Chapter 118 - When the world tree blossoms (3)

The morning sunlight barely peeks through the dense trees.

There were people wandering through the dark forest, relying on the sunlight.

Elegant appearance, long and pointed ears.

They were guards patrolling the outskirts of Ausurin.

"Halt."

Following the instructions of the leader at the front, the members of the search group stopped and held their breath.

Because the clenched fists of the captain told them what lay ahead.

'The smell of blood...'

Although not as keen as hearing, the sense of smell is superior to that of humans.

The leader of the search frowned upon smelling the fishy odor coming from within the black forest.

'Disperse!

Eye gestures and hand signals.

The elves quickly dispersed around, following each designated signal, and soon assimilated into their surroundings, becoming vigilant in all directions.

"'ll go alone."

A search leader advances slowly alone with hand signals.

Some group members following him carefully drew arrows and began to feed them into the protesters.

Branches swaying in the wind.

In the dark forest where not even the sound of birds could be heard, the only thing echoing was the faint rustle of tree branches.

"…This."

However, the silence that had been maintained until now was broken by someone's sigh.

Above the bushes, entwined like a spider web.

There was an elf there with arms outstretched and head tilted.

"Penetrating wound confirmed in the abdomen."

"The wound is frozen."

"It seems at least a day has passed since their death."

The search leader approached the body with a puzzled expression as he listened to the report.

Pieces of internal organs hung from the large puncture holes.

"It's too late."

The search leader knelt on one knee and looked at the body's wounds.

A hole so large that no ordinary human being could have created it.

The eyes that were still wide open showed how much pain they must have endured.

"...Nidhogg."

The search leader looked toward the forest through the large hole in the elf's body.

A view of the forest seen through a dark red passage.

The place where light couldn't reach was completely filled with darkness.

A faint, hunger-ridden cry echoed from deep within the forest.

A voice that sounded as if it were starving.

A dragon hidden in the darkness watched the young World Tree about to bloom.

***

"…"

Vlad thought it was as if he were walking through a garden.

Even though the place he was in was a cave where not a single ray of light entered.

'What kind of cave is this?'

It was quite understandable to be so mistaken.

The floor, which should have been wet, was as soft as freshly laid straw, and the interior, which should have been dark, was brightly lit due to the moss clinging to the walls.

'Fireflies?'

Moreover, fireflies were floating everywhere.

Vlad's mind was confused as he looked at the luminous objects floating around as if welcoming the group.

The atmosphere that didn't fit with the season and place challenged Vlad's common sense.

"You're going to love it when you see that amber. I've been very anxious these days."

The group heads to the source of the World Tree through a cave that opens up to the roots.

This place was bright despite being a cave and warm despite it being winter. The further they went, the more different it was from the real world.

"I was embarrassed too because it was the first time I did it."

Spring is coming.

And the flowers bloom.

It was said that this was the first time the young World Tree was blossoming, spreading in time for the next spring.

However, the World Tree was worried if the blossoming it was doing was going well.

"That's why I was so depressed, and you came here."

Sometimes, even though you keep going, you feel anxious.

Is the direction you're going in correct? Will you be able to continue like this?

Or maybe it will never be possible to turn back?

The reason you can't take a step forward even though you have to is probably because you lack confidence.

In moments like this, it would have been nice to have someone by your side to assure you that you were doing fine, but unfortunately, there was no one for the young World Tree.

"…That's right."

Vlad nodded silently as he listened to the girl.

Before he knew it, Vlad deeply understood the concerns of the World Tree through the existence of a girl.

Although the tree and the knight are in a world where they cannot communicate, they can understand each other.

"They're all here."

With the girl's words, the end of the long hallway began to come into view.

Bright lights ahead.

The light was not the light produced by the green moss, but the light illuminated by today's sun.

"Vlad of Soara. You're probably the first human to come here."

With those words, the faces of the elves escorting the girl began to frown.

Does the person ahead know?

The place where he was now was a secret space that only a few elves could enter.

However, the priestess of the World Tree did not hesitate to bring the blue-eyed knight to this place.

Because he was convinced that the Blue-eyed Knight had to come here.

"…"

Vlad slowly raised his head as he listened to the girl.

An enormous void.

The roots of the World Tree located here and there were intertwined, creating a large space.

"Will you come here?"

"Yes, go ahead, whatever you want."

A girl who opens her arms as if inviting her into her home.

Vlad cautiously took a step into the cavity, greeted by the girl's welcome.

The grass on the ground lay alone, following Vlad's steps.

The expressions of the elves escorting, as they watched the firm invitation and welcome of the World Tree, were changing in a strange way.

'…This is the World Tree.'

It felt as if he could hear a faint heartbeat coming from the toes he was stepping on.

With that rhythm, Vlad's world seemed to slowly expand.

The worlds that had been in contact were now facing each other.

"I guess I'm glad you came."

Vlad turned his head when he heard the girl's words behind him.

The elves who followed them to escort them stood still at the entrance of the common field.

