Chapter 208 Chapter 27: The World's True State
The warm apartment full of beautiful colours and vibrant flora greeted him with open arms as both Dryads rushed into his chest when Raven opened the door.
"Welcome back, Honey!" They cheered in unison, embracing him tightly.
The sudden action startled him as their soft bodies and warmth filled his chilled core. Raven couldn't help smiling as he wrapped his cold, muscular arms around them, stroking their hair while they purred affectionately.
"Emily, Nene... You both are so pretty tonight. Are you going out?"
"Fufu~ stupid boy, we are always pretty," Emily cooed proudly, pressing her voluptuous breasts against his pecks to emphasise their size.
Nene nodded cutely as she buried her head in his chest.
Both of them were exhausted from the long day, but Nenethrana felt worried about Raven's situation and that he likely touched on a sensitive secret that one of the Senators was hiding.
She took several deep breaths, holding them for a moment, trying to clear her mind of the anticipation and worry about what the future might bring to the man she had fallen for and their small group, which she now considered family.
After a short moment, she pulled away, looking up at Raven with a concerned expression. Her green eyes were glowing slightly with magical energy, signifying her anxiety.
Raven noticed the change and tilted his head curiously.
"Let's go sit down, Emily. Can you fetch some warm camomile tea and snacks, darling?" Nenethrana's motherly voice was strange even for Emily, allowing her to understand things were serious as the cute dryad peeled from Raven's body, her small flora and vines still dancing from the delight of meeting him so late at night.
The kettle whistle sounded while Emily chopped ingredients for a quick salad snack.
Raven sat by the fireplace on a large leather sofa, warming himself up as Nene joined him. Her thin vines wrapped around his arm affectionately while she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Are you ok, Nene? Something is troubling you... Did I do something wrong?" Raven asked softly, nuzzling her silky pink hair, the smooth strands wrapping around his fingertips.
He knew something was bothering the usually cheerful and playful dryad, who seemed more mature than usual. She tried to hide it a little, but his neon blue eyes seemed to pierce through her defences and penetrate her very soul.
"Sorry, but about our conversation earlier today, Raven..." Nene confessed guiltily, looking away from his face. Her vines tightened slightly, hugging his arm. "I believe what you saw was a dungeon controlled by one of the Senators who helps control the current world that remains."
"World that remains...?"
Raven didn't understand what she meant because he hadn't left Arcadia city all his life, but the adverts and brochures for travel were everywhere, and of course, he learned about the world, which was supposed to have plentiful beaches, seas and land that span a massive sphere.
It was something a few Senators could never control...
'What's going on?'
Emily walked over with a graceful walk and placed a small tray of a fruit and meat salad on opposite sides, with a collection of sandwiches together, while on the side table, she placed Raven's tea, still steaming hot.
"Thanks, Emily. Can you join us?" Raven thanked her lovingly, grabbing her delicate hand before she retreated to the kitchen again.
"Of course, Honey~"
Emily smiled beautifully, sitting beside him as Nene finally continued speaking.
"Raven... please look at this, but try to remain calm and don't panic."
Her fingertips began to key several numbers and a code into her wrist bracelet before a huge hologram of the planet appeared; it was the world as Raven knew it, with countless countries and various seas and landmarks.
He was about to speak when suddenly the world began to age, or it seemed to age, buildings and cities were created as the time at the top seemed to be four hundred years ago...
But with the building of cities, a strange... purple mist was spreading from the north and south poles.
'What is that?' He was curious and felt a sense of danger from that mist as every piece of land that was touched by the mist vanished, forever becoming a purple spot on the map.
It was not affected by the wind, weather or changes in the world like wars and natural disasters; slowly, steadily, it spread further with each year that passed.
"..." His breath stopped momentarily, sucking the warm air tainted with the delicious flavour of the two dryads constantly expelling calming scents from their flora; despite this, his heartfelt panic and mind felt danger.
'The world... Where did it go?'
Now, on the hologram, more than eighty per cent of the world was purple; a small portion located around Arcadia and the surrounding cities managed to exist.
His eyes widened when he saw the capital city Velnuma, created by the elves when they first populated the world, was gone... submerged in purple mist, and this was just before his birth, according to the date...
'Is this why Philis was in Arcadia!?'
No longer did the huge continents thrive with life; the dead and crumbling cities were slightly visible from the satellite images, but other than that, all life beyond this small cluster of cities was gone.
