102 – The End of Weakness
Thousands of years ago. At the time when the great Black Dragon Kajat was causing a stir by attempting to create an immortal 10-circle magic in the continent.
A High Elf in the land of fantasy had doubts.
Around that time, dissatisfaction was rising among Elven society regarding the policy of the World Tree, following the death of the great Elven Lord.
“That harmony. Harmony. Sharing the covenant that only the descendants of the great lineage of Dark Elves and Wood Elves can enjoy, it’s an absurd idea.”
“Well, those who are qualified can possess the covenant.”
“The Wood Elves and Dark Elves have not made any contributions. What covenant are we sharing, even though they have been allowed to live in the society created by the Elven Lord?”
Ironically, as the first Elven Lord had such a great influence on Elven society, the teachings of the Mother Tree did not sit well with the High Elves.
The power of the covenant. It was an absolute ability that, while a talented Elf may struggle to contract with more than five top-tier spirits after training in spirit magic for hundreds of years, the power of the covenant could enable them to control dozens of top-tier spirits in just a few years.
Furthermore, borrowing all the knowledge and wisdom of the Mother Tree was also possible, so they, who knew well the power of this covenant, were reluctant to share this power with the Dark Elves and Wood Elves, who had once rebelled against the Elven Lord during the founding of the nation.
Ironically, those who so revered the Elven Lord forgot that when the Elven Lord actively offered the power of the covenant to the Dark Elves and Wood Elves, who would follow the teachings of the Mother Tree, they readily accepted it.
“Well, well. I agree wholeheartedly. We cannot share the power of the covenant with the Wood Elves and Dark Elves who once rebelled against the Mother Tree without qualification.”
It was then that High Elf Loruma began to voice his opinion.
“I have a solution. What do you think?”
He gathered the most discontented individuals among the High Elves to form a faction. The purpose of this faction was so disrespectful that if the former Elven Lord had known, he would have risen from the grave.
“The Mother Tree, who weakly cries out for harmony, is not qualified to wield such power. We are going to strip her of her free will and turn her into a puppet who only follows our commands.”
This extreme opinion caused division even within the faction.
“Are you crazy? The Mother Tree?”
“No matter how dissatisfied you are, that’s…”
Some opposed for moral reasons, while others actively embraced the idea. However, those in the faction who had been in full support of Loruma pointed out that due to one major flaw, Loruma’s proposal could not be realized.
“How can we control the free will of the great Mother Tree?”
To the seemingly difficult question, Loruma gave a simple answer.
“We cannot control her with our power. The Mother Tree has lived longer than us and is armed with knowledge of nature and the spirit realm.”
“Then was it just a vain attempt?”
“When cutting a thick branch, you need a big knife. I heard there is a dragon studying immortality on the continent beyond the land of fantasy. He has lived much longer than the Mother Tree. I will go to him and learn the magic to control the Mother Tree.”
Having instructed to maintain the faction until then, Loruma rode a giant eagle and flew to the continent to learn magic from the Black Dragon Kajat.
And 100 years later.
So, when the Black Dragon Kajat tried his immortal magic and things went awry, turning him into a real disaster for the entire continent. Barely escaping the chaos, Loruma returned to the land of fantasy with one piece of the Black Dragon’s heart.
“I managed to cut out one piece of his heart before he went crazy. Within this lies the magic that the Black Dragon Kajat and I researched for 100 years. With this… we can control the Mother Tree!”
Now, with this magic, all they had to do was to control the Mother Tree through the faction.
However, the early High Elves were still in an untarnished state, unlike their descendants thousands of years later.
Within the Order, where some regarded Mother Tree as frail and foolish, there were those who thought attempts to control her were too extreme, no matter the case.
The words spoken were a call for betrayal.
“High Elf Lorumar! Oh rotten leaves! You are sentenced to death!”
The mention of a traitor. Lorumar’s attempt was exposed before it even properly began, leading the entire Elven society to sentence this unprecedented lunatic to death.
In front of all, Lorumar and seven members of the Order had their throats slit. However, the heart of the Black Dragon Kayat, known as the very essence of Lorumar’s soul, remained unseen.
Among the High Elves who received orders from Mother Tree to dispose of all of Lorumar’s relics, there were former members of the Order who chose to conceal the black gem, a symbol of Lorumar’s century-long effort, instead of disposing of it.
“It is necessary. If the weakness of Mother Tree becomes unbearable… use this.”
Thus, Lorumar’s essence was clandestinely passed down through the High Elven society for generations.
And thousands of years later.
In a High Elven society so corrupted that the former extreme members of the Order had become ordinary, the push to suppress Mother Tree’s free will and turn her into a puppet who only echoed their words was met with no opposition and was being executed.
“Hasten, quickly move!”
At the topmost layer of the World Tree, after anchoring a massive mast, the Council of High Elves, accompanied by their guards, began manipulating Lorumar’s essence to expand their sphere of influence to the maximum and hurriedly made their way towards the sacred pond.