The only people here now were Vlad, the girl, and the young World Tree looking at each other.

"Can you show it to me? Please, I hope you do."

The maiden of the World Tree could not offer any help to the young tree.

She had her hands clasped as if praying and asked the knight to bring her son the memory of his mother, the World Tree.

Please show your son what a mother is like.

For the young World Tree who must head to a world that has never existed before.

"It's okay."

At the girl's request, Vlad drew his sword.

"…I guess this is better, right?"

The blade may be sharp, but the handle with which you pick it up will be soft.

Therefore, the knight decided to grasp the sharp edge.

Because it was not suitable for a young tree longing for the embrace of its mother.

——.

The heart beats faster.

The heartbeat of the World Tree, which previously only felt in the tips of the toes, could now be heard in the air.

Alicia's amber gleamed with the light coming down from the ceiling.

The young World Tree looked at the autumn landscape shining through the light. Wide field.

Overflowing wheat fields.

And a large maple swaying in the wind.

The maple in my memory was looking at the young World Tree.

"Butterfly?"

"It's a butterfly."

Vlad saw butterflies flying around.

These were the butterflies I saw in the girl's fantasy.

Butterflies like flowers flew towards Vlad and the girl.

Memories and reality confronted each other through Vlad's feet touching the roots and the sword held upside down.

Vlad could feel it at that moment.

That he had become the passage and the world that connects the two.

"The flowers are blooming…"

Vlad slowly closed his eyes as the light enveloped him.

The World Tree in my memory began to bloom slowly.

As if telling his son to do this.

Seeing his mother, whom he had never felt before, the young World Tree unconsciously stretched out its branches and tried to embrace her.

Between the tangled branches, the autumn landscape of the past and the landscape of today slowly overlapped.

***

"…Oh oh."

Old Geronimo closed the book he held with trembling hands.

Although his body had become heavier due to the weight of time, he quickly grabbed the cane beside him and ran to the window.

A smell he hadn't sensed in a long time was making his eyes blurry.

"Hmm?"

Varadis, who had been shuffling documents in his office for a while, perked up his ears.

Because the passing wind was telling him to quickly turn his head.

Soon there will come a moment that only now can be seen.

The elves plowing the fields and the elves guarding the forest.

Noir and Goethe were in the stable, and August was investigating the tea plantation.

Both humans and elves turned their heads to look in the same direction.

Elf Forest. Ausurin.

In the midst of their newly colonized land, there was a tree shining brightly.

"The flowers are blooming."

Yes.

I know it now.

How to make flowers bloom.

And my mother, who is now just a memory, used to say the same.

It was fine.

—–!

Within the white, flickering World Tree, several possibilities began to emerge.

On the branches near the clouds, the flowers followed the sky.

On the farther branches, the flowers followed the wind.

On the lower branches, the flowers pointed towards the ground.

"Wow… Oh oh."

"Spirits are born!"

A bird smaller than a flower, a horse, a snake, and a mole.

Meanwhile, the possibilities harbored by the World Tree were sticking their heads out into the world.

The young ones who had been forgotten under one name lifted their heads towards the world.

"…"

If a young world is being born, someone must protect it.

That's why the blue-eyed knight kept holding onto the sharp blade of his sword.

A stream of blood flowing from a sword that shook incessantly.

The red color dripping onto the ground was the knight's gift to the newborn child.

Spring has arrived in Ausurin today.

Under the guidance of a mother who is no longer there and the patience of a knight.

***

"…"

The World Tree, shining as if about to burst, came to a stop.

The fantasy butterflies that were flying a moment ago have now disappeared without a trace.

Drip.

Now that everyone has stopped, the only thing moving is the blood flowing from Vlad's hand.

The red color dripping onto the green grass was pitiful.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry."

The nameless girl covered her mouth with both hands and had tears in her eyes.

The nameless girl sympathized more with Vlad's pain in front of her than with the joy of the blooming flowers.

Because the knight in front of me didn't hesitate to support the memories of the young World Tree.

"Has it bloomed?"

Vlad raised his head and looked at the open ceiling.

Before he knew it, a red maple leaf was slowly falling towards Vlad.

"Thank you… Thank you."

Vlad silently looked at his sword as he listened to the girl.

Red blood flowing between the sword.

And Alicia's amber stone is not where it should be.

The Hainal family relic has fulfilled its purpose today.

"Ha…"

With an overwhelming emotion he didn't know what it was, Vlad finally withdrew his hand from the sword.

A deep cut.

However, Vlad didn't let go of his trembling sword even at the moment the World Tree was blooming.

Because in the image we see through the world in front of us, a mother was comforting a crying child.

Vlad really didn't want to interrupt that moment.

"Hmm?"

Perhaps because of the exhausted World Tree, the roots have become a little dark.

That's why today's sun shone even brighter, casting a ray of light through the roof.

And where the light shone, there was a rock that hadn't been seen before.

"What is that?"

A large rock that now seemed to reveal itself.

Upon the rock shone an unknown sword full of sunlight.

It was a sword with a silver shine.

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