Chapter 79: The Path of the Wind

Although we couldn’t fully communicate, the elf woman and I were able to exchange simple gestures.

Through hand movements, foot gestures, and the direction of our gaze, I could read her intentions.

It was body language.

The elf woman gave a small smile and gestured for me to follow.

She walked ahead, then turned back to beckon me again.

I followed her through the forest, the pleasant breeze brushing against my cheek.

As the wind passed, it lightly shook the trees in the forest, and the green light scattered brilliantly with the movement of the leaves.

Swoosh—

The trees swaying in the wind offered a soothing melody.

Occasionally, the chirping of birds blended harmoniously, softening the atmosphere.

The remaining wariness melted away, and my mind relaxed.

The overflowing vitality around me brought comfort, and if I closed my eyes, I almost felt like I could float in the sky.

It seemed that Nightmare also liked the place.

It excitedly walked, tapping the ground with its paws, chasing after the wild grass and dirt.

I looked up at the towering tree—the World Tree.

High in the sky, there were countless wooden buildings hanging from its branches, like fruits waiting to ripen.

Despite this, it didn’t feel out of place.

It seemed as though those buildings had always belonged there, blending naturally into the surroundings.

On the way to the World Tree, there was a large lake.

Thick tree vines grew across the path, acting as a bridge that stretched to the other side of the lake.

The cool breeze touched the surface of the lake, creating wide ripples that spread out.

As I began crossing the vine bridge, other elves appeared from various directions.

From young children to the elderly, their sparkling eyes reflected warmth and curiosity.

I waved at the elves, especially the children.

In response, their lips curled into smiles as they waved back at me.

The kindness of humans was a familiar emotion, but the hospitality of the elves, a race long fading from human memory, was a unique experience.

Receiving such a warm welcome from the elves, I crossed the bridge and moved toward the towering tree.

The path leading upwards was made of thick tree vines, and as the height increased, a path connected by sturdy branches appeared.

Not all the elves, unlike what I had seen in the forest when receiving the seed, were wrapped in the wind.

Only a few elves flew gracefully through the air while most of them walked normally along the path.

Occasionally, a few elves approached me and spoke.

Although I couldn’t understand their words due to the language barrier, their voices were pleasant.

Before long, we arrived at the largest building atop the World Tree.

Made entirely of wood, it resembled a grand temple, with a faint light emanating from within.

The elf woman, who had been guiding me, gestured again, this time indicating for me to enter the wooden temple.

As I stepped inside the imposing temple, I witnessed a rather shocking sight.

Thin tree branches extended from all directions, long enough to reach the body of an elf woman connected to them.

The soft light I had noticed earlier was coming from the tree branches linked to her.

Sitting in a chair with her eyes closed, she gently began to open her eyes as I approached.

“HNGYAb…”

I didn’t understand the first part of her language, but the following words were in a language I could comprehend.

“Seris… I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Do you… know me?”

I was taken aback by her words.

Instead of feeling joy that I had found someone I could converse with, I was shocked to hear that she knew my name without me ever telling her.

“The wind tells many things.”

She said, raising her left hand connected to the tree branches.

On her delicate palm, a faint breeze formed, the same breeze that had occasionally brushed against my cheek or tugged at my hair.

Staring at it blankly, I remembered the promise I had made long ago in the forest.

I took out the small seed and handed it to the elf woman.

“Please, take this. I’ve come to deliver something that was entrusted to me.”

The elf woman simply stared at the seed in my hand, but didn’t reach for it.

Tilting her head in confusion, she spoke.

“Did you really come all the way here just to deliver this seed?”

“Yes.”

“Without any promise of reward?”

“Yes.”

“Even though I might not offer any reply after receiving it? Are you really certain about your actions?”

“Well… I might feel a little disappointed…”

I said, looking back toward the open temple entrance.

The scenery beyond was breathtaking.

The vast forest and the white clouds surrounding it.

The transparent white lake was truly beautiful.

Coming here to find the elves, a race now considered legendary, was entirely my own will.

It wasn’t for any special reward.

Thus, I had no regrets about my actions.

“I consider discovering a world I didn’t know as the reward.”

“You…”

“I’m an adventurer.”

