Elowen stood at the entrance to the Elder Tree Temple, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in the massive, ancient structure before her. The temple was older than any building in the kingdom, its roots winding deep into the earth, its towering branches stretching high into the sky.
The Elder Tree itself was the heart of the temple, a colossal tree that had stood for millennia, its bark as white as bone, its leaves shimring with a faint golden glow in the evening light.
Vyrelda stood beside her, her usual calm expression unwavering. But Elowen could sense a shift in her friend's deanor. She could feel it too, the air here was different—thick with the weight of ancient magic. This place always made her uneasy, and after the last visit with Mikhailis, it had only grown worse.
Rodion's voice buzzed in Elowen's ear, coming from the glasses she wore.
Elowen let out a slow breath. Havint Rodion truly made her life easier. Every ti Rodion gave an analysis and a report, she could rember Mikhailis's face that seem very excited when he gave her the glasses.
"Your Majesty," Vyrelda said softly, turning to her with a concerned look.
"Are you ready for the ritual?"
Elowen nodded, though her heart felt heavy. The ritual. A royal tradition, a necessary show of reverence to the Elder Tree every ti a royal entered the temple grounds. It was ant to reinforce the bond between the kingdom and the ancient magic of the tree. But today, the ritual felt more like a burden.
As they stepped forward, a group of shrine maidens appeared, their flowing white robes almost glowing in the soft light of the temple. They moved with grace, their faces serene as they approached Elowen and Vyrelda.
"Your Majesty," one of the maidens spoke, bowing deeply.
"We have been expecting you. The Elder Tree awaits your presence."
Elowen offered a polite nod, her gaze drifting to the maidens' delicate hands clasped in front of them. There was an ethereal beauty to these won, sothing otherworldly in their movents. She couldn't help but wonder if they felt the weight of their duties as much as she did.
"The ritual is prepared," the lead maiden continued.
"Shall we begin?"
Elowen took a deep breath and nodded again. The maidens led them deeper into the temple, the light dimming as they moved further from the entrance. The air inside the temple was cool, the faint scent of earth and moss clinging to the stone walls.
The center of the temple was open to the sky, with the massive trunk of the Elder Tree rising up from the middle of the courtyard. Its bark shimred faintly in the twilight, its branches stretching high above, creating a canopy that seed to touch the clouds.
Elowen stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the tree as the shrine maidens began to circle around her. The ritual began slowly, with the maidens chanting softly, their voices rising and falling like the wind through the leaves. Elowen closed her eyes, letting the sound wash over her, grounding herself in the ancient magic of the place.
She raised her arms slowly, palms facing upward as she recited the ancient words passed down from generations of royals. The language was old, its aning lost to ti, but the power of the words was undeniable. The air around her grew heavier, charged with magic.
She could feel the Elder Tree responding, its energy reaching out to her, connecting her to the roots of the kingdom, the foundation of their world.
The maidens' chanting grew louder, more intense. The wind picked up, swirling through the courtyard, rustling the leaves above. Elowen could feel the magic pulling at her, drawing her deeper into the ritual. It was as though the tree itself was testing her, searching her soul for sothing she couldn't quite grasp.
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