CHAPTER 119

The morning sunlight barely seeped through the dense trees.

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

Elegant appearance, long, protruding ears.

They were scouts guarding the vicinity of Ausrina.

"Halt."

Following the command of the captain who led them, the scouts stopped in their tracks and held their breath.

The captain's clenched fist indicated that there was something ahead of them.

'The smell of blood…'

Their sense of smell was superior to humans, though not as acute as their hearing.

The scout captain wrinkled his eyebrows as he caught the foul scent spreading from within the dark forest.

"Spread out."

Nods and gestures.

Following the signals they had agreed upon, the scattered elves quickly dispersed around the vicinity, blending into the surroundings and keeping watch in all directions.

'I'll go alone.'

With a signal, the scout captain stepped forward alone, followed by a few cautious members who began preparing their bows.

Branches swaying in the wind.

In the dark forest where not even the chirping of birds could be heard, the only sound echoing was the collision of the branches.

"Ah..."

However, with someone's sigh, the silence that had been maintained so far was broken.

On top of the bushes that are tangled like a spider's web. There was an elf with outstretched arms and head bowed.

"Check for abdominal penetration wounds."

"The wounds are frozen."

"It seems to have been dead for at least a day."

The scout captain approached the corpse with a puzzled expression, listening to the reports.

Pieces of entrails were slowly dripping through the large hole pierced sharply.

"It's too late."

Kneeling down with one knee, the scout captain examined the wounds on the corpse.

A gaping hole that an ordinary human could never create.

The still open eyes spoke volumes about the extent of the pain it endured.

"...Nidhogg."

[T/L: In Norse mythology, Níðhöggr (Malice Striker, in Old Norse traditionally also spelled Níðhǫggr, often anglicized Nidhogg) is a dragon who gnaws at a root of the world tree, Yggdrasil.]

The scout captain gazed through the gaping hole in the corpse, peering into the forest beyond.

The view of the forest through the red passage.

In that place untouched by light, darkness was the only thing to be found.

From deep within the forest, there echoed faint cries.

Voices akin to echoes, as if starving.

The dragon lurking in the depths of the darkness was now watching over the young World Tree, soon to blossom.

※※※※

"..."

Vlad felt as though he was strolling through a garden.

Yet, where he stood was a cave devoid of even a speck of light.

'What kind of cave is this?'

It was a reasonable misconception.

The damp ground felt as soft as freshly laid straw, and the darkness that should have prevailed was illuminated by the moss clinging densely to the walls.

'Fireflies?'

Plus, there are fireflies floating everywhere.

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

The atmosphere that did not fit the season and place was defying Vlad's common sense.

"It will love to see that amber. It has been feeling very anxious these days."

The group moved towards the origin of the World Tree through the cave pierced with roots.

Despite being a cave, this place, bright and warm even in winter, contradicted reality as they walked deeper inside.

"It is also new to this, so it's a bit confused."

Spring is coming.

And flowers are blooming.

The young World Tree, stretching its branches in anticipation of spring, said that this would be its first time blooming.

However, the World Tree was concerned whether its blossoming was going right.

"So it was quite depressed because it was worried about that, and then you happened to come here."

Sometimes, even while moving forward, there are moments of anxiety.

Whether the direction one is heading is correct, whether it's okay to keep going like this.

Or if it's something that can't be undone.

The inability to easily take a step forward despite knowing that it must be done likely stems from a lack of certainty.

At times like this, it would have been nice to have someone reassure them that they're doing well, but unfortunately, the young World Tree didn't have such a presence.

"...I see."

Vlad nodded quietly as he listened to the girl's words.

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

Even though the knight and tree existed in separate worlds.

"We've arrived."

With the girl's words, the end of the long corridor started to come into view.

The bright lights ahead.

Unlike the light produced by the blue moss, these lights were illuminated by today's sun.

"Vlad of Shoara. You're probably the first human to come this far."

As the girl spoke, the faces of the elves escorting her began to furrow.

Does the human in front know?

That the place he stood was a secretive space where only a few elves could enter.

Yet, the priestess of the World Tree had no hesitation in guiding the knight with blue eyes here.

She was confident that the knight with blue eyes needed to come here.

"..."

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

A vast cavern.

Roots of the World Tree, spread out in various places, tangled messily and created a large space.

"Do we go in here?"

"Yes, please."

Like inviting someone into her own home, the girl spread her arms wide.

With the girl's welcoming gesture, Vlad cautiously stepped into the cavern.

The grass beneath his feet seemed to lay itself down in response to Vlad's steps.

The expressions of the guard elves were strangely changing as they saw the World Tree's firm invitation and intention to welcome Vlad.

'······This is the World Tree.'

It felt as if a faint heartbeat could be heard from the tips of his toes.

Along with that heartbeat, Vlad's world seemed to expand little by little.

