Chapter 113

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Chapter 113: Falling Wall

Even before the earliest fruits fell, wizards and Druids had begun studying the Tree of Life. While one side searched for theoretical support in old scrolls, the other collected data from living Trees of Life, forming more unified perspectives.

Elves have no history books. They pass down their history through inscriptions and songs—like asking your mom for firsthand answers about something that happened five hundred years ago, the importance of history books seems similar to diaries. The inscriptions of the Elves have long been lost in the fires of war, but the songs remain, though they may have altered over time in retelling.

Setting aside the exaggerated and dramatic versions, and the unnecessary additions to spice up the story by minstrels, a more reliable version of the Tree of Life legend goes something like this: In a year of great catastrophe (a blazing fireball descending from the sky / the earth churning with waves of mud like the sea / frightful demons wreaking havoc on the land / and so on), the children of the forest will return to their homeland, seeking refuge with the Elven King. The king of the Elves preserves the seeds of life, burying them deep somewhere to endure the harsh winter, only to sprout new life on the next spring day, growing into the Tree of Life. After several years (some say ten, some say fifty, and others say a hundred), the Tree of Life will hatch Forest Elves, the Light of Life will illuminate the earth, and the children of the forest will once again thrive on the post-disaster land.

"Today, I just realized that ‘preserving the seeds of life’ is meant literally," murmured a researcher.

In conclusion, most researchers believe that the Tree of Life will grow Forest Elves within a range of ten to a hundred years (quite a wide range). They also think that the fluffy fruits that grow within a few months are just another manifestation of the Light of Life, like Fairy Lamps, demonstrating the flourishing vitality within the tree’s shade. When the first fruit, previously considered mere decorations, fluttered away, all the golden fruits flocked outside the researchers’ windows in groups that afternoon, causing chaos among the research team.

After the chaos, they regrouped and corrected their assumptions.

"Children of the Forest" does not refer to Forest Elves.

Forest Elves are a type of Children of the Forest, but Children of the Forest is not just limited to Forest Elves. It includes many other races like centaurs, forest fairies, and so on. You can find traces of their existence in many legends and songs. Before griffins were tamed as companions by knights, wild griffins lived in the forests next to elves. Unicorns, who cherish pure hearts, often accompany Forest Elves. As a rare long-living species, they can be companions till the end of life.

That’s why the Tree of Life can produce fruits other than Forest Elves.

Besides archers, druids, and rangers, there is another common profession among Forest Elves called "Beastmaster." Marion encountered an elven Beastmaster in that small enchanted realm, who fought alongside a unicorn in harmony. This profession is somewhat like a combination of Druid Beast Speaker and Shapeshifter. They can fight alongside magical creatures, and for the Forest Elves, griffins and unicorns are the most common partner options.

Four hundred years ago, the Elf King summoned all the Forest Elves of Aryan; they came from all directions to the sacred land of the Druids. With trust in the king and love for the world, they embarked on an expedition to the Astral Plane. The Forest Elves arrived, along with the companions of the elven Beastmasters. The griffins and unicorns, who were halves of each other with the Forest Elves, embarked on the journey without hesitation.

In the end, they stayed there forever with those Forest Elves.

Their king did not betray their trust. The Forest Elf monarch waited in the desolate Astral Plane for four hundred years until the visitors from their homeland arrived. The seeds of the Tree of Life not only nurtured his people but also their intimate companions who shared life and death with them. In the cycle of life, griffins and unicorns fell from the tree and were reincarnated for the second time.

The magical creatures that remained in Aryan have become extinct, but the seeds were preserved in the Astral Plane. The quarter of the continent that ultimately fell became Noah’s Ark. Their "journey" may have failed, but it was not without meaning.

On the lush branches of the Tree of Life, new fruits are growing.

These fruits are very small, just as big as a thumb. They are round and cute in a bright green color, looking like polished jade beads or naturally formed crystals. Unlike the previous fuzzy fruits, these fruits are smooth on the outside, growing slowly. Even after several months, there is no visible change, only the Druid who observes and records them constantly can notice the subtle differences.

They appear delicate and fragile, making people worry that they might fall with just a gust of wind or a rainstorm. But in fact, the fruits on the tree happily jump in strong winds and storms, remaining unscathed in frost and heavy snow, proving to be stronger than they appear. The tree spirits grow quietly on the branches, perhaps taking at least ten years just like the legends say, before anyone can see the true beauty of the pointed-eared beauties in poems.

