Chapter 82: Preparation
Fast forward three weeks since Auren had awoken...
Deep in the heart of Aetherhorn, nestled within a grove kissed by golden sunlight and veiled in ancient mist, stood a towering figure- a colossal humanoid Velzar Tree.
It rose gracefully from the earth, its bark gleaming with a faint emerald sheen, while its branches stretched skyward like open arms blessing the canopy above. The leaves shimmered with hues of jade and opal, casting a gentle glow that calmed the soul.
This was no ordinary tree- it was Queen Elarya, in her Grand Velzar form, silently standing sentinel beneath the protection of the Aetherthorn.
Elves moved around her in reverence. Some carefully pruned curling vines, others caressed the warm, bark-textured folds of her body with soothing chants. A few poured silvery liquid from ornate flasks into the soil around her roots- a sacred tonic brewed to keep her form vibrant and whole.
Before her, standing in respectful silence, were three figures: Mathes, now healed and cloaked in his golden warrior garb once more, and the rest of tribal leaders- Kardel and Rhiki.
Though their appearances hadn’t changed much, something in their presence had- a weight behind their gazes, a subtle shift in their stance. They were seasoned now. Scarred, perhaps, not just by battle, but by the weight of consequence.
All three stood with heads bowed, paying respect to the tree that was once their queen in flesh- and still was, in power and voice.
Elarya’s voice resonated not from a mouth but from the wind itself, as though the forest carried her every word through its leaves.
"Mathes. Any word regarding Auren’s recovery? " she asked.
Her tone was familiar- warm, motherly- but beneath it was an undeniable command, as if nature itself demanded an answer.
Mathes raised his head slightly, the scar under his eye still fresh.