My world-tree system-Chapter 48 - 47: Rejection

The group of elves walked lightly, moving with ease through the forest regenerated by the influence of the Mother Tree. Their expedition had been a success, thanks in part to Kassandra’s invaluable assistance. She had shown herself to be fast and efficient, and had proved her worth by skilfully tracking game and spotting edible fruit.

While maintaining her mask of humility and gratitude, Kassandra could feel the burning of the obscure mark engraved on the back of her neck. Her body may have been free, but her soul was chained.

Soon, the imposing intertwined roots of the entrance to the plant dome appeared between the trees. A warm breeze passed over their faces, carrying with it the smell of damp earth and the sap of the Mother Tree.

- We have arrived," announced an elf with a tired smile.

The living roots quivered at their approach, recognising themselves as the children of the World Tree. They slowly unravelled, forming a natural archway that let them enter without resistance.

All went through... except Kassandra.

When she set foot inside the walls of Vollua, everything changed.

An electric shudder ran through the entire dome, a deep vibration shook the roots, and suddenly they closed in on her, pushing her back with an invisible force.

Kassandra was thrown backwards. Her back hit the ground hard, knocking the breath out of her. An involuntary scream escaped her.

The elves froze, stunned.

- What the...?

Arlan, the eldest of the group, approached immediately.

- Are you all right?

Kassandra struggled to her feet, her arms trembling. Her heart was beating wildly. She didn’t understand.

No. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

She refused to understand.

- Why...?" she murmured, her hand clutching her chest.

She looked desperately at the vegetation barrier. The Mother Tree had rejected her.

Why had it rejected her?

The elves exchanged troubled glances. The dome had never opposed one of their own.

- Why won’t they let her in?

- She’s not a World Tree elf

- but she can’t stay outside like that.

Kassandra gritted her teeth.

The Mother Tree recognised her blood. He had sensed something foreign in her.

Worse still, he had felt the dark stain that marked her body.

- We’ve got to warn Foster," an elf said suddenly.

Arlan nodded, concerned.

- Yes. You go and get him. I’ll stay with her.

An elf ran off towards the city.

Silence fell.

Kassandra, still sitting on the ground, lowered her head to hide the icy rage that tensed her features.

- Shit.

Foster’s point of view:

Foster was walking briskly through the alleyways still scarred by the battle. He felt a strange pressure on his chest, a mixture of apprehension and relief that he couldn’t quite shake.

Kassandra... She’s alive.

For a moment, he had thought that all those who had stayed with the Queen had perished. He had resigned himself to the idea. To hear it here, now, when everything seemed to be stabilising at last... it was unreal.

When he finally reached the entrance, he saw a group of elves gathered around a kneeling figure.

Kassandra.

Even in tatters, even weakened, she remained imposing. Her back was straight, her gaze fixed on the barrier of vegetation that barred her way. Her body bore the scars of a battle he could only imagine: hastily healed wounds, deep bruises, tattered clothes...

But the most striking thing was her expression.

Kassandra was usually inflexible. She had never let her emotions rule her, least of all in front of her subordinates.

Here, she seemed... lost.

Foster took a deep breath and stepped forward.

The elves moved aside as she passed.

- Kassandra.

She raised her head, and as soon as she saw him, her eyes were tinged with raw emotion.

- Foster...

His voice was hoarse, tired.

He stopped a few steps away from her, taking the time to observe her.

They had fought together, survived countless battles. She had been his captain and his friend.

His heart squeezed in spite of himself.

- You’re still alive.

She laughed, shaking her head slightly.

- I should be dead.

Her gaze shifted to the impenetrable dome in front of her.

- But apparently I’m not worthy enough to be.

Foster placed a hand on the living bark.

He immediately felt a familiar pulse, a silent response from the Mother Tree.

A clear refusal.

- Why are you refusing his passage?" he asked, as if he could extract an answer from the protective entity.

There was no reaction.

The dome didn’t move.

Foster looked away.

- Why are you here?

She lowered her head slightly, and when she spoke, her voice was broken.

- Because I’ve got nothing left.

There was a silence between them.

Then she looked up at him, and what he saw in her eyes took his breath away.

A deep suffering, an emptiness he didn’t know she had.

- I did my part, Foster. I protected the Queen to the end... but it wasn’t enough. They all died. All of them.

His fist trembled on his thigh.

- I managed to flee like a coward after being subjected to their torture and amusement.

She let out a bitter laugh.

- I wandered around for days, I didn’t know where to go. Then I came across some elves from the World Tree... and I remembered that there might still be a home somewhere.

She raised a hand to the plant barrier, touching the gnarled bark with her fingertips.

- But he won’t let me in.

Foster remained silent for a moment.

His instincts were screaming at him that something was wrong.

The Mother Tree didn’t reject elves for no reason.

He approached her again and held out a hand.

- Let me have a look.

She stared at him for a moment, hesitating.

Then she stretched out her arm.

Foster placed his fingers on her skin.

And immediately, he felt a dissonance.

Something foreign, muted. A silent, latent magic... compelling.

He clenched his jaw imperceptibly.

His eyes returned to hers.

- What have they done to you, Kassandra?" he murmured.

Her eyes widened slightly, but she recovered immediately.

- What are you talking about?" she asked in a falsely confused tone.

But Foster wasn’t listening any more.

He closed his eyes and turned to the Mother Tree.

Through their link, the Mother Tree was sending him a continuous and repetitive signal of urgency and danger, like a very loud alarm that could not be turned off.

Foster’s eyebrows furrowed even more deeply.