As the world blurred and shifted around them, Jaegar and Felaern materialized before a sight that stole Jaegar’s breath—a tree so imnse, it defied all logic. The colossal trunk rose high into the heavens, its gnarled bark bearing deep grooves and ancient carvings that hinted at its unfathomable age. Its base stretched wider than a mammoth, and its canopy seed to encompass the very sky, casting an eternal shade upon the ground below. The sheer enormity of the tree gave it an almost mythical presence, as though it had stood witness to the rise and fall of countless eras.
Felaern stepped forward, his deanor calm and resolute. "This is our ho, the heart of Autumnhold and the seat of my people’s power," he said, glancing back at Jaegar, whose awe was evident.
"Co, we must ascend. My sister is waiting for us."
Jaegar followed Felaern, his mind racing. He had seen many extraordinary things in his life, but this tree was unparalleled. They began their ascent, guided by narrow, winding stairways carved directly into the tree’s trunk. Vines twisted along the pathways, and faintly glowing runes lit their way as they climbed higher and higher. The cool air grew thinner, but it carried the scent of ancient wood and sothing faintly floral.
"Your people live here?" Jaegar asked, his voice tinged with incredulity.
Felaern glanced over his shoulder. "We don’t just live here. This tree is a sanctuary, a fortress, and a living being all at once. It watches over us and protects us. And now, it will serve as a eting place for sothing far more dire."
Jaegar didn’t press further, his thoughts still lingering on the tree’s sheer magnitude. When they finally reached the top, they stepped into a massive hall carved into the upper reaches of the tree. The chamber was breathtaking—its walls were ford from the living wood itself, glowing softly with natural luminescence. A massive balcony jutted out from one side, offering a view of the sprawling forests of Autumnhold below, bathed in the golden hues of dawn.
Standing in the centre of the hall was Daratrine, Felaern’s sister. She was tall and regal, her presence commanding yet approachable. Her hair cascaded down her back like flowing ivy, and her sharp eyes, reminiscent of her brother’s, imdiately locked onto Jaegar as he entered.
"You’re all right?" Daratrine asked, stepping forward and studying him intently.
Jaegar nodded, though his jaw was tight with frustration. "I’m fine. But my grandmother has been kidnapped too," he said, his voice firm but laced with anger. "Those serpents—or whatever bastards they are—took her."
Felaern placed a hand on Jaegar’s shoulder, his touch steadying. "We know, Jaegar," he said quietly. "We believe they took Angelina because of you. She was protecting you, and now they’ve targeted her to get to you."
Jaegar’s fists clenched. He had suspected as much, but hearing it confird only deepened his guilt and fury. "They won’t get away with this," he muttered.
Daratrine folded her arms, her expression grave. "Jaegar, do you know about the Phantom of the Chaos God?" she asked, her tone cautious but direct.
Jaegar frowned, eting her gaze. "Isn’t that the reason they kidnapped everyone? The resurrection of the Chaos God?" he replied.
Daratrine nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Yes. We hadn’t anticipated them going after sothing so dangerous. For years, we thought the Bande de Serpents were nothing more than a group of reckless marauders—powerful, yes, but ultimately aimless. Now it’s clear they’ve had a purpose all along, and it’s far more sinister than we imagined."
Jaegar let out a frustrated sigh. "I don’t know much about this resurrection, except what Eradarin told ," he admitted. "He said the Chaos God’s essence was shattered long ago, and now it’s starting to co back... through people like ."
Daratrine exchanged a glance with Felaern before stepping closer. "Whoever that was, what he said is true, but there’s more to it than that," she began. "The Chaos God is not just so ancient power. It’s a force of destruction and renewal, a being that thrives on tearing apart the fabric of the world to create sothing new. Its essence was broken into seven fragnts, and those fragnts are reborn into children—children like you, Jaegar."
Her words hung heavy in the air. Jaegar’s expression remained stoic, but his mind churned with questions. "Why ? Why my grandmother? Why now?"
Daratrine’s gaze softened, though her tone remained serious. "Your lineage, Jaegar. Your bloodline carries the mark of Chaos. Your mother... and now you. That’s why the Bande de Serpents are after you. They want to harness the power of the Chaos God, and to do that, they need all seven fragnts."
Felaern stepped forward, his expression grim. "Angelina must have known this. That’s why she stayed close to you, even in hiding. She was protecting you while investigating the Bande de Serpents. She must have uncovered sothing critical—sothing that led to her capture."
Jaegar’s jaw tightened, his anger simring just beneath the surface. "So what do we do?" he asked, his voice resolute. "How do we stop them?"
Daratrine turned toward the balcony, her gaze sweeping over the forest below. "First, we follow the clues Angelina left behind. She knew this would happen and prepared for it. Her ssage will lead us to the next step."
Felaern nodded in agreent. "And we must act quickly. The Bande de Serpents are not working alone. There are darker forces at play—forces that will stop at nothing to see the Chaos God reborn."
"Jaegar, did Angelina say anything about lineage?" Felaern asked him.
Jaegar shook his head, "Well, expect that she is my grandmother, nothing else."
Felaern looked at Daratrine and then towards Jaegar.
Daratrine sighed, "He deserves to know, tell ."
"Jaegar, myself and my sister, we are the last mbers of the high elves, possessing the elder elf’s blood. The elder, was a being, an omnipotent existence in all of the elf community. And Angeline, your mother and yourself, you three people also share the sa blood as us."
Jaegar’s brows shot up, clearly confused, "What are you saying?"
Daratrine continued, "Angelina was a child of our brother, born to a human woman. After our brother’s death, Angelina’s mother took her away from the elves, as it was dangerous for here."
"What in the actual fuck did you say?" Jaegar was stunned, staring at them, dumbfounded.
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