When the World Tree blooms (3)
Morning sunlight barely peeking through the dense trees.
There were people who wandered through the dark forest, relying on the sunlight.
Elegant appearance, long, protruding ears.
They were searchers guarding the vicinity of Aushurin.
“stop.”
Following the instructions from the leader who was at the front, the search party members stopped and held their breath.
Because the captain’s clenched fists were telling them what was in front of them.
‘The smell of blood…’
Although not as good as hearing, the sense of smell is superior to that of humans.
The search leader frowned as he smelled the fishy smell coming from inside the pitch-black forest.
‘Scatter away.’
Eye gestures and hand gestures.
The elves quickly dispersed into the vicinity, following each other’s designated signals, and soon assimilated with their surroundings and began to be on guard in all directions.
‘I’m the only one going.’
A search leader moves forward little by little alone with hand signals.
Some of the crew following him carefully took out arrows and began to feed the protesters.
Branches swaying in the wind.
In the dark forest where not even the sound of birds could be heard, the only thing that resonated was the faint clashing of tree branches.
“······this.”
However, the silence that had been maintained so far was broken with someone’s sigh.
On top of the bushes that are tangled like a spider’s web.
There was an elf there with his arms spread out and his head bowed.
“Confirmed penetrating injury to the abdomen.”
“The wound is frozen.”
“It looks like at least a day has passed since he died.”
The search leader approached the body with a confused expression while listening to the report.
Pieces of internal organs were hanging out from between the large, sharply pierced holes.
“It’s too late.”
The search leader knelt down on one knee and looked at the wounds on the body.
A hole so large that no ordinary human being could possibly create it.
The eyes that were still wide open showed how much pain it must have been.
“······Nidhogg.”
The search leader looked across the forest through the large hole in the body.
A view of the forest seen through a dark red passage.
The place where light could not reach was filled with only darkness.
There was a faint, echo-like cry coming from deep in the forest.
A voice that sounds like it’s starving.
A dragon hiding in the dark was watching the young world tree that was about to bloom.
※※※※
“······.”
Vlad thought that it was as if he were walking through a garden.
Even though the place where I was standing was a cave where not a single ray of light came in.
‘What kind of cave is this?’
It was quite understandable to be so mistaken.
The floor, which should have been wet, was as soft as freshly laid straw, and the inside, which should have been dark, was brightly lit due to the moss tightly clinging 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.
“You’ll love it when you see that amber. “I’ve been feeling very anxious these days.”
The group heads to the source of the World Tree through a cave opening towards the roots.
This place was bright even though it was a cave, and warm even though it was winter. The more I walked inside, the more different it was from the real world.
“He was also embarrassed because it was his first time doing it.”
Spring is coming.
And flowers bloom.
It was said that this was the first time the young World Tree, stretching out in time for the coming spring, had bloomed.
However, the world tree was worried about whether the flowering it was doing was going right.
“That’s why I was so depressed, and you happened to come here.”
Sometimes, even though I’m moving forward, I feel anxious.
Is the direction you are going in right, and can you continue like this?
Or, may it never be possible to turn back?
The reason you can’t take a step forward even though you have to is probably because you’re not confident.
In times like this, it would have been nice to have someone by his side to reassure him that he was doing well, but unfortunately, there was no one for the young world tree.
“······That’s right.”
Vlad quietly nodded while listening to the girl.
Before he knew it, Vlad was deeply understanding the concerns of the World Tree through the existence of a girl.
Even though the tree and the knight are in a world where they cannot reach each other.
——————
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“They’re all here.”
With the girl’s words, the end of the long passage began to come into view.
Bright lights ahead.
The light was not the light produced by green moss, but the light illuminated by today’s sun.
“Vlad of Shoara. “You’re probably the first human to get here.”
With those words, the faces of the elves escorting the girl began to frown.
Does the person in front know?
The place where he was standing now was a secret space that only a few elves could enter.
However, the world tree priestess did not hesitate in leading the blue-eyed knight to this place.
Because she was convinced that the Blue-Eyed Knight had to come here.
“······.”
Vlad slowly raised his head as he listened to the girl.
A huge void.
The roots of the World Tree located here and there were intertwined, creating a large space.
“Are you coming in here?”
“then. However much.”
A girl who opens her arms as if inviting her to her home.
Vlad cautiously took a step into the cavity, greeted by the girl’s welcome.
The grass on the ground was laying down on its own, following Vlad’s steps.
The expressions of the elves who were guarding the elves were strangely changing as they saw the World Tree’s firm invitation and intention to welcome them.
‘······This is the World Tree.’
It felt like I could hear a small heartbeat coming from the toes I was stepping on.
With that beat, Vlad’s world seemed to expand little by little.
The worlds that had been in contact were now facing each other.