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

"It seems they are happy you came."

At the girl's words from behind, Vlad turned his head.

The elves who had come to escort him were standing silently at the entrance of the cavern.

The only people present were Vlad, the girl, and the young World Tree, watching over them.

"Can you show it? Please, I hope you can."

The priestess of the World Tree, who couldn't offer any help to the young tree, was pleading with the knight who had brought the memories of the mother World Tree.

Please show the child the image of its mother.

For the sake of the young World Tree, who had never ventured into the world before.

"Understood."

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

"...Perhaps this side would be better?"

The cold blade was sharp, but the handle it was held in would be soft.

Therefore, the knight decided to hold the softer side, as it wouldn't suit the young tree, yearning for its mother's embrace.

-----.

The heartbeat quickens.

The sound of the World Tree's heartbeat, previously only felt at the tips of his toes, now travels through the air.

Alicia's amber stone was sparkling in the light coming down through the ceiling.

Through that light, the young World Tree looked out at the autumn landscape.

Vast fields.

Rippling fields of wheat.

And a large maple tree swaying in the breeze.

The maple tree from his memory was looking at the young World Tree.

"Butterflies?"

"Yes, butterflies."

Vlad watched the butterflies fluttering around him.

They were the same butterflies he had seen in the girl's fantasy.

Flower-like butterflies were flying towards Vlad and the girl.

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

Vlad could feel it in that moment.

That he was the bridge connecting the two, the worlds.

"Flowers are blooming..."

Vlad slowly closed his eyes as the light enveloped him.

The World Tree in his memory began to slowly bloom flowers.

As if instructing its young child.

Seeing its mother, whom it had never felt before, the young world tree unconsciously stretched out its branches and tried to hug her.

Between the entwining branches, the scenery of the past autumn and today's landscape were gradually overlapping.

※※※※

"Wow..."

Old Geronimo closed the book he had been holding with trembling hands. 

Though his body had grown heavier with the weight of years, he quickly grabbed his cane and hurriedly approached the window.

A scent that he hadn't sensed in a long time was making his eyes misty.

"Hmm?"

Baradis, who had been rummaging through documents in his study, perked up his ears. The passing breeze seemed to be urging him to turn his head quickly.

There would soon be a moment that only can be seen now.

The elves working in the fields, the elves guarding the forests, Noir and Gott in the stables, and Auguste inspecting the tea fields—all humans and elves alike were turning their heads to look in the same direction.

The forest of the elves. Ausrina.

In the center of their newly established land stood a brilliantly shining tree.

"Flowers are blooming."

Yes.

Now I understand.

How to make flowers bloom.

And my mother, who exists only in memory, told me so.

She said I was doing well.

-----!

Various possibilities began to rise within the rapidly flashing World Tree.

Flowers follow the sky from branches close to the clouds.

Flowers following the wind from the farthest-reaching branches.

Flowers facing the ground from the lowest branches.

"Oh... Wow."

"Spirits are being born!"

Tiny birds, horses, snakes, and moles smaller than a single flower bud.

The possibilities that the World Tree had harbored until now were pushing their way out into the world.

Under one name, forgotten little beings were raising their heads towards the world.

"..."

If there were young worlds being born, someone must surely watch over them.

Therefore, the knight with blue eyes did not stop clutching his sharp sword.

A stream of blood flowing down the sword that shakes ceaselessly.

The red dripping onto the ground was a gift from the knight for the newborn children.

Today, spring has arrived in Ausrina.

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

※※※※

"..."

The dazzling World Tree came to a halt.

The butterflies that had fluttered around in the fantasy just moments ago were now nowhere to be seen.

Thud.

With everyone frozen in place, only drops of blood flowed from Vlad's hand.

The red dripping onto the green grass looked desolate.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry."

The girl covering her mouth with both hands was on the verge of tears.

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

The knight before her eyes didn't hesitate to support the young World Tree with his memories.

"Has it bloomed?"

Vlad raised his head to look at the open ceiling facing outside.

A red-colored maple leaf was slowly falling towards him.

"Thank you... Thank you."

Vlad listened to the girl's words and quietly looked down at his sword.

The red blood flowing on the blade.

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

The Hainal family heirloom has served its purpose today.

"Ha..."

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

A deep wound.

Nevertheless, Vlad did not let go of his shaky sword even at the moment when the World Tree was blooming.

Through the touching of the worlds, he could see a mother comforting her crying child.

Vlad truly did not want to disturb that moment.

"Hmm?"

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

That's why today's sun shined even brighter, shining a ray of light through the ceiling.

And where the light shined, there was a rock that had not been seen before.

"What is that?"

A large rock that revealed itself as if it could now be shown.

On the rock, an unknown sword filled with sunlight was shining.

It was a sword emitting a silvery light.