Chapter 39 – Vision
“I didn't believe we'd meet this soon again, Zeristin.”
In the skies of Levestein, Zeristin came to an abrupt halt as he stopped his flight mid-air. Opposite of him stood Tristan, who had appeared without any of his companions. In response to this, Zeristin barely registered his presence before proceeding to move towards his office.
“Out of the way, Tristan. I will no longer meddle in your business, so I'll expect you to do the same.”
Zeristin spat out curtly with a trembling voice that was whirling in a mixture of wild emotions he couldn't contain in himself. Tristan silently studied the man in front of him who appeared like an ordinary traveler with a tattered brown coat draped over his shoulders. Compared to their previous meetings, he realized that there was nothing left that resembled the former head of this academy.
Also, his demeanor wasn't the only thing that had changed.
As Zeristin's robe fluttered in the wind, Tristan saw something unfathomable to him. Zeristin was missing the entirety of his right arm from his shoulder down. While Tristan was busy dealing with his astonishment and the questions in his mind, Zeristin ignored him and headed towards his former office. He entered the room and walked towards the indentation Aien had once broken into. After taking out the red scroll, he proceeded to fiddle with the interior some more. He infused his mana into the walls, resulting in another opening revealing itself. From inside of it, Zeristin took out another scroll that was colored in black.
It was only then when Tristan had come to join him again. But before he could say what was on his mind, Zeristin spoke up himself.
“Tristan, I'll say this one last time. What you are trying to do is foolish. You don't know what you're dealing with, so stop while you are ahead.”
“If you truly think so,” Tristan answered him, somewhat amused by his worries,” then why don't you stop me?”
He didn't get an answer. Instead, Zeristin single-mindedly went about his own business, having fulfilled his last obligation in warning Tristan for the last time. Zeristin didn't care and would no longer erupt in a heated argument to make him change his ways and goals. Albeit quite relieved, it also left Tristan somewhat listless.
“It appears you are finally determined to see it through.”
But instead of lingering on the previous matter they hadn't come to an agreement for years, Tristan changed the topic as he took a glance at the contract that was tightly grasped in Zeristin's hand.
“What do you know!?”
The few remaining traces of calmness once again disappeared as he flared up at Tristan's words.
“It's not good to linger on the past, my friend. You always knew it was meaningless, yet you delayed it to indulge in your illusions. You sought refuge and hope in your precious what-ifs. Who knows, if you hadn't been this indecisive, none of this might have happened. Even so, I still believe it would be better for you to lead humanity. On a side note, you should also trust me a little bit more. But if that is how you want to act, then so be it.”
Confronted with the icy words of Tristan, Zeristin halted in his steps. The taunts were too close to the truth for him to ignore and there was nothing he could say to respond to Tristan. Remaining in silence and clutching the contract, Zeristin left the academy he'd once built up from the ground, but not before he left the black scroll at Tristan's side.
“I guess this needn't be mentioned, but, ”Tristan spoke into the empty room, ”as your Emperor, I will officially task you with the elimination of that demon. That should get them off my back for a while, knowing that I tasked you with it.”
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As Aien continued following the voice, he finally gained the chance to rest his tired mind. The traces he found of his previous pursuers disappeared as far as he could tell, and there hadn't been any more assassination attempts for quite some time. Regardless, he'd naturally always keep up his guard as he further entered into the depths of the forest.
Nothing was impeding his way. With every step, the flora in the forest made way for him, despite him clearly damaging the vitality in his surroundings. He could feel the gazes of living beings staring at him from within the shadows of the trees, but none of them dared to come close to him. Amongst them, Aien could feel large fluctuations of mana that resided in their bodies. Signatures that had eluded him before in his hurry, making him questions his rash decision.
“Come...closer...”
The voice ripped Aien out of his thoughts. At the same time, he noticed the glade appearing before him, on which a sapling resided on a tiny hill. There was nothing about it that caught Aien's eye, except for its desolate place. The traces of mana residing in its few swaying leaves were nothing out of the ordinary in this sentient forest. By all means, it looked like a regular plant.
Yet, it was the plant that had called out to him. Furthermore, it was communicating using the human tongue and not the Divine Language.
The more Aien closed in on the sapling, the more he could feel the gazes from the shadows glaring at him. At one point, various signatures of mana had begun closing in on him. But before Aien could make up his mind about escaping, the creatures stopped in their tracks. Additionally, they further distanced themselves from him until they were no longer in his range of detecting their mana.
