CHAPTER 157: A DRAGON?

Her heart skipped, though she said nothing. Instead, she looked up at the glowing sky where fairy lights floated like stars.

For that single night, in the heart of the elven forest, the burden of her past, the curse, the blood, the fear seemed a little lighter.

And though morning would bring duty and battle once again, Ling Yu allowed herself, just this once, to exist within that fragile peace.

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The elven fair reached its peak by the time Ling Yu and her group arrived. The silver lanterns hanging from the towering branches of the elder trees swayed in the soft wind, their glow mingling with the faint shimmer of moonlight filtering through the leaves. The air was fragrant with crushed flowers, sweet fruit wine, and the faint tang of spirit energy. All around, the elves danced barefoot in concentric circles, their laughter echoing like windchimes in the night.

Nie Ziyu’s eyes sparkled as he spun in place to take in the scene. "This place looks like a painting..." he murmured, awestruck.

"More like a dream," Ye Qingxue replied softly, brushing a strand of her silver-dyed hair behind her ear. "If I didn’t know better, I’d think time doesn’t move here."

Ling Yu didn’t reply. Her expression remained composed, as always, but her eyes, those calm pools of storm-black, reflected the myriad lights around them. The fair was lively, yes, but she couldn’t shake the strange pressure that lingered in the air. The forest seemed too quiet beneath the music, as if something darker hummed beneath the elves’ joy.

They were guided to a raised platform woven out of living branches, overlooking the festival square. The First Elder sat there, his long emerald hair gleaming faintly under the lantern light. When he turned to greet her, his serene smile carried the kind of timeless grace that could make one forget their own name.

"Lady Ling," he said with a faint bow, "I trust you are finding our humble celebration to your liking?"

Ling Yu inclined her head. "It is... peaceful."

The elder chuckled softly, gesturing for her to sit beside him. "Peaceful, yes, it indeed is. Though we often forget that peace, too, must be protected." His words carried a weight beneath their casual tone, one that made Ling Yu glance at him sideways.

For a while, they watched in silence as the elves danced and sang below. The melody shifted from jubilant to serene, an ancient song, carried by the voices of dozens of elves whose harmonies intertwined with the rustling of leaves and the murmur of the forest itself. Tiny motes of green light floated from the trees, joining in their rhythm like playful spirits.

Finally, Ling Yu broke the silence. "Elder," she said quietly, "this song... it feels like a prayer."

"It is," the elder replied, his expression softening. "Each night, our people offer this hymn to the spirits of the forest, to keep the corruption away."

"Corruption?" Ling Yu tilted her head slightly.

The elder nodded gravely. "This forest, as beautiful as it seems, stands at the boundary between two worlds, the realm of the living and the fading plane of the forgotten. The World Tree, or the Tree of Oath as we call it, anchors both realms together. If the corruption of the lost spirits seeps too deeply into this land, the tree will wither. And when that happens... both worlds may fall apart."

Ling Yu’s brow furrowed. "Then this ritual isn’t simply tradition, it’s like a protection charm."

"Yes." The elder’s voice carried a note of sorrow. "We elves may seem carefree, but our joy is a defiance against despair. We dance, we sing, because if we forget to celebrate life, then the corruption wins."

His eyes turned toward the direction of the forest’s heart, where a faint golden glow pulsed rhythmically beyond the canopy.

"That is where the World Tree rests," he said quietly. "Its light keeps this land alive. But its roots are trembling more with each passing year."

Ling Yu followed his gaze, her fingers tightening slightly over her knees. "Then my mission..."

"...is perhaps fated," he finished for her, smiling faintly. "I know you did not come here by chance. The bond between us was meant to be formed, Lady Ling."

She glanced down at the faint golden sigil glowing faintly on the back of her hand, the mark of the bond contract. Ever since the elder had kissed her hand that afternoon, she had felt a strange warmth spreading through her veins, mending wounds that should have taken days to heal. The ache in her ribs had faded entirely, and her spiritual energy flowed more smoothly than before.

"Is this mark connected to the tree?" she asked.

"In a way," the elder replied. "The bond you formed is a blessing granted by the World Tree itself. Through me, the tree accepted your presence within its domain. You will find your strength replenished here, as long as you harbor no malice toward the forest."

Ling Yu’s gaze softened, though her tone remained practical. "That’s... convenient."

He laughed lightly. "Such humility! Though I sense in you no greed, only purpose. You are unlike the usual adventurers who enter our domain."

She didn’t respond to that, merely nodding politely. Her gaze swept across the crowd again. Nie Ziyu and Ye Qingxue were laughing among a group of elves, sharing fruit wine and watching a group of forest sprites flit through the air like glowing butterflies. Even Xian Yu, her quiet companion, had taken to helping a group of children braid flower garlands, his usually stoic face soft with amusement.

For the first time in what felt like forever, her team looked... at peace.

Ling Yu exhaled softly and turned back to the elder. "You mentioned corruption earlier. Do you know what caused it?"

The elder’s expression darkened. "It began centuries ago. When a dragon fell."

Ling Yu’s heart skipped a beat. "A dragon?"

"Yes. Not one of the ancient protectors, but a corrupted dragon, its heart shattered, its soul bound by something... foreign."