Toward the Tree

Vernacular Poet fell silent for a moment.

Windchaser watched his expression. Originally intending to continue asking about Silver Wolf, she stopped as well.

Her eyes lit up for a fraction of a second. "Hidden quest?"

"Not sure." Vernacular Poet looked at the interface visible only to him, his speech a bit slower. "The content is... asking us to investigate the abnormality of the World Tree Branch Shadow."

The air grew quiet.

Windchaser was stunned for a moment. "The World Tree? Isn't this the root of the elves?"

Vernacular Poet did not answer immediately; he looked at Silver Wolf.

Silver Wolf leaned against the tree roots, chewing bubble gum with little change in her expression. "Looking at what."

"I remember you observed the World Tree earlier, Wolf Venerable." Vernacular Poet said respectfully while thinking for a moment. "Did Wolf Venerable discover anything?"

Silver Wolf first became interested in Vernacular Poet, not expecting that a mere glance would actually be remembered.

However, she still recalled that line of text in her goggles.

[Status: Corrupted]

She did not say it right away.

Viewing the World Tree from the outside right now showed no withering or major problems.

The elves showed no panic either.

That tree stood upon the water, its trunk a pale silver, leaves transparent, and the reflection even mirroring the starry sky.

Silver Wolf raised her eyes toward the direction of the tribe. "Yes."

Windchaser immediately leaned in close. "What is it! What is it."

"Not sure yet, we'll talk about it when the time comes."

Windchaser: "Ah?"

"Talking now is useless." Silver Wolf stood up. "Look at the quest first."

Vernacular Poet nodded. "The quest requires us to go near the World Tree Branch Shadow to find a supplicant. The name is..."

He paused.

"Lumina."

Windchaser blinked. "Sounds like she holds an important position."

"Should be." Vernacular Poet put away the interface. "Get ready. I've looked at some lore bloggers and have a slight understanding..."

Silver Wolf glanced at him. "Know who it is?"

"But still don't know." Vernacular Poet shook his pitifully head. "Even the fables and stories about the World Tree on the community are pitifully few."

Windchaser touched her chin. "Then we can only go over and take a look."

Silver Wolf said nothing; she merely blew a bubble.

Pop.

Then pulled it back in.

Just as Windchaser wanted to step forward, she suddenly looked back at her. "Wolf Venerable, you definitely have to tell us when the time comes."

Silver Wolf waved her hand. "No problem, why would I lie to you."

Vernacular Poet smiled very faintly. "That's true."

Finally, the trio began walking back toward the tribe.

"Wolf Venerable, give us a hint, you probably..." Vernacular Poet originally wanted to trade bottoms up.

Silver Wolf waved her hand, then chuckled softly. "What? Want to set up a flag for yourself? Not striving for a no-death run?"

Vernacular Poet originally wanted to open his mouth again, his lips twitching slightly, but in the end, he didn't say it out loud.

Meanwhile, Windchaser walked ahead while turning her head back. "Wolf Venerable is so amazing, can you keep following us."

Silver Wolf looked at Windchaser in front of her with puzzlement. "You're taking all the perks and benefits."

Windchaser let out an "ehe" sound and continued hopping forward.

--Tribe Center--

In the distance, the World Tree Branch Shadow still stood quietly on the water.

The pale silver trunk shimmered with a faint light, and the translucent leaves swayed gently in the breeze. The water's surface mirrored the starry sky, devoid of any foul stench, withered leaves, or cracks. It looked too clean to have any problems at all.

At this moment, everyone gathered together.

Silver Wolf pushed her goggles down a little bit.

In her field of vision, that line of text emerged once more.

[World Tree]

[Status: Corrupted]

[No matter where, the heavens #&*...]

This time, a line of garbled text appeared behind the status, as if obscured by something.

Silver Wolf narrowed her eyes. Hiding pretty deep.

Right at that moment, a soft voice came from beneath the tree. "Several travelers."

Everyone turned around.

A pink-haired elf stood beside the World Tree Branch Shadow.

She wore a light white long dress, the hem embroidered with moon-leaf patterns. Her long pink hair hung at the sides of her shoulders, and her eyes were a crystal-clear azure blue. Her hands were folded across her chest in a posture resembling prayer.

She looked very young.

Vernacular Poet tentatively spoke. "Lumina?"

The pink-haired elf nodded gently. "It is me."

Her voice was gentle and calm.

Subsequently, her gaze swept across Windchaser, Vernacular Poet, and Sunken Crow, finally resting on Silver Wolf.

Lingering just a bit longer.

Silver Wolf chewed her bubble gum and looked back.

Lumina quickly averted her gaze. "The elder has already told me." She looked up at the World Tree Branch Shadow. "Inside the branch shadow, there has been weeping recently."

Windchaser subconsciously lowered her voice. "Weeping?"

Lumina nodded. "As if coming from the depths of the tree roots."

Vernacular Poet asked, "Has this kind of situation happened before?"

"No." Lumina spoke softly. "In my remembrance, there hasn't."

She gazed at the World Tree, a trace of undisguised worry lingering at the bottom of her eyes.

"At first it was only heard occasionally."

"Then it became more and more frequent."

"In the past few days, it has appeared almost every day."

Vernacular Poet looked at that tree. "Do you need us to go inside and investigate?"

"Yes." Lumina reached out, gently touching a slender branch drooping from the World Tree Branch Shadow.

A moon-white door emerged amidst the foliage, soft light flowing out from within the door. "I can open the path leading to the interior."

Silver Wolf looked at that door, and the data lines in her goggles began to jump erratically.

[Entrance]

[Status: Accessible]

[Warning, warning.]

Silver Wolf smiled faintly. "Classic."

Vernacular Poet rubbed his chin. "Looks like the Abyss?"

Lumina nodded. "Indeed... That bizarre Abyss can only rely on you travelers."

Silver Wolf thought to herself, Oh? New setting.