Reunion (2)
A place that is difficult for ordinary elves to easily approach.
Deep in the roots of the World Tree, where only those permitted to enter were said to be, the elders of the elves were gathered.
“We must succeed this time.”
“of course. Grand Elder.”
There was a tension that could not be hidden on the faces of the elders looking ahead.
This will probably be the last time.
Now there was no time left to hold on to the remaining ingredients.
The elders who were looking at the sword had a solemn look on their faces because they knew that the sword now visible was the last chance to establish a barrier.
“Let’s all get ready.”
In the past, this was where the silver knight given by the Sword Master was placed.
But now, there was a sword of a completely different color sitting there, and on top of the sword were complex techniques that the elders had painstakingly drawn, emerging like a painting and shining.
“…Begin.”
Magic circles floating in the air following a ray of light shining from far above.
Grand Elder Geronimo, who was looking at them, raised his finger in a firm voice as if he had made up his mind.
Guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
with the spells with which the elders were shouting, the spells that were floating around slowly began to be drawn into a circle.
All in different sizes and colors that don’t fit anything.
As the spell continued, helpless sweat began to flow from the foreheads of the elders in charge of each circle.
“slowly!”
Large circles go down and small circles go up.
Following Geronimo’s old fingers, the circles that started out on the surface were starting to fit into place, gradually becoming a huge cone.
“now!”
Under Geromino’s command, the world drawn by the elders began to slowly sink.
To the spot where the Sword Master’s sword used to be.
But now, towards the place where the completely unfamiliar sword is.
Gudeudeudeudeuk-!
As the cone descended towards the sword, a huge vibration that could not be seen from the outside began to ripple within the World Tree.
The most important and final step in executing the closing ceremony.
Finally, the world drawn by the elders began to be engraved as a single line through the sword.
“Okay…!”
Someone who saw this began to shout in joy.
There have been many failures in the past, but with the expectation that this time will be successful.
Indeed, the sword that was currently inserted looked different from the previous swords, and its light and sound spread were completely different.
Damn it! Damn it!
If it weren’t for the ominous sound I’m hearing right now.
“this.”
As if something had gone wrong, the brilliantly shining world of the cone began to slowly tilt.
With a scream coming from a sword that supported the world below.
“Everyone bow down!”
“Protect the Great Elder!”
All the elders began to humble themselves following the words shouted by an elder who sensed failure.
The sight of the elders starting to hug them in preparation for any unexpected situation seemed very familiar.
Kkdeudeudeudeuk-!
As the elders screamed, the sword that was shining brightly began to blink and burn white.
Burning his own body as if he could no longer shine like this.
Old Geronimo had no choice but to watch, unable to even blink as he watched the scene rushing toward destruction.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
A sword that could not handle the world of elves exploded with a loud noise.
Geronimo lowered his head with a sorrowful sigh at the sight of it jumping out like a shooting star.
Because the sword exploding in front of him was not just a sword, but a piece of hope that the elves should have.
“…I guess there should have been a sword master’s sword.”
A forest barrier granted by the World Tree and created by old elves pouring their essence into it.
That barrier must have been a very heavy and difficult duty as it was responsible for the survival of one species.
That’s probably why it couldn’t hold on and broke.
“…….”
Geronimo looked at the cold fragments of the sword in front of him and began to carefully stroke them without saying a word.
Under the roots of the World Tree, which was now dark, Geronimo was unable to leave his spot for a long time, looking so shrunken.
※※※※
There was a girl walking up a wide hill while holding a long tree branch.
And the shabby-looking refugees who followed her.
Several of the guards who were protecting the priestess were very nervous, as if the current situation was quite scary, but for some reason, their appearance from afar looked quite believable.
“I kept waiting. “My brother… or rather, Varadis, has been having a really hard time these days.”
He looked like a child, carelessly rummaging through the bushes with the tree branch he was holding.
However, Vlad was a man who knew well that there was a mysteriousness in that innocence that could not be ignored.
“Mr. Baridis?”
Vlad asked in a voice that seemed a little surprised by the girl’s words that Varadis was having a hard time.
