[Tamriel Kingdom, Alfheim.]
[Round hall table.]
BAM!!!
"You can’t be serious right now!!?"
The sudden yell of Elder Selyra echoed within the enclosed room.
Her old face was burning with unrefined anger as her gaze remained fixed on the Queen of the Elves.
"How can you say you still don’t want to bring him here!?"
"And what benefit would that bring?"
Lorvil said, his hands folded. "We ourselves banned Himl. Are you saying we should go back on our words?"
"Things were different back then." Another elder chid in.
He had a sowhat youthful appearance with long grey hair.
He was Elder Neilos, who had just beco part of the inner circle after the war started.
"You can’t be thinking of letting him live freely when he has our most sacred—"
"Are you saying we should arrest him?" Another elder chid in.
He was Elder Vincent, who had a wrinkled face.
"On what basis?"
"Killing the World Tree is more than enough reason for us to drag him here." Selyra said, her voice echoing.
"And I plan to do it whether you like it or not."
Pasithea let out a sigh as she leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling.
It’s been like this for almost three hours now.
The mont the news of Himl having both Muspelh and Neplh got out, the entire kingdom was in uproar.
How could they not be?
The World Tree was on the verge of dying and even though it was almost confird that a new World Tree wouldn’t be replacing it—
So still had hope for it that was imdiately shattered with the news.
What was left after that was malice and hatred in them.
And in no ti, Himl beca the sole target for it.
"Things are really going out of hand."
Pasithea thought, rubbing her temples to alleviate the headache.
She would be lying if she said she never thought of it.
After all, it was she who was the first to notice Himl’s weird energy.
Pasithea lowered her gaze from the ceiling, eyes drifting over the elders still locked in debate.
Elder Vincent and Selyra had nearly stood up from their seats, their words sharp enough to cut.
"I am glad the rest of them couldn’t make it on ti."
Pasithea let out a sigh as she spoke softly. "Enough."
The elders quieted down as they all looked at her.
Selyra narrowed her eyes.
"If you have sothing to say, Your Majesty, now would be the ti," she said carefully.
There was a silence for a while before a slow breath left Pasithea’s lips.
"I have not changed my stance," she finally said. Her voice. "Himl is not to be touched."
Selyra’s chair screeched as she stood up. "He killed the World Tree!"
"I gave my word not to involve him in this war." Pasithea replied firmly. "I will not take that back."
"He has both seeds," Vincent said. "And he wasn’t supposed to."
"That doesn’t an we destroy him for it."
"Then what do you suggest!?" Selyra snapped. "We invite him for tea while he carries what belongs to us!?"
"....."
Pasithea’s lips parted but no words ca out.
She wasn’t sure how to reply to that.
Selyra drew in a deep breath. "I would send our elite troop to drag him here."
Pasithea’s expression hardened. "I did not give my permission yet."
"With all due respect," Selyra said, her voice firm. "I do not need your permission to save my people."
Pasithea rubbed her eyes once again as she felt her headache worsening.
"Do you forget what Neplh and Muspelh an?" she asked, looking back at her.
"Of course, I do." Selyra rebuked. "It’s the energy that nourished the World Tree since the beginning of this world."
"Even after knowing that, you want to make an enemy out of soone who can control it?"
Selyra didn’t flinch. "That’s exactly why we need to control him now. Before he grows beyond us."
Elder Neilos looked between the two won, clearly torn. "Perhaps... there is a middle ground?"
"There isn’t," Selyra said coldly. "We either bring him in, or we let him destroy what’s left of Alfheim with his ignorance."
"Enough of these extres," Pasithea said, her voice still calm. "Things would only get worse if we antagonize him."
Before Selyra could rebuke, a sudden presence appeared in the room.
Everyone stood up as they all looked at the Guardian Spirit of the World Tree.
"Pasithea is right." Elife said, taking a seat along with them. "We shouldn’t force Himl."
"Why?" Neilos asked, more curious than angry.
"Because we can’t afford for him to go against us." She replied, looking at him. "The only elf on our side who can stop him is Mariam."
"That’s why we need to kill him right now." Selyra said, looking at her. "We cannot have him go against us."
Elife’s glowing eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Selyra.
"And what makes you think you can kill him now?"
Selyra’s expression turned unsightly. "O-of course if we put all our forces—"
Elife shook her head slowly. "It is already too late. You just don’t see it."
"Then what should we do, Lady Elife?" Pasithea asked, hopeful for any lead.
Elife let out a sigh as she looked at the current queen.
"I can see only three ways for Himl to help us." She said, her voice soft.
"Please tell us."
"First, if he is willing... then we can ask him to nourish the World Tree." She replied. "Though it’s a temporary thod because it’s beyond help now."
"....What are the other two?"
"....To use him as a sacrifice." Elife said, her voice cold now.
The silence that followed was absolute.
Pasithea’s eyes widened. "A... sacrifice?"
Elife didn’t blink. "Neplh and Muspelh are the essence of balance. When joined in harmony and released through a willing vessel, it can bring life... or restore it—at a cost."
"You’re talking about killing him to revive the World Tree," Neilos said, his voice quiet.
"Yes." Elife’s tone was calm. "But I believe it will only end in destruction. If he is gone, then we will lose the nourishnt for the World Tree forever."
"...."
Pasithea fell in deep thought as she leaned on her chair.
No matter what she does, the end result is only temporary relief.
"...But that won’t do."
The war was already taking a toll on them. One wrong move and they will lose everything.
