The group decides that staying at the academy alone won’t reveal the full scope of the problem. Kenneth divides them into two teams: one to monitor the Tree of Life at the academy, and the other to investigate the nearby town and its surrounding saplings.

Rika and Ash head into the bustling town that lies just beyond the academy’s walls. As they move through the lively streets, their attention shifts to the saplings planted in various pockets of the town. Most appear vibrant, but now and then, they spot signs of decay—a leaf curling at the edges, a sapling with branches drooping unnaturally, and, in some cases, patches of withered bark.

Near a particularly withered sapling by the town square, an elderly woman notices their concern. “I’ve tended to this tree for years,” she says, her voice tinged with worry. “But recently, I’ve seen saplings like this weaken across town. It’s as if something’s draining the life out of them.”

Ash kneels to examine the sapling more closely, brushing his hand over its brittle bark. A faint trace of dark energy clings to it—the same unsettling magic that’s been affecting the Tree of Life. He exchanges a look with Rika, his expression grim.

“It’s here too,” Ash murmurs. “Whatever’s threatening the Tree of Life is spreading to the saplings.”

They quickly send a message back to the academy, confirming their fears. Realizing the gravity of their findings, Rika and Ash send a message back to the academy, confirming their fears—this was a larger issue than any of them had anticipated.

Back at the academy, Kenneth and the others gather around a large map of the kingdom, spreading it out across a table. They mark each location where withering has been reported, pinning notes and sketches to the edges. As they step back to assess the bigger picture, a disturbing pattern begins to emerge.

Kenneth traces a line across the map with his finger. “These locations… they’re all connected by the saplings planted by the first emperor.”

“It’s like a web,” Lucian says, his voice tight with realization, “and the Tree of Life is at the center.”

Joash stares at the map, piecing together the implications. “Which means if the Tree of Life here dies… it could collapse the entire network.”

Kenneth’s expression hardens as he contemplates their next steps. The clock was ticking, and if the tree’s magic disappeared completely, it could destabilize the entire kingdom.

“We need to stop this before disaster happens,” Kenneth says, determination filling his voice.

Rika nods, her resolve matching his. “We should report this to the Headmaster and Eithan right away. They need to know what we’ve found.”

With the discovery of the network’s vulnerability, the stakes had been raised. The group knew that what had started as a mysterious patch of withering had now escalated into a threat that could potentially unravel the very foundation of their kingdom.

＊＊＊

While Rika went to find Eithan, Kenneth made his way to Headmaster Nero. Sitting in the Headmaster's office, Kenneth reported everything they had discovered about the Tree of Life and the spread of Nether magic.

Nero listened attentively, his expression calm but contemplative. When Kenneth finished speaking, Nero leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant. “Hadrian must be troubled to see his beloved trees suffering,” he said, more to himself than to Kenneth.

Kenneth caught the trace of emotion in Nero’s voice but pushed forward with his own question. “Headmaster… I read that the Tree of Life can disrupt magic across Anterthon. Is that true?”

Nero didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he asked, “Do you know who created the Tree of Life?”

“We found that it was the first emperor,” Kenneth replied, recalling the research he’d done.

“Indeed,” Nero said. “Hadrian, the first emperor, infused the Tree of Life with Aether Magic, a rare and ancient power. The tree became more than just a symbol or a source of life—it grew into a powerful artifact, its roots spreading far and wide to protect and stabilize Anterthon’s magic.”

Kenneth absorbed the information, feeling the weight of its significance. “So the tree isn’t just a symbol?”

Nero shook his head. “No. It’s a living conduit, drawing energy from the world and maintaining the balance of magic. But now… if Nether magic is corrupting it, then someone must know that my powers are currently sealed.”

Kenneth looked at him in shock. “Your powers… are tied to the Tree of Life?”

Nero’s eyes drifted toward the window, where the towering Tree of Life could be seen in the academy courtyard. “Hadrian nurtured that tree with Aether Magic, and after his passing, it began to weaken without his presence. I have been feeding it my own magic to keep it alive. In turn, the tree gained control over time—just like I have.”

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Kenneth’s mind reeled as the pieces started falling into place. Nero had been keeping the Tree of Life alive for centuries, using his time-manipulating abilities to preserve its magic.

“But now, with my powers sealed,” Nero continued, “the Nether magic is corrupting it.”

Kenneth’s heart quickened. “Are they trying to use the tree to destroy all elemental magic?”

Nero nodded gravely. “That’s their intention. If they succeed, the balance of magic across Anterthon will be shattered, and the kingdom could fall into chaos.”

Kenneth’s voice grew firm with determination. “How do we stop it?”

Nero’s gaze hardened with resolve. “The only way to save the tree is to counter the Nether magic. And for that, we’ll need all the elemental successors to come together and restore its strength.”

Kenneth nodded, feeling the weight of the task ahead.

＊＊＊

It was the day of the ritual. Kenneth had gathered the successors in front of the Tree of Life. They stood solemnly in a loose circle around the massive trunk looming over them like a guardian. Despite the weight of the task ahead, Kenneth didn’t reveal Nero’s secret to the others. He had decided to keep that knowledge to himself, for now.