The news of the spirits spreads, causing a stir in the crowd greater than that of griffins and unicorns. This is another legendary race that has long been gone, their stories stuck in the past four hundred years ago when the Allied Forces under the Aryan Declaration had just expelled the Heavenly Realm and the Abyss, sharing the sweet wine of victory and glory among different races. The Forest Elves are like a condensed version of these legendary tales, ending at their most beautiful moments without aging heroes, decline, betrayal, or wars resuming. Time delineates vast imaginary spaces, and people long for them for various reasons, just as they yearn for that legendary era.

Plus, the Forest Elves are so beautiful, aren’t they?

"It takes at least a dozen years…" someone sighed, shaking their head at the picture in the newspaper, wishing they could fertilize the Tree of Life.

"Just a dozen years!" an optimistic person said. "Ten years aren’t much, and I can hang on for fifty years. I’ll be able to see things that have been missing for almost five hundred years. Our generation is so lucky!"

"It’s all about dealing with the Abyss going back home," someone else said. "Well, it’s good because if the Abyss popped up again right after they put it in its place, people might think we aren’t capable. We wouldn’t look good."

This was said with the spirit of a host cleaning up the house before inviting guests. In this age where people can know what’s happening in the world sitting at home through newspapers and radio, even those who have never left a small town in their lifetime can feel a sense of belonging to Aryan and take pride in their own part of Aryan.

We mustn’t lose, they said with a smile. If we lose to the Abyss, we won’t see the elves.

As trade became more frequent and productivity increased, information spread more quickly and easily. With a large amount of information, each piece of information stayed for a shorter time. News about griffins, unicorns, and Forest Elves spread as the terror from the Abyss diminished.

People preparing for the battle intensified their preparations, and the years of preparation gradually became a part of their lives. After getting used to it, they weren’t too nervous. For most people, the threat of the Abyss felt both near and far, like a dentist appointment six months away. It made them worried, but they knew they had to face it and could overcome it.

Later, Tasha discovered that the "Light of Life shining on the earth" was more than just poetic words.

Druids found that the vegetation in Angaso Forest was going through another growth period, with many plants thriving as if under a spell. Several pathways near the forest were swallowed up after a rainy season, overgrown and abandoned for years. A self-organized patrol team nearby discovered something unusual as they cleared the pathways.

"The trees have been growing really fast these days, we are especially happy as the more they grow, the more we can cut down. Over the years, we’ve had forest protection regulations and those people with walking sticks, always watching closely… Oh, cut off this part before broadcasting." The woodcutter told the radio station reporters, "We were working as usual that day. When we reached a section blocked by trees, Kenny found a good tree. Before he could start chopping, he positioned the axe twice. Can you guess what happened? That tree suddenly stood up and ran off!"

"The tree ran off?" the host asked in amazement.

"Not the tree, it was Kenny who ran off. If you pull a radish and it runs out of the ground, won’t you exclaim? That was a huge pine tree, with a thick trunk, as tall as a building, making loud thumping sounds as it ran, leaving mud with each step. I have a brave heart, so I chased after and saw, ‘Wow! That pine tree had a nose and eyes, with a big face hanging down!’"

This woodcutter and his companion Kenny were lucky as the pine tree they encountered had a good temper. It turned and ran after being hit a couple of times. Another woodcutter, Filke, was not as fortunate. He was a skilled woodsman, but when he chopped a tree twice swiftly and accurately, the tree with half of its butt chopped off got enraged and chased him for three hundred meters.

Poor Philip is now lying in the hospital being treated for multiple fractures. An angry tree, towering several meters high, bumped into him and chased him. Thanks to a brave adventurer who was nearby at that time and helped with his sword, a tragedy was avoided.

"Yes, I saved that lumberjack," said Franklin, a member of the Adventurer Communication Association. "That day we were training new members in the Angaso Forest when we suddenly heard someone shouting for help. I ran over. Although we don’t have Druids who are skilled in talking to nature, we are close to nature at least. After walking a few hundred meters with that tree gentleman, we finally calmed it down."

"Were you afraid when you acted bravely?" the host asked.

