Free Web NovelChapter 24: Saga 24— Ok!..... This Is Getting Weird
Two and a half years ago, Lefiya, Claire’s mother and the Supreme Elven Queen, burst in on Claire during a mission that she was undertaking as part of Azure Blake. Her mother warned her not to engage in any activities that would lead to her using her talent or casting spells.
Claire violated this warning, and Lefiya was insanely furious with her daughter. She literally dragged Claire through a gateway back to the Aelarchy of Eal’Thyr, the homeland of the High Elves, located on the continent of Elarion and encased within the ancient forest of Thandoriel, where the ’True World Tree’ was rooted.
This very act caused Claire to be placed under room arrest for about two months. Thinking about it still made Claire shiver even now. She was next in line to succeed her mother as the Supreme Elven Queen, the one blessed with the power, might, wisdom, and knowledge of the ’True World Tree’, Selunor.
The Supreme Elven Queen held immense influence over the continent of Elarion, also known as the Land of Spirituality. Ninety-eight percent of the continent comprised Elves in general (High Elves, Dark Elves, and Elves), with the remaining two percent being Dryads, Pixies, and Elementals.
Lefiya let Claire do as she pleased because Selunor begged her to, and she didn’t wish to defy the progenitor. But even the progenitor couldn’t quell Lefiya’s anger at the time.
"You are far too reckless for my first daughter. How do you think the twins will behave when they learn of this temerarious behaviour of yours?"
These were the exact words Lefiya said to Claire as she pulled her through the portal in a fit of intense anger.
"Mom, those beasts are way worse than you think." Claire pursed her lips.
The other members of Azure Blake intended to break Claire out, but even they couldn’t stand against ’The Primordial Archmage’, who held the current position of EX-Delta No. 8. Some said she could threaten an entire continent if she so pleased.
Claire spent two months under strict surveillance, forced to attend one of the Four Aspects from which her mother had graduated—Credoyen Archives. Out of all the Four Aspects, Credoyen possessed the largest collection of ancient texts and spells, along with profound methods to decipher them.
Claire had no choice but to follow suit; she knew better than to incur the wrath of her enraged mother. Fortunately, Selunor pleaded on her behalf and explained the benefits of Claire being a hunter, in disguise, of course.
Lefiya agreed under the firm condition that a proxy would be assigned to monitor the activities of Azure Blake, that proxy being Lefiya’s old friend, Adian, who worked at Renodin Regal Academy.
Long story short, that’s how Adian became a very annoying part of their lives.
"Kael mentioned something earlier about coverage, right?" Adian confirmed.
Kael nodded. "Yes?"
"For that, you can leave it to me... and Harriden." An unsettling smile formed on Adian’s lips.
The plan involved Harriden creating shadow doubles of all of them, excluding Adian, with him sustaining the doubles using his mana until they returned. As for leaving the Sumbiya Hot Springs gate undetected, that part was painfully easy.
"Okay, everyone... let’s do this."
Yet again, they were subjected to Claire’s teleportation spell. A white spell circle appeared beneath their feet and whisked them away. They arrived on the outskirts of the Sumbiya Highlands.
The main agenda was to investigate the highlands. On that note, Harriden sent out several shadow doubles to conduct reconnaissance while the rest of them ventured into the forest as a group, carefully surveying their surroundings.
’This looks normal.’ Kael examined a tall oak tree with his eyes. Everything they had encountered thus far seemed fairly ordinary.
"Hello, Sylvia..." He approached Sylvia. They hadn’t spoken all day. How was he going to foster a relationship if he couldn’t even hold a proper conversation with her?
"Kael..." Sylvia looked as distant as usual, her gaze fixed ahead.
"Look, I know you don’t like me... I know how it feels to have the life you’ve just obtained threatened." Kael’s words carried deep emotion; every word he uttered came from the depths of his heart.
"Don’t tell me you’ve started taking pity on me—" Sylvia’s gaze met Kael’s light-purple eyes, which held a faint trace of guilt.
"Save your pity for a helpless dog that’s about to die." Sylvia turned away from him, her words brutal and ice-cold.
"Trust me... I don’t even have enough pity for myself—" Kael’s words caused Sylvia to halt for a brief moment.
"I don’t feel sorry for you, and I don’t empathize with you. But I know that no one not even systems deserve to be treated like discardable trash." Kael walked to her side before stopping. Their eyes met once again, but this time the emotions were far more profound.
Sylvia could keenly feel his pain, frustration, and sorrow.
"I know what it feels like to be discarded onto the streets, left for dead like a starving dog. I’ll never beg or coerce you. Just know that you are not the only one with something to lose. Why don’t you ponder on that?" Kael walked past Sylvia.
She waited for a moment to see if he would turn his head back to look at her, but he didn’t—Kael didn’t spare her another single glance.
’Mother! If you can hear me... your son misses you.’ For a moment, Kael wanted to return to the days when it was just him and his mother—no systems or tasks, just a happy, warm life.
"Stop." Harriden abruptly placed a hand in front of Kael.
"Guys—" He turned around, his eyes filled with worry.
"I’ve lost connection with my doubles."
While they were still trying to process Harriden’s words, Yuki let out a loud, incredulous gasp.
"What in the seven hells is that?"
A horrifying sight that he would rather forget was seared into his mind. Wolves had transformed into creatures with purple cracks running across their fur, ten times their normal size, with glowing red eyes. Not just them—owls, squirrels, and other animals had evolved abnormally, and not in a good way.
At the centre of it all stood a large, mucky, pulsating heart embedded within the trunk of a towering timber tree.
Beside the tree sat a figure clad in a ragged purple robe upon a footstool. The strange figure stared straight ahead as though they could see Yuki. Crimson eyes glowed beneath the hood.
"Found... you." The strange figure smiled.
— End of Chapter —
