Arcadia
There were three Continents in Arcadia, West, North, and South. Each of these Continents has varying stories regarding different epics.
These Continents, however, also have different kinds of significant powers in their midst. The North was ruled by the Dragonborns, the South belonged to the humans, and the West to no one.
The West was the most chaotic of all the Continents. Kingdoms and Empires fall without ever crossing their fifth generation. Monsters awaken often, Ancient Ruins emerged from the depths, and Demon Kings were born regularly.
Of course, the other two continents had their own problems, but they could not compare. In this warring continent, on the place where the biggest forest was located was a giant tree stretching to the skies, its top hidden from the world below.
This was the World Tree of Arcadia, and below it, where its giant roots stretched for hundreds of kilometers, was a land of bountiful spirits and land. A place where trees and vegetation were treated with respect and happened to be the home of Elves, Sylphs, and Sprites. These three races coexisted together, protecting the surrounding of the roots.
The Elves took care of the Earth.
The Sylphs of the Air.
The Sprites of the Water.
The coalition of the three Races was also known as the Protectors of the Roots.
However, there was another protector only known to those who sat at the highest places of Fae Society. Only known to the three leaders, the Ministers, and the select few who managed to climb the peak of the World Tree.
For thousands of years, a closely guarded secret turned into a fairy tale.
Citizens of the Roots speak of the peak. If one was to climb the reach the peak of the World Tree, they would find a palace. Inside this palace was the person with the most insight into the world. This person was said to have eaten the fruit of the World Tree and became an Immortal. Living before the World Tree reached its current height, this person was said to be older than the oldest person in the Country.
Those below the roots called this myth the Protector of the Tree.
However, this myth was born from truth. Atop the World Tree, there was a person who had lived longer than the Country itself. She was also with the most knowledge and even knew things that had been lost to time. However, to what others believed, there was no palace but a humble cabin. And she did not eat anything but drank the water of the World Tree called Ambrosia.
She also started living at the peak of the World Tree, which most would not be able to reach because many believed that if others drank her blood, they would gain immortality for themselves.
She was also not called the Protector of the Tree but by Lady of Eve. With her wisdom and knowledge, she was known to those in power seats as a well-respected advisor. Descending only in times of turmoil to offer her insight, the Lady of Eve was even the one who approved of who would sit on the three thrones.
Led by the mysterious Lady of Eve, the Country of Evergreen flourished. In the chaotic continent, for them to maintain such a beautiful land for millennia was their pride.
But, just 20 years ago, something happened that threatened peace. A beast of vile and harrowing nature appeared on the World Tree's roots.
The beast was a serpent that could wrap around one of the World Tree's thick roots. Its giant fangs started secreting a poison that made it deadly to those below the level of 60 to approach. It injected the trees with its venom, warping and turning the root into a demonic land of unimaginable corrosion and impurity.
The three races banded together to slay the beast before it could cause any more harm, but all failed to even cause it a fatal wound.
The three Races failed to guard the bottom of the World Tree. In reaction, the Lady of Eve descended to the Roots five years ago. Seeing the devastation, all she could advise them was to call for help, that it was too much for them to handle on their own.
"The world has many heroes and champions willing to help. We have helped the Continent since its establishment and acted as its cornerstone. Now, it is our time to call for arms. It is time to ask for help." The Lady of Eve advised.
But, the three races did not listen. Against the teachings of the Lady of Eve, they refused to ask for help. Instead, they decided close off their borders. They have long scoffed at the lower and savage peoples outside their lands, and to ask for such people's help was nothing short of humiliating.
From the Elven King's words, "If even we cannot save the World Tree, what could the savage lowlifes outside our lands could do to help?"
The other two Kings nodded in response. The Lady of Eve already knew what was happening. The three Races' facade of strength had already taken hold of their hearts. The pride they held became the bane of their existence.
If they accepted help, they would no longer be able to hold their heads high. This disgust towards the outside world, their pride and superiority turned to severe xenophobia that made them incapable of taking the hands of others.
If even they could not do it, what could those below them do?
Their pride turned a quarter of their once beautiful land into a land of desolation in just twenty years, and five years ago, the Lady of Eve did not know what to do.
However, four years ago, an act of sacrilege was committed, and an intruder appeared atop the World Tree. Amidst the chaos happening on the roots, the intruder snuck into the peak.
The intruder wreaked havoc and fought the Guardians of the Peak. He did not kill anyone, and as he fought, he yelled, "Please! Don't do this! I don't want to hurt anyone. I know I've intruded but please, just hear me out."
The Lady of Eve arrived before the intruder. She suspected his words to be false and was ready to give the order to take his head at the moment of sensing falsehood. In the past, tens of thousands had tried to trick her into getting her blood, and she did not think he would be any different.
But, finding how no one of her protectors had been killed, she gave him a chance and asked, "What is it that you want?"
The intruder showed her a smile and asked, "I have traveled far and would not have intruded if I wasn't here for something important. I just wanted to ask - do you know any country that goes back beyond the recorded history of 1000 years with any record about a sword that could turn a land of bounty into a desert. Oh, if you didn't know, I picked up this Sword and just unlocked a part of it, and I hypothesized that to know more about it, I need to explore this junction as a possibility. So, do you know anything about it? Hmm, do you want to see the sword? You know what? I'll just pull-Woah, Woah, easy girls, I will just pull out a magical sword to… please, be careful with the swords...."
When given a chance, the intruder could not stop himself from speaking. But, other than that, he did indeed just come to the peak for answers.
Seeing him panic at the Guardians' weapons closing to his neck as he pulled out a magic sword caused the Lady of Eve to smile behind her veil for the first time in a long time.
"Thinking back, he had always been a person of curiosity. At first, I was afraid that he was just scheming to take my head, but after three days of pestering me about his Sword of Embers, I saw his intentions were clear. The first chance we got, we began talking, and after finding a person who held almost as much knowledge as me, our talk lasted for three cycles of the moon and sun. He told me about the current world, and I confirmed his theories about the past. It was fun." Lilia recounted as he weakly laughed.
Her body was bleeding while reminiscing about when she made her first true friend in such a long time.
But as she reminisced about the past, footsteps echoed behind her.
"The Thrones welcomes The Lady of Eve's return."
The Elven King, the Mother Sprite, and the Sylph Queen took a knee in front of Lilia.
"Rise," Lilia responded.
The three rulers followed what they were told as their eyes wavered in fear and respect as they raised their heads and witnessed the image before them.
Four years ago, before she disappeared, The Lady of Eve didn't even know how to pick up a sword. Her level was beyond level 80, but even a level 30 adventurer could kill her.
But now, before the three rulers, The Lady of Eve sat on the severed head of the Giant Black Abyssal Serpent even Armies of thousands could not injure.
[Hunt the Black Abyssal Serpent under the World Tree's Roots (Completed)]
'What happened? For her to change so much is inconceivable.' the three rulers asked themselves.
Lilia, however, ignored them as she held a pulsating purple pearl the size of a marble. With a smile, she whispered, 'Just a little more.'
[Devour the Abyssal Heart and Conquer the Demonic Manifestations.]
She was about to ascend and follow her friend.
Lilia smiled sweetly, 'I hope he's okay.'