As darkness encroached, I found myself soaring above the grove, overlooking it from the sky. I could clearly see the areas I purified, and I could also clearly see that most of the grove was still covered in that foul dark red miasma. My heart sank as I took in the scale of the problem. Despite my efforts, the miasma still clung stubbornly to the land, its presence a stark reminder of how much work remained. However, one feature stood out with remarkable clarity—a massive tree located at the very center of the grove.

I hadn't ventured to the dead center of the grove before, I knew I was always running deep into the corrupted forest, but at some point, the corruption was just too thick for me to easily pass through to the next area unless It's purified, I couldn't really trust my current control over my skills to be able to purify that barrier, so I decided that It's best to focus on the outside, and slowly work my way in, pushing the barrier back as I progressed.

The tree was enormous, its trunk thick and gnarled, and its canopy seemed to reach toward the heavens. Unlike the other trees in the grove, which were struggling under the weight of the corruption, this tree emanated a faint, steady light from its core. The light was faint but persistent. Despite its brilliance, it was also encased in the miasma, struggling against the corruption.

As I focused on this central tree, I felt a strong, inexplicable connection to it. The sense of ancient power and significance was palpable, but its exact nature eluded me. I couldn't help but wonder if this tree was somehow crucial to the grove's restoration. It stood alone, almost as if it was waiting for something—maybe it was waiting for me to help it, the same way I helped the rest of the grove.

I contemplated whether it was one of the five hearts that the status window referred to, or maybe it was a central landmark, or perhaps it was the heart and the rest were just organs, too many questions came over my head but I couldn't really find an answer.

The vision started to fade, the darkness closing in around me. I felt a sudden pull back to reality, as though I was being drawn from that dream-like state. The sensation of flying above the grove was replaced by the sensation of lying down, my body feeling restrained. Despite opening my eyes, I couldn't feel anything, my vision was obstructed by something, as If I was encased in a shell. I could feel the grass beneath my body, and I touching the shell made me realize that it was made of very thick vines.

The vines formed a protective cocoon around me, their texture rough and slightly damp. I could feel their gentle pressure against my body, but they didn’t hurt. The warmth of the sun filtered through the gaps in the vines, creating a comforting, if somewhat eerie feeling.

Thankfully, I wasn't clusterphobic, or else this would've been a nightmare, I tunneled into my spirit vision, and looked at the vines and the ground, the grove's vessels connected to mine, supplying me with immense amounts of life energy.

Struggling to free myself from the vines, I slowly wriggled my way out of the cocoon, taking care not to damage the protective structure. As I emerged, I was greeted by the sight of the elves surrounding the clearing, their faces a mixture of relief and concern. They had clearly been watching over me while I was unconscious, and their presence was reassuring.

The clearing where I had been resting was now surrounded by a sizable contingent of elven guards, their armor gleaming faintly in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy. They were stationed in a protective formation, their eyes scanning the perimeter. Each guard was armed and ready, their stances defensive but not hostile. They looked outwards, their attention fully focused on the surrounding grove, as if ensuring that no additional threats approached while I was unconscious.

Beyond this line of guards, I saw an even larger crowd of elves gathered, their expressions a tapestry of concern and curiosity. They watched me with a mixture of relief and apprehension, their whispers and murmurs creating a low, continuous hum of anxious chatter. Their faces were etched with worry, their eyes darting between me and the guards.

I noticed that the elven guards maintained a respectful distance from the crowd, as if forming a barrier between me and the rest of the grove. Their presence was both reassuring and intimidating, a clear indication that they were prepared to defend the area if necessary. It was clear that they had been keeping a close watch over me, ensuring that no harm came my way during my unconscious state, but now I was really worried, how long has it been since I fell unconscious? and does the concept of time even apply to me? do I age and get older? Or am I just immortal? I mean spirits are indeed immortal -unless killed- aren't they?

Slowly rising to my feet, I took a moment to steady myself. The exhaustion from purifying the little girl was still weighing me down, but I forced myself to remain upright. My gaze shifted to the crowd of elves, and I gave a small, acknowledging nod. It was a gesture of thanks for their vigilance and care.

As I took a moment to steady myself, a small group of elves stepped forward from the crowd. They approached cautiously and slowly. At the forefront was a middle-aged elf with a kind face, his eyes filled with relief. Beside him was a younger elf, whose anxious gaze softened upon seeing me.

“Thank you” the elder elf said, his voice trembling slightly with emotion. “We... we cannot express our gratitude enough, ancient one” the elf kneeled, I was visibly confused, am I some sort of god to these guys? or was this how they expressed their gratitude to people? by kneeling? I mean the Japanese were polite that they were always bowing, but still, not kneeling.

I looked at them, my exhaustion still evident, but I tried to convey my understanding and appreciation through a nod. The elven language was clear to me, despite my inability to speak verbally. I understood the gravity of their words and the depth of their relief.

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The younger elf, still visibly shaken, offered a small, handmade token as a gesture of thanks. It was a delicate piece of jewelry, intricately crafted with symbols. I accepted it with a solemn nod, recognizing it as a sincere token of their appreciation.

As I took in the scene around me, a curious realization began to dawn on me. The little elf girl I had saved was roughly the same height as I was now. As I glanced around, I noticed for the first time just how much taller the elves were compared to me. I had always known that elves were reputed to be tall, but seeing them up close, it became clear that they were far taller than I had anticipated.

