CHAPTER 93: THE STOLEN HEART

[Leif’s POV—Morning Chaos—Thorenvald Estate]

Thalion was still clinging to me like a vine possessed by grief, sobbing waterfalls onto my shoulder.

"OUR TREE OF LIFE IS DEAD, LEIF! DEAD!" he wailed, shaking me as if I were personally responsible.

I patted his back awkwardly. "Okay, okay—calm down. It can’t be that bad—"

"IT’S THE TREE OF LIFE!" he shrieked louder.

Okay, maybe it is that bad.

Eryndor stepped forward, his expression as flat as a frozen lake. "The Tree of Life is withering. It has never... withered."

"That’s not the same as dead!" I pointed out hopefully.

Thalion gasped. "Y-Yes! Exactly! So it’s dying—NOT dead! That’s worse!!"

... Right. Logic doesn’t exist this early in the morning.

Alvar dramatically appeared behind me, arms wrapping around my waist from behind and chin resting on my shoulder. "He just woke up. Must the world collapse now?"

Thalion glared. "It’s already collapsing!"

Alvar scowled back. "Collapse politely later."

I elbowed him discreetly. Eryndor sighed like a parent who had already given up on sanity. "Leif, you need to come with us to the Elf Village."

I furrowed my brows. "Why me? You have plenty of dramatic long-eared options already."

Eryndor didn’t even flinch. "Because you possess the divine power and..."

He paused.

I narrowed my eyes. "And...?"

"...and you’re... a little bit smart."

A beat of silence. I gasped. Then grinned like a kid who just received the shiniest trophy. I turned proudly to Alvar.

"Did you hear that?" I tapped my own chest. "Eryndor called me smart."

Alvar shot Eryndor a death glare capable of starting a war. "Stop luring my fiancé with manipulative compliments."

. . .

. . .

I blinked up at Alvar. "Wow...I am so offended."

His eyes widened like I’d just accused him of treason. "What? No—my love—listen."

But any romance was instantly obliterated by Thalion’s catastrophic sobbing.

"LEEEIF—PLEASE—DO SOMETHING—WAAAH—OUR TREE OF LIFE—IT’S DYING!" He clung to me like I was his emotional support blanket.

I sighed, patting his trembling back. "Okay, okay... maybe it’s just... old? Trees get wrinkles too?"

Eryndor stared at me the way someone stares at a broken teapot. "No, Leif. A Tree of Life can’t wither. It doesn’t age. It doesn’t weaken. It never dies."

"...Then why is it dying now?" Alvar asked, gaze sharpening.

Eryndor’s jaw locked. Silence hung. "We don’t know yet," he finally admitted. "But it’s not natural... something caused this."

Thalion hiccupped violently, gripping my robe. "Please... if the Tree dies... our village... our people..."

The room fell still.

Alvar exhaled slowly and turned to me, his eyes softening with resolve. "There’s no harm in checking... right, my love?"

I looked between the anxious elf, the jealous fiancé, the still-silent burning marble on my chest...and I nodded.

"If this Tree of Life is important to you all... then let’s go save a giant plant."

Thalion launched into another fountain of grateful tears. Alvar wrapped a protective arm around me. Eryndor nodded firmly.

***

[On the way to the Elf Village — Later]

Zephyy perched on my shoulder, tail swishing wildly. "Oooh, exciting! I haven’t entered the elf village in centuries. They have new leaves now, I bet!"

I eyed Baron walking beside us, still glaring back at the unconscious stranger’s chamber window.

"If that guy wakes up..." I began cautiously.

Baron’s eyes gleamed like a villain seeing a sale on swords. "Should I throw him in a dungeon, my lord?"

"Wha— No!" My voice cracked in panic. "Baron, absolutely not. No dungeons. No torture. No casual limb removal. Just—monitor him. I’ll interrogate when we return."

He looked... disappointed. Like someone told him murder was canceled.

Alvar stepped in smoothly. "No—I’ll be handling the interrogation. Once he wakes, keep a close eye on him. Nothing more."

