"Hold on, respectable elf. We are not letting anyone be closer than this to disturb the senior." Xiao Chen appeared behind the elf lady while his body covered with roots to product an armour and also surrounds the elf to bind her.
Young elf raised her eyebrow. "So you are a plant type shaman. This makes you more suspicious. You know you cannot kill me, right?"
Xiao Chen furrowed her burrows. "It's true that people cannot dare to take an entire elf race's rage but I have nothing to loss. So I warn you."
Young elf looked at the calm lady again. "I can see it. You are doing something to those apples before giving it. What are you scheming? What is your purpose? How do you control this tree?"
"…" Young lady surprised by questions and then burst into laughter "Hehe, sorry respectable elf but we don't have any power to control the senior. Instead my life connected to the tree itself so he made this rule if you are suspicious of this. And is there a scheme? Yes there is. I cannot understand how you can see it. Those golden apples can absorb any kind of energy and powers. This is such a marvellous fruit. I have an ability to see future. I guess that's not the only thing I can do. Because when I let apples to absorb my power and let people eat it. They will follow the words I left in it. 'Report if you find Thiara'. It's really not a dangerous. But yeah a mind control technic."
Elf shocked to hear these details. Then she brought a green emblem. It had the name of The Holy Forest in white letters on a vivid green background to symbolize vigour and devotion. The combination of green and white created a vivacious mix, which stands for infinite love of life, spiritual prosperity, kindness and health.
"Elder Tree, I am an elf, Lu Xiya from The Holy Forest. I predict you are a new Elder Tree. So please allow me to touch one of your parts to communicate with you."
Her words surprised both Xiao Chen and Natsume Rikka. However they were also happy to know they can finally learn thoughts of this senior. Even though Senior Marwa could write to the ground, they would not dare to raise any question. And Marwa didn't even try to tell them anything.
A branch of the tree slowly lowered and touched forehead of the elf. Nothing happened but young elf just acted as this was what must happen.
"Elder Tree, are you an elf?"
"…" A low grumble heard than an ancient voice could be heard by the three. "Why I would be an elf?"
This male voice was belong to Marwa. Xiao Chen and Rikka looked each other with glowing eyes.
Lu Xiya nodded and said: "It's not a common knowledge but when an elf at supreme elder level died, he or she would turn an elder tree that protects our race and helps younger generation. This is the real reason no enemy could invade our forest."
"…" Marwa said after adjusting his voice once more to talk: "I was a human."
Young elf thought for a while and said: "Elder, no matter whatever you was, you are now an Elder Tree. You have rights to join our Holy Forest if you wish. And if you have any regrets or wishes, it's our duty to do our best."
"…" Marwa thought for a while: "I would like to know if Thiara still alive or not."
Lu Xiya couldn't understand "Thiara?" and looked at the couple at the side. Xiao Chen and Natsume Rikka rapidly told her everything they know.
Young elf raised her eyebrow while murmuring: "A heavenly shaman woman disappeared years ago… Elder Tree, why do you think she can be alive while you lost your body in same process? Did she have a special ability or a treasure on her?"
"Heavenly Shamans can live with only their souls exist. In last fight, I heard the golden apples had bewitching effect. She can be invisible to my mortal eyes. Or worst, her soul maybe blend in my soul. Does your Holy Forest have a method to follow traces of her?"
Lu Xiya unexpectedly smiled: "Elder Tree, I can happily say I am already able to sense three different auras except you and me."
Legendary Golden Apple Tree suddenly shuddered. The tree was wide as a large city. So the countless falling leaves created an amazing view. Marwa said: "Where? Where is she?"
Young elf closed her eyes and slowly pointed somewhere on the tree itself with her finger. At the place she pointed stood a little red scorpion as a tiny colourful pebble.
Legendary Golden Apple Tree trembled violently and countless plants rose and blocked everything from the sight.
Lu Xiya and Xiao Chen couldn't do anything but to pushed away from the tree. Rikka weirdly ignored by those plant walls and stood in her place. Her life was connected to tree itself. All of them understood Marwa surprised to see his partner was always near him which he was searching for years.
Xiao Chen said: "Many thanks great elf. Finally Sir Marwa found his wife thanks to you. I was really not expecting a soul be in an animal… Though Sir Marwa also in a tree form…"
Lu Xiya noded: "Normally impossible. Our souls have shape of our bodies. They cannot stay in another body for a long time. The body and soul will hurt each other. It's like using a shoe not perfect for your foot. And a soul without body will be hunted forever by some existences not from this realm. Even though they can hide in different bodies, this will change the soul's everything and many of them later would appear as vengeful ghosts that only knows how to possess and destroy living at their sight. It is really magical they can survive in not humanlike bodies"
The waiting ended four hours later. They first saw Rikka and a plant puppet which holding a tiny red scorpion as if a precious treasure on its hands.
A branch lowered and contacted to Lu Xiya: "Can you also talk with her?"
Lu Xiya lowered her gaze to the scorpion in front of her: "I'm sorry Elder Tree. She is not a plant. But… But I can say she would not have many years left… to live."
"… I know" Marwa sighed in despair "I can also sense different energies on you. Is there a way to save her?"
She took out a bow and lifted "Come out, Bertha". After her sentence, green lights from her bow were scattered and a green four-winged parrot spirit appeared.
"I can convert the soul inside animals into objects to preserve their power, look and memories. The only requirement is the soul must be willing. But this process can take years and the soul will drain energy of the user constantly."
"Do it. And use blood ritual of elf race. I need to talk to one your three elf fathers."
Li Xuya's face changed drastically. "El-Elder Tree, you know about them. I see. As a famous God Level Shaman, this must be normal. Are you sure about this decision? When I summon one of them, there would be no return without satisfying the ancestor."
"Yes"
The young elf made a hand seal and all of her orifices started to bleed purple blood and covered her face. A purple extremely devilish face appeared and smirked at Marwa.
"Finally a proper business"
***
Xiao Chen slowly walked away from Legendary Golden Apple Tree with Lu Xiya quietly following him. His steps were slow but with each step he appeared countless miles away.
Natsume Rikka watched as Xiao Chen leaving while murmuring a melody. She was swaying her legs and sitting on one of the branches. She was look like a little girl at next door except the long and weird plant veins connected to her back. She was holding a green emblem.
"Do you think he will come back again one day? The wormhole they created together became a nightmare for me."
The Golden Apple Tree also trembled a little and replied: "I hope not so."
"Yes, they wouldn't let him free from now on. He accepted to activate blood sacrifice of elves to let their immovable immortals to use his body to impel their full potential outside of The Holy Forest too."
She caressed the tree branch that circling around her waist gently.
***
Do you believe in fairies?
A secret path leads to fairy glade.
Can you see the fairies and elves dancing?
No?
Check out again at night!
They dance until morning.
In a mysterious garden watching the festival in front of him, Xiao Chen smiled. His green eyes emitted a deep yellow light and his body and face started to change slowly.
A crimson gem on his ring finger glittered and a figure slowly appeared around his neck hugging him tightly.
"Master, shall we dance?"
"Pleasure is mine, my naughty fox"
Marwa laughed and swept Thiara into his arms, carrying her like a princess to the dance area.
THE END