My world-tree system-Chapter 89 - 88: Receiving a gift

The sun was already high, piercing the thick foliage that formed a protective canopy over the sacred clearing. Foster watched in silence, leaning against an ancient tree, arms folded, attentive to the precise movements of the elven dancers. They were few in number, barely twenty-five survivors of the World Tree, but their energy vibrated in unison with surprising grace.

Köflik, positioned in front of them, guided every movement with natural firmness, his strong hands and powerful body expressing themselves with remarkable fluidity. The group executed each step with confidence, drawing delicate, intricate figures on the floor, to the rhythm of the ancient chants that rose softly around them.

Foster smiled contentedly, relieved by what he saw. The dancers, once uncertain and clumsy during the first ritual, were now moving with an ease acquired through repetition and perseverance. The steps flowed perfectly, and the connection between them was palpable, almost tangible, an invisible network of energy and mutual trust.

Köflik completed the last movement, slowly raising his hands to the sky. The group stood in respectful silence. Foster detached himself from the tree, clapping softly, and walked slowly towards them. Köflik turned, wiping his sweaty forehead with the back of his sleeve, his eyes immediately searching Foster’s.

- Are you satisfied?" he asked with a slight anxiety that he tried to hide behind a nervous smile.

- More than satisfied, Köflik. Impressed, even. You’ve done a remarkable job. I couldn’t have hoped for better.

Köflik shook his head gently, blushing slightly despite his gruff expression.

- Don’t be silly, Foster. They’re the ones who deserve the credit. All I did was guide them; they already had everything in them.

Foster placed a reassuring hand on his sturdy shoulder, offering him a sincere smile.

- Don’t be so modest. This dance bears your imprint as much as theirs. And this ritual is now part of our identity. We’ve all changed, grown... thanks to you too.

Köflik looked away slightly, uncomfortable with the praise he felt was too generous, but his eyes shone with a pride he would never have admitted openly.

- Thank you, Foster," he finally murmured. That means a lot, coming from you.

Foster simply nodded silently, then moved slightly away from the group. He closed his eyes, concentrating deeply. Thanks to the deep bond he shared with his dragon, he gently extended his consciousness through the forest, sending out a clear, precise mental call:

- Come find me. And bring Orëlas with you. We need him.

He immediately felt the warm, reassuring response, the dragon conveying that he had received the message.

A few minutes later, the air seemed to quiver around them, and the creature’s imposing shadow passed over the clearing before landing delicately a few yards from Foster.

Orëlas jumped nimbly from the dragon’s back, his silver hair glistening in the sunlight, his green eyes vibrant with quiet curiosity.

- Hello, Foster," he said calmly as he approached. You wanted to see me?

- Yes," Foster replied softly. It’s time for you to discover our sacred ritual. You’ve learned to master your magic, but you must also learn to channel the collective energy of our people. This ritual is essential for our future, and I want you to be fully aware of it.

Orëlas nodded seriously, ready to listen attentively to every word.

Foster crouched gently in front of Orëlas, gazing into the child’s intense green eyes. He took a deep breath, carefully searching his words, aware of the importance of what he was about to reveal.

- Orëlas," he murmured calmly, "you now understand how to channel your magic and how to use the movements of this dance to link yourself to Vollua’s energy. But this ritual is not just an ordinary ceremony or dance.

He paused slightly, making sure Orëlas remained fully concentrated, then continued slowly, in a soft but firm voice:

- Every full moon, thanks to this ritual, we do much more than strengthen our bond with the Mother Tree. On this night, my role as Avatar is very special. Through my magic, I become a bridge between us, the surviving elves, and the Mother Tree itself.

Orëlas frowned slightly, attentive but intrigued by these new details.

- A bridge?" he asked softly. I don’t quite understand...

Foster gently placed a reassuring hand on Orëlas’s shoulder, seeking to allay any possible concern.

- Yes, a bridge," he continued patiently. Thanks to the special power I carry within me, during the ritual I channel the energy of our people, our memories, our common will to survive, and transmit it directly into the Mother Tree. And then something extraordinary happens.

He paused briefly, watching Orëlas’s reactions carefully, before continuing delicately:

- This collective energy, fed by the dance and my power in my avatar state, gives birth to a new child inside Lïanna. A child like you, Orëlas. An elf of the World Tree.

The child’s eyes widened slightly, a mixture of amazement and fascination crossing his youthful face. He remained silent for a few moments, digesting this unexpected revelation, before slowly looking up at Foster:

- So... I was born this way?

- Yes," Foster replied softly. You were the very first child born of this ritual. A child created by the combined magic of our people, by the dance and by the deep bond that unites us all to the Mother Tree. That’s why you grow up so fast, why you master magic so easily. Because you were born directly from the pure essence of Vollua.

Orëlas remained motionless, silent, his young but extraordinarily sharp mind rapidly analyzing this information, before finally whispering in all seriousness:

- And now another child will be born, like me?

Foster nodded slowly:

- Exactly. This full moon will give birth to the second child of the World Tree. Every child like you represents a living hope for our people. You are our future, our strength. And every time we perform this ritual, it’s to ensure that Vollua never disappears completely, to keep alive the very essence of who we are.

Orëlas inhaled slowly, seemingly fully aware of the immense weight of his existence.

- I understand now why this dance is so important," he murmured gravely. And I also understand why you wanted me to learn it perfectly.

