New elves are still being conceived.
Gloria, the first elf born from the Ancient Sun Tree, is cherished by both the Ancient Sun Tree itself and the world's will.
This special blessing belongs only to the very first sun elf.
However, not all elves share this fortune.
It might take a few weeks, several months, or even years for an elf to be fully nurtured within the womb.
Such things cannot be rushed; they must follow the natural course.
After all, humans take ten months on average to bring a child into the world.
Elves, who live far longer, experience an extended gestation period as well.
For an immortal race, a pregnancy that lasts years is almost expected.
Take dragons, for instance. It takes hundreds of years for a dragon to grow from an egg to a full-fledged creature.
From birth to maturity, dragons require centuries.
Considering their lifespans, which span thousands of years, this slow growth cycle is seen as natural.
Some dragons even sleep for years at a time.
In fact, within dragon society, those under five hundred years are still considered young.
Only at five hundred years do dragons reach adulthood, gaining the strength to match legendary beings.
Elves, though not as rare or powerful as dragons, also enjoy lifespans exceeding a thousand years.
Elven maturity typically takes around two hundred years.
And the stronger an elf, the longer it takes to conceive and give birth.
If ordinary elves mate, it takes about two years for a new elf to be born.
But if the elf is of legendary status, it can take ten years or more.
In some cases, even longer.
Even after successfully bearing a child, the process places considerable strain on the mother.
Yet, with the legacy of a legendary bloodline, the child's potential is also immense.
Upon reaching maturity, these offspring may possess powers rivaling formidable beasts.
There's even a high chance they will ascend to the legendary realm.
But things are different if conceived within the Sunwell.
The Sunwell holds a tremendous amount of life essence.
This vast life force can accelerate the elves' development by dozens, even hundreds, of times.
A growth cycle that might typically take decades or centuries could be shortened to just a single year.
The effect is nothing short of astounding.
As Rhodes looked at the Ancient Sun Tree, he sensed a faint will forming within it, gradually growing stronger.
The Tree of Life represents the essence of the elves and serves as the mother to all.
Though it is called a tree, it resembles more of a unique, sentient organism.
It possesses wisdom and can wield powerful magic, though it cannot take human form.
It would ordinarily take at least a thousand years for a dead object like the Ancient Sun Tree to develop awareness and intelligence.
However, nourished by a significant amount of life essence, this Ancient Sun Tree has awakened its will much earlier.
But for now, it's barely more than a seed—still weak and with limited capability.
Much time and resources are needed to nurture this seed.
Only with such care can the Ancient Sun Tree flourish.
To reach its full potential, it would need to grow to rival the size of the Tree of Life in the Elf Forest, at which point it would finally be worthy of its title.
"Let's go!"
The carriage quietly passed through the heart of the Silent Forest.
Rhodes left just as quietly as he had arrived, leaving behind only his legend and his footprints.
Whoosh!
A gentle breeze stirred, and a single golden leaf drifted down before his eyes.
It floated directly into Rhodes' hand.
"This is...?"
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