Chapter 348: World Tree

"What were you talking about with him for so long, Noah?" Damien immediately asked, his curiosity obvious.

"Just some unique forms of elven magic. I was curious about them."

"Oh? So what did you learn?" Lyria looked at him curiously.

"Nothing too important." Noah shrugged. "Mostly just information about Lunar Magic. Apparently, it’s a rare affinity."

"Lunar Magic?"

Emma’s eyes lit up. "What’s that?"

"It’s an affinity associated with the Moon Elves. It produces silver-blue moonlight and has several different applications."

As they continued walking through the illuminated streets of Lunathiel, Noah explained some of what Eldrian had told him.

He talked about Moonlight, Illusions, Dreams, Spirits, Cycles, and some of the more advanced applications of Lunar Magic.

The others listened with varying degrees of interest, occasionally asking questions.

Noah answered what he could, keeping some of his own suspicions to himself.

After all, there was no reason to make everyone worry over a simple theory.

For now, he simply wanted to enjoy his time in Elythraen.

And besides he had a feeling that tomorrow, when they finally got to see the World Tree up close, he might learn something far more interesting.

For the moment, however, Noah continued walking alongside his friends, casually sharing the knowledge he had gained from the Wood Elf mage.

After all, Eldrian had been kind enough to teach him.

And Noah considered him a good acquaintance already.

---

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

It was already the third day of their visit to the elven kingdom, and so far, nothing particularly significant had happened.

For most of the students, the trip had been peaceful and enjoyable.

For Noah, however, that peace was beginning to make him nervous.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to happen on the final day of their trip.

Even with Queen Aelyssa, a powerful Sovereign Core cultivator, present in the city, Noah couldn’t completely dismiss the uneasiness building inside him.

’Something is going to happen.’

But his instincts kept warning him that their final day in Elythraen wouldn’t pass peacefully.

For now, however, there was nothing he could do except remain alert. The students were traveling in two enormous vehicles toward the World Tree.

There were more than a hundred students in their group, making a single vehicle impractical. The large magical carriages moved steadily through the streets of Lunathiel, carrying the students toward the most sacred location in the entire elven kingdom.

After several minutes, the enormous World Tree gradually came into view.

Even from this distance, it was breathtaking.

The massive trunk rose so high that it almost looked like a mountain piercing the heavens. Its enormous branches stretched far beyond what the eye could properly comprehend, while its vast canopy covered a tremendous portion of the surrounding area.

The closer they got, the more difficult it became to understand just how enormous the tree truly was.

BEEP! BEEP!

Both vehicles slowed down. A moment later, they came to a complete stop before a gigantic gate.

"Everyone, get out."

The instructors’ voices echoed through the vehicles. The students began stepping outside one after another.

Noah climbed out and immediately looked toward the enormous structure before them.

A massive wall surrounded the entire area around the World Tree. It was tall enough to make even some of the nearby buildings look small, and countless magical runes had been carved into its surface.

Elven soldiers stood at regular intervals along the walls and around the enormous gate. Their armor was elegant but clearly designed for combat.

And scattered throughout the walls were numerous magical devices and glowing runes. The security was far stricter than Noah had expected.

Morgana stood near the front of the group alongside two other instructors.

One was a woman named Carmel, who had dusty-brown hair and matching brown eyes.

Beside her stood Brandon, a tall man who looked to be around thirty years old. He had black hair and striking emerald-green eyes.

The students quickly organized themselves into rows before the gate.

Morgana stepped forward. "Listen carefully."

The chatter immediately died down.

"We are entering the most sacred and heavily protected area in Elythraen. The World Tree is not merely an important landmark. It is considered sacred by the entire elven race."

She looked across the students with a stern expression. "Therefore, I expect all of you to behave appropriately."

Several students straightened.

"No unnecessary shouting. No wandering away from the group. Do not touch anything unless you are given permission."

Her gaze sharpened. "And most importantly..."

She paused. "Don’t do anything stupid."

Several students instinctively glanced toward Damien.

Damien blinked. "Why is everyone looking at me?"

Emma covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Noah quietly looked away.

Morgana’s eyes narrowed. "I am serious. We are guests of the elven royal family. Any disrespectful behavior could create unnecessary problems between Novaris Academy and Elythraen."

Everyone nodded immediately.

"Understood!"

"Good."

Morgana stepped aside. "You will enter one at a time. Follow the instructions of the guards and do not resist the security inspection."

The enormous gate slowly opened. A soft magical hum filled the air.An elf soldier stepped forward and raised his hand.

"Next."

The first student approached. A faint blue light appeared beneath his feet.

The light traveled upward, scanning his entire body before disappearing.

The soldier glanced at a magical device beside him.

"Clear. Proceed."

One by one, the students passed through the magical inspection.

The scanning spell checked for dangerous weapons, forbidden magical objects, suspicious enchantments, and other items that could potentially threaten the royal territory.

When Noah’s turn finally came, he stepped forward.

A pale blue light enveloped him. He felt a faint magical sensation pass over his body.

A few seconds later, the light disappeared.

"Clear."

Noah nodded and walked through the gate. The moment he entered, he stopped. His eyes widened slightly.

’...Damn.’

The area beyond the wall was enormous.

There were military camps scattered throughout the surrounding grounds, with numerous tents and large wooden structures arranged in organized formations.

Elven soldiers could be seen everywhere.

Some were training. Others were patrolling.

Archers stood on elevated platforms, while mages maintained magical barriers around important areas.

This wasn’t simply a tourist attraction. It was a heavily fortified royal territory.

And then Noah looked upward. His breath caught.

The World Tree.

Standing directly beneath its enormous canopy made its true scale even more overwhelming.

The trunk was so massive that Noah couldn’t even estimate its circumference. Its bark was ancient, yet strangely vibrant, covered with faint traces of natural magical energy.

And halfway up the enormous trunk, where one of its colossal branches extended outward like a natural platform, stood something Noah hadn’t expected to see.

A gigantic palace had been built upon the enormous branch of the World Tree.

Elegant towers rose among the branches, connected by bridges and platforms. White stone, silver-colored metal, and living wood had been combined into a breathtaking structure that seemed to grow naturally from the tree itself.

That was the residence of the elven royal family. The place where the ruler of Elythraen lived. Queen Aelyssa Sylvaine.

Noah stared at the palace for several seconds.

’So that’s where the Queen lives...’