“I guess I’m glad you came.”
Vlad turned his head when he heard the girl’s words coming from behind him.
The elves who followed to escort them just stood still at the entrance to the common.
The only people standing here now were Vlad, the girl, and the young World Tree looking down at them.
“Can you show me? “I hope you do.”
A world tree goddess who cannot provide any help to young trees.
She had her hands together as if praying and was asking the knight who brought her the memory of her mother, the World Tree.
Please show your child what a mother looks like.
For the young world tree who must head to a world that has never been before.
“All right.”
At the girl’s request, Vlad pulled out his sword.
“······I guess this is better, right?”
The cold blade may be sharp, but the handle with which you pick it up will be soft.
Therefore, the driver decided to hold on to the sharp edge.
Because it was not suitable for a young tree longing for its mother’s embrace.
—–.
The heart beats faster.
The heartbeat of the World Tree, which used to be felt only at the tips of one’s feet, can now be heard through the air.
Alicia’s amber was sparkling in the light coming down through the ceiling.
The young world tree looked at the autumn scenery shining through the light.
wide field.
Flooding wheat fields.
And a large maple tree swaying in the wind.
The maple tree in my memory was looking at the young world tree.
“butterfly?”
“It’s a butterfly.”
Vlad saw butterflies flying around him.
These were the butterflies that I saw in the girl’s fantasy.
Butterflies like flowers 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 at that moment.
That I have become the passage and world that connects the two.
“Flowers are blooming…”
Vlad slowly closed his eyes as the light enveloped him.
The world tree in my memory slowly began to bloom.
As if telling his child to do this.
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 tangled branches, the autumn scenery of the past and the scenery of today were slowly overlapping.
※※※※
“······Oh oh.”
Old Geronimo closed the book he was holding with trembling hands.
Although his body had become heavier due to the weight of time, he quickly grabbed the cane next to him and hurried to the window.
A scent he hadn’t felt in a long time was making his eyes blur.
“hmm?”
Varadis, who had been shuffling through documents in his office for a while, pricked up his ears.
Because the passing wind was telling me to turn my head quickly.
In a little while, there will be a moment that only now can be seen.
The elves who plowed the fields and the elves who guarded the forest.
Noir and Goth were in the stable, and Auguste was investigating the tea plantation.
Both humans and elves turned their heads to look in the same direction.
Forest of elves. Aussurin
In the middle of their newly settled land, there was a tree shining brightly.
“Flowers are blooming.”
okay.
I know now.
How to make flowers bloom.
And my mother, who is now only a memory, said the same thing.
I was doing well.
—–!
Within the white, flickering world tree, various possibilities began to raise their heads.
On the branches close to the clouds, flowers follow the sky.
On the furthest branches, flowers follow the wind.
On the lowest branches, flowers point towards the ground.
“oh······. Oh oh.”
“Spirits are born!”
A young bird smaller than a flower, a horse, a snake, and a mole.
Meanwhile, the possibilities harbored by the World Tree were poking their heads towards the world.
Young people who had been forgotten under one name were raising their heads to the world.
“······.”
If there is a young world being born, someone must protect it.
That’s why the blue-eyed knight didn’t stop holding the sharp blade of his sword.
A stream of blood flowing down a sword that shakes ceaselessly.
The red color falling to the ground was the knight’s gift to children who were just being born.
Spring has arrived in Aussurin today.
Under the guidance of a mother who is no longer there and the patience of a knight.
※※※※
“······.”
The World Tree, which was shining as if it was about to burst, stopped.
The fantasy butterflies that were flying around just a moment ago have now disappeared without a trace.
Drip.
Now that everyone has stopped, the only thing moving is the blood flowing from Vlad’s hand.
The red color falling on the green grass was pitiful.
“are you okay? Sorry.”
The girl was covering her mouth with both hands and had tears in her eyes.
The nameless girl sympathized with Vlad’s pain in front of her more than the joy of blooming flowers.
Because the knight in front of me did not hesitate to support the memories of the young World Tree.
“Has it bloomed?”
Vlad raised his head and looked at the open ceiling.
Before I knew it, a red maple leaf was slowly falling towards Vlad.
“thank you······. “Thank you.”
Vlad quietly looked down at his sword while listening to the girl.
Red blood flowing between the blades.
And Alicia’s amber stone is not where it should be.
The Hainal family heirloom has served its purpose today.
“under······.”
With an overwhelming emotion that I don’t know what it was, Vlad finally removed his hand from the sword.
A deep cut.
Nevertheless, Vlad did not let go of his shaky sword even at the moment when the World Tree was blooming.
Because in the sight seen through the world facing us, a mother was stroking a crying child.
Vlad really didn’t want to interrupt 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 with a silver glow.