Nero and Winraus were present, observing quietly, ready to intervene if anything went wrong. Joash and Elena stood nearby, along with Eithan and the rest of the student council, watching anxiously as the successors prepared to begin.

Before they started, Nero stepped forward and spoke, his voice calm but commanding. “You’ll need to combine your elemental magic into one unified force. This magic will be stronger together than it could ever be apart. Once you’ve formed that connection, feed it into the tree.”

Kenneth glanced at Nero, who gave him a subtle nod. It was the signal to remove the bracelet that had been suppressing his pnevma. Slowly, with a deep breath, Kenneth unclasped it, feeling the flood of magic surge through him like a wave breaking free. For a moment, he closed his eyes, silently wishing, Please, don’t let it spiral out of control.

His body tensed as the energy swelled within him, but he kept his focus, trying to rein in the raw power that threatened to overwhelm him.

Kenneth looked around at his friends, feeling a sense of unity among them. He closed his eyes, focusing on his fire magic, while Rika began channeling her water magic, Aine her wind, Ash his earth, and Lucian his light. The energy swirled around them, building in intensity.

As their combined magic formed into a radiant ball of concentrated energy, they guided it carefully toward the tree. The glow of their magic brightened upon contact with the Tree of Life’s bark, slowly beginning to reverse the withering corruption.

For a moment, it seemed to be working—but then, a dark pulse rippled from the withering patch on the tree’s bark, sending waves of Nether magic coursing through the air. The corrupted area twisted and deepened, the darkness clinging to the tree like a stubborn parasite. An ominous hum filled the air, the sound resonating from the ground beneath their feet.

Rika stumbled, her hands trembling as the force pushed back against her magic. “It’s… resisting,” she gasped, gritting her teeth as she struggled to hold her ground.

Aine’s face went pale, sweat beading on her forehead as the intensity of the Nether magic surged.

The energy between them flickered, becoming unstable. Kenneth could feel it—the tree wasn’t merely withering; it was as though the Nether magic itself was actively retaliating, trying to force them back. He took a deep breath, though a thread of doubt wove through his mind. What if I lose control of my pnevma? The thought clawed at him, but he knew they couldn’t stop. The Tree of Life—and perhaps the kingdom—depended on them.

Pushing aside his fear, he stepped forward and grabbed Rika and Aine’s trembling hands. “I’ll stabilize the flow,” he said, his voice stronger than he felt. Focusing his pnevma, he poured a steady surge of his own energy into their bond, hoping it would counteract the chaotic magic fighting against them.

For a moment, their combined magic held, and a warm, radiant light began pushing against the dark magic. Slowly, the darkness recoiled, inch by inch. But it wasn’t enough. The bark of the tree groaned, faint cracks appearing near the withered patch as the battle waged within the tree, as if the very essence of the Tree of Life was waging war against the corruption.

Ash and Lucian, recognizing the need for reinforcement, joined in, their hands glowing with their own magic. A faint shimmer spread over the group as their energies merged in harmony, their combined magic pushing back against the creeping darkness. But the Nether magic surged in response, the shadows intensifying around the patch on the bark.

Kenneth gritted his teeth, feeling the pressure of his pnevma pushing him to his limits, the power threatening to spiral out of control. I can’t lose focus. Not now. Not when so much is at stake.

Dark tendrils began to snake out from the roots of the tree, creeping toward their feet, their sinister energy pulsing with each heartbeat. Kenneth’s eyes darted to the encroaching shadows; the corruption was spreading, trying to take hold beyond the tree.

One of the tendrils shot toward Rika. She dodged, but her magic wavered, the light in her hands dimming momentarily. Their shared magic trembled, teetering on the edge of breaking.

Kenneth tightened his grip, his pulse racing. They couldn’t afford to falter now. Reaching deeper within himself, he forced more of his pnevma into the bond, even as his muscles ached under the strain. Fear tugged at him, the darkness pressing in, but he refused to hold back.

Their combined light surged again, centering on the withered patch on the bark. The Nether magic hissed and recoiled, retreating as their magic pushed back, forcing the corruption to inch away. Slowly, signs of life began to return to the bark—the healthy color slowly restored, and a few faint leaves sprouted from the nearby branches, their green hues hinting at the tree’s resilience.

But the struggle wore on, draining them with every passing second. Joash, standing beside Nero and Winraus, watched the group with growing unease as the minutes stretched into hours. “They can’t keep going like this,” he muttered, worry etching lines on his face. “Isn’t there a way to speed it up?”

Nero’s expression remained steady, his eyes fixed on the tree. “They’re fighting for more than just this tree. The balance of the elements depends on them. All we can do now… is trust them.”

The watchers held their breath, the tension thick as the battle raged on. Though progress was painfully slow, with each pulse of their combined magic, the Nether magic seemed to weaken just a little more. The healing was happening, inch by inch, as their light clashed with the darkness, refusing to yield.