Soul torment and nature deprivation: the case of the high priestess

The alves and elves watched intently, even though they had come uninvited. They could hardly believe that this human, Mortis, neither hurried nor lowered his gaze, but stood upright, looked around and went straight to the highest person, the priestess of the sacred tree. He asked without any respect: "What do you want here without being asked and without notice? I have respected this before, but my castle is not a sanctuary. Please explain yourselves."

The alb priestess was shocked as she was used to respect from many beings, but the human in front of her treated her like an ordinary person below him. This was so unexpected that the high priestess did not know how to react. The elves and other alves were also suddenly silent, some even breathless with anger and disbelief.

But before most of them could catch themselves and burst into a rage, the priestess caught herself, even bowed and said: "I am the high priestess of the sacred tree. When we realized that the fairies and elements were getting nervous and making their way here, we followed them. We never thought we would find a world tree core here, a brand new one that will strengthen the world and increase the elements. No wonder the elements and nature spirits are crazy with joy. That's why we're here to guard it and take it with us."

"No, you won't," Mortis replied steadfastly. "This core is mine, and the nature spirits and elements will gladly confirm that. Or do you want to claim that you are above nature?" He cleared his throat and even continued angrily, "Besides, I am displeased that you have invaded my house with so many soldiers and warriors, where my women should have a safe place. You don't even have the decency to lay down your weapons and behave properly. Do you really think this place belongs to you? You own nothing here, and especially not the World Tree Core that enriches this continent. If you are kind, you may watch it being cleaned and planted. But nothing more."

Lorendiel, a young alb with two swords in his hands, shook with rage and held a blade to Mortis' neck. "How dare you speak to the High Priestess like that? If we don't weaken ourselves like God Valric did, you don't stand a chance, you worm." But Mortis only scowled at the young Alb, while his silver eye lit up and he placed his hand on the Alb's chest to reach for its soul with his divinity.

Then Mortis smiled darkly and said, "I wonder how a soul feels when it unintentionally attacks its comrades and is responsible for their deaths." The Alb smiled at first, but then he dropped his weapons and went to his knees. His soul slowly left the shell, clinging desperately to life.

Startled, the other alves backed away, but the high priestess held Mortis' hand. "Please, we are here to negotiate. He's still young and stupid, please stop it. No one will be harmed, I swear it. If even one harbors hatred and turns against you, your kingdom or family, I will kill them myself. As the second highest person, I promise that you will always be safe in the Elven and Alven kingdoms and that we will integrate and submit here. But please, if the prince dies, it won't end well for anyone."

Mortis, however, grinned nastily and said, "Imagine if the prince loses his life on the human continent - what a joke. Your entire empire would be. I'll be happy to lead him against you, as well as anyone else who falls. I told you, you showed no respect, and because you came to my home with weapons, you should be punished. But I am not so cruel as to execute a child for a little arrogance. So take him and leave. The negotiations are over. Protect yourselves well, for even the elements and nature spirits are against you right now and would be ready to attack you. So take the riff-raff and get out of my realm. Your mission, whatever it was, has failed and negotiations are out of the question. Perhaps you should have sent the countess from last time, after all, she knows what respect and custom are. Now get out of here."

Mortis let go of the young prince's soul, grabbed him by the collar before he collapsed and threw him at the feet of the other alves.

The prince twitched and whimpered, his fear palpable to all. His body no longer belonged to him and he could barely form a sentence, only the word "death" kept coming from his lips. The high priestess looked saddened, but when she saw the elements gathering around Mortis, ready to attack the alves and elves, she realized her mistake and quickly backed away. Also because they could hardly perceive the connection to nature and the elements anymore, which almost drove them mad, as if nature was turning its back on them and rejecting them. This shook the people, who were so closely connected to nature and the elements, and caused some alves and elves to burst into tears.

The fury of the elements was palpable for everyone, even for the people in the castle who felt no great affinity. The high priestess trembled and wept the most, clutching herself as if something important was being snatched from her. As she and the others cowered on the ground, she looked at the prince and wished him dead, as did several others who wished they had never come here.

On the elven continent, the elements were also going crazy, and the forest spirits suddenly turned evil and disgusting, looking at the elves and alves in disgust. No one knew what would happen to the core if something happened to Mortis. For them, it was more important to protect a new tree that would strengthen the planet and the continents than the well-being of thousands of the purest harmony with the elves and alves. Besides, this human was almost one of them, as he was like a law of nature.

Marina appeared beside Mortis and said, "Honey, that's enough. Lysandra and the other elements are getting angrier and angrier, some are already thinking about attacking, especially the fire element is almost unstoppable. I can feel Lysandra's complete rage. Calm her down somehow."

Mortis turned to Marina and replied, "I can forgive them, but even if I said nature is angry with them, I don't know why they're so angry right now. But well, I'll talk to them, maybe they'll listen." He took a few steps towards the World Tree Core, looked around at the nature spirits, elements and dryads watching and said, "That's enough, calm down. Anyone can make a mistake, and no one is perfect. You shouldn't be so angry for an idiot. I know I got carried away too, but I too can forgive. So calm down, send this prince home, and let's have some fun today with dancing and music. Tomorrow we will cleanse the core and plant it in the middle of the continent so that the nascent tree has enough space to develop and put down strong roots."

The elements and nature spirits listened carefully and liked the idea of forgiving and playing. Like little children, they then began to hum and jump, even approaching the elves and alves.

Even if the nature spirits of this continent had attacked the alves, they would hardly have been able to do anything, as they are about as strong as the creatures of the continent. But it's different with the elements; they don't really have a limit or fixed values as they fall off the scale. No matter what happened, the albums would have been doomed. Even if they could handle nature turning on them, they would have been close to insanity from nature's wrath, as it was in the dungeon. Where Mortis found the World Tree Core. For although there are gods who guide and command nature, nature has a mind and purpose of its own. If nature wants to get rid of something, it will do so sooner or later, regardless of the world. And this people, who are so familiar and connected, are in any case on the losing end of such attacks.

The alves and elves now felt sorry for Mortis' women, Mia and Silvia were also witnesses and sometimes wondered why Valeria was twitching so happily. But it seems that they and others liked the unbridled nature of Mortis, who despite some dominance remains calm and can also forgive. The alves and elves wanted to disappear and make the humans forget the image of shame, but to their surprise Marina and other women brought drink and food. The female elves, in particular, seemed to be in disarray, and that was when the gentle nature of Mortis' women showed itself again, which he welcomed. If they had nothing against the intruders, he might have to relent and give them a chance, especially as Shiva looked at him somewhat sadly.

"Alright, I get it, I'm the bad guy," Mortis relented. "Get more tables, let them stay and be at the ceremony tomorrow and be happy that they can stay. But only if they hand in their weapons."

Mortis held out her hand to the cowering high priestess to help her stand up. At first she wanted to slap his hand away, but when she saw the wind elements and Marina's water spirit hovering around him, she reconsidered her intention and allowed herself to be helped. When the wind elements saw this, they danced around both of them in a friendly manner and greeted their old friend, making her heart tremble with joy. She began to wonder why nature and the elements loved the human king so much.

Even if he had a world tree core from somewhere, it seemed as if the elements were very fond of him even without it and had been his friend for a long time. He had only had the core for a few days, because that was when nature became nervous.