The World Tree dominated the horizon, even from kilometers away it appeared impossible. It was like a mountain disguised as a tree or perhaps a tree pretending to be a mountain.
Atheline honestly wasn’t sure.
As he walked through the snow-covered path leading toward the sacred grounds, he found himself staring upward repeatedly.
No matter how many times he saw it, the sight never became ordinary. The entire tree radiated Aether; pure, ancient, and powerful.
The fox perched on his shoulder, completely silent for once. Even though it seemed impressive.
Eventually, they arrived at the pathway leading down to the trunk underground.
Atheline was about to go down when he heard someone approaching.
"Atheline..."
He turned only to see a smiling Solaris looking at him. Atheline instinctively glanced behind him but he was alone.
"Good morning your highness," he said respectfully but he didn’t bow like he used to.
"How have you been?"
Atheline smiled. "Splendid. How about you your highness?"
Solaris shrugged.
"Nothing much, but the workload has been killing me since you left," he said almost whining," I’ve come to appreciate your dedication."
Atheline chuckled.
"Welcome to my world."
Solaris lightly shoved him but he didn’t move.
"Father said you’re going to see the World tree?"
Atheline nodded.
"Yes."
"If you don’t mind, can I accompany you?"
Atheline was quiet for a moment then nodded.
"I wouldn’t mind company."
They both descended the spiral stairs around the trunk as they spoke about nonsensical things, mostly Solaris talking while Atheline occasionally responded.
The suffocating concentration of Aether in the air indicated their arrival at their destination. The moment they stepped off the last staircase they stepped onto the sacred grounds.
The sacred grounds surrounding the World Tree remained peaceful. Priests moved quietly between pathways and pilgrims offered prayers.
Aether drifted gently through the air. The atmosphere felt sacred without becoming oppressive. Almost natural, like standing beside something older than history itself.
Atheline made a small noise as he approached. Several priests immediately recognized him.
The head priest approached first, his robes were embroidered with silver roots. His eyes were bright despite his age.
"Your Majesty. Your Highness. "
Solaris nodded while Atheline smiled and calmly replied.
"It’s been a while."
The priest laughed softly.
"Quite a while."
The fox immediately climbed onto the old priest’s shoulder without being prompted which was weird in itself.
The old priest began laughing. The fox apparently approved of him as it nuzzled slightly against him. The priest returned the fox to Atheline, then guided him deeper into the sacred grounds.
As they walked, the King carefully observed everything. Nothing appeared unusual or felt wrong. Aether remained stable. The priests seemed calm. The tree itself looked magnificent.
Eventually, he voiced the question he had carried all the way from the Dark Elven Kingdom.
"The Blood Sea."
The priest’s smile faded slightly but from concern.
"We’ve heard the reports."
Atheline nodded. The priest continued.
"His majesty already questioned us."
Atheline listened carefully. The priest gestured toward the immense tree trunk before them.
"The World Tree remains healthy. We monitor it constantly... Every root, every branch, and every fluctuation. There has been no indication of corruption."
Atheline frowned slightly.
"No indication?"
The priest nodded.
"None."
That should have reassured him, but instead, it somehow didn’t. Perhaps because the recent months had taught him that appearances could be deceptive.
The priest seemed to notice.
"You wish to see for yourself."
Atheline smiled awkwardly. The priest laughed.
"You always were curious, your majesty."
Eventually, they arrived before the trunk itself. The true trunk, the place where he and Lilith had made their sacred vow before the tree.
Atheline stopped and looked at the protruding root that had approved their connection, then continued towards the trunk itself.
As always, words failed. The bark rose high past the ground before disappearing into the outside world. Aether flowed visibly across its surface.
Surprisingly, the fox had fallen asleep again. The priest and Solaris stepped back, giving him space.
Atheline slowly approached. His hand lifted then touched the bark. The moment contact occurred, everything froze. A familiar notification appeared before his eyes, one he had not seen in weeks.
[World Analysis Initiated]
Atheline’s eyes widened. He had not expected the system to appear. The text continued.
[Target Identified]
[World Tree]
[Analyzing...]
Several seconds passed. Atheline remained perfectly still. The priest watched from behind, unaware.
[Analysis Complete]
[World Tree Status: Healthy]
[World Integrity: Stable]
[Corruption Presence Detected]
Atheline’s heart skipped at that. Anything to do with corruption was catastrophic.
[Corruption Percentage: 20%]
Atheline stared at the prompt in shock.
’Twenty percent?’
His immediate reaction was alarm. Twenty percent sounded catastrophic.
[Warning Unnecessary]
Atheline blinked at that, then more text appeared.
[Corruption Exists As A Natural Component Of World Function]
[Current Corruption Levels Within Acceptable Parameters]
[No Immediate Threat Detected]
Atheline frowned. That wasn’t what he expected, at all. The system continued.
[Corruption Is Not Equivalent To Destruction]
[Life Requires Balance]
[Creation Requires Opposition]
[Growth Requires Decay]
Atheline’s eyes narrowed. The words felt dangerously important.
[The World Tree Functions As A Stabilizing Anchor]
[Current Corruption Levels Are Being Successfully Regulated]
[Status: Stable]
Then the notifications vanished, just like that. The world returned, accompanied by the sounds of wind and the distant voices of priests.
Atheline slowly withdrew his hand, his thoughts scattered. Twenty percent, corruption, natural, necessary, and acceptable; none of it aligned with what he thought he knew.
The corrupted creatures certainly didn’t seem natural. Neither did the things he had encountered within the ruins. Yet the system clearly distinguished between corruption itself and whatever those creatures had become.
The realization unsettled him, because it implied there were layers to the problem; things he still didn’t understand.
Solaris approached carefully.
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
Atheline hesitated then smiled.
"Maybe."
Solaris laughed. That sounded exactly like someone who hadn’t found answers.
Atheline couldn’t blame him, because in a way he hadn’t. He now possessed more information but somehow even more questions.
The fox stretched atop his shoulder then yawned. Atheline absentmindedly scratched behind its ears.
His gaze returned to the enormous tree. Twenty percent, the number lingered in his mind. The World Tree wasn’t worried. The priests weren’t worried. The system wasn’t worried.
Yet somehow he still was, because if twenty percent corruption was natural... Then what exactly had escaped from the Blood Ocean Ruin?
And what happened when something pushed that balance too far?