Later on, like other adventurers, I wanted to raise a cup and reminisce about today’s memories with many others.

I wanted to say that I had truly visited many places.

That the legends were real.

It didn’t matter if no one believed me.

Even if I couldn’t prove today’s events, all the memories I had gained on this journey would not turn false.

And those experiences would become small stars, making my world shine even brighter.

Turning back, I approached the elf woman and handed her the seed.

“I have a question… may I ask?”

The elf woman looked surprised at my question, but soon smiled brightly, holding the seed gently in her hand.

“Of course.”

“What is your name?”

“Seris… Seris.”

As I recalled the name seris, I realized that in the elf language, it meant “wind.”

I took a small notebook from my bag and began asking Eres the questions that had been on my mind.

“What role does the seed I brought play?”

“It is a seed of the World Tree that supports this forest.

You could call it the core of a spirit, full of endless possibilities and abundant life force.”

“What’s the name of the whale flying around with this forest on its back?”

“The whale’s name is Raben.”

“Could you explain why Raben is carrying the Elf’s forest on its back? If it’s a difficult question to answer, it’s okay if you don’t want to say.”

“It was a kind of trade.

We needed a place to live, safe from dark sorcerers and demons, and Raben could provide such a place.”

“What did you give Raben in return?”

“At the time, Raben was suffering from a disease.

This disease was consuming Raben’s large body and taking away its life force, and we were able to provide life force to prevent the disease from worsening.”

“Is the reason why you look like that somehow connected to Raben?”

Eres nodded.

I asked many other random questions, from whether elves really don’t eat meat to whether hybrids between elves and humans could exist.

Without hesitation, Eres answered every question I asked.

I closed the book and nodded.

Since all my curiosities had been resolved, there was no point in asking any more questions.

Well, there was one last question left.

“Eres.”

“Yes?”

“Do elves plan to show themselves in this world again?”

“Seris, the passage of time has become a high wall.

Just as we were erased from human society, we are also starting to forget humans.”

“Hmm…”

“Of course, the wall that has been built will one day crumble.

If more time passes, that is.

But it’s not now.

If the seed planted here ever returns to this place…”

With that, the long conversation came to an end, and it was time for me to think about leaving.

Just as I was about to pull Nightmare’s reins, Eres spoke again.

“Seris. Please come a little closer.”

I tilted my head in confusion and approached Eres.

Then she reached out to me.

At that moment, thin branches began to grow from her hand, intertwining to form the shape of a small bow.

“Seris. We elves are not a race that forgets favors.

This gift is a token proving the bond between you and us, and it is also the key to return here.”

“A key…?”

“If you need it, just once, stick the bow into the ground.

Then a path will open.”

I nodded while awkwardly slinging the short bow over my shoulder as Eres handed it to me.

“I’ll use it well.”

“Are you planning to leave now?”

“Yes.”

“Then I will open the path of the wind for you.”

Eres said and raised her hand.

At her gesture, the surrounding winds began to gather, and a fierce storm outside the temple revealed itself.

It was a long, winding path of wind, extending beyond the white clouds, leading outward.

It seemed like I was supposed to ride that, but would it be safe?

I pulled on Nightmare’s reins and approached the raging storm.

The fierce wind did not spill out to the sides but flowed down the path, following its long course.

Riding Nightmare, I stepped into the wind.

It wasn’t as if I was about to fly through the sky; it felt like I was walking.

But the speed was so fast that I couldn’t even keep up with the wind, despite how much I tried to move my feet.

“Wooo—ooo”

Nightmare roared, but it didn’t seem uncomfortable.

On the contrary, it seemed like it was relishing the path of wind.

Perhaps because it was an adventure, it moved its paws excitedly, as if to challenge the flow.

I simply rode along, feeling like a small leaf floating on a gust of wind.

The world outside had completely disappeared.

The view was just the storm, the wind that had gathered, and a clear sky beyond the clouds.

Looking back, I realized I couldn’t see the World Tree.

But strangely, it didn’t feel lonely.

The gusts of wind and the pull of the path made me think that it wasn’t just a story of escaping the world I knew; it was the beginning of a whole new world.

I couldn’t wait for what would come next.