Chapter 81: The Rite of Renewal

Third Person's POV

The golden-haired spirit of the Eldertree leaned back against an invisible force, her emerald eyes gleaming with mischief as she surveyed the expectant faces before her.

Selene, Axel, Tyra, Khael, Eldrin, and Lyrielle all stood in varying degrees of caution and confusion, waiting for her to speak.

"Alright, mortals, let's get something straight," she said, stretching as if waking from a long nap.

"You came here demanding answers, but I don't just hand out wisdom like free samples at a marketplace. No, no, no. If you want my help, you must first entertain me."

Axel crossed his arms, already looking exasperated. "Entertain you?"

"Did I stutter, holy boy?" She smirked.

"You lot are so serious all the time. Where's the fun in that?"

Khael narrowed his eyes. "So... what? You want us to juggle? Dance?"

"Oh, I have something far better in mind," the Eldertree purred, tilting her head.

"You see, long ago, a group of mortals made a rather... unfortunate mistake. They were given the duty of tending to my roots, ensuring the balance of Viridwyn's heart remained intact. But one particularly arrogant ruler decided he knew better than nature itself. He tried to take control, force my magic to obey his will. Naturally, things went horribly wrong, and his little stunt fractured the harmony of this land."

Eldrin frowned, stroking his beard. "The Old King's Folly... So the tales were true."

"More than true," the Eldertree said with a dramatic sigh.

"And now, because of that colossal mess, the land still suffers. So, I could tell you how to fix it…" Her lips curled in amusement.

"But first, you must prove your humility."

Selene, sensing where this was going, gave her a wary look. "And how exactly do we do that?"

The Eldertree clapped her hands together. "Simple. You must each reenact the Old King's greatest failure… in the most ridiculous way possible."

Tyra blinked. "You want us to mock a historical catastrophe?"

"Oh, don't be so dramatic. I want you to feel his arrogance, embrace his stupidity! Declare yourselves as the grand rulers of Viridwyn, strut around like peacocks, and—" She waved a hand lazily.

"Oh, I don't know, make it convincing. The more ridiculous, the better."

There was a long pause.

Khael turned to the others. "So basically… she wants us to make fools of ourselves."

"Correct!" The Eldertree beamed. "And I will be judging your performances."

Axel ran a hand down his face. "I cannot believe this."

Lyrielle, who had been silent for a while, hesitated before whispering to Eldrin, "Is this… normal?"

The sage, still looking somewhat stunned by the sheer absurdity of the situation, sighed.

"I… I don't know. This is my first time meeting her, too."

The Eldertree smirked at him. "Surprised, are we, old sage? Expected some wise, solemn, boring spirit?"

She twirled a golden lock between her fingers. "Pfft. How dull."

Selene exhaled slowly. "Fine. If this is what it takes, then…" She squared her shoulders, then, with visible reluctance, lifted her chin and declared

"I am the Great Queen of Viridwyn!" She dramatically swished her cloak.

"Bow before my magnificence!"

The Eldertree gasped, clutching her chest.

"Ooooh! Yes! Now that's the spirit!" She turned to Axel expectantly.

"Well, holy boy? Your turn."

Axel looked like he wanted to melt into the floor. "Do I have to?"

The Eldertree tsked. "Oh, no, of course not. But if you don't, I might just forget to tell you how to fix the land's magic."

Axel closed his eyes and muttered something under his breath before stiffly stepping forward.

"I… am King Axel of—" He visibly struggled before sighing. "This is ridiculous."

Khael, however, fully embraced the chaos. He straightened his tiny frame, puffed out his chest, and in an overly dramatic voice boomed

"Kneel before the might of Khael the Magnificent!" He spread his arms wide.

"My power is absolute! My wisdom is unparalleled! My—"

Tyra shoved a hand over his mouth. "Alright, alright, we get it."

The Eldertree was cackling, hugging her sides. "Oh, this is beautiful. This is the best entertainment I've had in centuries!"

She wiped a nonexistent tear from her eye. "Okay, okay, I'm satisfied."

Selene crossed her arms. "Now will you tell us what we actually have to do?"

The Eldertree grinned. "Oh, fine. Party pooper."

She snapped her fingers, and the chamber dimmed, the golden-green light pulsing with deeper intensity.

"The damage done long ago cannot be undone with brute strength. It requires something else—harmony. The mistake of the past was the king's attempt to control the land's magic. The solution is not to bend it to your will but to restore balance with it."

Eldrin nodded thoughtfully. "A ritual, then?"

"Bingo!" The Eldertree twirled a finger in the air.

"A very specific one, lost to time—except, of course, to me. You'll need to find the sacred point where Viridwyn's lifeforce is still strong and reignite the connectio. Only then will the balance return."

Selene's expression hardened with determination.

"Then tell us where to begin."

The Eldertree smirked. "Oh, you'll love this part. It just so happens the point is located in the most inconvenient place possible…"

Axel pinched the bridge of his nose, already bracing for the worst. "Of course it is. Just tell us where."

The Eldertree stretched her arms over her head, smirking at their collective misery.

"The sacred point is at the Heart of the Forgotten Marshes."

Khael raised a brow. "That doesn't sound too bad."

Eldrin, however, groaned. "Because you don't know what it is. That place is a labyrinth of shifting paths, ankle-deep sludge, and creatures that would love nothing more than to drag you under."

The Eldertree beamed. "Exactly! Isn't it exciting?"

