The Martial Unity

The Emperor of Harmony’s suggestion was simple but a brilliant way to trick the Mother of Nature into revealing herself. The Mothers of Nature of the dark elves immediately implemented the data and began approaching other Mothers of Nature discreetly in East Genora, accusing them of hiding Rui and threatening to reveal them to the other Mothers of Nature.

Naturally, most Mothers of Nature vehemently denied it. In fact, if not for the Giant Invasion, word between of this strategy would have spread between them. But the dark elven Mothers of Nature utilized the pressure and how distracted the light elves were with the giants to ensure that it didn’t leak.

In the very epicenter of light elven civilization was a gigantic tree.

One that dwarfed almost every other tree in existence.

Her colossal body was so enormous that the tip of her body almost reached outer space.

It could be seen from half of the continent and would have been visible across the entire continent if not for the opaqueness of the atmosphere.

She was the first Mother, Mother Maeria.

She had discovered the Singularity of Nature and had charted a path to a higher echelon of nature manipulation and power, gaining eternal respect among all elves, dark or light. The other Mothers of Nature called her elder sister, while the youngest of Mothers and other elves even called her Grandmother, out of respect for the original Mother of Nature.

She had absorbed so much mass and energy over millennia that she was regarded as the largest lifeform in existence in the True World, second only to the fearsome serpent that the elves discovered was wrapped around the Panama Continent protectively.

Her power was unfathomable.

Her mastery of nature had reached a level that beggared the imagination, even for other elder Mothers of Nature. She was considered the ideal, a paragon of nature who had dedicated herself to nothing other than nature itself in its purest form.

A pious devotion that lasted more than a thousand years.

It had given her power to be considered a part of the top ten most powerful entities in the true world.

The bright heat of the afternoon Sun illuminated her mighty domain, stretching farther and wider across the continent than the domain of any other Mother of Nature.

Within the depths of her body, at her very epicenter, was a small cavity.

Within it lay an unconscious human man.

A Martial Artist.

He slumbered in a deep sleep.

His head was rested on the lap of an elderly light elf.

The vessel of Mother Maeria.

PAT

She gently stroked his black hair as she watched him sleep with deep eyes.

Her hand stopped as she received a call.

A call from the other side of the continent.

One from Mother Alicia herself.

’It’s been a while, esteemed elder sister,” Mother Alicia remarked. ’How have you been?’

“…Fine.” Mother Maeria remarked out loud, transferring the message through the flora network, before glancing knowingly to the West. “What brings the lead nature manipulation instructor of West Genora to my humble abode?”

’Humble abode? Your abode is the most magnificent out of all of us, Elder Sister.’

“…”

’I came to speak to you about something that we came across in our deep search into East Genora, looking for Prince Rui.’

“…”

’We have come to discover something rather interesting. You see, I managed to figure out the exact moment Rui Quarrier teleported away and then used satellite and flora surveillance network data to search the entire continent for any space-time anomaly at that moment.’

“…”

’You see, we discovered something rather interesting. Here, take a look.’

Mother Alicia sent her a file through the flora network.

One that showed a space-time anomaly, just the most brief one, in the domain of Mother Maeria.

’…I discovered an anomaly within your domain the moment he teleported away. One that seems to suggest that he teleported to your domain.’

“…”

’…Can you please explain to me why you are hiding Rui Quarrier? Lest I reveal this to your sisters. Imagine how betrayed they will feel knowing that our eldest sister betrayed them by housing the murderer of a Mother of Nature.’

Mother Maeria heaved a soft breath.

“Tell them. I do not care. I will not surrender this young human man. I do not see a demon of death when I look at him. I only see…”

Her eyes softened as her attention returned to him.

“…hope.”

’Are you confirming that you do have him?’ Mother Alicia grew incredulous, marveling at the Emperor of Harmony’s tactical intellect.

“…” Mother Maeria ignored as she continued gently patting Rui’s head.

’Return him to us at once,’ Mother Alicia demanded.

“I’m afraid I cannot do that,” Mother Maeria replied with a blank tone.

’He does not belong to you.’

“I never said that he belongs to me.”

’Do you plan to kill him?’

“He would already be dead if so.”

’Why did you spare him?’

“…” she gazed at Rui deeply. “I thought I told you. I only see hope when I look at him.”

’Hope? Hope for what? I don’t understand.’

“Of course you don’t,” Mother Maeria remarked, heaving a tired breath. “No one does. No one…”

She gazed at him deeply.

“No one accept him.”

Mother Alicia was beyond confused.

She was completely lost.

’What do you intend to do when he wakes up?’

“…I haven’t thought of that yet,” Mother Maeria remarked, unperturbed.

’…???’

“But I suppose I will savor forming a bond with someone who understands…”

’Someone who understands…?’

Mother Maeria’s expression grew grave.

“Someone who understands Fear.”

’…Are you saying that none of us understand fear?’ Mother Alicia’s tone was even more confused. ’I don’t follow. I don’t understand what any of this means.’

“I don’t expect you to,” Mother Maeria remarked knowingly. “I don’t need you to.”

Her gaze remained fixed on Rui.

“I don’t need anything as long as I have him.”

She gently brushed her hand across his head, patting him softly.

“He may very well prove to be our salvation.”