Volume 4, Chapter 42 – The Holy Tree, Close at Hand

Since the incident with Greyan, the number of guards in the Royal Castle had clearly increased. Although the servants, like the maids, were still doing their usual work of cleaning, trimming the gardens, and doing laundry, a sense of tension still lingered, like seeing soldiers armed with live ammunition standing on the street—it was unsettling and made one subconsciously want to stay away.

While accepting the salutes of the passing servants, Fia silently observed them. Over the past few days, she had secretly used [Cloud Moon of the Illusory Sea] to sneak into various parts of the Royal Castle, using [See Through] on the nobles and servants one by one. The result was that she had found no suspicious persons, to the point where she began to doubt the effectiveness of the spell. But [See Through] was indeed working, which meant that the direction of her investigation might be wrong.

Should I go and check the noble district outside the Royal Castle next…

Fia pinched her chin in thought. It had already taken her two days just to check the people inside the castle. Expanding the scope to the noble district outside would surely take even longer.

The Royal Castle was the residence of the royal family. With the exception of ministers like Greyan who had made great contributions, even high nobles like Count Reinhardt and Prince Schain could not live within its walls—and since Schain had his own fief, there was no longer a place for him here. They could only buy mansions in the noble district near the castle. And if one were to count the servants within those mansions and the complex flow of people, the number of individuals to check would be astronomical. The thought alone was a headache.

That being said, she couldn’t just give up because it was difficult. She happened to be on her way to the Holy Tree right now. If there was a wide-area detection spell in its forbidden library, she would learn it along the way. Then she wouldn’t have to check everyone one by one.

As for the complicated procedures for entering the forbidden library, although even the managers of the High Elf Towers had to go through a process of submitting the materials they wanted to consult, waiting for a special department to review them, and then receiving approval, she was the crown princess and the manager of one of the Three Main Towers. Therefore, she could enter and exit without any review.

In fact, her status as one of the Three Main Tower managers was enough to freely consult the materials in the forbidden library.

Thinking this, Fia arrived at the base of the hundred meter high, ink-black city wall. At the end of the road, she could see a vertical portcullis ¹ is a heavy, vertically closing gate typically found in medieval fortifications. , on which traces of precious magic metals were faintly visible. Not only that, but there were also troops stationed on the platforms on both sides of the gate. But strangely, although this was inside the Royal Castle, the road was set with obstacles facing her, such as cheval de frise ² a wooden spike barricade , slowing traps, and triple ballista. It seemed these soldiers were more concerned with preventing people from the castle from getting out than defending against outsiders getting in.

Fia knew who these people were. They were the strongest special unit in the Imperial Guard, specifically guarding the path from the Royal Castle to the Holy Tree. Behind this hundred meter high wall was the tree itself. The Holy Tree of the elf race stood on a cliff, and the Royal Castle had almost completely enclosed the path to it. Therefore, the back gate would not be attacked from the outside. More important than defending against outsiders was preventing ill intentioned people from sneaking into the Holy Tree from within the castle.

“Your Highness, the Eldest Princess.”

Seeing the iconic black hair and red eyes, the guards at the intersection immediately stood at attention and saluted. At the same time, another team of guards quickly moved the cheval de frise out of the way, and the vertical portcullis at the end of the road was pulled upwards with a series of clanking gear sounds.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Fia waved her hand lightly, while discreetly scanning the guards stationed on the inner side of the gate with [Wind of Exploration]. Two-thirds of them were at the Third Rank, and a few who looked like sergeants and commanders were at the Fourth and Fifth Ranks. Among them, several magic-casters in robes, sitting cross-legged on the ground, even had the strength of the Sixth Rank.

Fia couldn’t help but be secretly amazed. Silvar was indeed the foremost power in the northern continent. Even if the forces of Aurora City, the Oro territory, and Byrne City were combined, they wouldn’t be enough to sweep through this unit of less than a hundred men. Yet in Silvar, they were just guarding the gate to the Holy Tree.

