Chapter 173: Conference With World Tree
[Elven Continent]
"Why is he not here? It’s already been two hours. He said he would return in just one..." Serena said while anxiously pacing in circles, her tone filled with worry that only grew stronger with every step.
"Did something happen to him?"
"No, he said he would be fine."
"He should be fine, right?"
{Why are you so worried, my child? From everything I have seen, that boy is not someone who would die so easily.}
"But, Great Mother, that heart... it was powerful enough to even put you to sleep..."
{Child, as I already said that was because...}
Before the World Tree could even finish her thought, a sudden shift in space disrupted the air beside Serena. A pulse of spatial energy surged, and Ash appeared beside her in the blink of an eye, with faint fluctuations still rippling around him.
"Is the World Tree awake now?" he asked immediately, wasting no time.
Serena’s expression melted into warmth the moment she saw him. But just as quickly, her relief shifted into concern, and she began questioning him without pause.
"Why are you late? I thought something happened to you. Where is the sealed heart? Did something go wrong?"
She was firing questions like arrows, not giving Ash even a moment to respond.
"Calm down, calm down."
It took him a few seconds to soothe her restless energy.
"You don’t have to worry about the heart anymore. I’ve entrusted it to someone I trust."
"But still—"
{It is alright, child. Just have faith in our savior.}
"Alright, Mother..." Serena whispered softly, her voice finally calm.
Hearing that, Ash turned to her and asked, "Are you speaking with the World Tree right now?"
"You should call her Great Mother, not just World Tree," Serena replied quickly, almost like a child correcting someone who broke an important rule.
"Alright, alright," Ash said with a small nod, a slight trace of amusement in his voice.
He then looked toward the roots that had previously radiated a horrible demonic pressure. Though they still appeared dark and lifeless on the outside, the suffocating aura that once hung in the air had completely disappeared.
Just then, a glowing green portal opened in front of them, pulsing gently with life energy.
"Mother wants you to enter. It will take you directly to her. I’ll stay here, mother wants to talk to you alone."
"Okay," Ash said while nodding, stepping into the portal without hesitation.
****
[Core of World tree]
As soon as Ash stepped through the portal, his entire body felt strangely light, almost like he had left the weight of the world behind. His mind was enveloped in a warm sensation, as if someone was gently massaging his thoughts with velvet gloves.
A calm settled in his chest, quiet and comforting, like returning to a place he couldn’t remember but somehow missed deeply.
The surroundings were glowing with pure white and lush green energy, and the air was thick with life magic.
The amount was so ridiculous that for a second Ash just stood there, blinking, wondering if this was some sort of premium spa service for overworked souls.
{You look surprised.}
A sweet, melodic voice pulled his attention. Ash turned toward the source, and there she was—someone dressed in a flowing green and black outfit, standing there like she had always been part of the scene.
She looked exactly like Serena. Same face, same build, but the presence was wildly different.
This version didn’t look like a shy elf princess. This one had the ancient calm of someone who could slap you with vines and still call it a blessing.
"That face..." Ash muttered instinctively.
{Oh my, is that truly the first thing the savior says to me? You really are... something.}
She chuckled lightly, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth in that elegant "I’m ancient and mildly amused" kind of way.
{Do not be alarmed. I do not possess a fixed form, so I chose one that would be familiar and comforting to you.}
"I see."
Ash kept his face blank, but deep down he was calculating whether this counted as spiritual catfishing.
Noticing his steady reaction, the consciousness of the World Tree gave a smile that felt far too serene for someone who had just woken up from magical coma caused by demonic corruption.
{Allow me to thank you, O savior. If not for your actions, a tragedy beyond imagination would have fallen upon my children.}
"You’re not planning to get away with just a thank you, right?" Ash asked casually, his voice laced with mild sarcasm.
Her eyes twitched slightly, but the Great Mother kept smiling as she answered.
{Of course not. If there is something you desire, I will grant it, as long as it is within my reach. I hope you understand the limits of what I can offer.}
"I do not want much. I only want all the knowledge you possess regarding Life magic. There is someone I must heal, and for that, I need your help."
