When I reach the southern forest, the high elves welcome us, probably because Miss Miriel told them what’s going on.
And standing in front of the others acting as their representative, is Brynhildr.
“Mister Arata, Miss Snow, and the other two visitors, welcome.”
When I first met her, her face was very inexpressive, but it looks peaceful now.
She was under a lot of stress back then. I’m happy to see she can smile like this now.
“…”
“Edinburgh?”
I whisper to Edinburgh, who’s staring at Brynhildr.
“I thought about this before too, but I feel your magic energy is close to mine.”
I don’t understand, but it looks like Brynhildr knows what she means.
“Ah… Yes. Perhaps we share the same lineage.”
“Lineage?”
“Yes. Unlike humans who perform intercourse, elves are born when their village is overflowing with magic energy. There are several lineages in that magic energy, so perhaps we come from the same flow.”
“So, like what we would call sisters or twins?”
“Something like that.”
Elves are like a big family, so they don’t pay too much attention to genealogy.
Also, the difference between elves and high elves comes from the power they have when they are born.
This isn’t like what Zephir told me…
Continent folklore says high elves are like elven royalty. Well, that folklore is thousands of years old, so it makes sense that it’s not exactly right.
Come to think of it, Katima said that high alfar are alfar who received the blessing of the great spirits.
When I say that, Brynhildr smiles awkwardly.
“All elves receive Miss Miriel’s blessing when they are born.”
I can imagine her holding and pampering newborn elves, and blessing them.
At the same time, I can picture Miss Sheryl giving power only to those who have what it takes to be strong.
They’re opposites, but I know both want to protect their followers, so they also have that in common.
So even one race can become different in many ways if enough time passes.
“Daddy, can we go yet?”
We’re also standing here talking, and Snow looks a bit bored.
It’s interesting to me, so I lost track of time, but the point is to go to Yggdrasil to make Snow feel better.
“We can talk more as we walk.”
Brynhildr smiles as she looks at Snow, and we head inside the barrier.
◇ ◇ ◇
Other than last time when there was trouble, the high elf village is peaceful.
Unlike other places on this island, monsters don’t attack here, and we reach Yggdrasil with no issues.
“It’s so big!”
“Ah, don’t run off on your own!”
Snow raises both arms as she dashes towards Yggdrasil, and Tiltue goes after her.
She’s more excited than usual, probably because Yggdrasil is a sort of hometown to her.
“Don’t worry, there are elves around Yggdrasil.”
“Hahaha, sorry to bother you.”
Yes, when I focus, I can feel their presence.
They seem fidgety, because a great spirit they worship is on her way.
“It does feel nostalgic.”
“Are your memories coming back?”
“It doesn’t feel like it.”
Whispers Edinburgh as she looks up at Yggdrasil. That’s too bad.
‘Welcome back. I was waiting for you.’
I feel like I hear a voice saying that, but when I look around, I don’t see anyone who could have said it.
But then my body shines…
And suddenly I’m in a white space.
“This…”
This is where I met god, before coming to this island.
Back then, the fact that I died and was meeting such an incredibly special being left me with no room in my mind to pay attention to my surroundings, but now that I can, it feels like a pretty serene place.
“Hum! Is anyone here!?”
I was taken here all of a sudden, but I don’t feel ill will.
But since an attack out of malice wouldn’t work on me, I imagine there’s a reason why I was brought here. I’m here alone, so I have no idea what I’m supposed to do.
‘This way.’
I hear that voice again. It feels nostalgic, but it’s not the voice of the god that reincarnated me.
I go where the voice says, and the white space suddenly gains color.
It turns into a place with many green trees, along with wild animals like squirrels and wolves that walk alongside me like they worship me.
Snow would be really happy if she was here, and as I think that, I come across a tree.
It’s about as big as me, but it’s overflowing with vitality.
It changes shape when I get close, and its branches hug me like they’re arms.
This feels really nostalgic…
“Ah!?”
“Father? You were in a daze. Are you all right?”
“Ah, yes…”
Suddenly, I’m back where I was.
Was that a dream? No, it felt so real…
Anything can happen on this island, so I assume it meant something.
“If you’re not feeling well, how about you rest under that tree?”
Asks Brynhildr with a worried tone, but I shake my head.
“Thank you for your concern, but I’m all right…”
Then I look around to see what Snow is up to, and see her clinging to Yggdrasil.
She’s using her tiny arms and legs to climb it like a cicada.
Tiltue is going after her to make sure she doesn’t fall.
Also, the elves are all watching nervously.
“Snow is always making people go along with her…”
“Fu, fufufu… No, it seems everyone is enjoying it.”
“Daddy! Look look!”
I guess she reached her goal, because she’s waving from on top of a branch.
I wave back, and she keeps going, saying she’s going up somewhere even greater.
“It was tough with how she cried yesterday, but I’m glad we came.”
Even though Snow was feeling stressed with Reina out training, she looks like she’s having more fun than normal.
“…She really is just going to keep climbing.”
“Eh?”
I look up after Edinburgh calls attention to it, and see Snow climbing really fast.
I guess she thinks Tiltue chasing her is funny, because she keeps going like she’s running from her.
And the elves behind her look flustered as they try to keep up.
Why is everyone climbing like that, clinging to the tree?
I’m pretty sure they ran more nimbly when Yggdrasil was being attacked.
Now they’re going up like cicadas too. I don’t think they’d get hurt if they fell either…
“I’ll go take a look.”
I fly next to Yggdrasil, and past the elves.
“Mister Arata! No!”
I hear them say that, but I pass them before I can hear why, and reach Tiltue and Snow.
“Ah…!”
“Eh?”
“Daddy no! Climb! You can’t fly!”
“Eeh…”
“No!”
She’s really upset.
So that’s why everyone’s climbing like her, to follow her rules.
“Darling, if you’re going after her, do it properly.”
Even Tiltue is saying that, so I dejectedly go back to the ground.
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