"I was a soldier before becoming an adventurer, fought many battles under General Halite, and have seen a lot of things," chuckled Franklin, the veteran.

"Your experiences from years of fighting have broadened your vision and courage," praised the host at the opportune moment, "allowing you to remain calm and steady when encountering a tree sprite…"

"I wasn’t that calm and steady, I was excited," laughed Franklin. "I remember a long time ago, our unit celebrated New Year with the Amazonians, and I got drunk in the woods, yelling ‘Happy New Year’ to the trees. That old oak tree opened its eyes and said to me, ‘Happy New Year to you too’ – just like that, after so many years, I still remember. The old man passed away over ten years ago, never thought I’d see another lively tree."

Time flies, the rookie who once greeted the old tree with a silly smile has retired and become a reliable adventurer. Over a decade after Oak Elder passed away, tree sprites reappeared in Aryan.

Was it the interplay between the Tree of Life and the Heart of Nature, or had the magic environment silently reached a critical point? In the forest that had been quiet for centuries, one day, trees began to open their eyes. The wrinkles on the tree bark formed elongated faces, these magical beings seemed to have aged from the moment they were born, all with deeply weathered faces.

The Magical Creatures Protection Bureau was troubled with whether to include them in the protection range. Many people had a deep emotional connection with Oak Elder, considering him a wise old man rather than some sort of "magical creature" that needed protection – dissenters argued that if witches were classified as magical creatures, you’d be in for a rude awakening (unless you’re a powerful wizard, that is). In the end, the Druids communicated with each tree sprite they discovered, and the result was that they were indeed to be classified as magical creatures.

Oak Elder is a guardian of the Oak Forest, where he protects the Heart of Nature and inherits Druid knowledge. He is considered a professional among the tree sprites and is more intelligent than the average tree sprite. Ordinary tree sprites are slow and ignorant, lacking social structure and knowledge, and are not as clever as griffins. These magical creatures that are more plant-like in their way of life, much like sloths. Tree sprites can stand in one place for a hundred years in the same position, only moving if threatened.

The forest patrol, composed of Druids and Rangers, registers each tree sprite, puts up signs around them for protection, similar to guarding ancient buildings. The signs basically say, "There is a tree sprite XXX here, please do not harm it, or face the consequences."

Tree sprites are incredibly strong in physical combat, like imagining a three-story-tall elephant. Leading enemies into their area is not difficult, and the thought amused Tasha, reminding her of Victor’s style. If the Book of Dungeons were here, eager suggestions from Tasha would be heard, along with the tone and choice of words.

Hopefully, this guy won’t wake up as late as an elf.

Due to the lack of drama in interviews about tree sprites, the episode was not aired on the show "Journey into Aryan," but selected for a new program called "Exploration and Discovery." This show is becoming more popular due to the continuous emergence of new creatures, meeting the increasing demand of the public for new media formats.

"We need lots of pictures, as fast as radio, as many pictures as a magazine, and it would be great if the pictures could move," one audience representative said, "If there was a show like that, just film griffins – little griffins climbing mountains, little griffins eating meat, little griffins sleeping… no need for voice-over commentary, I could watch all day."

The second half of the sentence received widespread agreement.

Currently, resources in Aryan are focused on preparing for war, with the Archmage Tower studying the Abyss and the Astral Plane, and the Craftsman Dwarf workshop and Imperial Military Academy focusing on military technology. There is currently little time for dealing with new media. However, once the Abyss has been defeated, perhaps in many people’s lifetimes, television will become as popular as radio is now.

Tasha has plenty of time, as long as she is not defeated, she will surely see this.

Where is the computer? The game console? The smartphone? It took less than a hundred years for the Earth to transition from the era of television to the era of computers.

A hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

When the Craftsman Dwarf workshop developed the "griffin expulsion device," a long negotiation between Tasmanian and the Empire finally came to an end.

About the removal of the Nightfall Line.

"Citizens, the night has fallen in the southeast," the previous leader said, "but darkness is always temporary. When the sun rises, it is destined to vanish without a trace. For a better world, let us endure for now."

