Chapter 254: Request, Tracing Back to the Source

"Gawain...?"

Moira paused slightly upon hearing the voice, though she made no other reaction, naturally pulling the door open to reveal the three figures standing there: the Elf Elder Gawain, Zig, and Noel.

"Hmm? Greetings to you all."

After the door opened, Gawain caught sight of Wang Yu and Avia, immediately greeting them with a smile.

"Greetings."

Wang Yu and Avia responded.

"These are my two newly accepted disciples. You should already know them, so I won't bother with introductions. State the business you've entrusted to me directly; I am busy with matters lately, and if your request is too troublesome, I may choose to refuse."

Moira spoke bluntly to the visiting Gawain, granting the Elf Elder no special courtesy.

"Moira, the problem in the Origin Forest this time is truly grave. It likely concerns the Tree of Life itself, and the entirety of Liah-haim. This is of the utmost importance, and you are the only scholar in Liah-haim who has truly mastered both pharmacology and magical beast studies. Can you help me this once?"

Gawain showed no irritation at Moira's rudeness, speaking slowly with a tone of slight entreaty.

"Concerns the Tree of Life, concerns Liah-haim? But I am not an elf, am I? Does this really have much to do with me? Besides, I’ve never been considered one of you here, have I?"

Moira raised her eyebrows, speaking casually, unmoved by Gawain’s sincere request.

"If you are still dwelling on that matter, I am willing to apologize to you once again. I truly could not break the rules for that... truly, but we never meant to exclude you as a member of Liah-haim."

A helpless, bitter smile appeared on Gawain’s face as he explained earnestly to Moira.

"That sounds very nice, but this time it is also very difficult for me to break my own rules for you. I am sorry. If it is too much trouble, forgive this old woman who has lived long enough for refusing. My energy and time are limited; I cannot waste too much on other things."

Moira waved her hand, dismissing his explanation and once again displaying her resistant attitude.

Wang Yu and Avia exchanged a glance. Although they knew from Zig that there was some history between Gawain and Moira, the near-spiteful resistance Moira displayed toward Gawain's request still left them wondering what exactly had transpired between them.

"Regardless, I apologize again for that matter. But I wish to know, what exactly would it take for you to help us investigate the situation in the Origin Forest? Anything within my power, I will not refuse."

Gawain looked directly into Moira’s eyes, once again showing his frank and earnest demeanor.

"What if I said I wish to use the Source Pool of the Tree of Life once more? Of course, not for any individual this time, but for one of my works. Would you agree?"

Moira gave a slight huff, stating her condition.

"The Source Pool? If that is the condition, then I indeed..."

Upon hearing the condition, Gawain furrowed his brows, appearing exceptionally conflicted. After a moment of thought, he prepared to give his answer to Moira without much hesitation.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough, ugh..."

But before Gawain could finish his sentence, the sound of rapid coughing and retching from within the room interrupted him.

Hearing this, Moira ignored Gawain entirely and went straight to the bed where Sif lay, checking the state of the elf, who had returned from a dazed state and was now coughing and retching incessantly.

"How are you, Sif? Do you feel alright? Is there any emptiness or pain deep in your throat?"

Moira skillfully picked up a small jar from the table, scooped out a bit of pink gelatinous ointment, and applied it to Sif’s smooth, slender neck, patting it gently.

As the ointment vanished into the skin, Sif’s coughing ceased. Moira then softly asked how the elf she had known previously was feeling.

"Aunt Moira?... I, I... have you seen my sister? She was seized by a rampaging Ancient of War to cover my escape."

Sif shook her head forcefully, as if waking from a dream, her eyes red and swollen from the violent coughing. Upon hearing a familiar voice, she did not answer Moira’s question but instead asked urgently about her sister.

"Sise..."

Moira’s words of inquiry faltered. After speaking the name of Sif’s sister, she fell silent. Though she did not continue, the meaning she intended to convey was clear.

"..."

Sif also fell into silence. She did not burst into loud sobs; the long, enduring lives of the elves gave most of them a relatively calm and detached temperament, and an elf who could become a Ranger would not be a coward without resolve.

Two lines of tears slid down Sif’s face, dripping onto the blanket covering her tattered clothes. Her calm temperament and resolve were real, but the bitterness of losing a close relative who had accompanied her for hundreds of years was equally real and heart-wrenching.

"Thank you, Aunt Moira, for saving me. I was in a daze when my sister was killed and entangled by the vines; I must have been affected by something."

"That may also be the reason why the Ancient of War mutated again and could not be soothed by the branches of the Tree of Life. I must inform the Rangers and the Elf Guards of this."

Wiping the tears from her face, Sif quickly adjusted her state. After thanking Moira for saving her life, she intended to get up and leave.

