Chapter 318: 318:World tree.
Silver light filtered naturally through the wood and the air itself felt alive. Aether flowed peacefully through every wall.
If Atheline were here, he would immediately recognise the place he had entered. Somewhere only a few were allowed to enter.
The Protector finally stopped before an enormous root wider than an entire house. It pulsed gently like the heartbeat of the world itself.
For several long moments, neither moved. Then, the root glowed. Ancient runes slowly emerged across its surface and the chamber trembled.
The World Tree had recognized him but not as a visitor, as an intruder.
Invisible pressure filled the chamber. Enough to crush an ordinary Manipulator instantly. The Protector remained perfectly still.
"...You still remember."
The pressure increased as the roots shifted. The chamber itself seemed ready to reject him and he didn’t attempt to resist.
Instead... he slowly reached into his robe, from within, he produced something impossibly small.
A grey dull seed. It looked almost lifeless, no larger than a fingernail. Yet the instant it appeared, the chamber changed.
The runes surrounding the roots flickered as the World Tree pulsed violently. For the first time... it reacted with something resembling fear.
The Protector looked at the tiny seed resting in his palm.
"So... You recognize this."
The roots surged forward to try to reject it. Concentrated Aether attempted to push the seed away before it could come any closer.
The Protector simply smiled beneath his hood.
"It is too late."
He stepped forward, one hand resting gently upon the enormous root while the other pressed the grey seed against its surface.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, the seed dissolved into the root itself. The grey colour vanished completely beneath the bark.
The entire chamber shook. Far above, leaves began falling from the World Tree despite the complete absence of wind.
The Protector quietly withdrew his hand.
A faint grey vein spread no farther than a finger’s width beneath the bark before disappearing completely.
He looked up at the ancient tree, his voice was barely above a whisper.
"Even eternity... can be taught to bleed. You know, some advice... You should wake up before you destroy everything."
The pressure filling the chamber disappeared and the roots became still once more. The World Tree stood silently as though nothing had happened at all.
The Protector turned away without another word and disappeared back into the palace corridors.
.
.
.
By the time the final sections of the palace had been searched, nearly an hour had passed since the attack. The royal gardens no longer resembled a battlefield.
Royal servants worked alongside soldiers to clear away the rubble while priests continued blessing the grounds to remove every trace of corrupted mana left behind by the cultists.
Rows of stretchers had been arranged beneath temporary canopies where healers moved tirelessly from one patient to another. The dead had been respectfully covered with a white cloth.
Representatives from every race stood quietly beside those they had lost. Some prayed, some remained completely silent while others simply stared. No one had expected an engagement ceremony to end this way.
The celebration had become a memorial.
Atheline slowly walked beside the Queen through the damaged gardens.
The white fox rested quietly in his arms, exhausted after its first true battle. Every so often it shifted slightly before returning to sleep, its breathing calm and peaceful despite everything that had happened.
He gently scratched behind one of its ears.
"You certainly picked an interesting day to grow up."
The fox gave a sleepy chirp without opening its eyes. Lilith smiled faintly.
"She seems proud of herself."
"She protected us."
He looked down at the little beast.
"I think she’s earned a week of doing absolutely nothing."
Ahead of them, the High King spoke with several commanders who had just returned from their inspections.
"Your Majesty."
The commander knelt.
"The inner palace has been completely searched. No additional cultists were discovered."
"The archives?"
"Secure."
"The royal treasury?"
"Secure."
"The sacred relic vault?"
"Untouched."
The High King frowned slightly.
"The underground passages?"
"We searched every accessible route."
"Nothing."
Another commander stepped forward.
"The western wing has also been cleared."
"No suspicious individuals remain inside the palace."
The High King exchanged a glance with Lilith. Everything appeared normal but Atheline couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
The attack had been planned with incredible precision, yet aside from causing chaos and casualties, nothing significant seemed to have been stolen. It didn’t fit.
"They achieved something." He spoke quietly. "I’m certain of it."
Lilith folded her arms.
"I feel the same but I can’t see what."
Prince Lucifer approached, carrying his massive hammer over one shoulder.
"Your Majesty." He inclined his head toward both rulers. "My people have completed their own count."
His expression had become unusually serious.
"We lost six."
The High King nodded solemnly.
"You have my condolences."
"They died well and also protected civilians."
The prince looked around the ruined gardens.
"They would have approved."
Solaris joined them shortly afterward.
"We’ve accounted for everyone." He sighed heavily. "The palace is secure."
The High King nodded.
"Good. The diplomatic council will meet tomorrow morning. Every delegation is to remain within the palace tonight. No one leaves."
Solaris bowed.
"It will be done."
Atheline looked toward the World Tree rising majestically beyond the palace. Its leaves shimmered peacefully beneath the midmorning sunlight.
Nothing appeared different which felt strange. He couldn’t explain why, but for a brief instant he felt as though the tree had... Changed. It felt just different.
The feeling disappeared almost as quickly as it had come, perhaps he was simply exhausted. He took another step, then stopped.
Something warm touched his lips. He frowned and his hand slowly rose. What came back was blood.
His eyes widened.
"...What?"
Before anyone could react, he coughed violently. A mouthful of blood splashed across the white stone. His entire body lurched forward as pain exploded through him.
It felt as though every part of his body had suddenly become unbearably heavy. His knees buckled.
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