Another World – Yggdrasill Forest, One Year Ago
A mighty roar shook the scorched earth, once the home of the legendary Yggdrasill trees—towering giants known as the tallest in the world. Now, more than half of the once-thriving forest had been reduced to a desolate wasteland of pitch-black soil. The source of this devastation was a monstrous beast. Were it not for the divine aura radiating from its white fur, many would have called it an abomination.
The creature had the body and tail of a fox, a wolf-like snout lined with crocodilian teeth, and powerful limbs tipped with razor-sharp black dragon claws. Towering angelic wings, spanning several meters, adorned its back, and its bloodshot, snake-like eyes burned with untamed fury.
With every deafening roar, it summoned storms that incinerated the earth. A single flap of its wings sent gales strong enough to uproot trees over thirty meters tall as if they were mere twigs. Wherever this divine calamity passed, only lifeless wasteland remained.
Just a few meters away, two young women with unnaturally long, pointed ears stood their ground, shielded by a shimmering barrier of white light. Though it held for now, the numerous cracks forming across its surface signaled that it wouldn't last much longer.
Both were in dire condition. Their bodies bore deep stab wounds and scorched burns, evidence of a brutal battle. The silver-haired woman wore what had once been a splendid suit of medieval armor, now reduced to a battered heap of metal. Scratches marred its surface, half of her helmet had been destroyed, exposing one of her ice-cold blue eyes, and her chestplate was riddled with cracks. The armor on her right arm and left leg had been completely obliterated, leaving those limbs unprotected.
The other woman, in contrast, was in slightly better shape. With long, light-blonde hair and emerald-green eyes, she wore a white and gold dress that radiated an aura of royalty. Unlike her companion, her injuries were fewer, and her attire remained mostly intact, yet exhaustion was evident in her trembling form. She looked as though she might collapse at any moment.
"Sisster, please… return to the capital," the silver-haired warrior urged. "Gather the remaining soldiers, and flee to the nearest human realm. As long as you survive, even if our homeland is destroyed, you and our people can rebuild it someday. I swear on my life—I will buy you enough time to escape!"
"No, Aislyra," her sister replied firmly. "We cannot allow this beast to remain free in the world any longer. It has already caused too much death and destruction. I will make a pact with our goddess to seal it away." She then softened, offering a gentle smile. "And how many times must I tell you? You don't have to speak so formally when it's just the two of us."
Aislyra's eyes widened in shock. Her voice trembled as she said, "But, Sis… Goddess Elfidora loves you too much. If you ask such a thing of her, she will likely demand—"
Before she could finish, her sister placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I know," she said solemnly. "But if that is the price I must pay to save our people and our home, I will not hesitate." Her emerald eyes shone with unwavering determination.
Alisia stood frozen, paralyzed by the sheer resolve in her sister's gaze. Seizing the moment, Alberia clasped her hands together and began her prayer.
"Oh, great Elfidora, supreme goddess of the elves, I, Alberia Elenlora, queen of the elves of Yggdrasill, humbly request an audience with you." Her voice carried a divine harmony as she raised her arms toward the heavens.
The instant she closed her eyes, her consciousness was pulled into another realm. When she opened them again, she stood in a mystical forest bathed in an ethereal glow. Before her stood a woman with long, dark-green hair interwoven with leaves of countless plant species. Her eyes gleamed with the same verdant light, and her elongated ears were even longer than those of an elf. She was draped in an elegant gown woven from pure white leaves.
Alberia did not waver—this was not her first time in the goddess's domain. Without hesitation, she met Jord's gaze and pleaded, "Great Goddess Elfidora, grant me the power to seal away this beast. If left unchecked, it will not only destroy the sacred forest but countless other kingdoms, bringing death to many more innocents!"
The goddess smiled, her expression serene and angelic. "Of course, my dearest daughter," she said. "But in exchange, one year from today…"
Before she could finish, the full extent of the divine contract formed in Alberia's mind. She did not flinch. Instead, a soft smile graced her lips. "Thank you, my goddess," she whispered. "If that is the price you ask, I gladly accept—especially if it means I can grant a good soul a second chance."
A glowing green rose-shaped mark appeared on Alberia's right hand as Jord's voice resonated through the realm. "The contract is sealed. Come, my beloved Alberia. Let us end this calamity."
As Jord's words faded, Alberia's mind was pulled back into her body. Her blond hair had turned the deep green of the goddess's, and her eyes now gleamed with divine radiance.
Alisia gasped, tears welling in her eyes. "So… you really made a pact with Goddess Elfidora, Sis…"
"Yes," Alberia confirmed, her voice gentle. "But don't cry, Aislyra. My reign has been long. If sacrificing my soul to the heavens means protecting you and our kingdom, then I have no regrets."
Aislyra bit her lip, realizing there was nothing she could do to stop her sister's resolve.
"Aislyra, prepare yourself. I am lowering the barrier," Alberia commanded, her tone resolute.
"Yes, Sister," Aislyra responded, shifting her mind into battle mode.
The moment Alberia dispelled the barrier, a powerful gust from the beast nearly swept Alisia away. She barely managed to keep her footing by driving her massive sword into the ground. Meanwhile, Alberia, now imbued with Jord's power, stood unfazed by the storm. She raised her left hand, and in an instant, a bow of radiant green light formed. In her right hand, an arrow of the same luminous energy materialized, ready to strike.
"Oh, great Elfidora, protector of all forests, seal this defiant chimera so that it may never bring suffering to your creations again!" Alberia's entire body radiated divine brilliance as she released the arrow.
