The Root - Act 2: Part 1

There are going to be 5 updates next week. One on Wednesday (sorry I have exams before that), followed by 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. I hope you'll stay tuned and share your thoughts on the story with me. I would love to hear from you people.

There were a lot of butterflies flying around them and it took some time to gather them all. Kei’s arm supported a constant black glow as the butterflies landed before disappearing.

Xiao watched from a distance, one hand on the black branch in case it decided to do anything but nothing happened. After the butterflies were gone, he inhaled a deep breath.

“You feeling alright? Any side effects we should be aware of?” Xiao asked as he carefully approached the teen in front of him. His arm had an ominous black tint to it which seemed to be fading with time.

“No different than before. Although it was my first time absorbing them externally it’s the same as when I take back my own” Kei explained as he lowered his arm.

The black cat had decided to explore the surroundings, but seeing that it could not leave had settled down at Xiao’s feet, it’s black tail swaying lazily.

“Good, keep me updated if you feel out of sorts. Also, can you pick up the cat? Just in case it decides to eat any more of this grass” Xiao asked as he moved his hands over the bark of the black tree.

Kei moved to pick up the cat as Xiao observed the tree more.

The bark had the same crystalline look as he remembered and small buds seemed to be emerging on the nodes of the leaves.

From what he could remember, the world tree took the shape similar to a banyan tree with hanging routes and all. But unlike its counterpart, it actually bloomed. Both the flowers and the leaves did not look like the banyan tree.

The one in front of them reached his chest, allowing him to observe it fully. On its branches, small caterpillars crawled while some had already built a cocoon. These were the only creatures actually born of the world tree.

These harmless creatures metamorphosed into the most deadly creature in the world.

“Xiao, look here” Kei called out to him as he was observing the leaves more. He turned toward the other quickly.

The teen held the cat in one hand while he kneeled before a patch of land.

“What’s wrong?” he called out as he approached the pair. However, as soon as he reached close enough to see what was wrong, he felt like he should have stayed away. His vision blurred and for a few seconds, he was no longer there.

He was back in the clearing with the big tree and a lot of black animals hopping around on white grass. The peaceful skies and beautiful smile greeted him before it was spinning.

The white and black were swirling and mixing all around him, but never losing their identity. Only one silhouette stood unmoving, hands reaching out to him. He reached back and touched something solid.

“You alright?” He blinked open his eyes and the black and white were no longer in front of him.

Purple eyes greeted him overwhelming him and he took a step back. The flawless face with fox eyes fitted his view and was awfully close. What was Kei doing so close to him?

“Yeah, give me a second here. It took me by surprise, that's all” Xiao said as he fixed his gaze behind Kei.

There stood in the middle of the grass, a patch of white that haunted his dreams. Just near the routes of the tree, the grass had turned white.

“It’s not normal. We should inform others of this development and have them take precautions” Kei suggested as he stepped to the side. Xiao quickly made his way toward the patch to observe it.

“Yes. A mere branch should not be able to affect the part it is not touching. Unless we’re missing something here” the more he observed the patch, the worse Xiao’s feelings got.

The patch seemed to have been developed in a random spot, a few fingers away from the trunk. There was no connection between it and the tree.

While he was in thought, Kei kneeled before him and began digging.

“Xiao, are you sure this is a branch?” Kei asked and Xiao looked on in horror as the earth parted to give way to a small piece of black.

“It’s not a branch, it’s a root. We need to get this out right now or it’ll devour the whole place” the branch of the world trees could not affect anything it does not touch and when it emerges, there is no support system downward.

Hence, their growth was limited to a month and generally followed up the black chaos. But a root? It had no such problem. It grew and grew till it devoured the whole place within a few KM in range.

Only once it devoured everything in its capabilities in that place would it wither away.

There had only been one case before and that had been enough to engrave it in the mind of generations to come. Every other world's tree - branch and especially the route known to them - had to be removed before it could do anything.

Small ones were missed often, but they generally didn’t cause big trouble.

But this one was a nightmare no matter how one looked at it. The cat in Kei’s arms meowed as if agreeing.

“By the way, what do we do with this cat?” Kei asked as he held the cat out toward Xiao.

“I’ll take care of it. We cannot give it to anyone else anyway and allowing it to roam free would cause too much panic” Xiao sighted accepting his fate. Looked like he just earned himself another member of the family.