Foster smiled gently, placing an affectionate hand on Orëlas’s cheek, his eyes full of respect and pride.

- Yes, my boy. Because your participation in this ritual is essential. Your strength, your link with the Mother Tree, all this is necessary for the child to be born. You’re not just an observer this time, you’re an essential player in our survival.

Orëlas straightened his shoulders slightly, accepting this responsibility without hesitation, with a seriousness that was surprisingly adult for his age.

- I’ll be ready, Foster," he declared with determination. I’ll do everything I can to keep our people strong.

Foster nodded softly, moved by this unusual maturity in someone so young. He straightened slowly, feeling again that reassuring confidence, the deep assurance that their struggle had meaning, and that despite all past suffering, their future was not lost.

- So let’s keep working," he said softly. The full moon will be here soon, and we need to be perfectly ready.

Orëlas nodded slowly, immediately resuming his position, concentrating on the dance, ready to continue with seriousness and determination.

And Foster, his heart full of hope, patiently resumed his role as guide.

Foster watched Orëlas attentively, guiding his movements with infinite patience, repeating each step until the child had mastered it perfectly. At his side, the dragon kept watch, his piercing eyes scrutinizing every movement, ready to intervene at the slightest sign of instability.

The sun began to decline slowly, tinting the clearing with a peaceful golden light. Foster felt his mind finally at rest, fully focused on training, until a subtle quiver in the air made him lift his head instinctively.

At that very moment, Lïanna appeared at the entrance to the clearing, gliding silently across the grass. Foster automatically smiled at the sight of her, warmed by her mere presence, but his smile faded immediately when he met her gaze.

Her face, usually calm and serene, was tense, marked by deep concern.

Foster frowned, his heart accelerating slightly:

- Something’s wrong," he murmured, approaching her quickly.

Lïanna hesitated briefly before moving closer, placing a hand gently on Foster’s shoulder to draw his ear to her. Her breath was warm against his skin, but her words chilled him instantly:

- There’s an Obscurus outside Vollua. Right at the edge of the barrier. He’s been holding a package in his hands, motionless for several minutes. He’s not attacking, he’s just waiting, as if he wanted us to notice.

Foster felt a cold wave of apprehension knot his stomach. He stepped back slowly, his gaze immediately searching for Orëlas, who was already observing the scene with visible concern.

Foster turned to the dragon:

- Watch over Orëlas. Don’t leave the clearing until I return.

The dragon nodded slowly, protectively approaching the child, who instinctively placed a reassuring hand on her massive flank.

Lïanna quickly guided Foster out of the clearing, striding through the winding paths that led to Vollua’s magical border. Every step made her heart beat faster, every second fueled her apprehension. Why would an Obscurus show himself so openly, so strangely?

Soon they reached the edge of the protective barrier, its towering roots forming an impenetrable dome, gently vibrating with protective energy.

Just in front of the barrier, barely visible in the growing darkness, stood the Obscurus, motionless. His silhouette was dark, like a living shadow. His posture was upright, frozen, almost grotesque. In his hands, he actually held a package, crudely wrapped and tied with a clumsy string.

The mere sight of this creature, this unnatural existence, triggered in Foster a deep, visceral disgust. Without a moment’s hesitation, he instantly summoned his katana, its gleaming blade surging into his hand with relentless precision. He crossed the barrier in a flash, violently exploding the roots to reach the Obscurus.

The creature didn’t even move to defend itself. His mere presence was a provocation, an insult.

With a single, furious movement, Foster disemboweled it, slicing through the shadowy body which evaporated with a silent howl, dissolving into black smoke.

The Obscurus destroyed, he stood motionless for a few seconds, trying to regain his composure, before laying eyes on the package that now lay untouched on the ground.

Foster bent down slowly, his heart still beating painfully in his chest, and picked up the package carefully. He exchanged a brief but intense glance with Lïanna before gently undoing the strings, slowly opening the cloth wrapping.

His blood froze immediately.

Inside lay a severed ear, fresh and bloody, still stained with dried blood.

His stomach churned violently as he clenched his teeth, barely controlling his disgust. A letter was folded neatly under the ear, also stained with blood.

He slowly unfolded the paper, his fingers trembling slightly, his face hardening as he read the words traced with obvious cruelty:

"To Foster and the Dwarf King Thorgrim,

You cannot hide forever behind the roots of your forest.

If one of you does not surrender to us before the next full moon, every dwarf still alive will suffer the most atrocious consequences.

This ear is just the beginning. Come or watch them suffer.

With my most distinguished greetings,

Joker, Lord of the Apocalypse."

Silence fell like a leaden blanket over them. Foster felt anger rising up inside him, burning, but also a terrible fear for the remaining dwarves and for the very future of Vollua. He slowly closed his eyes, struggling to control his breathing.

Lïanna laid a gentle hand on his arm, sensing his deep trouble:

- Foster...

He opened his eyes, his gaze charged with a new determination, tinged with infinite sadness.

- We’ve got to show this to King Thorgrim," he said firmly. He needs to know immediately what’s going on, and what they’re risking.

Lianna nodded slowly, fully understanding the gravity of the situation:

- Come, he’s still in his quarters. We’ll have to decide very quickly what we’re going to do.

Foster gritted his teeth, nodding silently. He carefully refolded the letter, tucked the bloody ear into its cloth, and followed Lïanna with heavy steps towards the city, his mind already haunted by the terrible choices they would soon have to face.