“Elders! What is happening! Suddenly, the connection with Mother Tree is severed! All spirits have been reversed!”
The High Elven elders guarding the sacred pond, which none could enter without permission, were alarmed by the sudden turn of events. However, they received no response from the Council of High Elves.
“Step back.”
“Without Mother Tree’s consent, you cannot enter. You were not granted permission.”
The purists.
The guards, unique among the High Elves for not succumbing to corruption and adhering to Mother Tree’s teachings, were the ones standing firm against the idea of using Lorumar’s essence to oppress Mother Tree.
They would never follow the order to kill.
“What? Elders! What is this!… aaah! aaah!”
Armed guards were brought forth.
Swords and spears ruthlessly tore through flesh.
In a world where the ability to wield spirits had been taken away, the power of swords and spears was absolute.
The guards were essentially an honor guard. Hence, their numbers were not large, mostly consisting of elderly Elves. They met their end in a pitiful manner, dying at the hands of young High Elves.
And the World Tree could not have missed that sight.
“What is this? Elder. What is this!”
Unlike the young World Tree, a mature woman appeared on the ground.
She trembled as she looked down at the scene.
“How… how could… this happen…”
The sight of their precious children being brutalized and falling was unbearable to her.
As she trembled, the High Elven elder revealed to the World Tree one of the most heinous secrets that the descendants of the Order had hidden with all their might for thousands of years.
The eyes of the World Tree widened.
“Lorumar’s essence?”
Mother Tree could not have been unaware of the item that had plunged Elven society into turmoil thousands of years ago.
“You recognize it. Mother Tree.”
The World Tree staggered at the sight of the gem.
“You still had that.”
“It was difficult. I had to skillfully evade my mother’s surveillance and scrutiny using the power of the gem. For thousands of years, she relentlessly sought it without a moment’s rest.”
“Because it was an item that would bring about destruction.”
“Destruction, huh. Our thoughts differ. We decided to view this as a seed for prosperity.”
The light emanating from Lorumah’s soul grew stronger.
The World Tree realized it could no longer wield its power.
She let out a bitter laugh.
“The magic of that insane dragon.”
“Correct. You know well.”
Suddenly, from the ground, numerous thick and tall tree trunks began to sprout. The tree trunks were filled with fierce thorns, their hardness rivaling that of steel.
“Spirits may be out of reach, but controlling my body is not an issue. Ah.”
The World Tree was crying. She cried fiercely in anger.
“It’s all my fault. My mistake. So I shall correct it.”
She attempted to brandish hundreds of branches towards the elves. Everyone unable to use spirits. The High Elves stood against the World Tree, ready to withstand her, knowing she had the power to crush them with her own body.
But even that.
“Push it back.”
The Elder foresaw.
The tree trunks hesitated.
The attack ceased.
The World Tree’s eyes widened.
“…Showing the epitome of depravity, Elder.”
Children.
High Elves and Wood Elves, not even five years old, stood out like shields.
If she swung the branches, those children would be hurt.
The children were crying.
They were afraid of the thorn-covered branches of the World Tree.
And as their cries grew louder, the laughter of the Elder and the elders increased as well. They began to approach the incarnation of the Mother Tree step by step.
“Mother Tree, that part of yours is frustrating. To protect your power, sometimes one must make ruthless decisions.”
A heart overflowing with love.
Mercy to protect everyone.
While it sounded good to hear, in other words, these actions were suffocating. And all the elves present here were people who were sick of such behavior by the Mother Tree.
“Your vulnerability disgusts us. We, as descendants of noble lineage. Your weakness will not make the Elven society sick.”
Looking down at the World Tree’s bewildered expression, allowing the Elder to approach without striking the children, the Elder spoke with a sense of pity.
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The Elder firmly grasped the hand extended by the World Tree, filled with anger and frustration, but more than that, he could sense a profound sense of sorrow.
“Do not do it. My child. It will bring unhappiness.”
“To share the power of the covenant with inferior beings is a greater misfortune for us.”
Without hesitation, the Elder placed Lorumah’s soul into the World Tree’s heart.
The incarnation convulsed in agony, then gazed emptily at the Elder with vacant eyes as the pain ebbed away.
“Speak what you desire.”
Upon hearing the emotionless voice, the Elder Lord breaks into a twisted grin filled with ecstasy.
“Forbid the transmission of knowledge to the young World Tree immediately. And inform all elves.”
“What for?”
“The short-lived humans have called for a meeting, only to betray us by murdering the Wood Elf and Dark Elf elders. Unable to overlook this crime, let them know that we must prepare for war.”
After issuing the command, the Elder Lord gazes up at the sky.
Now, the elven race will no longer…
“From roots to leaves. Command all elves to engage in war.”
They will not be trapped in the narrow-minded illusionary realm any longer.