Chapter 113
Chapter 113: The World Tree Branch
Generally, familiar spirits could only amplify their sacred power when accompanied by their master.
That’s why Vernon had apparently first asked Anasha if she would accompany them.
And after the child agreed, they came to find Elena together.
Nodding beside Vernon, Anasha asked with sparkling eyes:
“Sister-in-law, won’t you let us go together?”
Elena hesitated briefly. However, time was of the essence, and with nowhere else to turn, she had to make a decision.
“My lady, then I’ll be counting on you.”
“Yes, I’m sure we can find it quickly!”
After gently patting the brightly smiling Anasha’s head, Elena wrote a note for Laphine, who hadn’t yet returned from the infirmary, explaining that she would be away briefly.
Then she moved with the child and Vernon to the spacious area of the laboratory.
Elena began drawing the transportation magic circle she had occasionally practiced for obtaining the World Tree branch.
Perhaps because reliable companions were with her, she felt more at ease carrying out tasks she had only thought about but never acted upon.
[We’ll need Anasha’s sacred power to activate the transportation circle.]
Following the familiar spirit’s advice, Anasha nodded eagerly, carefully stepped into the transportation circle, and placed her palms on the formula.
A warm power like spring air began to envelop the child, and soon the magic circle activated.
“…!”
Elena swallowed dryly and, not missing this chance, chanted the activation words toward their intended destination.
A flash of light surrounded them, and then a curtain of light unfurled.
* * *
Opening her eyes in a desolate wilderness, Elena drew a short breath at the sight of dozens of doors spread before them.
“This is…”
[It seems this is the intermediate point connecting different worlds.]
As Vernon said, this barren, dusty place appeared to be their first stop in searching for the World Tree.
Bright light leaked through the gaps of the numerous doors before them.
[The gods must have set a test, as the World Tree cannot be easily shown to just anyone.]
“A test?”
Vernon briefly explained what he knew to Elena and Anasha.
Since those who could access the World Tree were limited, a test was given to determine worthiness.
Generally, those who could see the World Tree needed to possess transcendent power, with familiar spirits’ masters being prime examples.
‘So that’s why even excellent mages struggled to find the World Tree.’
Tension mounting, Elena clenched her fists.
They needed to be especially careful and stay alert, as this was a space where time and space were distorted.
Following Vernon’s guidance, Anasha concentrated on her ability to find where the World Tree was located.
After some time passed, the child exclaimed in a brightened voice:
“Found it! It’s that door right there.”
In the direction Anasha pointed with her small hand was a wooden door painted deep blue.
‘When we open that door… the World Tree will be there?’
Elena’s heart began to race at the thought that the World Tree they had searched for so long was just beyond a single door.
As she stood quietly staring at the wooden door, the child firmly gripped her sister-in-law’s hand and urged:
“Let’s hurry, Sister-in-law!”
Elena nodded slightly and approached the deep blue wooden door with Anasha and Vernon.
Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she slowly grabbed the door handle.
Rattle rattle—
However, when the door wouldn’t open for some reason, disappointment spread across her golden eyes.
“Why won’t it open?”
“Sister-in-law, let me try!”
Anasha beside her tried turning the handle while emanating sacred power, but the situation didn’t change.
Vernon, who had been watching quietly, spoke with concern:
[It seems opening this door is separate from sacred power.]
But they couldn’t return without making any attempt.
As Elena stared intently at the handle, something suddenly occurred to her.
‘Perhaps this is when I should use it.’
Elena’s gaze fell on the golden key with a dark green gem hanging around her neck.
It was the token she had received from Wiriditas earlier. When situations became desperate with nowhere to turn, it would distort space-time to become their salvation.
Her eyes shone with something close to determination and resolve. Perhaps this token would become their salvation.
Handling the golden key with its dark green gem, Elena began unlocking the wooden door.
Click—
‘It really opened…!’
As she had hoped, Wiriditas’s token seemed truly intent on becoming their salvation.
“Wow, the door opened!”
Anasha jumped up and down joyfully, while Vernon raised his front paw majestically.
[Let’s hurry inside.]
Elena nodded and opened the wooden door with an excited heart.
When the door opened, bright light poured in, and after exchanging glances, they stepped inside.
As their eyes gradually adjusted to the bright light, Elena, who had been slightly furrowing her brow, properly observed the vast meadow spread before them.
The meadow, where bird songs could be heard clearly, had a peaceful atmosphere.
“Hmm? This should be the right place?”
Looking around, Anasha tilted her head with a puzzled expression, as the World Tree was nowhere to be seen.
[This must be the right place since Anasha’s sacred power led us here. Let’s try going to that forest.]
“…!”
Startled by Vernon’s deep voice, Elena quickly turned to look at the familiar spirit.
The adult form of the snow leopard she had only seen in mirrors was right before her eyes.
Presumably because the World Tree was here, his sacred power had been maximized, temporarily restoring his true form.
Though surprised at seeing the familiar spirit’s appearance for the first time, Anasha exclaimed with wonder:
“Oh? Vernon seems to have become a completely different animal!”
The familiar spirit, seemingly embarrassed, went ahead of them. Yet he didn’t forget their original purpose.
[What are you doing? Let’s hurry.]
With a faint smile, Elena again moved toward the spiritual forest.
Unlike the meadow from earlier, not even small bird songs could be heard in the forest, as if in a different dimension.
In this space that seemed to block external sounds, only the rustle of vegetation remained where they passed.
As they quietly walked along the forest path, Anasha’s bright and confident voice rang out:
“The World Tree is over there!”
The child, who had been sulking earlier about not being able to see it, now seemed extremely excited about finally discovering the World Tree.
Elena swallowed dryly as her gaze soon fell upon a single tree of overwhelming size.
‘So that’s the World Tree…’
The magnificence of the enormous tree seemed beyond words.
The World Tree, which had guarded its place for ages, emanated a sacred atmosphere, its abundant leaves gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
Vernon, gazing at the World Tree with wonder, soon shared a legend about the tree.
Long ago, when the world was being created, the god who made this world planted their most cherished staff in barren ground.
That staff took root in the earth, and over many years became the World Tree, with green meadows forming around it.
“The World Tree must have watched over all the trials of those who sought it from this single spot for so long.”
As Elena gazed at the tree with solemn eyes, Vernon encouraged her:
[Child, surely the World Tree will welcome you too, so go forward.]
With a faint smile at the familiar spirit’s words, Elena nodded slightly and approached the tree.
Closing her eyes firmly before the massive World Tree, she spoke with sincerity:
“I need a branch to save many people’s lives. Would you please show me mercy?”
Though the tree probably couldn’t understand human speech, Elena’s feelings were more earnest than ever before.
After pleading with clasped hands, she slowly opened her eyes and calmly chanted a spell.
Strong winds arose, naturally swaying the dense leaves back and forth.
After some time passed, a single World Tree branch fell to the ground with a thud, as if responding to Elena’s desperate plea.