“Please acknowledge my sincerity by meeting you alone.”
Aien could hear the voice clearer than ever before within his mind. He became certain that it was indeed this sapling in front of him that had reached out to him. This frail plant, which life he could end without sparing any effort.
“New Harbinger of Chaos, for a very long time, I have desired to meet you.”
“Who or what are you?” Aien went straight to the point and gave voice to the biggest question on his mind. He already had a premonition, but it was more prudent to confirm matters before proceeding further.
“I do not have a name. The creatures residing here may call me their Mother, but I have never claimed myself as such. As for what I am, you should know, for I am an entity that has existed since the beginning of all existence.”
“The Tree of Transcendence...”
Aien made the connection with what he'd learned through browsing through the library in the academy. Although it was within his expectations, he couldn't make head or tails out of this situation. The sole entity of mortal origin that had transcended the worlds of the past was this tiny sapling in front of him?
“I believe you have many doubts and questions, demon. Rest assured, they are well-grounded, and I understand your confusion.”
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The sapling continued with its voice devoid of any signs of life. Monotone, and with increasing weakness, it continued.
“I'm indeed what the humans call the Tree of Transcendence.”
“Then, what does the supposed origin of nature and all wildlife want from me?”
“I require your aid.”
“My aid?”
Hearing what it had to say, Aien couldn't help but chuckle coldly. The symbolic entity of all life wanted his help?
“You can spare yourself this meaningless drivel. What are you after?”
Aien remained extremely cautious. Furthermore, to his surprise, despite his unceasing absorption of mana, the sapling wasn't directly drained or damaged by him, which further increased his wariness.
“You may not believe me, but it is the truth. As you can see, ever since the Third Beginning, I have lost most of my vitality. My mana that was rightfully bestowed upon me was stripped away, leaving me out to slowly descend into death. My time in this world has become limited. Thus, I'm willing to make a deal with you, newborn demon. I have known of your arrival ever since before the Second End. A long time has passed as I endured the death that took root within myself. But knowing you'd one day appear before me, I endured.”
“Your survival is more important than the world? More important than your children?” Aien asked the obvious. Naturally, if they came to an agreement, Aien would expect recompensation. Above everything else, he'd have to profit from this, and the sapling must have undoubtedly understood the implications.
“Yes. Does it come as a shock to you, former human?”
To his surprise, the sapling was rather direct.
“I have witnessed the beginning of worlds and their ends. Those who call me their parent trace their roots back to my direct descendants of a past I have almost forgotten. It is not I who claim them as my children, but them who consider themselves as such. I may allow them to use my name and the power I grant them, but these barely qualify as obligations. There is only one thing I desire."
Aien didn't bother asking for more details, knowing he wouldn't get an answer regarding the sapling's goals. There was only one question remaining, and that was whether he'd agree or not.
“What can you offer me for my assistance?” Aien questioned.
“My rise will support you in your endeavors. Bringer of the Third End, I know what you desire. Your help will not only benefit me but also yourself. I have watched you ever since you entered the domain of my forest. Other than power, I can help you acquaint yourself with the path you are going to take and the dangers that await you.”
In other words, the sapling would give him what he needed the most - Information. This alone was already enticing enough for Aien to not pass up on the opportunity. It wasn't even a question whether this being that had lived for many millennia had access to the knowledge he needed.
“What exactly do you want from me?” Aien asked the last question before making up his mind.
“That, you will soon know.”
Before Aien knew what was happening, roots rose from the ground. With no beginning or end, the thin lines twirled themselves around him, quickly robbing him of his senses.
“Do not fret. What you are about to witness is the past and your future.”
With these last words, Aien ceased his struggling and fell into a slumber.
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The forest around him was dying. It was a feeling Aien was very familiar with, but it operated at a scale he couldn't imagine before. In the fleeting instance, he passed through, all life around him shriveled into nothingness. Regardless of what it was, the living could no close in on him without perishing. It was all he could recognize as his vision blurred by the incredulous speed his body moved through the forest. This movement wasn't something he could control. Aien could only watch from this perspective of this body he'd seemingly been placed inside.
“Cease your foolish struggle and surrender to your fate, demon!!”
Behind him, several groups clad in robes that covered every part of their body chased after him. Without losing out to him in speed, the chase continued where neither party gained an advantage. Although he was unable to lose them, the group was likewise unable to catch up. Aien realized that the body he'd found himself in was injured in some manner. There wasn't anything on the outside but the dark swirl within him, albeit was far more significant than his own, was also slowing down.