The elf Varadis, the leader of the rangers.
This was because he knew that he was a person who was not easily shaken by any adversity.
“yes.”
The priestess turned her head in response to Vlad’s question coming from behind her.
Then, when I faced her, the girl I had just seen had disappeared as if it were a lie.
“Because until now, there was no one to help.”
Vlad stopped walking for a moment when he saw the girl’s eyes suddenly change.
The girl’s eyes were hazy, as if she was dreaming, but she still felt strong eyes looking at her.
“But that’s enough now. “Vlad brought a lot of people to help.”
However, as soon as the words were finished, the young priestess returned to her innocent appearance again and slowly began to walk backwards.
It seemed like he was quite excited as his brisk steps seemed to be light.
“There are a lot more people than I saw in my dream. “At that time, it was less than half what it is now.”
“dream?”
The girl, who continued to look at Vlad, slightly lowered her head to the side and continued speaking as she looked at the Luga people following her.
“huh. It’s a dream. “I saw what I see now in the dream that World Tree showed me.”
The World Tree is the tallest tree that touches God’s will, and the girl, the tree’s representative, sees the future through the means of dreams.
However, the future she saw through the existence of the World Tree had already passed through several stages, so it was a blurry and incoherent thing, like a child’s drawing.
“But this mole wasn’t in the dream I saw?”
Therefore, when she encountered the future she saw in reality, it was very different from what she saw in her dream.
Like the time when Vlad raised his sword on the deep blue sea to save the dwarves, and like the mole that did not appear in the dream.
“I guess Vlad brought this guy. So did more people come?”
“……”
The girl’s tone was lively, but there was a strange tension on Vlad’s face as he listened to her words.
What she said now sounded like she was saying that if there had been no mole, the number of refugees from the Luga tribe would have been reduced by half.
[The city is strange. Vlad.]
The elf city of Aushurin was slowly appearing behind the girl who said meaningful words.
However, the city of elves who returned after a long time looked much different from when Vlad left.
[Looking at the wooden fence surrounding it, it looks like they are probably preparing for battle. It’s also quite large.]
Vlad followed Quihano’s words from inside and looked at the scenery of Aussurin seen from afar.
Indeed, just as Quihano said, the city of elves now visible was full of sharply erected wooden fences.
Kiiik-
As if they had seen the refugees from the Luga tribe, the wooden fence in the city of Aushurin began to slowly open.
In a place as majestic as the human walls, there stood a man with navy blue hair, looking at Vlad with his arms crossed.
“It was you, after all. Vlad Aureo.”
Varadis, the leader of the rangers.
He was smiling bitterly as he looked at the crowd of people brought by his younger brother who had run away from home, and was slightly raising one hand towards the familiar blonde hair.
※※※※
“As always, you’re doing unpredictable things.”
“Thank you for opening the door. “Baradis.”
“I opened it because of you. “It’s not because of the beast people.”
After putting the refugees of the Luga tribe down at their temporary shelter, Vlad was walking to where the elders were, following Varadis’ guidance.
The elves’ residence built inside a large tree was an amazing thing to see even after a long time, but right now, Vlad had no time to be amazed by the elves’ style.
“So there’s nothing to be thankful for. My authority would be temporary. “In order to keep them in Aushulin, we need the consent of the Presbyterian Council.”
The elves were a race that did not easily allow access not only to humans but also to other races.
For the elves who had survived so far through such an exclusive attitude, the hundreds of refugees who suddenly arrived would certainly be unwelcome.
“These are people who have nowhere to go. “I am also responsible for their wanderings.”
“I will have to organize those stories well and explain them to the elders I will see in the future.”
Varadis, who had been walking down the hallway for a while, stood in front of the large door he had seen before and was glaring at Vlad.
“Are you ready?”
“……yes.”
Vlad quietly placed the mole still dozing on his head in his arms and took a deep breath as he looked at the door of the conference hall where the elders were waiting.
“Then I hope there will be good results.” With a gesture from
Varadis,
bright light began pouring in through the open door.
As you get used to the light, you can see the spacious conference hall.