Many years ago, the efforts of the dungeon residents finally allowed them to establish a foothold in Aryan. Tasha’s brave action destroyed the Empire’s Source of Magic, giving them a chance to stand up to the Empire. The previous leader delivered the "Nightfall Speech," which led to the formal declaration of peace between the dungeon and the Aryan Empire. Over the next decade, the Nightfall Line transformed from a few trenches and outposts to a large isolation zone composed of watchtowers, high walls, barbed wire, trenches, soldiers, and magic weapons.

This massive isolation zone divided Tasmanian from the Empire, creating two countries, two camps. The border stood on the land and in people’s hearts. As time passed, the "non-existent" trade route went from being open to being tacitly approved, and then expanded openly; mechanical birds and drones flew back and forth, journalists on both sides delayed reporting each other’s stories; a huge gap opened in the middle of the high wall, customs officers processed a large number of members every day… Yet, the high wall still stood firm, clearly dividing the two sides.

This high wall, which gathered so many eyes and witnessed countless conflicts and cooperation, was finally going to fall.

On one hand, it was the result of both sides sincerely advancing the negotiations. On the other hand, after the Tree of Life settled in Tasha’s territory, the improvement of the magical environment on this side became visibly apparent. Trees in Tasmarin began to grow remarkably fast, and in the past few months, the relatively rare profession of Beastmaster saw a significant increase, as if responding to the stimulation of griffins and unicorns. Every day spent controlling the flow of things was a huge waste, showing off was just being foolish.

The customs that had only been established for a few years were going to be dismantled. This was not a pity, because in the future, every section of the high wall would come and go freely. The Imperial currency and Dwarf Money still existed independently, and the exchange rate between them remained relatively stable at a certain value. Tasmanian and Imperial registrations still used two separate systems, but they shared information, allowing for population movement and cross-border crime prevention. After long negotiations, various adjustments had been preliminarily agreed upon. Both negotiating parties signed the agreement, believing that any turmoil would be kept to a minimum.

On the day the Nightfall Line was demolished, both sides of the defense line were crowded with people.

Soldiers maintaining order surrounded the crowd, keeping them at a safe distance. Traffic restrictions had been put in place in the nearby area, yet the crowd beyond the barricade was still dense. The onlookers underwent strict security checks. Peering over the barricade, they watched as the soldiers swiftly moved back and forth like worker ants, dismantling the vast defense line.

The indestructible fortress was demolished from the inside, and the watchtower met a similar fate. The military removed the wire fences bristling with spikes and filled the deep trenches with soil and rocks. Trucks transported soil and rocks back and forth in a tense and orderly process, managing to control the main dismantling process within a day. As the symbolic high wall was finally about to be demolished, the spectators on both sides, including journalists from various newspapers and radio stations, fell silent and even held their breath.

Along the long defense line, the high wall that stretched into the distance collapsed simultaneously.

Half of it shattered under the power of the spellcaster, while the other half collapsed as the magic bomb was triggered. The scene was colorful, resembling a grand fireworks display. The Night Curtain erected during the Cold War between the two sides fell in their cooperation. Flashlights flickered incessantly, the crowd buzzed, and the highly anticipated high wall disappeared without a trace. As the dust settled, the spectators on both sides caught sight of each other’s faces.

There was a moment of silence before cheers erupted.

From now on, there was no need for strict applications to travel between the two lands. People could come and go without being suspected of treason. Those separated without family ties on each side could reunite, mentors and students could meet, and friends and neighbors could come together. A railway now crossed the place where the high wall once stood, acting like a connecting artery between the two sides. No more arduous walking on two legs or suffering in horse carriages. The magic trains passed through this area once again, but this time they no longer carried war.

In the end, the customs were not dismantled.

The president of the Walke Artist Association, Miss Quintina, suggested a better idea to preserve part of the customs and nearby defense lines as the "Nightfall Line Memorial Park". The nearby outpost remains, with the guards no longer watching people but instead watching over the high walls themselves, like administrators of any memorial. The barbed wire is covered in silk flowers, memorial plaques are placed along the trenches, and the customs house holds a history of a standoff for over a decade. As for the remaining high walls, they make a great gallery.

The Walke Artist Association held a painting contest here, inviting over two hundred artists from the Empire and Tasmarin to paint on the first day of the second month after the removal of the high walls and opening of the defense lines. There was no theme, painting was done freely, and "freedom of expression" itself was the theme. Inviting artists from both sides, different professions, different races to paint on the Night Curtain was already an interesting performance art.