"What?" Aldrian blurted out.
"That's it? I thought they would ask for something big, like to fight the devils or something." he thought.
"Yes, I know it sounds simple, but we have our reasons for making this request. Don't worry, we don't mean any harm to you, you can rest assured."
"I know it's presumptuous of me, but if I may guess, is it related to some kind of prophecy from the World Tree spirit?" Aldrian asked. Elthar widened his eyes when he heard that.
"How did you know? It's something that only the imperial family and high nobles of our empire are privy to. Wait, did you meet the World Tree spirit?"
Aldrian pondered for a moment before answering, "Yes, I met the Balin World Tree's spirit and even talked to her. From our long conversation, I learned about the prophecy of the World Tree's spirit in the capital."
Elthar was shocked by what Aldrian told him.
"The World Tree's spirit showed herself to him?"
It was no wonder he was shocked; the World Tree spirit was a reclusive spirit whom even the elves found difficult to meet. In his entire life, the World Tree spirit had only met him a few times due to specific circumstances, and those were important matters. With that kind of spirit personality, forget about meeting them if they don't want to meet you. And now the young man in front of him said that the spirit talked to him and even conversed like people meeting each other?
"Sigh, you are truly a capable young man, little Aldrian. The World Tree spirit's status is so high in our empire; they are akin to our guardians and are very difficult to meet even if we want to. Even if they do meet you, not everyone can talk to them because the spirit language can only be spoken by a few. One of them showing herself to meet you and even talk to you is a sign that you are trustworthy to her. There is no precedent for our World Tree spirit to show herself to another race or outsiders," Elthar said.
"Well, it's true. Olivia just came to greet me after I asked her to come out, and she was curious about me due to that strange feeling inside her and my peculiarity." Aldrian thought.
"Then what about this prophecy, and what is the connection with me?" Aldrian already knew the prophecy of the World Tree in the capital from Olivia but wanted to hear it from the elves' perspective.
"Sigh, since you already know, it's much easier. I'm the only elf in this empire that comprehends karma and one of the two elves who can talk with the spirit of the World Tree. Because of the sharp sense of the World Tree spirit to nature itself, they have a keen sense of the world's changes. After the phenomenon of the dragon and phoenix 12 years ago, the oldest World Tree in this empire, the World Tree of Evergreen City, sensed the change in the continent's energy. She sensed the continent's energy starting to flow in one direction, and that is to—"
"Everlasting Silent Forest." Aldrian said.
"Yes, the spirit of the Evergreen World Tree came to meet me and told me about the congregation of energy she sensed concentrating in one area of the Everlasting Silent Forest. She also received a vision, which she had never gotten before: 'A being will come and return to sit on his high place, and he will become our light when the darkness starts to crouch on the land.' With this kind of prophecy combined with the Eyes of Heavens church's prophecy, which they announced to the world, it's apparent that something will happen to this land and that this being is our hope."
"And you think that being is me?"
"Yes."
"Why do you think that? It could be anyone. With that grand role, isn't it more probable that someone more worthy than me will come? I'm still 12 years old, you know?" Aldrian asked.
"Do you really believe what you're asking? Let's put aside the coincidence that you came from the Everlasting Silent Forest, After all the oddities you have and the impossibilities you have achieved? And the coincidence of events that have happened? Even your demeanor is not like a 12-year-old to me. If you ask me, no offense, but you are like an old man inside the body of a 12-year-old boy."
Aldrian was silent. Elthar was right on the mark when he said that. He didn't want to be arrogant, but since his birth, he couldn't be ordinary. All those signs pointed to a mystery waiting to be solved. He felt all of his uniqueness had the same origin. It was just his gut feeling, but he felt it led him in one direction: to the origin.
Looking at the silent Aldrian, Elthar continued, "Little Aldrian, I know it sounds ridiculous, but the main reason I believe it's you and not anyone else is not only those signs but also my intuition and instinct."
Aldrian widened his eyes. What if he was a bad person? Wouldn't that be like giving hope to the wrong person?
"I can't read you, even though I can comprehend karma laws. Karma can be a form of connection, feelings of beings, past, present, and even future. But when I see you, you are like an endless void and a place full of light at the same time, which I can't comprehend. It's like I'm reading nature itself."
Suddenly, Aldrian remembered that one line again: "I'm tied to nature."
"I'm tied to nature." he thought. "He said he can't read me because I'm like nature." He felt something rising inside him, his comprehension deepening, and he felt a little closer to the truth about himself, even though he couldn't grasp it yet.
"After seeing you again, I'm glad to know you have the qualities of an upright cultivator, and I'm not wrong. Sorry, but this is not our first meeting." Elthar said.
Aldrian looked at Elthar, "I know. I had the same feeling when I saw you, just like when I met the 'mayor' for the first time, or more precisely, the butler."
Elthar widened his eyes but then smiled, "As expected of you, little Aldrian. Well, I was sure I would be found out when I saw what you were capable of."
They were silent for a moment before Elthar asked, "So, little Aldrian, would you come with me to the capital?"
"When?"
"Tomorrow is good. There are many people who want to meet you, but please forgive me in advance; some may be slightly hostile towards you."
"Well, as long as they don't try to harm or humiliate me or my people, I'll ignore them."
"What an arrogant remark, but he has the power to back it up." Elthar thought.
"Well, if that happens, you can act as you see fit, but please refrain from killing them if you can. Some of them are nobles of the empire. I'll also have your back if someone picks a fight with you."
"With your excellency's ability and your support, I feel assured. But if I may ask, what is your position in the imperial family to dare to back me?"
Elthar smiled, feeling proud for the first time since he met Aldrian. "Well, I'm the one they call the imperial teacher of the Evergreen family, so you can rest assured about my promise and guarantee."
Aldrian was stunned but then sighed, "This really feels heavy for me. For the imperial teacher himself to show up in front of me, this is my highest honor."
"Aish, stop it. You've already met the World Tree spirit. What is that compared to me?"
"Alright, I'll come to the capital."
Elthar smiled and stood from his seat, "I hope you enjoy your stay in our empire and make the most of it."
He then extended his hand for a handshake, which Aldrian gladly took. "I will enjoy it." After all, it was also one of his ways to broaden his horizons. They returned to the mansion before Elthar excused himself and they parted ways. Aldrian then told Eleine the result of their conversation, excluding some parts, which made Eleine surprised and anxious about meeting the emperor.
When night fell, Aldrian went to the branch of the World Tree where he met Olivia.
"So you're leaving already," Olivia asked, her tone quite lonely and sad. For the first time since last night, she had someone she felt close to and could talk to, despite her reverence towards him.
Aldrian smiled and asked, "Do you want to come with me?"
"Can I? But I can't enter the area blessed by the World Tree of Evergreen without her permission."
"Well, I'll ask her permission to let you in then."
Olivia smiled, and they kept talking until midnight before he returned to his room to prepare for his departure to the capital. When morning came, Aldrian and Eleine were already in front of the teleportation station with the imperial teacher's entourage. At this moment, Aldrian shook hands with Livrin.
"I really thank you for your hospitality, Mayor Livrin," Aldrian said, smiling.
"No, it's my duty, and I can't thank you enough for your help in preventing the disaster in my city. Once again, thank you, and I wish you the best in your endeavors." Livrin answered with a smile. He then watched as Aldrian and the entourage from the capital entered the portal.
"His name will reverberate across the entire continent, I'm sure of it," he thought.