She had to convey more information to her companions; the sacrifice that happened to her sister should only happen once.

"Don't be hasty. Your condition still needs to be confirmed. And I must correct one mistake: it was not I who saved you, but him."

Moira pressed her hand down on Sif, who was trying to rise from the makeshift bed, preventing her from acting immediately, and pointed to Wang Yu, signaling that it was he who had saved her.

"This human gentleman, thank you for saving my life. I will repay you later. Aunt Moira, I know you are worried about my condition, but I must convey this news."

Sif turned to express her gratitude to Wang Yu earnestly, then placed her hand on Moira’s wrinkled hand, explaining her motivation.

Her strength could have easily overturned Moira, who was just an elderly human, but she did not do so.

"I am not stopping you from conveying the news, but there is no need. Just say it here; someone will naturally pass your words along."

Moira brushed Sif’s hand away and pressed her fingers back onto Sif’s neck to confirm her state, explaining her reasoning.

"Ah? What do you mean?"

Sif did not understand what Moira meant, feeling a bit bewildered, unsure whether to continue explaining or to listen to Moira.

"Sif, Ms. Moira is right. You can just tell me."

Gawain’s voice reached Sif’s ears, immediately dispelling her confusion.

"Elder Gawain, why are you here?"

Sif asked in surprise. Her attention had been on Moira and Wang Yu, and she hadn't noticed anyone else until Gawain spoke.

"I have something to ask of Ms. Moira, which also concerns the mutation in the Origin Forest. You can just tell me the news you have."

Gawain said gently to the still-surprised Sif.

"Alright, Gawain, I agree to your request this time. Once I finish checking Sif’s condition, I will take my disciples to the Origin Forest. If you wish to come along, I won't stop you. I will give you a result."

Moira’s words interrupted the exchange between Gawain and Sif. She handed a small bottle of blue potion to Sif, signaling her to drink it, then turned to look at Wang Yu and Avia.

"Come with me to the Origin Forest later to see how things are. Based on your description, since the Elf Guards have already been dispatched, those threats must have been cleared. There will be no problem for us to go; consider it a substitute for the magical plant collection assignment. Also, that thing Sif spat out—have you researched its problem?"

After telling her two disciples what was to come, Moira pondered for a moment and threw another question at them.

"One moment, Avia has already discovered the problem based on some of its structures. Give her a moment, and we will have a preliminary conclusion soon."

Wang Yu responded to Moira’s question. The girl was already intently studying the small piece of flesh-root bud that Wang Yu had caught. A glowing ring formed by magic rotated and zoomed in over the girl’s right eye, helping her analyze the structure of the object before her.

"Well done. As expected of the disciples I chose. Alright, Sif, your condition is fine now. If you wish, you may leave."

Giving a thumbs-up to the two—a gesture she had learned during their time as master and apprentice—Moira patted Sif’s shoulder, informing her that her body was no longer in danger.

"Moira, thank you very much for your help. I thank you on behalf of Liah-haim."

A complex emotion flickered in Gawain’s eyes; he truly had not expected Moira to agree to help so easily.

"Forget representing Liamheim; I have simply come to realize that holding a grudge against you over that incident, while watching those who should not have died perish, is truly

stupid enough to make me laugh at myself."

Moira waved her hand dismissively, paying no mind to Gawain’s words.

"Aunt Moira, let me come with you. I have faced this mutated forest myself, and in any case, I should be able to assist with your investigation."

Sif reached out and took hold of Moira’s hand, looking at her as she spoke.

"Of course. I am glad you have emerged from your grief so quickly; you are still the little Sif I once knew."

Moira nodded, granting Sif’s request, while casting a sidelong glance at Gawain, her eyes filled with an inexplicable meaning.

"Since you are all here, let us depart at once. Even if I have agreed to your request, my time is not to be squandered. Do not linger here wasting it. Let’s go—Sif, Wang Yu, Avia."

Moira clapped her hands, snatched a small bag from a nearby cabinet, slung it over her arm, and strode toward the door. Just as she had said, she seemed unwilling to waste a single moment.

Gawain stepped aside with a bitter smile to let her pass, then followed close behind. How could he not? The state of the Origin Forest was of paramount importance; after all, the root system beneath that woodland belonged to the Tree of Life.

As Wang Yu followed Moira toward the door, he caught the professor’s eye. Ziggy’s words were conveyed through simple lip-reading.

"Even if he has changed his ways, Gawain remains a man who is far too hidebound, or perhaps, far too obsessed with order."

Wang Yu nodded. Too hidebound? If one lacks the flexibility to adapt, it certainly leads to some very troublesome conflicts...

...