{That child mentioned that you used Life magic. Which means you must possess the Life affinity.}
"Obviously."
{Have you come in contact with the Rune of Life?}
Her direct question caught Ash slightly off guard. He hadn’t expected her to be so blunt about it, but his expression remained calm and unreadable.
"I don’t know about that. Aren’t the Runes just myths? I was born with Life affinity."
{Are you lying to me?}
"Of course not."
{Don’t you know? I can detect falsehood}
...Shit. She can?
"...Fine. I did come in contact with it. But does that even matter? Just give me the knowledge. That’s all I need."
{Yes, it matters. Did you not read the ancient texts written by the First Queen?}
"You mean that nonsense was actually real?"
{You are speaking rather rudely, O savior.}
"I apologize."
{It is alright.}
"I do not have the Rune on my hand though. Even if I did, it is not like I could show it to you."
Ash spoke the truth. The Rune was not on his hand but inside his soul. And even if he had the Rune, it was not something he could easily show to the World Tree. How could he possibly show his soul?
{It seems you misunderstood me. I never asked you to give me the Rune.}
{Since we are discussing this now, let me tell you something important. The reason why only one person in the world is ever born with the ability to use Life magic is simple. It is because of me.}
{I, who have comprehended nearly seventy percent of the Rune of Life, am the reason the concept of ’life’ even exists in this world. Without me, no one would even understand it.}
{The same applies to the Kings and Queens I have chosen. They are not born with Life affinity. It is only after I choose them that they gain it.}
{Do you understand what this means?}
"You’re powerful..." Ash muttered.
Silence followed for a moment.
{Let me explain more clearly. If someone other than me possesses Life affinity, that can only mean one thing. They must have come into contact with the Rune of Life and comprehended it to at least twenty-five percent. That is the bare minimum required to awaken Life affinity.}
Looks like pretending to be clueless is no longer an option.
{And if you, someone who has already awakened Life affinity, are still here seeking knowledge, then that tells me something else.}
{You have absorbed the Rune of Life.}
Sigh... I guess the truth is out now.
"You are right, I can’t use its power. If you are thinking I will become a god of healing just by absorbing it, then you are completely wrong," Ash admitted without even a hint of hesitation in his voice.
Upon hearing his honest response, the Great Mother’s smile deepened with a quiet sense of understanding, as if she appreciated the clarity he spoke with.
{Of course, I already know that, O Savior. Unless someone comprehends the Rune in its entirety, meaning all one hundred percent of its concept, they cannot hope to unlock the boundless and divine power that it holds within.}
{Though, even that is not enough. There are two more conditions that must be fulfilled before one can fully use the Rune’s power. However, I do not possess complete knowledge about those conditions either.}
{Still, I must say, you are extremely fortunate to have even been able to absorb the Rune of Life. That alone makes you special.}
"Will you give me the knowledge or not?" Ash asked directly, getting straight to the point.
{I will definitely share all the knowledge that you seek. But wouldn’t it be more effective if you brought the person here instead? I can personally heal that person right now, and afterward, you can learn from me with peace of mind. What do you think about that?}
"I want to heal her with my own strength, if possible. But I’ll do it in front of you. If I make a mistake, you’ll be there to fix it, right?"
The Great Mother paused for a moment, her expression softening as if she was reading something deeper than just his words.
I see now. So that is what it is. He does not wish to rely on anyone. He wants to use his own power, and his own resolve to heal the one who matters most to you. That is the weight of his conviction...
Great Mother thought.
{Very well then. That will not be a problem. I will stay close and make sure nothing goes wrong. You do not have to carry the pressure alone. You can remain calm and focused.}
Ash let out a long breath, one that carried a sense of relief and silent gratitude.
"But may I ask you something? How did you end up in such a condition that even you were on the verge of being corrupted?"
***
A/N: In the next two Chapters, I’ll include Ash’s inner monologue that will clarify a few things—like why he didn’t use his skill creation chance to heal Elysia, and why he’s choosing the harder path instead of letting world tree heal Elysia.