Chapter 128: Chapter 123: The Heir They Waited For (Part 3)
The path opened in complete silence.
Ancient champions stepped aside one after another.
Crystal giants planted their colossal axes into the ground.
Forgotten dragon knights lowered their spears.
Even the corrupted beasts that had mindlessly attacked John when he first entered the Hidden Realm now stood motionless.
None of them spoke.
None of them attacked.
They simply created a corridor leading toward the massive roots of the World Tree.
John’s eyes narrowed.
His instincts screamed louder than ever before.
Not from imminent danger.
But from uncertainty.
---
Lythriel immediately stepped forward.
"We’re going with you."
The False Heart slowly shook its head.
"No."
Her grip tightened around her spear.
"I wasn’t asking."
Dark mana stirred around the being.
"The trial accepts only one."
Aerion’s expression hardened.
"Then we’ll make our own path."
Caelis raised a hand, stopping him.
"Wait."
The old man looked toward the corridor.
"The False Heart isn’t lying."
John glanced at him.
"You know this?"
Caelis nodded.
"The World Tree has always judged individuals."
"Not armies."
"The Ancient Dragon Kings..."
"...each walked this path alone."
The Soul Raven lowered its head.
"It is tradition."
---
John remained silent.
He looked toward the opening beneath the roots.
The darkness inside wasn’t oppressive.
Instead...
It felt ancient.
As if countless generations had walked those same steps before him.
He exhaled slowly.
"So..."
"This isn’t a trap?"
Caelis smiled faintly.
"Oh, it’s dangerous."
Lythriel frowned.
"That doesn’t make me feel any better."
"No."
"It shouldn’t."
---
John looked at each of his companions.
Aerion folded his arms.
"If you decide to go..."
"I won’t stop you."
"But if something goes wrong..."
"I’m breaking every rule this realm has."
Lythriel nodded immediately.
"I’ll help."
Sylvara smiled gently.
"So will I."
The Soul Raven spread its wings.
"And I."
John couldn’t help but laugh quietly.
"You all really don’t trust me to stay out of trouble."
Aerion answered without missing a beat.
"You have a remarkable talent for finding it."
Lythriel smirked.
"Or letting it find him."
John rubbed the back of his neck.
"...Fair enough."
---
For a brief moment...
The tension eased.
John appreciated it.
He had learned something over the past months.
People often joked before dangerous battles.
Not because they weren’t afraid.
Because it helped them face that fear.
---
Caelis slowly approached him.
The old mage removed a simple leather cord from around his wrist.
Attached to it was a small crystal no larger than a thumbnail.
Inside the crystal floated a single silver feather.
John looked at it curiously.
"What is this?"
"A keepsake."
Caelis placed it in John’s palm.
"It belonged to someone I once traveled with."
"The Great Dragon King?"
The old man smiled sadly.
"No."
"My wife."
Everyone became quiet.
Even the False Heart said nothing.
Caelis looked at the feather for a long moment before continuing.
"She wasn’t a warrior."
"She wasn’t famous."
"She never slew monsters or saved kingdoms."
"But..."
"She reminded me every day why those things were worth protecting."
His weathered smile carried both love and grief.
"I’ve carried this for over three thousand years."
John’s eyes widened.
"You should keep it."
Caelis gently closed John’s fingers around the crystal.
"I’ve carried it long enough."
"Now..."
"...I’d like someone else to remember her."
John stared silently at the old man.
The crystal suddenly felt far heavier than its size suggested.
Not because of magic.
Because of the memories entrusted to it.
"I..."
"...I’ll return it."
Caelis chuckled.
"I hope you don’t."
John looked confused.
"What?"
"I hope one day..."
"...you have someone to give it to."
Lythriel blinked.
Sylvara’s cheeks became faintly pink.
Aerion immediately looked away, pretending to examine his sword.
John, completely oblivious, scratched his head.
"I don’t think that’s how heirlooms work..."
Lythriel sighed dramatically.
"He really doesn’t get it."
Sylvara covered her smile.
"Not at all."
Even the Soul Raven let out an amused chirp.
The heaviness in the air lifted once again.
---
The False Heart observed the exchange.
"...Another memory."
Caelis nodded.
"Exactly."
"You preserve yours through objects."
"I preserve mine through people."
The being fell silent.
Perhaps...
It understood.
Perhaps it didn’t.
---
John carefully tucked the small crystal into the pouch attached to the leather harness around his neck.
"I’ll protect it."
"I know."
Caelis’ answer came without hesitation.
---
Suddenly...
The System chimed softly.
---
**"SYSTEM NOTIFICATION"**
**Quest Updated**
**Main Quest: The Heart of the World**
**Objective: Complete the Trial of the Dragon King.**
**Failure Conditions:**
* Death.
* Corruption of the Dragon Core.
* Rejection by the World Tree.
**Reward: Unknown**
**Warning: This trial cannot be repeated.**
---
John’s pupils contracted.
*A trial that can’t be repeated...*
This wasn’t simply another quest.
It was a turning point.
One that would shape his future.
---
He took a deep breath before looking back at his companions.
"I’ll be back."
Lythriel crossed her arms.
"You’d better."
Sylvara stepped closer.
"You don’t have to carry everything alone."
John smiled.
"I know."
"And that’s why I’m able to go."
Aerion nodded approvingly.
"Good answer."
The Soul Raven lowered its head until its beak nearly touched John’s shoulder.
"When you walk beneath those roots..."
"...listen."
John looked up.
"Listen?"
"Not with your ears."
"With your heart."
He gave a slow nod.
"I’ll remember."
---
Without another word...
John turned toward the corridor.
Each step echoed softly across the crystal ground.
The ancient champions watched him pass.
None moved.
None interfered.
As he walked by, John noticed something he hadn’t seen before.
Their crimson eyes were fading.
Not disappearing.
Changing.
Several had become violet.
Others deep amber.
One elderly giant’s eyes had even returned to their original blue for a brief instant.
The corruption’s hold was weakening.
Not because it had grown weaker...
But because hope had returned.
---
When John reached the entrance formed by the World Tree’s enormous roots, he stopped.
He looked back one last time.
Lythriel waved.
Aerion simply nodded.
Sylvara smiled reassuringly.
Caelis stood with both hands resting on his staff, watching proudly.
The Soul Raven folded its wings respectfully.
John smiled.
Then he stepped into the darkness.
The moment his body crossed the threshold...
The roots closed behind him.
The sound echoed through the Hidden Realm like the closing of an ancient gate.
Outside, the companions instinctively tensed.
Lythriel took a step forward.
"It’s shut."
Caelis didn’t move.
"It must."
Inside the roots...
John found himself standing in a vast chamber illuminated by countless floating golden lights.
There was no corruption.
No darkness.
Only silence.
At the center of the chamber floated a single crystal the size of a human heart, pulsing with warm golden light.
John instinctively knew what he was looking at.
The **True Heart** of the World Tree.
But as he took his first step toward it...
A familiar voice echoed through the chamber.
Warm.
Ancient.
Gentle.
"So..."
"The last heir has finally come."
John froze.
He slowly turned toward the source of the voice.
Standing beneath the glowing branches was a man dressed in white robes trimmed with gold.
His long black hair flowed freely down his back.
Golden dragon horns curved gracefully from his temples.
His eyes...
Were identical to John’s.
The Ancient Dragon King smiled.
"I’ve been waiting for you, John."
---
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