“Is Mizuki… the Seventeenth Royal Consort at the Holy Tree?” Fia corrected herself mid-sentence.

Although she knew she should probably consider Mizuki her mother, it was really difficult for her to call a girl who looked to be her own age “Mother.”

Fortunately, this guard was still in a state of shock from her sudden reply and didn’t notice her calling the Seventeenth Royal Consort by her name. He stammered.

“Uh… yes. Her Highness the Seventeenth Royal Consort has not come out from the Holy Tree today.”

“I see. You are dismissed.”

“Yes.”

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Under the watchful eyes of the soldiers, Fia walked out of the dim city gate alone. And then, bright light shone into her eyes, and her vision instantly opened up. The magnificent scenery before her made her pause for a moment.

On a sloping cliff a few kilometers from the Royal Castle, a straight, giant tree emitting a brilliant golden light stood there. The land behind the city wall was covered with flowers and grass—more flowers than grass. They formed a hazy color under the light of the Holy Tree. Looking at them, one might even mistake this for a fairyland.

Of course, this alone was not enough to surprise Fia. What was even more magnificent was that on the opposite side of the sloping cliff was a stretch of lifeless red soil. If Fia had to describe it, she would imagine the interior of Venus, where the sky was covered by a thick atmosphere, making the world dark, filled with high temperatures and immense pressure. As far as the eye could see, there was only haze and red, and besides a sense of stillness and desolation, one could not feel anything else.

Though separated by only a single canyon, the two sides were completely different worlds. This side was like a fairyland, while the other was filled with death.

“Although I’ve read the description in the books, you really have to come here in person to appreciate the huge difference…” Fia sighed in a low voice.

[Airflow Control].

To step directly on this garden would be unbearable for Fia. She lifted her feet slightly off the ground and slowly floated towards the World Tree.

She had long since learned from books that the Holy Tree grew on the edge of the Abyss, and that the scenery on both sides of the cliff was so different because this side was blessed by the tree and was rich in mana. The other side, because of the Abyss, could not receive the blessing through the ley lines. In addition, a huge mountain range on the other side blocked the warm and humid water vapor from the ocean, which was why the land was in such a withered and desolate state.

It should be said that besides the blocked ley lines and the mountain range, there was another reason recorded in legend.

According to legend, thousands of years ago, the Saint who had united the elves from tribes into a nation had had a great battle under the Holy Tree with a Darkborn as famous as Absolute Evil. That earth-shattering magic war had destroyed all life in this land, and had even widened the originally small Abyss to several kilometers wide. This was also considered to be the reason for the dead silence on the other side of the tree.

As for the result of the great battle, of course, the Darkborn was killed by the Saint, and the Holy Tree returned to the hands of the elf race.

Of course, this was just a legend. Thousands of years and dynastic changes had buried much of the information in history. No one knew if this legend was true or false. Without finding the ruins or other evidence, one could not be certain that it had really happened. Fia was more inclined to believe it was a myth, like Hou Yi shooting down the sun. ³ reference from cn mythological archer

Continuing forward, Fia glanced at the three towering Elf Towers guarding the Holy Tree behind her—these were the Three Main Towers. They were all located within the Royal Castle, and the people inside also had to be checked by the soldiers from before to come to this fairyland-like forbidden area.

I should go and see the Three Main Towers when I have the chance.

Fia let out a light breath, then looked up at the giant Holy Tree, which was only a few kilometers away but took up almost her entire field of vision.

The feeling of it being a living thing still lingered.

Originally, she hadn’t thought there was anything noteworthy about the tree, but ever since her dream this morning, she felt a little uncomfortable in its presence. This feeling of something that was clearly inanimate but seemed to have a consciousness of its own was a little oppressive, and the desolate land on the other side only intensified that feeling.

I hope it was just a dream.

With that thought, Fia soon arrived at the base of the Holy Tree.

At this close distance, the tree no longer appeared translucent, but had a solid golden color. As it looked like a projection, Fia tried to reach out and touch the roots, which were like those of a banyan tree. The result was a solid and rough touch, like real tree bark.

