Chapter 371: Thalryssa Duskborne

The remaining students gathered in small groups, their faces filled with anxiety and confusion. Some murmured among themselves while others kept glancing toward the distant World Tree, whose burning branches illuminated the night sky with an ominous fire.

"What’s going to happen if they can’t put out the fire?"

"Can the World Tree really be destroyed? I thought it was supposed to be immortal!"

"I heard the strongest elven mages are already trying to stop it, but even they can’t do anything."

"Then what are we supposed to do? We can’t stay here forever!"

Whispers of fear spread throughout the gathering.

A few students approached Damien, Ken, and Arisha to ask about their injuries, relieved to see that their classmates were still alive. Others remained where they were, too exhausted or frightened to do anything but wait.

Meanwhile, Brandon stood nearby, watching the exhausted students with a troubled expression.

"What the hell is going on?" he muttered, rubbing his forehead. "Have they still not found a way to stop the fire?"

Elowen shook her head. "Not yet. We still don’t know how to extinguish it."

She paused briefly before continuing. "We’ve received several reports that the fire continues to burn without showing any signs of weakening. They’ve tried water, ice, and various other methods, but nothing has worked."

Brandon’s expression grew even grimmer.

"Not even ice magic?"

"No. Nothing seems to have any effect on it."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The distant glow of the burning World Tree cast an ominous light over the city, serving as a grim reminder that the crisis was far from over.

"And with powerful Blood Elves roaming the streets, things could get even worse before anyone finds a solution," Elowen added quietly.

"So that fire really is something special..." Carmel, who had approached them during their conversation, looked toward the distant tree with a thoughtful expression. "What kind of fire could possibly burn the World Tree?"

"We don’t know," Elowen replied.

"Could it be some kind of flame created by an ancient artifact?" Damien suggested, voicing the first possibility that came to mind.

"It’s possible..." Elowen admitted, though she didn’t sound entirely convinced. "But whatever it is, it possesses enough power to burn the World Tree itself. An ordinary magical flame shouldn’t be capable of doing that."

"What about a unique flame carrying a curse?" Maria suggested. "Something that doesn’t simply burn its target but corrupts it as well?"

Her words made both instructors fall silent.

They exchanged a thoughtful glance, considering the possibility.

After a moment, Ken, who was still sitting on the ground while recovering from his injuries, spoke up.

"That might actually make sense. What if it’s a flame that burns life force rather than ordinary matter? Something that corrupts whatever it touches and gradually consumes the life within it?"

His gaze shifted toward the distant World Tree.

"If that’s the case, then the World Tree would be an ideal target. It possesses an enormous amount of life force. The fire might be consuming that energy little by little, which would explain why it continues burning despite their attempts to extinguish it."

Elowen’s expression grew more serious.

"That’s a reasonable assumption. In fact, a cursed or corrupting flame could explain why conventional methods have failed."

She paused, her gaze drifting toward the burning tree.

"However, I believe the elders might have considered that possibility already. They are among the most knowledgeable mages in the elven kingdom. If they haven’t found a solution, then..."

She didn’t finish her sentence immediately. "...Then even they might not possess the means to save it."

Her words weighed heavily on everyone who heard them.

"Are you saying there’s nothing we can do?" one of the nearby students asked nervously.

"We don’t know that yet," Elowen answered. "But if this truly is some kind of cursed or corrupting fire, and the elves have never encountered anything like it before, finding a way to extinguish it won’t be easy."

A heavy silence settled over the group.

Several students exchanged uneasy glances.

"Great... first the Blood Elves, and now a fire that can’t be extinguished," someone muttered.

"Can this night get any worse?"

"Don’t say that! You’ll jinx us!"

Despite the occasional attempt at humor, nobody was in the mood to laugh for long.

They had come to the elven capital expecting a memorable experience, perhaps even an opportunity to learn from one of the greatest elven civilizations. But now stuck in danger.

Damien remained quiet, his gaze fixed on the distant flames. His expression was thoughtful, but the concern in his eyes was unmistakable.

