! Big brother?? Wait!"