How strange.

“But how do I get in…”

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The books didn’t say how to enter the Holy Tree. Fia had originally thought it would have a clear, large door at its base, like the Elf Towers, but she hadn’t seen one when she had flown over. She had no choice but to gain altitude and circle it, looking for an entrance.

And then, she heard the sound of bells shaking from below. It was a mysterious sound, similar to that of a kagura bell.

She followed the sound and saw the figure of Mizuki in her shrine maiden’s attire, dancing under the Holy Tree. Just like the first time she had seen her, Mizuki’s kagura was slow and gentle. Even without accompaniment, it made one want to stop and watch.

Compared to a few days ago, the sacred aura around her was even stronger. Her dance seemed to even affect the nearby flowers and grass, making them sway in time with her movements. From any angle, she looked like the personification of nature.

A natural-born maiden.

Such was the thought that rose in Fia’s heart.

“Hm?”

As if she had heard something, Mizuki, who was in the middle of her kagura, suddenly stopped. She looked up, her ice-blue eyes, which were devoid of any emotion and as cold as a machine’s, looking at Fia. A mysterious and oppressive light resided in those deep pools.

She was just like an emotionless puppet that only knew how to follow orders.

The last time she had interrupted her, Mizuki had also shown this kind of gaze. According to her, it was because the kagura—the Holy Tree Dance—was a form of magic that could invisibly manipulate the minds of those around her. As she herself had no intention of forcing others to obey her, she always chose a place with no one around to practice restoring the dance.

“Fia?”

Seeing her, the coldness in Mizuki’s eyes quickly melted away, replaced by a look of surprise. Then, as if remembering something, she quickly looked away and raised a hand to her forehead in a panic.

“Y-you didn’t see my eyes, did you?”

“I did.”

“You saw them again?!”

“Don’t worry, I’m not that easily controlled. The person who can control me hasn’t been born yet.” ⁴ demn

Answering with a joke, Fia landed beside Mizuki. Due to the dance, her forehead was covered in sweat, and even her slender, golden twin tails were stuck together. Fia handed a handkerchief to Mizuki, who still avoided her gaze.

“Wipe your sweat first. Sorry for interrupting you again.”

“Ah… ah, it’s alright. I was about to reach my limit at that point anyway. Do you want to sit down and talk, Fia?” Mizuki asked, pointing to a nearby picnic blanket. Not only was there a bamboo basket with lunch, but also personal items like a water bottle and a handkerchief. It was clear that she had a very girly heart; these items were either pink, powder blue, or a mix of pink and white, not at all what one would expect from a three hundred year old elf.

Fia and Mizuki sat down on the picnic blanket. Fia then noticed that Mizuki was quietly observing her as she drank her water. She looked over curiously.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing… I was just thinking that you really aren’t affected by my eyes. Even His Majesty is stunned for a moment when he sees them. You’re a strange one, Fia.”

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“Even the despair demon general’s mental magic doesn’t work on me, let alone you, with only the mana of a Second-Rank. Besides, you’re always able to sense me watching you even when your eyes are closed. That’s even stranger.”

“That’s because you’re very conspicuous, Fia. Didn’t you know? Your mana is scarily high. Every time you appear, the flow of the surrounding elements becomes chaotic. Of course I can feel you.”

Mizuki’s ice-blue eyes widened, as if she were looking at a fool.

There was such a thing?

Maintaining an expressionless face, Fia was secretly astonished. This was the first time she had heard that she was disrupting the flow of elements.

“Can you communicate with the elements?”

“Can’t all magic-casters?” Mizuki answered lightly, as if it were something anyone could do. “The elements are like invisible fairies that react to our will. The greater the amount of mana, the more obvious the reaction—no, no, you’re a high-rank magic caster, Fia. I don’t need to teach you this. In short, the moment you appear, I can feel it. Even His Majesty is far from having this amount of mana. It’s like the Holy Tree, too obvious.”