Before it reached the beast, the arrow transformed into a colossal spear of pure light, piercing straight through the creature's chest, pinning it to the ground before it could react. Massive chains sprouted from the spear's base, binding its limbs and wings. The beast thrashed and howled in desperation, but it was futile. The divine spear had sentenced it to the earth.
Moments later, from the spot where the beast had fallen, a towering Yggdrasill tree burst forth, its trunk stretching higher than any before it. The tallest and mightiest sapling in all the known world had just been born.
As the tree reached its full height, Alberia's appearance returned to normal. She cast one final, warm smile toward her sister before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.
"Sis!!!" Aislyra cried out in despair.
Italy, Alps – Monte Rosa, Present Day
Three young adults—a girl and two boys, all in their early twenties—walked along a narrow mountain path. To their side, a steep cliff dropped several meters down into a dense forest. The sky, once a brilliant blue, had begun to darken, shifting to an ominous gray.
Noticing the sudden change in weather, the only girl in the group voiced her concern. "Lucas, Marco… what do we do? Should we head back?"
"No, Anna," Lucas replied. "We're closer to the shelter than to the car now. But we should pick up the pace—it's dangerous to be on this path if it starts raining heavily. The ground gets extremely slippery."
"The forecast said it'd be sunny all day. Maybe it's just passing clouds?" Marco suggested.
"Maybe," Lucas admitted, glancing at the sky. "But just in case, we should hurry."
As if in response to his words, the first few drops of rain began to fall, barely noticeable at first.
"Damn," Marco groaned. "Why did the weather forecast have to be wrong today of all days?"
Anna placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Marco. We'll be here for two days anyway. If we're lucky, tomorrow will be sunny. Now, let's hurry—it's starting to pour."
The trio quickened their pace, hoping to reach the shelter before the storm worsened.
But within minutes, the drizzle had turned into a full-blown tempest. Howling winds thrashed the treetops, and thunder echoed through the mountains. The path beneath their feet had turned treacherously slick, and their visibility had been reduced to almost nothing.
Marco, walking ahead of the group, was moving at an even faster pace than before, desperate to reach shelter as soon as possible. Lucas and Anna, lagging behind, were far more cautious with their steps, watching their friend with growing unease.
"Marco, slow down!" Lucas shouted over the wind. "The path is extremely slippery! If you keep going like that, you're going to fall!"
Marco turned his head back toward them with a confident grin. "Guys, don't worry! You know I have great balance. Everything's gonna be fi—"
He never finished his sentence.
He hadn't stopped walking while speaking and failed to notice the broken branch in the middle of the path. His foot caught on it, and before he could react, he lost his balance. The slick ground and relentless wind worked against him, sending him skidding toward the cliff's edge.
Panic surged through him as he flailed, desperately trying to regain control. His feet found no purchase on the slippery terrain. In less than a second, he was about to plummet to his death.
But just as all hope drained from him and his body tilted past the point of no return, two hands seized his arms in a firm, unyielding grip.
Moments Earlier
Lucas had been watching Marco carefully. The instant he saw his friend stumble, he sprinted forward, careful not to fall into the same trap. But as Marco reached the edge, for the briefest of moments—a mere fraction of a second—Lucas's mind was assaulted by a memory.
A memory of a girl.
A little girl, no older than twelve, her voice calling for help.
He knew who she was. He knew why this memory had resurfaced now, at this exact moment.
His grip on reality snapped back into place.
'Not this time!' Lucas thought, pushing his body to its limits.
Ignoring his own safety, he lunged forward, reaching Marco just in time to grab him before he fell.
But the moment he secured his grip, reality set in—his footing was just as unstable. If he held on like this, it was only a matter of time before they both went over the edge.
With a strained smile, Lucas made a split-second decision.
Summoning every ounce of strength in his body, he hurled Marco back onto the path. His friend landed safely, away from the danger.
But Lucas himself…
The force of his throw made him lose his own balance. His footing gave way, and this time, there was no one to catch him.
As he felt himself plummet, he heard Anna and Marco screaming his name. Yet, amid the chaos, a single thought filled his mind:
'Thank God… This time, I made it in time.'
A small, satisfied smile formed on his lips as he crashed toward the forest below. He closed his eyes, exhaling what he believed to be his final breath.
His life had ended.
Or at least, that was what Lucas had expected.
Another World – City of Luminaresta, Royal Palace (A Few Minutes Later)
Against all logic, Lucas regained consciousness.
Eyes still closed, his first instinct was to consider the possibility that he had somehow survived the fall. Perhaps he had simply been knocked unconscious and was now lying in a hospital bed, rescued by hikers or a rescue team.
But the moment he opened his eyes, that possibility was shattered.
The room he found himself in bore no resemblance to a hospital. Instead, it looked like something pulled straight out of a medieval noble's castle—like the historical sites he had visited in Italy. The only striking difference was the walls, which appeared to be made of some kind of pale, bark-like material.
He was lying in a large, lavish four-poster bed, its fabric softer and more elegant than anything he had ever felt before.
His confusion deepened.
As he sat up to take in his surroundings, something unusual caught his attention. Strands of blonde hair entered his field of vision.
His breath hitched.
His hair had always been brown.
He quickly brought a hand to his chest, and immediately, a new, even more unsettling sensation overtook him. His body felt… different. His chest was much heavier than it should have been. And worse—something that should have been between his legs was simply… gone.
A surge of panic rushed through him. His gaze darted around the room, searching desperately for anything that could give him answers. Then, his eyes landed on a large mirror standing at the far end of the room.
Heart pounding. The reflection that stared back at him was not his own.
Instead of a normal young man in his twenties, the mirror showed a beautiful woman with long, golden hair and pointed ears—someone who looked as if she had stepped out of a fantasy game.