The battle continued for a long time in the gray mist. For the sake of protecting Gallolei, Elder Safran brought her to the rear of the area where the World Tree was.
A group of Blackwood Elves that does not possess battle capabilities were gathered here. A portion of them were young children whereas the other were priests and priestesses in charge of singing.
The inquisitors have yet to attack this area.
Hiding in this shelter, the elves appeared very worried. A priestess that seemed to be the leader of the group stood forth.
“Elder Safran, flames are burning around the forest. I saw enormous monsters and tentacles emerging from beneath the ground. Exactly what happened?”
“It must be the demons... I saw horns on those monsters. They’re also burning with flames,” said a trembling young elf.
“The people that infringed upon this forest are the inquisitors from the Nation of the Holy Church and not the demons!”
Elder Safran loudly corrected that young elf.
In this sort of panic-stricken state, the blackwood elves present would easily believe this sort of rumor.
That was precisely what the Heresy Tribunal wanted. They not only wanted to direct the Blackwood Elves’ anger toward the demons, they also wanted to direct the human’s hatred toward the demons.
Elder Safran was not interested in the conflicts between humans. But, what the Heresy Tribunal did foreordained that they will forever be the Blackwood Elves’ enemies.
If the future generations of the Blackwood Elves doesn’t even know who their enemies were, it would be extremely lamentable.
“Priestess Oranka, bring everyone away from this dangerous place.”
In the end, Elder Safran commanded with a sorrowful voice.
“We... are priests and priestess of the Holy Tree. We cannot choose to run away at a time like this!” The female priestess leading the group spoke with a determined attitude.
“The Holy Tree has withered...”
What Elder Safran revealed shocked all the priests and priestesses. It also shocked several of the young elven children.
“If this is the fate of our Blackwood Elves...”
The female priestess looked out of the shelter they’re in. The verdant and lush forest has withered away. The leaves of the trees turned to dust as they scattered away. The scenery of death filled the entire forest.
“This is not the fate of the Blackwood Elves!”
Gallolei got down from Ayte’s back. She held the priestess’s hand...
When the priestess felt the World Tree’s lifeforce being emitted from Gallolei, she opened her eyes wide in shock.
She immediately understood what Elder Safran wanted them to do. After a short conflict within her mind, she made the decision to leave this withered land.
.........
Gallolei climbed back onto Ayte’s back as they escaped from the range of the black mist. The Blackwood Elves were following after her with deers as their mounts.
The Blackwood Forest has been engulfed by flames.
Keeping a distance right next to Gallolei the entire time, Elder Safran has been using his magic to disperse the surrounding flames.
As the brown bear Ayte stepped on a scorched tree, he let out an uneasy roar and suddenly stopped running.
Someone... had caught up to them!
Gallolei felt like she could understand the brown bear. As the brown bear moved its body in unease, Gallolei had no choice but to get down from Ayte’s back.
“I’ll take on those intruders... you bring the Daughter of the Forest away from this place!” Elder Safran said to the companion that has accompanied him for all these years.
But, the brown bear Ayte did not do as Elder Safran requested. It let out a mouthful wail. At this moment, Gallolei noticed the brown bear’s two front paws were drenched with blood. Those were not blood from enemies.
Instead, those were its own blood.
During the raid, it had sustained serious injuries protecting Gallolei from the inquisitors.
Gallolei could tell what Ayte was trying to convey with its wails. It planned to stop the pursuers on its own.
Ayte licked Gallolei’s hand. It was expressing to her that it was fine.
“You... you’ll be able to return, right?”
Gallolei didn’t stop Ayte. She only quietly asked it that question. The brown bear Ayte rubbed its moist nose against Gallolei. Then, it turned to look at Elder Safran.
After Elder Safran nodded his head, Ayte turned around and started running toward the burning forest while roaring. Several young elven trainees also followed the brown bear into the burning forest.
“...”
Gallolei stared at the burning forest. Her desire to reveal what the inquisitors had done was what was supporting her determination to escape from this place. Because of that, she did not linger around.
“My compatriot, may you and the forest’s anger pour down torrents upon those intruders.”
Elder Safran looked on as Ayte ran into the burning forest. He picked up a handful of soil from the ground and tossed it into midair. The soil turned into a large amount of finger-sized clay golems that entered into the forest’s soil.
“Daughter of the Forest, get on... The only thing I can do now is to help you escape the pursuit of those intruders.”
A deep roar sounded from Elder Safran’s mouth. In a blink of an eye, he turned into a giant wolf the size of two people.
Gallolei got on the back of the wolf. Immediately, the wolf started running through the forest.
At this moment, the roar of the Brass Dragon sounded from the forest. Gallolei turned around to look at the sky. The Brass Dragon had flown up into the sky and was breathing out destructive dragon’s breath at the ground below.
The Brass Dragon seemed to have regained his awareness. But... Gallolei knew that the forest was approaching death. Not even the Protector of the World Tree would be able to change its fate.
After running away for over two hours, Gallolei was finally able to escape from the fire-filled forest. She arrived at a lake.
Gallolei knew this lake. It was located on the other side of the Blackwood Forest, the completely opposite direction from the territory of the Grand Duchy of Blackwood.
But, it was impossible for her to return to the forest and advance toward her own home. The flames have sealed off the forest. If she attempts to return through the forest, it would be extremely dangerous.
Furthermore... there were over twenty Blackwood Elves that escaped out together with her.
At this moment, Gallolei came to a sudden realization that she was no longer the little girl that would throw tantrums at her parents. A heavy sense of calling filled her heart and weighed down upon her shoulders.
“Daughter of the Forest... should we continue onward? The region ahead is not your father’s domain.”
Elder Safran’s voice sounded from the giant wolf’s throat. After this girl inherited the Seed of the World Tree, her status within the Blackwood Elves far surpassed his own now.
Gallolei hesitated. She turned back to look at the blazing forest and pondered whether to stay here.
Perhaps other Blackwood Elves would also be able to escape and reach this place? For example, there was her bodyguard Flay and... the brown bear Ayte that went back to stop the pursuers.
If she travels too far, they might not be able to find her.
But, it turned out Gallolei’s worries were unnecessary. An enormous silhouette appeared from the burning forest. The Blackwood Elves accompanying Gallolei revealed uneasy expressions.
But, what emerged from the forest was the brown bear Ayte.
It kept its promise with Gallolei and returned to her.
Excited, Gallolei hopped down from the giant wolf’s back and ran over to the brown bear Ayte. But, upon arriving before Ayte, she discovered it was completely covered in scars and seemed very feeble.
It only managed to walk out of the forest but immediately collapsed after.
“Ayte...”
Gallolei extended her hand to scratch at Ayte’s chin. Ayte used its moist nose to rub at Gallolei’s face.
But, that tiny movement completely exhausted its remaining strength. The brown bear’s giant body collapsed onto the ground. Then, the final trace of life started to gradually seep away from its body.
Gallolei watched this scene with her eyes wide open. She opened her mouth and wanted to say something. But, in the end, she buried her face into the brown bear and started crying bitterly.
No matter how heavy of a duty she now carries, Gallolei was only a young girl.
Elder Safran returned to his elf appearance and silently watched as his old friend gradually passed away. He extended his hand to stroke at the brown bear’s charred fur.
Quietly, Elder Safran said, “May your soul rest in peace... my old friend.”