“Is the Holy Tree’s mana like mine?” Fia was suddenly interested.

She had never known her own limits. Even when she continuously cast spells, she had never felt the dizziness that should come with mana depletion. She had long since stopped wasting time trying to figure out just how much mana she had.

Like a little girl, Mizuki placed an index finger on her chin and tilted her head in thought.

“Mmm… you can’t exactly say that. As a maiden, I can vaguely feel that you two are different. I think it might be because both of your mana levels are too high, exceeding my perception range, so they seem the same.”

Just as a normal person can only hear sounds within a frequency of twenty thousand hertz, once the frequency exceeds that, fifty thousand and one hundred and fifty thousand hertz would have the same effect. Since they couldn’t hear it anyway, they couldn’t tell which was higher or lower.

“So there’s no result. Then do you know how much mana the Holy Tree has?”

“Infinite? To be able to affect the entire elf territory, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s infinite, right?” At this, Mizuki raised her eyebrows as if she were angry. “And you should call me ‘Mother Mizuki.’ To keep calling me Mizuki, Mizuki, you don’t sound like my child at all. You call the other consorts ‘Mother’.”

Although she was angry, Mizuki looked more like she was sulking because she was being treated differently.

Not at all like a three hundred year old.

As she didn’t see Mizuki as a mother or a consort in her heart at all, Fia directly adopted the attitude one would use with a peer. She laughed in exasperation.

“You haven’t married the Elf King yet, have you? Besides, compared to Mother Yulisha and the others, you don’t feel like a mother at all. They are the mothers who have actually raised me.”

“Then I’ll start doing what a mother should do now.”

As she spoke, Mizuki knelt on the soft mat and patted her thighs enthusiastically, making a patting sound.

“Alright, come and lie down.”

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Was she offering her a lap pillow?

Her gaze fixed on Mizuki’s red shrine maiden’s skirt, Fia’s expression became strange. Although a lap pillow from a pure and energetic girl like Mizuki was certainly charming, Fia had no intention of lying down. Not only that, but she also let out a long sigh.

“Are you a child? This is more like something lovers would do than a mother and child.”

“But isn’t it very heartwarming for a child to lie on their mother’s lap like this?”

“The premise is that there is a significant age gap, an age gap! We look like we’re the same age.”

“But there are often girls like me in the elf race who are very old but still look young. You can’t judge a book by its cover, Fia.”

Closing her eyes and pointing an index finger, Mizuki spoke in a scolding tone.

This tone made Fia want to argue with her—no one liked to be lectured by a peer, and she was no exception.

“Hey, hey, didn’t you just shrink away from me when you first saw me and tell me not to touch you? Wouldn’t it be even worse if my Father or someone else saw a lap pillow?”

“That was because I didn’t know you were my daughter then. Now I know, so it’s not a problem. No mother in the world would be ambiguous with her daughter…”

Mizuki’s voice grew smaller and smaller, until her expression became awkward.

Because she had lived in a secluded forest for a long time, she had forgotten that such things were not uncommon among elves. She cleared her throat awkwardly.

“Ahem, in any case, we definitely wouldn’t be misunderstood. I’ve always wanted a well-behaved and obedient daughter. Now that I finally have this chance…” Mizuki secretly tilted her head to observe Fia, a hint of a pleading rising intonation in her voice. “Won’t little Fia just indulge me a little?”

“No.”

Fia refused flatly.

She roughly understood what Mizuki was trying to say. She wanted to play house, with her playing the mother and taking care of her as the child. But that was too childish, even she couldn’t stand it—just thinking about it gave her goosebumps.

“Mmm…”

Mizuki looked disappointed.

Even if you looked disappointed, I wouldn’t agree.

Fia pretended not to see and changed the subject.

“By the way, don’t you feel wronged marrying my Father, Mizuki? This kind of political marriage without any emotional basis is unfair to you. If you’re willing, I can help you leave this place and go somewhere no one knows you.”