“That's the great hero, Amir, for you! Always around when you need him the least, HAHA!!”
Shouts of his own, he couldn't control rippled through the night as their chase continued for days. During this, all wildlife, from animals to plants, fell prey to the demon. Still, despite his increase in speed and endless endurance, he couldn't shake off his pursuers.
But all of a sudden, a person bust forward with incredible speed. Nothing indicated that anything had changed when he effortlessly caught up with Aien. His steps through the sky were accompanied by the light emanating off his body, leaving behind traces of the path he'd traveled in an instant. Confronted with the emergence of Amir in front of him, Aien stopped in his movements. At the same time, the swirl within him increased the speed of its rotation as the light within his own eyes changed. What had previously merely resembled the scattered stars in the sky were swallowed by the darkness of four spots. As dark as the void itself, they shone inexplicably, radiating a black light separate from the darkness within the night.
But whatever he was about to do was to no avail. Raising his hand, the golden figure enveloped his surroundings with its own radiance. Accompanied by a light that broke through the clouds in the heavens, it swallowed Aien whole. What remained were only the waves of insane laughter that slowly died out as the demon was erased from existence. In his last moments, he raised his hands towards the two moons in the sky, refusing to accept the way things turned out.
Contrarily to his expectations, Aien's vision didn't cease there. Instead, he appeared to watch the scenes from above like he was watching a dream of his own.
“What's the meaning of this, Amir!?”
Together with a quaking that spread through the entire forest below them, a voice bellowed out in anger.
“I must apologize, revered Transcendent. I have come too late and was already exhausted from my previous endeavor and was thus unable to provide you aid earlier. ”
“Rubbish!”
In response to Amir's sincere words, the forest seethed in a boiling rage as it restrained itself from fully lashing out at the figure enveloped by the lights of the heavens. Even the animals were influenced as they stared with bloodshot eyes at the group of humans standing in the sky.
“Who!? Who was it!? Was it that wretched Ayla who ordered you to do this!? And yet you dare call yourself a hero!?”
“You dare blaspheme the gods!?”
When confronted with the accusations, Amir's subservient attitude disappeared without a trace. Bearing the brilliance of the heavens, he looked towards the distant horizon before continuing.
“Little sapling that has witnessed the beginning of creation.”
The next words that had left Amir's voice were accompanied by an overbearing threat of obedience. Behind him, the group of humans knelt down in the sky as they listened to the words that left no room for defiance.
“Beware your choice of words, little one. You ought to show gratitude to the leniency of the gods. Apologize, and your offense will be forgiven, otherwise...”
“Gratitude! Lenience!?” The voice of the forest spat out in a fit unable to hold itself back any longer. “You are afraid of me!! That's the only reason you let that pest rampage around my territory!!”
From beneath the ground, roots tore the earth apart as they rose towards the sky. Spanning from one horizon to another, they rose forth, removing the dwarfing humans from sight. Their bodies paled in comparison to the enormous roots heading towards them, yet they didn't show any signs of unease.
“The gods will forgive your foolish actions this once as they are benevolent. However, you will receive their punishment.”
Leaving behind these last words, Amir erupted in a barrier of light, turning the night to day as it burned away the roots of nature.
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Aien needed a few moments to digest the events he'd just witnessed.
“That was the end I met in the Second World, the World of Humans.” After realizing that Aien had recovered, the voice once again appeared in his mind.
“The gods were afraid. Afraid that I'd take over this world and take it away from them. Thus, using the hero and the demon, they damaged my vitality I'd arduously accumulated over millennia while abiding by the rules of the world. They took away the mana the world rightfully bestowed to me. Finally, they left me with this curse that continues to wither away at me, leaving me in this fragile state of existence.”
“That hero...” As impressive as the fate of the sapling was, Aien was much more interested in the matter directly concerning him.
“That was Amir? The martyr?”
“Back then, he was known as Amir, the hero of that world.” The sapling confirmed Aien's suspicions and gave him some time to order his thoughts before continuing.
“This is a rule... or a prophecy, one might say, that has existed for as long as I'm aware of. Its origins are unknown to me, but it has always held true. When a calamity that threatens the world arrives, a hero will be born. Take this information as my token of sincerity. Like you, I loathe the gods that have created this world and took away the greatest part of my existence. As such, I'd like to propose for us to work together to achieve our goals.”