More than ten elders sitting here and there on the huge tree roots that were tangled like stairs were looking down at Vlad.
“……It’s been a long time. Knights of humans. “Vlad.”
The old elf sitting highest among them gestured towards Vlad and smiled weakly.
Old Geronimo, the elder of the elves, remembered the young knight who had saved their world tree, and was happy to see Vlad return.
“It looks like you’ve been through a lot so far. “It’s a lot bigger than it was then.”
It was a shining possibility even when he cut down Nidhogg, the sharpest dragon.
However, the way Geronimo sees Vlad now is incomparable to then, and the old man’s heart seemed to be a little satisfied with the young potential that had grown up so quickly.
“…Have you had any trouble so far? Grand Elder.”
However, as the child grows, the old man grows older.
Even though he was sitting up there, Geronimo’s energy was clearly low enough for Vlad to notice.
“We would like to tell each other that nothing special is going on, but the sad reality is that that is not the case.”
Watching Geronimo’s fingers trembling gently, Vlad began to quietly look at the other elders nearby.
‘Something’s going on.’
Although it wasn’t as bad as Geronimo’s, the elders all seemed to be drained of energy.
Looking at them like that, Vlad was able to realize that something big was happening in Aushurin right now, even if it wasn’t because of the wooden fences surrounding it.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but I might be able to help. So please…”
“I want you to take the Lu family with you and leave.”
It seemed like Varadis also wanted him to be here.
Therefore, Vlad thought that if he did well, he would be able to finish the Luga family’s work well, but the words that came out of Geronimo’s mouth were surprisingly firm.
“It would be best to leave as soon as possible. “It’s good for them.”
Geronimo coughed irritably and told me to leave quickly, but his attitude showed no sign of annoyance or rejection of anyone.
“It won’t be long before the human lords attack here.”
“Are you talking about the human lords?”
“okay. Maybe you know. “Count Vitskaya.”
Count Vitskaya was definitely a familiar name.
“And even the resurrected ones are targeting our forest with their hideous appearance. In other words, this place is not a safe haven for the Luga people.”
And so did the word resurrected ones.
“…Those who have been brought back to life.”
Familiar names heard from completely unexpected places.
Vlad, who went to the Luga tribe to deal with Fraussen, was able to find traces of them here in Aushurin.
“Are they coming towards here now?”
Nobles, clergy, and even the imperial family, the owner of the empire.
It was Vlad who reached the city of Namarka in pursuit of their presence, which was ignored by all those responsible.
Even though he was driven out by the oldest dragon there, Vlad did not lose sight of his original purpose even at the moment he was crushed.
“I see. “It’s still coming towards us, coloring this forest black.”
After hearing Geronimo’s words, Vlad unconsciously grabbed the sword sheath.
“…….”
Vlad’s anger was conveyed along the strongly clenched hand.
The Dragon Slayer Sword, which understood the anger because it resembled its owner, began to tremble little by little as Vlad held his hand tightly.
Clunk-clack-clack-
Vlad’s sword begins to shake even more as it runs along with its owner’s heartbeat.
A silver light was shining through the blade of the dragon slayer sword, which was gradually coming out with its hesitation.
“……hmm?”
Geronimo’s eyes began to widen as he recognized that familiar light.
Not only Geronimo but also several elders next to him began to slowly lean forward as if possessed.
“Still, please. Elder. Please give the Luga people some land to stay for a while. They have nowhere else to go.”
The young knight would not be the only one who grew up after the breakup he faced.
Vlad’s sword was now engulfed in a glorious silver light instead of the blue light it had been in, and the elders who recognized it were standing up one by one.
“If you do that, I will also repay you with a sword.”
Do what you need to do where you need to be.
The only thing that can promise that is the sword I am holding.
The young knight who had raised the most honorable sword to protect the World Tree was now speaking while raising his own sword.
“…The Silver Knight.”
This time, he said he would raise a sword of the same color as before.
Like the Sword Master’s sword he used to protect the young World Tree that day, the sword Vlad was holding now was shining in the same silver color.
