Lucas POV

"Fiona acting weird?" the queen gave me a questioning look after I told her of our previous encounter with Fiona.

The next day, we requested an audience with the queen and gave her our report. The no-lead bit seemed normal, but her daughter's weird behavior got her attention.

"To be fair, she used to be all over him." Riley added, "But yeah, checking on the body of Bell's dead wife and child? Such a topic shouldn't be coming out of your daughter's mouth. She's usually sensitive around that stuff."

"The all-over-him part was over four years ago, so unlike me, she's moved on," the queen replied. But if we must, I'll send someone to chase after her."

"Oh, you're not over this guy? You could do better, all this guy got his looks."

"Let's not get into this. And you better move on, I'm not looking for a third wife, 2 is already more than enough for me. And I really want to finish all of this and get back to my vacation, not only that...if Fiona turns out to be something that we never expected of her, our relationship is going to be greatly ruined."

"If Fiona turns out to be a traitor of any kind...I trust that you two will turn her over to me first." the queen requested.

"We'll do. But first, we're going to do what your daughter suggested."

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I walked into the morgue, feeling a heavy weight in my chest. The man in charge, a middle-aged man with a tired face, looked up when I entered. He nodded and spoke softly.

"Are you here for the bodies?" he asked.

"Yes, Bell's wife and child."

He led me to the table where their bodies lay. I could already see the extent of the damage. Both had been beaten badly, with bruises covering their bodies, and broken bones, the kind of damage that fit Bell's style of fighting. He used a staff, and the impact marks matched. The blows weren't wild; they were controlled, and precise. It was clear that Bell had done this. It was then told to us that they had lost a lot of blood with signs of them having their blood siphoned off somewhere.

I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. This wasn't the Bell I knew. But the evidence was there, and I couldn't ignore it. I have doubts, but these injuries matched way too well for it to not be Bell.

Using my healing magic, I restored them to their normal state. I couldn't bring them back to life, but at least I could make them look peaceful again. The marks of violence faded, and their bodies appeared whole as if nothing had happened.

"Did you learn anything about them? Anything that might explain why Bell targeted them? A special power or something?"

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The man scratched his chin, thinking for a moment.

"Well, there's one thing that stands out. They were both blessed by the World Tree. A rare blessing, not many have it. Most of the other victims we've found...were teenagers. These two are one of the only ones that are not in that age group."

"Blessed by the World Tree? That's the only connection, then?"

"That's what it looks like," the attendant confirmed, "It's not common. The World Tree only blesses those with significant ties to the land or those the tree deems important for the balance of things, like you and the other heroes. But beyond that...nothing else really stands out."

I nodded, absorbing the information. It was strange. Bell had always seemed so focused on power. What could he possibly gain from murdering a woman and child blessed by the World Tree? The blessing doesn't really carry over if you kill a blessed person, if anything, you'll eliminate any chance of receiving it.

"I'll head to the shrine dedicated to the World Tree. Maybe I can get some answers from there."

I left the morgue and made my way toward the shrine. The tree could be seen from almost anywhere in the city, its massive presence looming over everything. But in the shrine is where you'd have a chance to speak with the tree. I needed to ask it for help, maybe get a hint at why Bell did this, and if there was any connection between the World Tree's blessing and the murders. After all, the world tree is one of the dormant gods.

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The shrine was quiet, the air thick with the scent of incense, and piles of offerings from visitors. I sighed and dropped to one knee, Riley standing a little ways off behind me, giving me the space I needed. I'd managed to ask everyone else to stay out. This shrine was famous, a place where people came to ask for guidance, blessings, and advice. But no one questioned why it was just the two of us.

"Elyndor," I whispered, the name feeling strange on my tongue, "It's been a long time."

A soft rustling filled the air, and the temperature in the shrine seemed to shift. Before my eyes, a light shimmered into being. A small figure appeared before me, glowing faintly with an ethereal green aura. The spirit of the World Tree. Her form was delicate but strong, her presence ancient yet welcoming.

"Lucas, long time no see." she greeted, "You look well."

"Do I still have to keep kneeling in a praying motion?"

"I've been summoned, so you can stop."

"She looks familiar," she said, her voice tinged with suspicion. "I swear I've seen you somewhere before."

"Perhaps you have." Elyndor replied.

"Head maid of the queen?" Riley guessed.

"That was me," Elyndor admitted without hesitation, "I often disguise myself among mortals to observe my people. It's easier to understand their struggles that way."

"You knew?!" Riley elbowed me.

"I only found out when I had to move into the party with other heroes."

"Which was funny, because we've dated." Elyndor chimed in.

"You what?!" Riley exclaimed.

"I didn't date her."

"But you did sleep with me, Isabella, and Fiona." Elyndor pointed out.

"Again, not the proudest period of my life."

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"Bell Flameswood..." Elyndor sighed, "I wouldn't say that he is a tragic soul...but...he seeks my blessing, but not in the way you might think."

"What do you mean?"

"My blessing cannot grant him the power he desires. He knows this, but he believes he can create something similar that can grant a superior effect. He targets those blessed by me, using their blood in twisted experiments to create potions. Potions meant to grant power to those who are not blessed, he is nowhere near perfecting it."

"Blood?"

"I can feel the pain they endured, the torment their souls suffered. It weighs heavily on me, Lucas. It's how I've learned of this."

"So he's trying to replicate the blessing's effects through...a fucked up version of torture and alchemy."

"Yes," Elyndor nodded, "But the power he seeks is a fleeting illusion. It will never grant him the freedom or strength he once felt."