After a moment, he turned toward Brandon. "Where’s Instructor Morgana?"

"She went to find your friend Noah," Brandon answered.

Damien’s eyes widened. "What? Where is he?"

He had been so focused on the fight with Abigor and reuniting with the others that he hadn’t even thought to ask about Noah’s whereabouts.

Elowen answered his question.

"He flew toward the World Tree on an ice sword. Lady Morgana went after him to bring him back."

Damien momentarily taken aback.

He could easily imagine Noah doing something reckless, but flying toward a burning World Tree in the middle of a city overrun by Blood Elves was another matter entirely.

Arisha, who had overheard their conversation, shook her head in exasperation.

"That reckless fool..."

She crossed her arms. "Does he ever think before doing something like that?"

Yet despite her words, there was an unmistakable trace of concern in her voice.

Lyria, who had been standing nearby, clenched her fists.

She lowered her gaze for a moment, worry clouding her expression before she looked toward the burning World Tree.

’Noah... please be safe.’

The distant flames continued to dance across the night sky.

---

The streets of Lunathiel had descended into chaos.

In the distance, the World Tree burned with unnatural crimson flames, casting an eerie glow over the ruined city.

A family hurried through a dark alley, desperately searching for the evacuation point.

"Faster! Don’t stop!" the father urged, clutching his wife’s hand.

Their six-year-old son struggled to keep up, tears streaming down his face.

"Daddy... Mommy... I’m scared!"

"It’s okay, sweetheart. Just keep running!" his mother reassured him.

Suddenly, the father sensed something behind them.

Before he could turn around, two blood-red arrows pierced the couple’s chests.

"Gah!"

"Ah!"

They collapsed onto the stone pavement, their hands slipping from their son’s grasp.

"Mommy? Daddy?"

The boy stared at them in confusion before noticing the blood spreading beneath their bodies.

Then, a woman landed silently in front of them.

Her dark violet cloak fluttered as her crimson eyes gleamed beneath the eerie light. Long hair crimson color framed her pale face.

She was a Blood Elf.

"How unfortunate," she murmured with a smile. "You almost made it."

The father desperately tried to crawl toward his son, but the woman seized both adults by their throats and lifted them effortlessly.

Crack!

She brought the two lifeless bodies closer.

With a casual movement of her fingers, blood-red magic spread across their chests. Their clothing and flesh tore open beneath the force of her power, exposing the organs within.

She reached inside and pulled out a heart.

"Fresh," she whispered before sinking her teeth into one.

The boy stood frozen, watching the monster devour his parents.

Then she sank her teeth into it. Blood trickled down her lips as she began to eat, savoring every bite with a disturbing expression of satisfaction.

The child stared at her.

"Mommy! Daddy!"

He fell to his knees, sobbing, but the woman continued eating as though his cries were nothing more than background noise.

When she finished, she finally glanced at him.

"Oh? You’re still here?"

"P-Please... don’t hurt me..."

She crouched before him, wiping a tear from his cheek with her bloodied finger. "You look absolutely adorable when you’re frightened."

Then her smile widened. "Unfortunately, I’m still a little hungry."

She grabbed the boy by the neck. His scream echoed through the empty street before abruptly falling silent.

She tore open his chest and pulled out his tiny heart, then casually brought it to her mouth and took a bite.

"Mmm... not bad."

Moments later, she stood up, leaving three lifeless bodies behind.

Wiping the blood from her lips, the Blood Elf gazed down the dark street, her crimson eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Now then... where is that beautiful, white-haired boy?"

"Your highness, are you sure you want to pursue that man?" A voice spoke from behind. A man wearing cloak and hood, leaning against the wall with cross hands.

"Of course I want to~ And you are here to protect me... wait! Don’t tell me, are you scared of the person who threw that dark spear?"

"Princess Thalryssa Duskborne, you just know how to get on my nerves." The man spoke in cold voice.

"Hehe~ Of course I do~"