Chapter 162: World Tree’s Birth
According to the ancient texts, a very long time ago, there existed a tree that was no different from the others. It had no thoughts, no emotions, and certainly no consciousness. It simply stood there, living as any normal tree would.
But then, one day, something changed.
The tree began to see the world around it. It could feel the wind brushing against its leaves, the creatures crawling along its bark, and even sense the warmth of the sun above. Bit by bit, it developed a faint spark of intelligence.
And the reason for this miraculous transformation was traced to a strange, ever-changing symbol that had mysteriously appeared on its trunk. No one knew where it came from. But that symbol—the Rune—was unlike anything in the world.
As time passed, the tree’s awareness continued to grow. Its size expanded, its strength deepened, and its intelligence evolved to an extraordinary level. It became something far more than a simple tree. And with that higher awareness, it began to study the symbol carved into its body, trying to understand the secrets it held.
For the next five hundred years, the tree focused completely on the mysteries of the Rune, lost in thought, trying to decipher its meaning. But its deep contemplation was interrupted one day when the beasts of the land began attacking it. They tore into its branches, chewed on its bark, and ate away at its leaves, they started to crave the tree.
The tree didn’t like that.
It retaliated by lashing out with its roots, killing every single beast that dared harm it. And because it didn’t want to be disturbed again while it meditated, it decided to create guardians.
From its very own essence, the tree gave birth to a new race—beings made to protect it and live in harmony with its presence.
That was how the Elves were born.
Once its protectors were in place, the tree returned to its silent journey of comprehending the Rune. Another five hundred years passed. And then, when the tree finally opened its awareness again, it saw something that filled it with sorrow.