"What is the last thod?" Lorvil asked, who remained silent all this while.
"The Neplh and Muspelh are already connected to him, blood and essence." She replied, glancing at him.
"I believe his children with any elf will inherit the origin energy from him."
The room fell into stunned silence once again.
Even Selyra, whose fury had filled the chamber just monts ago, was at a loss for words.
"Children...?" Vincent finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "You an to say...?"
"It may take a long ti." Elife replied, looking at them. "But a new World Tree can be born through his children."
"...."
Selyra sat back on her chair as she looked at Elife without any words.
Elife stood up from her seat as she placed a hand on Pasithea’s shoulder.
"I will leave the decision in your hands." She replied, her body blurring away. "It’s up to you, Queen Pasithea."
"...."
Elife vanished from the room, leaving her alone with the elders who looked at her.
"Your decision, Lady Pasithea?"
----
[Segyal Household, Akasha.]
"What do you think eting your maker ans?"
Aimar’s voice echoed in my ears as we walked down the hallway.
I looked at him in confusion. "What?"
"To ?" he echoed, tapping his chin. "It ans standing before the one responsible for your existence... and asking them why."
I stayed silent, not sure how to respond.
"Because," he continued, looking forward again, "sotis, knowing why you were born is more terrifying than dying without ever knowing."
"That’s... dramatic," I muttered.
"Perhaps, but isn’t your whole life becoming a drama now?"
"Fuck off."
"I am serious, bitch." Aimar said, bumping into . "What the hell are you doing?"
"I don’t know what you are talking about." I replied, looking away.
"Don’t lie." he said. "I saw Siersha and Shyamal looking for you."
"..."
I let out a sigh as I looked at my watch.
It was already past three in the morning and the party was already over.
Most of the guests have already left the house, leaving only a few.
Unfortunately, Shyamal and Esray were included in them.
’I don’t wanna see them right now.’ I thought, rubbing my temples. ’There is too much going on right now.’
Aimar didn’t say anything for a mont.
"You know," he finally said, "running away from people who care about you isn’t going to fix anything."
"I’m not running," I replied quickly. "I’m just... avoiding things."
"Sa difference."
I ignored him completely.
We reached the end of the hallway.
A long balcony opened up to the night sky.
The stars were bright tonight, like they were watching, waiting for sothing to fall apart.
I leaned on the railing, letting the cool wind hit my face.
Aimar stood beside , silent for a while. "What are you going to do now?"
"I have no idea." I replied softly. "What about you?"
"I... I will try to form my kingdom." he inford, making look at him in surprise. "It might take so ti, but I think I can do that in two or three months."
"Damn." I said, patting his back. "That’s my son!"
"Fuck off." He slapped my hand away. "Anyway, what about you?"
"Hmm, I will also make another kingdom in that ti." I replied. "Looks like we will beco Eternal together."
"..."
Aimar looked at like I was so kind of monster.
"Don’t you already have three kingdoms?"
I shrugged. "It’s complicated."
"That’s so unfair, fuck." he grunted, ssing his hair. "Man, I hope you wake up in a bed full of gay n."
I opened my mouth to rebuke but thought against it.
’I don’t want to lose my brain cells.’
Not when I feel them walking towards .
"Anyway." he said, jumping down the balcony. "I will see you in the morning."
A portal erged below him, zipping him away.
"..."
Fucking show-off.
I rubbed my temples as I turned around to look at the newcors.
Zenith, Siersha and Shyamal walked towards .
None of them had a good look on their faces.
Zenith was the first to speak. "We were trying to find you for hours now."
I smiled softly. "Things happened."
Shyamal looked at curiously. "That explosion... what actually happened, Himl?"
"..."
I wanted to reply but I was too tired to say anything.
Siersha didn’t speak as she walked closer and fixed my clothes.
Her crimson eyes finally t mine. "Are you alright?"
"I am fine." I replied. "Are you fine?"
Siersha’s hands froze for a second.
Then, slowly, she stepped back, folding her arms across her chest.
"Are you talking about your psychotic girlfriend trying to kill ?"
"Who are you calling psychotic, bitch?" Shyamal snapped instantly.
"See?" Siersha replied, smiling. "You really behave like one."
Shyamal’s eyes narrowed. "Say that again."
Siersha tilted her head, her smile unbothered. "I said you act like a possessive psycho."
Zenith stepped between them before sparks could literally start flying. "Okay, enough. Both of you, take a breath."
I rubbed my forehead, groaning. "Can we not do this at three in the morning?"
Shyamal let out a sigh as she walked towards . "Esray called ." she said. "It’s ti for to go back."
"I see." I nodded my head. "When am I going to—"
My words were cut off as Shyamal grabbed my collar and pulled closer.
Her soft and beautiful lips imdiately crashed into mine.
The kiss was unexpected.
When Shyamal pulled back, her cheeks were slightly red, but her eyes didn’t waver.
"That’s your goodbye," she said softly.
She turned to look at Siersha who glared at her coldly.
Shyamal smiled like she had won a war. "He is mine, bitch." she mumbled. "Don’t ever think he would love you more."
She bumped into Siersha before walking away.
Zenith stood there blinking innocently before her expression dropped.
She also walked away without speaking a word to .
Only Siersha stood in front of without any words.
I let out another sigh as I looked at my phone.
Imdiately I got a ssage from Daina.
"..."
"What happened?"
Siersha asked, perhaps noticing the change on my face.
"The elves." I mumbled. "They want to visit the Tamriel Kingdom."
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