Survive The Night (Part 7)

Various types of mana attacks shot out towards Bredret and the faolan wolves. While the attacks were sent different forms of barriers were cast around the temple surroundings. Whether it was earth barriers raised from the ground or light barriers that protected the temple from Bredret as he attempted to rain fire down at the temple. It felt as if the temple was a hidden fortress among the mountains.

Vorbuk ran beside prince Leo as the group headed for the temple. He could feel the ground shaking from the power behind the magic attacks crashing around them from all angles. It was like a beautiful yet deadly light show.

Lightning crackled in the sky above before smashing into the ground all around. Rock and dirt was sent scattering.

"Your Holiness! Uriel!" One of the temple priests called out to Johan and Uriel as they got closer while ushering them within the temple's walls.

"Uriel, to the sacred pool." Johan Lovette spoke in a hurry without stopping when they came inside the bounds of the temple.

"Y-Yes!" Uriel responded as he lead the others to follow them.

They entered the temple's main building.The main building was incredibly tall. It towered over the trees. At the center of the temple building was a roof made of glass that allowed sunlight to shine down inside the temple.

Inside were golden pillars that paved a path towards a beautiful white tree. It was a large willow tree that stood as tall as 300 feet. At the tip of its leafs a faint blue glow could be seen. A pool of water was around the base of the tree as if the tree and water were equally nurturing each other. You were able to feel the purity and strength behind the mana that flowed within the pool of water that was coming up naturally from the earth below it. The temple had been clearly built around this pool and tree in order to protect them.

"I heard about Theapan's temple being the best at purifying things, but what is this?" Zoe muttered the question that they were all wondering as they gazed at the beautiful image before them.

Johan Lovette did not respond to their questions as he paced forward. Nearing the pool of water he stepped up a golden stairway and made his way towards the base of the willow tree. Placing his hand against the tree as he closed his eyes. A faint glow appeared on the base of the tree where his hand was. As if a link between him and the tree had been placed the moment his eyes shut.

Uriel did not allow the others to go up the stairs behind Johan. They could only wait at the bottom for him to return.

"Welcome to the Temple of Theapan. Also known as the guardians of The World Tree." Uriel said as he could see the question about the white willow tree was all over their faces. Though his words only sent more questions and confusion to them.

"The world tree?" Prince Leo had heard about the world tree before. It was something that not much information was known about. The tree was something that not only elves but other races were said to cherish. Nobody could unravel everything there was to the tree because those close to the tree wouldn't allow much information to leak into the outside world.

The temple followers were indeed a mixture of many races. Humans, Elves, Beastfolk, and others. Though the tree was hard to locate because its location was heavily protected. There were rumors that elves protected the tree, but it was actually in Theapan hidden under guise of Theapan Temple?

"The Pope," Uriel seemed hesitant to speak about the world tree. "is the one who protects the world tree. Those who serve the temple are trained in order to protect His Holiness and this temple."

"He's hiding something about this whole situation." Vorbuk spoke up towards the prince as he listened to their conversation. He felt like there was more to the world tree and this situation then Uriel was letting out.

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Meanwhile over by The World Tree.

Johan had his eyes closed as he whispered his words quietly so that nobody could hear him speaking. He knew that the others were far away from him and shouldn't be able to hear him even if he spoke normally. Caution was just something he felt necessary when he did not know the people in Vorbuk's group that well.

"The God Chynir has arrived." Johan kept his words short and to the point. Knitting his closed eyes as he waited for a response.

'Iemis already left on this side. I doubt he will let that child run wild much longer. Everyone knows how fond of those things he is' An empty tone could be heard coming into Johan's mind from the tree. He felt a sense of annoyance at the lives of the people being called 'those things' by the one who was speaking to him.

"I never expected you to help anyways. I just wanted to know if anyone was going to come help since it has reached this state. He is at the temple after all." Johan stated calmly.

'... I do not care what that child does.'

"The new Guardian has been marked and is here as well." Johan paused for a moment. "There is also a child here... Who gives off the aura of one of you gods but it is weak. As someone in my position you should know how strange that is to see for me."

'... That child.'

"Hm?"

'Did he come from the dungeon?'

"Indeed. The group that I brought here came from the dungeon exit." Johan could sense how sense the other person was speaking to him.

'... Keep me updated on that child's movements in the future... As for Chynir just hold on and that guy will deal with it when he gets there.'

"Alright." Johan felt annoyed at the fact that this guy was ignoring the fact that they needed help. Even if another god was already on the way to them couldn't he show at least some sort of pity towards his situation.

The connection between Johan and the god on the other side was broken as the light faded from his hand. His eyes slowly opening as he thought about what the god said.

The world tree was indeed a unique existence. Because the world tree was not only the worlds eldest tree. The World Tree itself was indeed a sleeping god. At a single touch of the tree Johan Lovette could communicate with The World Tree that could see into both the mortal and god realms.

Over the years The World Tree rested among the mortal realm. It was a very unique god as it spent most of its time sleeping in the form of a tree. The water it nurtured was so pure because the divine mana that the god held would overflow and drip into the water. Purifying the water of all dark substances and elevating the mana within the water.

However The World Tree was not exactly a kind heart. The good that the god did for the nature around where he slept was only a natural occurrence caused by his mana overflowing in the tree form. He did not do it because he wanted to but because he was buying the kindness of the mortals like Pope Johan Lovette to protect his body. The World Tree's personality was actually uncaring and empty. It did not hate but it did not like either. It weighed how much it cherished someone by how useful they were. Since Johan could not take the sides of any specific god the tree simply used Johan because it knew he could not turn against him regardless of the fact that Johan could not take his side either. It felt safe and secure under the care of Johan Lovette.

In fact if The World Tree ever woke up and turned into his true form Johan Lovette felt things could actually become dangerous. Johan was actually glad that the world tree did not choose to wake up. He only gave the world tree the information he caught on to himself because if he left anything out and The World Tree found out on his own not even the other gods would be able to save him in time.

"Rest peacefully, my lord." Johan Lovette bowed his head towards the tree before turning to head towards the others.