The sudden surge of magic hit the Elves first. On March 20, the Forest Walker Temple in Halcala's forest was already in complete chaos.
The temple, which Halcala had once thought too vast and empty, now held so many trees that it felt like standing in a rainforest.
At the innermost part of the temple, closest to the Forest Walker, stood eight critical-care chambers for treating severely injured trees. Though they varied in diameter, each one resembled a glass building, with a pit more than ten meters deep belowground and a Magic Pattern glass dome dozens of meters high aboveground.
"Be careful! Make sure the roots don't hit the Magic Pattern glass!"
On the ground, a High-Rank Druid shouted up at them. Following his gaze, they could see dozens of vines wrapped around a snow fir reduced to half its former length, slowly lowering it into a treatment chamber.
"Isn't that Ruggus?"
The Druid turned and saw Siviji, a High-level Stegosaurus, behind him. She had clearly recognized the Magic Tree being brought into the treatment chamber.
"You're right. It's Ruggus of the Oak Clan. He was treated when Princess Halcala ascended last year, but last night, a large group from the Underground Tribe attacked the World Tree, and he was injured again. This time, it's even worse than before, so we had to bring him back at once."
"How unfortunate," Siviji said, shaking her head. "I thought the princess's ascension had healed most of the trees that needed treatment. I thought all that remained was to slowly restore the other Magic Plants."
The High-Rank Druid sighed. "You're far too optimistic. Every Magic Tide is a disaster for the Elves. When magic surges, Beast Tides break out, and newly risen High-level Magic Beasts and Beast Gods need to feed on Elves