After the appearance of the "Messenger of the World Tree," elven society was never the same again.
That revelation which shook the entire forest did not bring faith alone…
It brought division as well.
A deep fracture that quietly spread through hearts, palaces, temples, and noble houses alike, until it became painfully clear that every faction — no matter how different their goals were — had reached the very same conclusion:
The age of observation was over.
And the age of action had begun.
For within the world of politics and power, hesitation was nothing more than a slow death, and opportunities grand enough to reshape an era did not appear twice.
Eliminate your enemies.
Expand your influence.
Seize absolute control over the stage.
Those were the true thoughts moving beneath the elegant masks of loyalty, religion, and devotion.
---
Within the grand halls of the royal palace, a massive meeting was convened between the king, high nobles, ministers, military leaders, and the most influential figures of the elven kingdom.
On the surface, the gathering appeared perfectly ordinary.
Discussions regarding the celebrations of the divine revelation.
Strengthening alliances between major factions.
Preparing ceremonies dedicated to the Messenger of the World Tree.
And deciding how he should be treated politically and religiously.
Everything appeared calm.
Stable.
Orderly.
Yet the reality beneath that fragile surface was far harsher.
Behind composed expressions hid eyes as cold as winter frost.
Smiles carried no sincerity.
And poisonous whispers slithered between the attendees like serpents concealed beneath tall grass.
Every person in the hall was watching everyone else.
Every word carried hidden meanings.
And the moment the title "Messenger of the World Tree" was mentioned…
Silence descended.
A strange silence.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
As though the very name itself had become a spark capable of igniting the entire hall.
---
Then suddenly—
The massive doors of the chamber burst open.
A soldier rushed inside, breathing heavily from panic and exhaustion before immediately dropping to one knee.
"Your Majesty!" he shouted loudly.
"One of the outer temples has been destroyed!"
The next instant, a violent crash echoed through the hall.
The king slammed his hand against the table with such force that cups and ornaments trembled violently, his expression twisting with fury.
"This is an outrage!"
"Who dares commit such sacrilege?!"
But while anger erupted across the chamber…
A faint smile appeared on the face of one of the ministers.
A sly smile.
The smile of a man who felt the moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
The soldier swallowed nervously before continuing.
"The preliminary investigation… discovered traces of human magic at the site."
And at that moment—
The atmosphere froze.
A suffocating silence swallowed the hall whole.
Then whispers slowly began to spread among the nobles.
"But… the only human currently here is…"
"No… that cannot be…"
"Could it really be—"
"Silence!"
The king's roar cut through every voice instantly.
But the damage had already been done.
The seed of doubt…
Had been planted.
---
At that exact moment, several ministers realized the perfect opportunity had arrived.
One of them slowly raised his head before speaking in a calm tone hiding deadly poison beneath it.
"Perhaps… the Messenger is not what we believed him to be."
Another minister immediately followed.
"And perhaps… the Church fabricated the revelation from the very beginning."
One after another, the ministers belonging to the opposing faction began speaking carefully, almost as if weaving an invisible web around everyone present.
They did not attack directly.
No.
They merely planted suspicion.
A small question here.
A vague comment there.
Yet that alone was enough.
Because words spoken at the proper moment could become far more dangerous than swords.
---
Even so, the opposing side did not remain silent.
Several defenders of the Church rose furiously to their feet.
"How dare you question the sacred revelation?!"
"This is betrayal against the World Tree!"
"No—this crime deserves execution!"
Within moments, the entire meeting descended into chaos.
Voices rose violently.
Accusations were exchanged from every direction.
And the hall that had begun as a formal political gathering transformed into a battlefield of religion, power, and ideology.
---
Then—
Amidst all the noise and fury, one of the ministers suddenly spoke in a quiet voice…
Yet clear enough for everyone to hear.
"The very existence of a human Messenger of the World Tree…"
He paused briefly.
Then finished coldly.
"Is itself a sin."
The moment those words fell—
Silence consumed the hall once more.
Absolute silence.
Because he had openly spoken the thoughts many had buried deep within themselves.
The king's expression instantly darkened.
He looked toward the minister with icy severity and spoke in a dangerously calm tone.
"Watch your words."
The minister trembled slightly before bowing his head immediately.
"My deepest apologies, Your Majesty."
The king remained silent for several long moments, clearly trying to regain control before the situation spiraled beyond repair.
Finally, he spoke with firm authority.
"I will personally begin an official investigation regarding the temple incident."
"And until the investigation concludes, this matter is forbidden from being discussed further."
The moment his words ended, every person in the hall bowed simultaneously.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
---
After the meeting finally ended…
The king returned to his private chambers looking visibly exhausted.
The moment the queen saw him, she immediately noticed the weariness in his eyes.
"How did the meeting go?" she asked softly.
The king let out a deep sigh before rubbing his forehead in frustration.
"The situation is becoming increasingly complicated…"
"Those damned ministers are weaving schemes everywhere."
The queen quietly approached him before gently placing a hand on his shoulder in comfort.
"Do not worry…"
"No matter what happens, we will always stand beside you."
The king looked at her silently for several moments.
Then a faint, tired smile slowly appeared across his face.
And only within his own heart did he whisper:
"Your presence alone… is what keeps me standing."
---
Meanwhile…
Far away from all that political chaos, Leo remained entirely focused on something else.
Inside the hidden location Ava had revealed to him, he sat calmly amidst an endless sea of mana.
As time passed, his body gradually adapted to the terrifying density of energy within that place.
His mana absorption became faster.
Cleaner.
Far more efficient than before.
And truly…
Leo realized that this hidden sanctuary was exactly what he needed at his current stage.
The perfect place to grow stronger far away from prying eyes.
During his cultivation, he briefly wondered how the outside world was changing.
How chaotic had the kingdom become after the appearance of the Messenger?
How far had the conflict already spread?
But after only a moment, a faint smile appeared across his lips.
"It's still too early…"
---
Elsewhere…
Within a dark and hidden chamber illuminated only by dim magical lamps…
The opposing faction gathered once again.
Unlike before, the atmosphere was noticeably lighter.
Some of them even looked pleased.
One man leaned back in his chair with a cold smile.
"The meeting was an overwhelming success."
Another calmly set down his cup before replying:
"Now the real plan begins."
Then he added in a chilling tone:
"Once the seed has been planted…"
"All we need to do is water it… and wait."
Silence briefly filled the chamber.
Then, from the deepest shadows of the room, a man finally spoke.
And the moment his words echoed through the hall, faint smiles appeared across everyone's faces.
"What if the Messenger of the World Tree…"
"…was never a messenger at all?"