Selene's patience was wearing thin. "And what, exactly, do we need to do once we reach this 'Heart'?"

The spirit hummed. "Oh, just a little song and dance."

Axel stared at her. "Please tell me you're joking."

"Partially," she admitted.

"You must perform the Rite of Renewal. It's an old ritual that involves an incantation, a symbolic offering, and, well… a small performance. The magic of the land responds to harmony, remember?"

Selene crossed her arms. "And if we don't do it properly?"

The Eldertree's expression turned far too gleeful. "Then the marsh rejects you, the ground swallows you whole, and you become one with nature. Forever."

There was a heavy silence.

Tyra gave an exaggerated nod. "Ah. Lovely. I was hoping for a new way to die."

Khael tilted his head. "What kind of performance are we talking about? Like, interpretive dance?"

The Eldertree tapped her chin, as if giving it serious thought. "That would be hilarious, but no. It must be a reenactment of the first bond between mortals and nature. A representation of understanding, respect, and… well, a little flair wouldn't hurt. The spirits do love a bit of theatrics."

Lyrielle, who had been quiet for most of the exchange, sighed. "So what you're saying is that we have to put on a heartfelt show in the middle of a cursed swamp, or we die?"

"Now you're getting it!" The Eldertree clapped her hands together.

"Oh, I can't wait to hear how this goes."

Axel exhaled sharply, clearly regretting every decision that led him here. "This is absurd."

Selene turned to her companions, straightening her posture.

"Absurd or not, we don't have a choice. If this is what it takes to restore balance, then we do it."

Tyra sighed. "Fine. But I swear, if I have to sing, someone is getting punched."

Khael grinned. "Well, if we have to embarrass ourselves, we might as well go all in. Who's ready for the most ridiculous swamp ritual in history?"

The Eldertree cackled, waving them off.

"Good luck, champions of Viridwyn! And do be sure to survive—I want to hear all about it when you return!"

A golden light enveloped them before they could protest, and in the next instant, the air shifted.

They landed with a collective stumble onto soft, moss-covered ground. The scent of blooming flora and fresh earth greeted them as the golden glow faded. A few gasps and a startled yelp followed as they registered their surroundings.

Lady Sylwen, draped in robes woven with leaves and petals, stood before them with wide, startled eyes. The gentle guardian of the enchanted groves looked as if they had just materialized from thin air—because, well, they had.

"What in the name of the sacred roots—?!"

she exclaimed, clutching the carved staff in her hand. Her usual serene demeanor cracked as she took an instinctive step back.

"Where did you come from? What manner of magic is this?"

Axel dusted off his cloak, shooting a glare at the empty space where the Eldertree's laughter still faintly echoed.

"That cursed tree spirit has a horrible sense of humor."

Khael, ever the enthusiast, grinned up at Lady Sylwen. "We were just having a nice chat with a very unhelpful, slightly sadistic tree."

Selene let out a deep breath and turned to Sylwen. "That was the Eldertree's doing. We sought its wisdom, and instead, it decided to make us perform like fools before giving us a task."

Lady Sylwen furrowed her brows. "The… Eldertree?" She hesitated before nodding slowly.

" I have never spoken to it myself. It is said to hold knowledge beyond time, but it does not often make itself known."

Eldrin stroked his beard. "The Eldertree does not reveal itself to all. But it possesses ancient knowledge and has given us the means to restore balance—though at a cost to our dignity."

Tyra crossed her arms. "And now we're off to a cursed swamp to sing and dance, or we die."

Lady Sylwen's lips parted, her concern only deepening. "You're going where?"

Axel sighed. "The Forgotten Marshes. There's a ritual site we need to reach, and apparently, the only way to restore the land's harmony is through the Rite of Renewal. But to perform it, we need to… rehearse."

Khael pumped his fist. "That's right! Time to put on the performance of a lifetime!"

Selene pressed her fingers against her temple. "Or at least one that won't get us killed."

Lady Sylwen's concern softened into understanding, though her confusion still lingered.

"If the land's magic is at stake, then I shall aid you in what ways I can." She gestured toward the grove.

"Come. If it is a ritual of harmony, then we must research its incantations and movements. Nature's balance is delicate, and missteps—whether in magic or in rhythm—could be disastrous."

The group followed her to a secluded glade, where old texts and enchanted carvings lay in a circular formation.

Lyrielle knelt, tracing her fingers over a stone inscribed with faded symbols.

"This appears to be part of the Rite's invocation…" She narrowed her eyes, deciphering the ancient script.

"The spirits heed not force, nor command… but beckon through… unity."

Eldrin leaned over her shoulder. "That aligns with what the Eldertree said. We cannot impose our will upon the land—we must move with it."

Tyra raised an eyebrow. "So, basically, we have to feel the magic, not force it?"

Lady Sylwen nodded. "Yes. The incantation must be spoken not with dominance, but with synchronicity, like a melody woven together. And the movements…"

She stepped back, observing an old mural carved into the bark of a massive oak.

Figures were depicted in flowing, circular patterns, each step mirroring the cycle of nature itself.

Axel exhaled. "So it really is a dance."

Khael grinned. "I hope you've all been practicing your graceful footwork."

Selene gave him a deadpan look. "Khael, I am about to exile you from this group."

Lady Sylwen chuckled. "Do not worry. I will teach you the correct steps. But first, we must ensure the incantation is recited in harmony."

As they settled in to study the ritual, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows through the glade.

They had much to prepare, and only one chance to get it right.

To be continued.