novelnext Chapter 48: The World Tree (8)
Chapter 48: The World Tree (8)
Chapter 48: The World Tree (8)
The transformation in Arwin was evident to everyone.
Her tangled emotions unfurled in the most unexpected manner.
Arwin! Get down!
Once, she even tried climbing the World Tree.
Below, she saw the frantically charging Ascal, the other elves staring at her in shock, and the elders gazing up at her with stern expressions.
Arwin! Didnt I tell you to get down? The World-
-What did I do?
Arwin coldly retorted.
Did I cut the World Tree? Did I set it on fire? Im just climbing it to get a distant view.
You couldve had that from the observation deck!
What I choose to see and from where is up to me.
Arwin felt a sense of relief looking at the elders turning various shades of red.
She never thought that hurting someone could be this satisfying.
Besides, I do worry about the World Tree.
Arwin continued climbing the World Tree, shouting down.
It must live long out of spite, at least. Otherwise, the pain of 110 years would be meaningless.
It wasnt until she had climbed to a height where she could no longer hear Ascal and the elders that she regained her peace.
From such a height, she looked out upon landscapes she hadnt seen in 120 years.
Free from her duties, the mere thought of which direction to travel first brightened her mood.
From then on, Arwin stopped thinking twice and did everything she wanted to.
As long as it felt liberating, she didnt care what she did.
She burst into the room where the elders were having a meeting, recklessly using her powers.
...Arwin, were in a meeting. Leave.
I dont want to~
Whenever the elders spoke to her, Arwin would hum in reply.
She would toss documents stacked on the desks to the floor and arbitrarily extinguish lit candles with a puff.
The elders immense patience only made it more enjoyable for Arwin to act out.
Arwin regretted not behaving this way sooner.
At night when everyone was asleep, she roamed about loudly singing songs and trampled over well-maintained flowerbeds on deserted streets.
The fall of Arwin, who was born with a blessed lifespan, was a shock to everyone.
But whether they were shocked or not, Arwin didnt care.
She just continued her journeys as she pleased.
Yet, she didnt miss undergoing the sacrificial ritual every 15 days.
That pain still tore her apart, but enduring it became easier than before.
Ever since she adopted a resentful mindset, it became more bearable.
Ascal and the elders were disheartened by this change in Arwin.
Arwin. Lets have a moment to talk.
Approaching the exhausted Arwin who was lying in bed engrossed in her reading, Ascal spoke.
Only moving her eyes, Arwin looked at her father and then refocused on her book.
...From now on, the ritual will be only once a year-
At that, Arwin threw the book in her fathers direction.
She couldnt actually throw it at him, but she could express her feelings.
And what difference would that make now?
Arwin snapped back in an outburst.
At times, controlling her emotions became challenging.
It was evident there was a problem, considering elves typically didnt have such vast emotional swings.
...Arw-
Ive already suffered for more than a hundred years. If you wanted to say such things, you should have said them before I became like this...! If you couldve changed based on my feelings, you should have done so already...! Ha, and once a year?
Arwin scoffed.
Couldnt you just say I dont have to sacrifice at all?
...For the sake of the other elves, we must adhere to the rules-
Just go away. I dont want to hear it.
Arwin retorted sharply.
I will continue the ritual every 15 days. Only then do I feel you pretenders wont have any hold over me. Ill do my duty and then leave... Dont dare block my path in the future.
It was sheer stubbornness.
Arwins actions at the time were much more intense.
But considering the emotional tumult she was in, it was perhaps unavoidable.
She succumbed to her feelings, became more wild, and lived for herself.
She had long grown tired of making sacrifices.
She gave up all that she had to learn and uphold as the elders daughter.
What the common elves thought of her was none of her business.
Yet, there were times when even this Arwins emotions would calm down.
After undergoing the sacrificial ritual and focusing on recovery, she didnt have the strength to engage in any exploits.
So, she just had to lie still in bed... and when night came, the surging emotions were unbearable.
She didnt want to be this way either.
She wanted to be an elf worthy of everyones expectations.
She was treated as a burden. Yet there was an atmosphere where no one could say anything, as she dedicated her life to the World Tree.
In truth, Arwin might have intentionally exaggerated her actions to make a point.
She couldnt endure without expressing how hard it was for her.
-Click.
The door to the meeting room opened.
Ascal!
The elders, surprised by the entrance, stood up.
Arwin also looked in the direction of the newcomer, her father.
So, what did Blackwood say? Will they send support?
No, theyre also in a tough situation.
If the World Tree falls, the world will end... How could-
-However, Ive learned of an unusual mercenary group.
Everyones attention was drawn to Ascal, and he began to share the information he had gathered.
Theres a mercenary group that takes noble as payment. They seem to be eyeing the situation after the war.
Noble?
Yes. Ner Blackwood... that is, the youngest daughter of the Blackwood family has been sold off. It seems Blackwood has been suffering from monster hordes recently, and they managed to survive with their support.
Arwin remembered the name Ner.
A few years ago, she was a young werewolf tribe member who had visited the territory. Her white tail was impressive, making her a memorable figure.
The fact that this child had been sold to humans made for an intriguing story.
Whats the name of the mercenary group?
Its called Red Flames. I heard the vice-captain there is quite skilled. The eldest son of the Blackwood family mentioned that this person might be on par with Gale.
Gallias snorted.
Theres no swordsman on par with Gale, elder. Even I feel like I would need decades more training to surpass Gale.
I gave a similar reply as well. Nonetheless, its an interesting story, isnt it?
The elders exchanged glances at his words.
Soon, a question arose.
... If theyre willing to accept someone of Celebrien rank, who among us would voluntarily...sacrifice themselves to humans?
There was a hint of disdain in the way the word humans was uttered.
A sudden impulse flashed across Arwins mind.
She wasnt of age yet, but given this desperate situation, there might be an opportunity.
She might be able to escape this tiresome territory sooner than she thought.
And so, the words impulsively leaped from her lips.
... Ill do it.
Silence descended upon the meeting room.
It seemed that no one could tell whether her words were sincere or just a jest.
To lend credibility to her statement, Arwin added, ...In exchange, please let me go.
Arwin wondered if her past actions and experiences might serve her well today.
After all, they had all treated her like a burden.
Her heart was racing as it never had before.
An opportunity to escape the territory, bypassing 30 years in a single moment, had presented itself.
Marrying that human might be a sacrifice, one she hadnt given to the World Tree in terms of lifespan.
A chance to venture into the outside world had appeared.
Arwin wouldnt miss this opportunity that had come after 170 years.
She wasnt keen on marrying a human either.
It was uncertain what experiences awaited her with that race that was considered uncivilized by many.
A future of pain and suffering might be awaiting her.
But the World Tree was even more repugnant to her.
No matter what pain she might experience, the agony relayed by the World Tree would be even more unbearable.
Ascal spoke cautiously, ...Arwin, if you marry a human, you need to understand that you might be bound to him for 60 years.
But Arwin had assumed that to be the worst-case scenario.
The man was a mercenary.
Perhaps she could escape sooner.
...Perhaps she could pave a quicker way out herself.
In any case, the fact that she could leave the World Tree 30 years earlier was most important.
I understand, Arwin replied.
You might have to share your husband. Do you know about the humans practice of polygamy, right?
Even that didnt matter to Arwin. She wasnt searching for someone to love.
...If I stay, the World Tree will die, right?
She then voiced words that shook the elders.
...
The decision of the elders didnt take long.
After the decision was made, Arwin asked Ascal, Whats the name of that human?
With a look of regret and sorrow, Ascal replied, ...Berg.
The End of The Chapter
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