Baron perked up, hand to heart. "Yes, my lord! I will stare so hard he regrets waking up!"

That... was not comforting.

Alvar then took my hand, thumb brushing the back of my knuckles. "Let’s go, my love. The elves are waiting."

I nodded and just like that—we headed for the Elf Village.

***

[Arrival—Elf Village—Later]

Elves are children of the forest.

Their hearts beat in rhythm with roots and rivers—so much that they would wage war without hesitation against anyone who dared to harm the land they call sacred. That is why they live here, deep within a living labyrinth of ancient trees. This place isn’t just a home to them.

It is family.

And at the center of that family stands her—The Tree of Life.

The first tree to ever exist in this world, according to their history.

The first breath of green after the world burned to ash. Before humans, dwarves, dragons, monsters—before anything—there was this enormous being. A goddess rooted to the earth. Eternal. Untouched by age or decay.

A tree that should never wither.

...But it has.

The elves gathered around us—fear and despair carved into every face. The Head Elf stepped forward, voice trembling.

"It began withering without warning. Leif... do you think the Goddess is angry with us?"

I stared up—neck straining—because it was massive. The canopy, once lush and shimmering with life, now drooped like a dying flame. Leaves have fallen like tears around its roots.

Zephyy hopped from my shoulder and sniffed around the trunk. No one stopped him—of course. A dragon’s curiosity was no less sacred than prayer.

Alvar stepped closer, brows furrowed. "Can’t the Tree of Life grow back?"

The Head Elf’s shoulders sagged beneath centuries of worry. "It can... but it would take at least a thousand years. And we fear what fate may befall our world before then."

I finally understood the panic in their eyes.

To elves, if this tree dies...The world dies with it.

And then...

"Master..."

Zephyy’s voice whispered directly into my mind, urgent and sharp. I glanced up, my eyes widening as I saw him already halfway up the colossal trunk, claws barely sinking into the bark.

"Master... the Tree of Life—The heart is empty!"

I blinked. "It’s a tree, Zephyy... it doesn’t have a heart—"

Right. I’m Leif Thorenvald. Used to reality, I forgot I’m in a fantasy land where even the impossible is plausible.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Tell me, Zephyy. Explain."

The Heart... it’s the core of the Tree. The life essence. Someone extracted it. I feel it... gone. Weakness... everywhere... Master, we must act!

My stomach clenched. The elves had been terrified, but now I understood—their fear wasn’t exaggeration. This wasn’t a withering from age. Someone—or something—had taken the Tree’s life essence.

But who?

I glanced at Alvar. His eyes were sharp, expectant. "Did... something happen, Leif?" he asked, voice low.

Every eye in the clearing turned toward me. I drew a steady breath and said, "It seems... someone has stolen the Tree’s Heart."

The words struck the elves like a thunderbolt. Panic erupted—wails, frantic movements, and glowing eyes darting in every direction.

Thalion clutched Eryndor’s arm, shaking. "Now... now what? What do we do?"

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. Alvar’s hand rested lightly on my shoulder, grounding me. He turned to the head of the elves, voice sharp but controlled. "Isn’t this village hidden by the seal? Who would dare steal the Heart?"

The elf leader’s voice trembled. "The Elf Village may be hidden from humans and monsters... but not from dwarves, magicians, or creatures of nature. Any of them could have found a way."

I nodded slowly, connecting the pieces. "Then that leaves us with only a few possibilities... either some clever beast took it... or... dwarves, or magicians."

Alvar’s brow furrowed. "And each of those possibilities is worse than the last."

A shiver ran through me as I looked at the withered Tree. Its branches drooped like the arms of a wounded giant. "We have to get it back... before the damage spreads."

The elves murmured in agreement, their fear mixing with determination. Even Thalion, despite the tears still clinging to his cheeks, squared his shoulders.

Somewhere deep in my chest, a fire ignited. Whoever had the audacity to steal the Heart of Life... was about to meet Frojnolm’s fury.