The capital city of K'noku was much different than a human city. It was built in a forest and the krolls just made homes inside the trees. The only building on the ground was the palace.
The Krolls were a relatively peaceful and hardworking race. They had a civilized society and knew how to distribute labor.
Many stared as the trio and dragon passed by to the castle. They didn't approach as none dared to disturb the King and his sister. They went safely into the palace and took Alea to a specific place there.
"This is Kri'ithia. Our origin tree. We thought maybe the water from the tree could stall your injuries" Mica says, gesturing to the giant evergreen tree with an ethereal glow.
"The origin tree is supposed to be guarded closely and not shown to any outsider. Is your race that clueless or are you two just stupid?" Oila says in derision. Alea nodded in agreement.
"Ouch. That hurt. We know the origin tree is supposed to be guarded. However, the roots grow all around. This whole forest is the origin tree. Every Kroll in the kingdom has the origin tree in their homes. This is the initial body. I'm sure nobody can hurt it, it's quite feisty.
We just want to help you two and we are sure Alea's not a bad person. She took you in when you were injured and nursed you to health. She didn't cast you out after you were healed. Though we just met her, we both trust her" Terron explains.
Oila can't say anything so she pouts in silence. Alea's touched by their honesty and trust. For the first time in two years, she had a feeling of friendship. She smiled.
"So, Alea, all you have to do is communicate with the tree and it'll know how to help you, okay?"
"Okay"
"Terron, stop gawking at her and help me move her close enough to touch the tree" Mica yells, and Terron gives her a dirty look. He complies and they move her closer to the tree. The moment Alea touched the tree, she lost consciousness.
"Hey, wake up"
"Hmmmm"
"Wake up little elf or you might never leave here"
That snapped Alea's eyes open. She stood from the ground and stared around. Nothing else was visible but clouds and smoke. It was a bit unsettling so Alea's guard was up. Right when she started regretting trusting the krolls, she heard the voice again.
"I'm not going to hurt you little elf. Or should I say, daughter of the moon?"
"Who are you and how do you know who I am?"
"I am Kri'ithia, the origin tree of the krolls. I should know you. I and your mother happen to be sisters"
"You know Lithu?"
"Yes. I just said we're sisters. We're linked by the spirits of this plane. We happen to be very close. She's been trying to talk to you for a very long time, ever since your descent"
"I was captured and enslaved to Ituli. A god hunter saved me and I've been roaming the forests since. The Krolls found me and brought me here"
"Do you plan on returning home soon?"
"It's inevitable, although I'd rather not"
"Why? You'd wither if you stay here"
"Why would I want to return to a mother that couldn't even protect her daughter? I was enslaved for many years and used to the whims of men! She could've helped me, I mean, she's right there, up in the fucking sky!!"
"Did your mother ever tell you of her descent? I don't think she ever did.
When she was unceremoniously thrown out of the sky by the cosmos and lost all her powers, she met the first settlers of the humankind. They were kind and took her in. Of course, her appearance was weird so over time, she learned to morph into a human. But before that, she didn't know the humans had tricked her into thinking they were trustworthy and they took advantage of her. They took her innocence, stabbed her, and left her to die.
It was there your mother met the love of her life. He saved her, nurtured her back to health....."
"Was that my father?"
"No darling, you do not have a father. You were birthed of your mother only"
"So, what happened to this man?"
"He was burnt at stake for harboring a savage, your mother. It broke your mother and thus, she destroyed the whole town. She proceeded to travel around the world with her time left and also left back to the sky when she was withering. You are much like your mother"
"No. I'm nothing like her. She's the all-powerful mother of the night. I'm just the daughter of the moon"
"If only you knew how much power that title wields....Would you like to speak to your mother?"
"No. I'll talk to her when I get back up there"
"Hmm, look at your leg"
Alea looks at her leg. The gray areas were gone and her leg looked healthy.
"It's not permanent. In two days, it would start to rot again so you better get to Nraia quickly. I'm sure those two children of mine would be able to take you there"
"Thank you Kri'ithia, for everything"
"You're welcome, daughter of the moon"
Alea blinks and she's in front of the siblings again. Oila is snoring while the usually bickering siblings were quiet.
"Mother says we have to take you to Nraia, wherever that is" Mica says.
"It's in Nrieth, the next continent"
"How'd you even get here?"
"A desert" Alea replies with a smirk.
At night in the Quitri continent, the world was peaceful. Most had gone to bed, dreaming of what their tomorrow would look like. The two moons hung in the sky, one bright and the other very dull.
The bright, big moon shone on a particular tree in the forest. The air stilled and it seemed time stopped.
"Your daughter is ....interesting"
"She's been through a lot. I understand her bitterness"
"She blames you for not helping her. I'm assuming she doesn't know the rules"
"Please Kri'ithia, she's still a young elf despite being the daughter of the moon. She's ignorant....."
"Don't be stupid Lithu. She deserves to know everything. She's a celestial too"
"She's just an elf. We'll leave it at that"
"She'll be returning to you soon. Let's see how you'd keep the truth from her"
"I'm her mother. Let me worry about that"