The total number of people was barely over five hundred and fifty million.
While Raven stared in shock and disbelief, Nene spoke softly, explaining everything in detail.
"This is where we currently live. This small cluster is protected by powerful magic, technology and dungeons, but even then, only a Senator can use these things to control the defence network; this is also why we do not advocate the complete clearance of dungeons and destruction of the cores... It's Ironic, right?"
Nenethrana looked at Raven with sad, hazy eyes as she grasped his hand tight like she was losing hope.
"If the dungeons were gone, the mist would spread further for a moment... Now, the majority of higher dungeons have a Senator or force who manages them. You said you saw a huge egg and lizard race? A senator likely has decided to create his army, trying to take advantage of the current turmoil in hell..."
Raven didn't understand everything, but he clearly understood that the dungeons were both a death trap and barrier for the common people, that dungeon waves were a threat far less dangerous than that deadly purple mist as videos of high-ranking adventurers entering the mist began to play. Their skin began to bubble within seconds no matter what spells or protection, then they would explode, leaving nothing behind...
Not even bones remained.
"Arcadia and the five surrounding cities were created three hundred years ago to stop the advancements of the purple mist. The remaining Senators protect and manage dungeons, using the resources found in hell for themselves. We swore pacts, becoming part slaves to the dungeon, accepting harsh contracts and rules... But doing so means we can protect the ones we love."
Nenethrana lifted her right hand before whispering a strange phrase as A dark blue mark appeared on her hand; the symbol shone for several minutes before fading.
"This is my curse. I fought against my closest friends and allies to become the senator, but there was no choice, even if we became bitter enemies... I had to protect my daughter and one of the last few dryad trees in existence..."
Tears dripped down her cheeks, staining Raven's pants, while Emily looked equally depressed, tears falling silently, her vines trembling from sadness.
"Nene... Emily..."
Raven whispered their names as he gently grabbed Nene's small hand, pulling her closer while his free arm embraced Emily lovingly.
Their hearts ached, and their minds felt pain.
He wanted to ask so many questions, but his words failed him, so instead, he held them close until they could calm down, his heart and mind filled with so much to digest, however the mark she showed... It was similar to the mark he and Eva gained after their passionate night... Except it was split in half between them.
'I need to meet Eva...'
He needed answers to confirm his suspicions and fears that they had become similar to Nene in the process of their act...
Several minutes passed before Nene wiped her tears, lifting her head as she kissed Raven passionately.
"There is so much more to share, but I do not wish to burden you with everything tonight... forgive me, honey, I am so weak and cannot even make a place for our children to live safely..."
Nene whispered regretfully as she pressed her forehead against Raven's, staring deeply into his neon blue eyes.
Emily leaned forward, kissing Raven's neck affectionately before joining Nene, resting her forehead on his temple as she stroked his dark raven hair.
'Our children?' Raven thought before his hand was brought to both of their stomachs, and a strange feeling filled him. It was not like that of a human or the elf Philis... He could feel the life inside them, throbbing and singing.
Yes... The children were singing, but the sound was at a level he couldn't quite hear. The moment he touched their stomachs, beautiful baby plants began to form on the back of his hand, their mother's head and around the room...
Inside these women were baby dryads, his children...
Whether it was the story from before or that he could feel their vitality so clearly, Raven felt his mind and chest becoming less complicated, and his path was clear.
He had to find a way to create a place for these little ones to grow and live happily... No matter the cost to his own body, he must!
Raven hugged Nene and Emily tightly, his hands gripping their backs while they smiled lovingly.
"Thank you, Raven. Thank you for being born in such a chaotic and dark period... My children will grow up strong and happy... Because of you." Nene whispered lovingly.
Emily nodded as she kissed Raven's cheek, snuggling affectionately.
"Thank you for making us happy."
In honesty, Nenethrana didn't expect to become pregnant or be so useless, and she wanted to stand at the front and fight for a way forward like Raven envisioned.
But the desire to protect her babies, both the three in her stomach and Emily and her two, caused her to change and become defensive-minded. Thus, she hated it but handed the torch to Raven.
'I have so many people to protect... But not the strength to do so.' A realisation came to Raven while Nene stroked his hand with her delicate green fingertips, dancing along his rough hand in a circle.
"Do you want to use my dungeon? It's a very harsh and high-level dungeon that I can adjust.." Nene's hazy eyes looked up towards Raven as she knew he would never say no.
Even if the danger was great.
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