"Sir, may I ask your name? I must repay you for saving my life. Could you tell me your address in Liamheim? This is mine. If you ever need help in the city, please come find me; I will certainly do my best."

As Wang Yu pondered, he felt a touch on his shoulder. It was the elven ranger he and Avia had rescued. Sif handed him a slip of paper with her address.

"Wang Yu. I live in the district designated for non-human races in Liamheim."

Taking the paper, Wang Yu did not stand on ceremony and provided Sif with all the information she requested.

"Very well, I shall remember it."

The conversation ended, and the group stepped out of Moira’s cabin. Moira had already climbed naturally onto Gawain’s mount, the giant eagle Angora, and looked back, waiting for them to catch up.

"Hurry. Neither my time nor the time of the Origin Forest can afford to be wasted."

Moira waved at them, urging them to follow.

The group quickened their pace and mounted the giant eagle. Angora beat its powerful wings, rose into the air, and carried them toward the Origin Forest.

......

"What was expelled from Miss Sif’s mouth is, in essence, a plant. Although it looks like a slice of meat, the flesh growing upon it does not belong to the plant itself, but to Miss Sif."

High above on the back of the soaring eagle, Avia held the small piece of flesh Sif had coughed up. She pulled at it slightly, and as the blood-stained tissue tore away, the true nature of the object was revealed.

It was a small, simple root system, as if a plant had been severed above the soil, leaving only the roots that had been buried. Now, even the dirt had been stripped away, leaving only this small cluster.

"This must have entered Miss Sif’s body when she was entangled by the vines of the War Treant. This root-like plant burrowed into her throat, using her flesh as soil, and just as it would grip earth, it solidified into a small lump of meat—the very piece we saw."

"Furthermore, although this root is tiny, its secretions possess potent anesthetic and hallucinogenic properties. This is one reason why Miss Sif remained in a stupor. As for the other reason, I shall demonstrate."

Avia explained her findings to the group, pausing before she reached the second cause of Sif’s condition, choosing to perform a simple demonstration instead.

Pinching the root cluster in her left hand, she gathered magic in her right. She quickly cast a spell: Second-tier, Psychic Shock—a simple mental assault.

An invisible ripple swept over the cluster in her hand, and immediately, it began to twitch violently, emitting a high-frequency "rustling" sound.

The "smoldering" powder Moira had poured into Sif’s nose had not killed it; the flesh surrounding it had shielded it from harm. Only now, with Avia having stripped away the meat, was the thing truly exposed without protection.

After a moment of rapid vibration, it suddenly stopped, then curled up and turned yellow, transforming within seconds into a withered, tumbleweed-like husk in the girl’s hand.

"Although this thing showed no capacity for mental influence, the fact that it reacted to a psychic shock is enough to tell us a great deal."

Avia looked at the group, stating her thoughts with solemn certainty.

"Finally, the small bud on that piece of meat, I suspect, was a sign of it evolving into its next form after absorbing enough nutrients, though Teacher Moira stopped it."

The girl concluded her summary.

"Understood. Your analysis is truly spot-on; it is astonishingly excellent. Combined with what has happened in the forest, this information is enough for me to draw some conclusions. Angora, descend. Wang Yu, help me uncover the soil; I must see the root network of the Origin Forest."

Moira highly approved of the girl’s analysis, giving her maximum affirmation. She patted Angora’s head, signaling the eagle to descend toward the spot where the War Treant had gone berserk and killed Sif’s sister.

Angora, for reasons unknown, obeyed Moira implicitly, flapping its wings to land and bringing them down to the floor of the Origin Forest.

"Boom!"

With the power of the Chariot fully unleashed, Wang Yu commanded the earth. The soil buckled like water, parting to either side as he dug deeper and deeper with his power.

Under his excavation, a deep pit gradually formed, sinking further into the ground. A few minutes later, Wang Yu wiped the sweat from his brow and stopped.

The exertion of using the Chariot’s power to its limit was significant, but beneath the surface, a dense tangle of roots was now exposed. This was the root network beneath the Origin Forest, the one connected to the Tree of Life.

With Sif’s help, Moira descended among the tangled roots and began to probe them. After a brief search, she seemed to find a root that felt anomalous, pulled a syringe from her bag, and plunged it into the growth.

"Click-clack, click-clack!"

As the needle pierced it, the "plant" root began to writhe frantically, rubbing against the other, motionless roots and emitting a harsh, grating sound.

"Just as I thought. This root network beneath the Origin Forest—some of these so-called roots of the Tree of Life are fake."

Moira’s eyes glinted as she stared at the root, which had revealed its true nature under the influence of her reagent, her tone turning grave.

(Thank you for reading; this will always be my greatest motivation!)