“I understand. So, now it’s your loyal pet” Kei said as he let the cat go. The cat circled and rubbed against a few times before meowing. It was awful cute.

“Don’t you mean ours? Let’s go and deliver the bad news to the party now” Xiao led the way outside the forest and both Kei and the cat followed.

Inside the house, the atmosphere seemed to be tense which only worsened as the party made their way inside.

“So, what did you observe?” Noah was the one who broke the stalemate. A smart move that gave him the advantage and set the mood.

Xiao played along with him. They both knew the game, Kei would ask and Xiao would answer. It allowed the position of power to remain in Kei’s hand while he dragged the whole conversation along.

This prevented some troubling parties to butt in unnecessary or corner Xiao. And while Xiao could take care of himself, he would rather avoid the unnecessary troubles as much as he could.

“The situation is worse than we expected. It’s not a branch but a root and by the looks of it had been there for some time. We’ll need to get it out soon or we’re doomed” There were loud gasps and other noise of disbelief, but no one paid them any attention.

There was a gloom in the air now. Everyone knew what this meant for the place if they failed.

“I’ll inform the pillars right now. Our latest pillar is still new, but I believe they are up to the task” some unimportant official said and with that most of the people there began making arrangements.

Xiao understood their hurry. This was the perfect opportunity for these people to gain a stand with the pillars. It would uplift their own standing and give them a better status in the court.

“Also, ask the assistance of the abyss in this. Kei, I'll leave it up to you” Xiao turned toward his cousin who nodded at his request. Since the abyss existed outside the world tree’s powers, they were their best shot at eliminating the root in case everything failed.

“Do you think they will respond to his plea?” Kei asked as Noah was excited to make the arrangements. Xiao gave a small smile in return.

“Not they, her. I’m sure Ray will come” Xiao said, his voice full of confidence.

Abyss's order was the best bet they had and their trump card. However, to get them to agree to this would be the difficult part. They didn’t want to do anything with this side so to actually strike a deal would be near impossible.

That is, it would be if one of them didn’t have a personal gain in this. He was sure Ray would be more than welcoming a chance to come here. After all, she didn’t have a lot of chances to meet him.

No matter which personality of hers came, he would welcome her.

“Sir, the master is calling for you” a well-dressed servant entered the room in a hurry. There were panic and awe in his expression which was clearly reflected in his voice.

“Right on time. Tell your master we will be there soon” Xiao informed and the starstruck servant hurried back.

“A pillar?” Kei asked, his voice full of confidence.

“A pillar. Well, I think there will be more than one there this time” Xiao said, confirming and contradicting Kei’s words at the same time.

Once again, the pair made their way through the highly decorated corridors toward the back room of the palace.

This place was much more decorated than any place they had been before. The hallway walls and the ceiling were made of pure marble. Golden design embroidered all over the white reflected light into different colours and when it passed through the small crystal decorations created a rainbow effect.

“It’s rather lavish. Isn’t your master a little too vain?” That had been an insult if Xiao had ever heard one, but it looked like their guide didn’t think so. Instead of getting angry, he beamed in joy.

“Only the best for our masters who have protected us for generations. They're the greatest after all and they even employed me in the inner court” the guy obviously worshipped his employers. But humans tend to think good about the person who is advantageous for them and in his case, it even went as far as generosity.

“A delusional?” Kei asked him quietly while they moved. He obviously didn't want to be heard by the guy leading him and Kei let out a small smile.

“It’s good that he’s enjoying his life to the fullest. Let him” there was not a lot of happiness in such an oppressed world. So if someone found his own, no matter how delusional he seemed, he should be left alone as long as he could be.

"Is there anything I should be careful about? These people are obviously important enough to get such a treatment" Kei asked and Xiao gave the teen another look over him. The teen had obviously seen through the finer work here. For all the luxury provided to anyone, this wing exceeded anything else in the whole compound is worth.

This was the treasury of the northern headquarters, kept under a watchful eye of the pillars. To take something from here without borrowing was a death sentence for anyone.

"Don't mention anything problematic and we should be fine" Xiao advised. He believed that Kie himself could judge what was problematic and what was not. Besides, most of the pillars were easy going enough to not matter.

“Master, I’ve brought them” and soon they stood in front of a highly decorative white door. Behind it laid the present generation of pillars.