I was used to being shorter than the average humans I had encountered in my previous life, but this was a different scale entirely. It struck me that either I had become shorter, or the elves were indeed much taller than I had imagined. after scanning their bodies, I figured that their weight-to-height ratio seemed normal, so it must have been the former.

As the father, as far as I assumed, was thanking me once more, I saw an elf among the crowd holding a hand mirror, seemingly inspecting their own reflection. My curiosity got the better of me, and I approached the elf, the small group parting slightly to let me through. I moved towards the elf holding the mirror, who was still absorbed in their own reflection. As I drew closer, the elf looked up, a hint of surprise in their eyes.

Without waiting for a response, I gently reached out and took the mirror from the elf’s hands. The elf didn’t resist, perhaps sensing the urgency in my actions or simply recognizing my intent. I turned the mirror towards myself, eager to see how I appeared in this new form.

As I gazed into the mirror, I was struck by the reflection of my new form. My face appeared very young, giving the impression that I as no older than nine or ten. The features were delicate and ethereal, with a smooth, almost luminescent complexion. My eyes were large and wide, an intense, shimmering blue that seemed to capture and reflect the light around me.

My ears had transformed into elongated, pointed shapes, reminiscent of wolf ears, which what I assumed when the squirrel first bit me on my first day at the grove. They were covered in soft, downy fur that matched the subtle glow of my overall appearance.

My hair, if it could be called that, flowed in gentle waves around my face, appearing almost transparent and shimmering with a silvery hue. It framed my face with a graceful, floating quality that was both beautiful and surreal.

I was somehow between a human and a spirit, I had distinct human features, but most of my body appeared luminescent and semi-transparent.

As I handed the mirror back to the elf, I noticed another group of figures approaching, this new group was distinctively more regal, their demeanor and attire setting them apart from the others.

The leading figures were clad in garments of exquisite craftsmanship. The noble elves wore richly embroidered robes in deep, luxurious colors, like rich blues, emerald greens, and purples, adorned with silver and gold patterns. The fabrics themselves seemed to shimmer with a subtle, magical sheen, catching the light in a way that made their clothing appear almost alive. Their robes flowed gracefully with each step, giving them an air of elegance.

Their headpieces were equally striking, with delicate crowns or diadems set with precious gemstones that glittered subtly. These ornaments accentuated their noble status and added a touch of grandeur to their already impressive appearance.

Surrounding these noble figures was a group of guards, their armor markedly different from the standard elven guards who had initially surrounded me. The armor of these guards was more elaborate and ornate, featuring detailed engravings and inlaid gemstones. It was crafted from a dark, polished metal that contrasted sharply with the simpler armor of the others, and their cloaks bore the sigils of what I assumed is a noble house.

The elven woman who led the group stepped forward with an air of quiet dignity. As the guards, standing tall and vigilant, sheathed their weapons, a gesture of respect I assumed, she lowered herself into a kneeling position before me. “Ancient one” she began, “on behalf of all the elves, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude for saving one of our kin.”

Her gesture of kneeling was now expected. I think It’s a profound show of respect and gratitude, and it’s clear that the elves value such acts deeply. I was starting to believe that kneeling was the elves' way of expressing gratitude, and so I decided to kneel down and do the same as a show of mutual respect, again, I thought that it was similar to how the Japanese bowed to each other.

Before I could fully settle into the gesture, I heard subtle laughs and chuckles from the crowd. I didn’t sense any mockery or humiliation; in fact, the elves were mostly smiling warmly. I thought that I might have done something wrong. However, it quickly dawned on me that kneeling was a gesture of respect for a higher being, me, I was a higher being now, and they likely saw me as a cute, clueless puppy imitating the woman’s respectful stance, given my childlike appearance. The reaction from the elves was more of affectionate amusement than any form of derision.

The elven woman stood, “Ancient one, we would also like to thank you for not only saving one of our kin, but your efforts in healing one of the hearts of the elven race, this grove, which is one of the main groves supplying the world tree, has been corrupted for decades now, and we were about to give up on this area, immigrate the inhabitants that lived nearby to a different forest with the and start a new"

I took a moment to process her words. So the tree I saw in my vision was connected to the world tree? So that scammer thought that because this was connected to the world tree I wouldn't be able to purify it and would end up just another corrupted soul that roamed the miasma covered forest?

I returned my attention to the woman as she continued, “We wish to honor you further by inviting you to our city. There, you will find the opportunity to learn more about our people and our ways. It would be our pleasure to host you”

For the past week, I hadn’t left the grove except for my brief, almost aimless explorations. The invitation was unexpected, and the thought of venturing beyond the grove was both exciting and daunting. The idea of experiencing elven culture firsthand and gaining insight into their world was tantalizing. It would be a chance to learn more about this new world and its people, but it also meant stepping out of my comfort zone and into potential danger.

I considered my options carefully. The city might provide valuable information and resources to aid in my mission to restore the grove. It would also allow me to interact with more of the elves and understand their role in this world. Accepting the invitation seemed like the logical next step.

With a nod, I communicated my acceptance, hoping to convey my appreciation and eagerness to explore their city. The woman’s face brightened with a smile, and she gestured for me to follow. The elven guards, who had been standing at attention, now relaxed slightly, their demeanor shifting to a more welcoming and attentive posture.

As I followed the elven woman and her entourage, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and apprehension. Exploring an elven city, back in my old life, seemed no more than a fantasy or a setting for a story. Yet, here I was, about to experience it firsthand. How many people can confidently say that they even saw an elf?

Well then, elven city, here I come.