Ch.180The Gift of the Spirit

After the battle with the corrupted Water Elemental concluded in an unexpected manner, we cleared away the equipment installed around the lake and the mounds of dirt covering the underground water veins before withdrawing to the Chestnut Tree Sanctuary.

The area around the lake still looked devastated with residual pollutants clinging to it, but they say that once clean water flowing through the underground veins fills the lake, the surrounding environment will quickly recover thanks to the Water Elemental’s power.

The corrupted spirit is purified, and the damaged environment returns to its original state.

While this could be described as a beautiful ending straight out of a fairy tale, it’s also true that those of us who invested considerable effort in the process have some lingering doubts.

“So, I’d appreciate an explanation about what happened earlier.”

“I agree. I have no complaints about the peaceful resolution itself, but after all our efforts, ending with everyone making up and getting along is hard to accept.”

One hour after the operation ended.

Having finished the cleanup, we gathered at the plaza of the Chestnut Tree Sanctuary and demanded a detailed explanation from Elder Euclid, who had completely overturned the final phase of our operation.

Euclid nodded as if he had anticipated this reaction and answered in a calm voice.

“Your anger is entirely justified. What I did effectively nullified not only the efforts you’ve all made these past few days but also the Guardian Corps’ long-standing struggles.”

“That’s exactly right. If this solution was possible from the beginning, we wouldn’t have needed to spend thousands of gold to purchase pyroxysite.”

“Let me first offer something of an explanation… Today’s subjugation operation was by no means meaningless. If you hadn’t overwhelmed the corrupted Elemental with superior firepower and thoroughly broken its fighting spirit, it would have continued to rampage and resist until the end.”

“Are you saying that because we thoroughly subdued it, we were able to successfully return it to a pure Water Elemental?”

“That’s correct. At that moment, the Elemental had lost all will to fight and all anger, leaving only a lingering desire to make contact with the Spirit Tree and receive its pure blessing.”

So it seems the series of operations—identifying the Elemental’s true nature through reconnaissance, drying up the polluted lake, and thoroughly crushing the Elemental’s main body with encirclement fire—did achieve meaningful results in their own right.

It’s fortunate that our efforts over the past few days and the cost of purchasing pyroxysite weren’t completely wasted, but not all of our questions have been answered yet.

“Next, you probably want to know about the purification of the Elemental. When I realized it was possible, and why I didn’t tell you.”

“I can guess that much. No one could predict how long it would take from the start of the operation to repelling the Elemental. You probably had only a hunch, kept pondering it, and then made up your mind after the operation started and hurried after us, right?”

“To be precise, rather than making up my mind, I recalled an old memory. I once heard from a previous Elder that the Elven Spirit Trees not only protect elves from black mana but also maintain the purity of the sanctuary’s environment, and that this blessing extends even to Elementals—spirits that are essentially pure crystallizations of natural elements.”

“It would have been better if you’d remembered that earlier.”

“It was from over 170 years ago. It was too trivial an anecdote to keep in this old mind of mine. If I hadn’t slowly retraced my consciousness that’s merged with the Spirit Tree, I wouldn’t have been able to remember this fact at all.”

Looking up at the towering Chestnut Spirit Tree behind him, Euclid shared a tradition passed down among elderly elves.

Long ago, before black mana covered Grantis, the elven magical system was based on the power of spirits, freely manipulating only their form—what was known as “spirit magic.”

However, after black mana spread, the communion between spirits and elves was severed, and the spirits, which were once pure mana life forms, transformed into what are now classified as “Elemental-type monsters.”

Unlike other creatures that either went extinct, became violent variants, or transformed into completely different life forms, the changes in spirits caused by black mana were limited to the formation of mana stones within their bodies, increased aggression, and occasional corruption that led them to wield impure attributes.

However, uncorrupted Elementals still retain their essential nature as crystallizations of pure natural elements and mana life forms, strongly drawn to the pure magical domain provided by the Spirit Tree—the sanctuary.

“However, because their monster instincts with mana stones are much stronger than their essential nature as spirits, normally they shouldn’t approach places where Spirit Trees exist.”

“So because the Chestnut Spirit Tree was near the end of its lifespan… with weakened blessing power, the Water Elemental was able to approach it.”

“And the elves here, finding this outrageous, tried their best to drive it away.”

“But that wasn’t really the elves’ fault, was it? Rather, because of that Elemental, their crops failed, they couldn’t make alcohol, and even their specialty goods business took a hit.”

“Um… excuse me.”

Orpheus, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between the Elder and us, cautiously raised his hand and spoke up.

“I understand that the Water Elemental came seeking contact with the Spirit Tree, but was it really necessary for you, Elder, to take such a risk to restore it to its original form? I heard you could have been seriously injured or even lost your life.”

“That’s a fair point. If left alone, the Water Elemental would have been defeated, and the environment around the lake would have eventually normalized. Despite that, you took such a risk… I doubt it was just to avoid an unsatisfying conclusion.”

“Of course, there was something like an old instinct as an elf who once communed with spirits in the distant past. But there are also significant benefits to incorporating the Water Elemental.”

“Because the lake will be cleaned faster?”

Euclid nodded at Seti’s question with a hearty laugh.

“That’s certainly a good thing. But more than that… Phillis of the Willow Sanctuary, do you know how Spirit Trees are born?”

“I’ve heard they’re born when ordinary young trees undergo mutation in places where pure mana gathers, though it’s extremely rare.”

“Yes. Then what happens in these ‘places where pure mana gathers’ that causes an ordinary young tree to transform into a Spirit Tree sapling?”

“I’m not quite… wait, could it be…?”

“Yes. A young tree that has merged with an uncorrupted spirit in an environment that can abundantly absorb pure mana—that is what becomes a Spirit Tree sapling.”

“Then, the reason all elves are born with magical talent in specific attributes is—”

“The result of receiving both the attribute of the spirit merged with the Spirit Tree and the tree’s blessing. Developing this further into specialized attack magic is what created today’s Arcane Alter {Arcane Transmutation Formula}.”

Having said this, Euclid extended his right hand palm up, creating a small green whirlwind above it.

Then, extending his left hand in the same position, a transparent water droplet with a blue tinge floated above his left palm.

“The right is wind, the inherent attribute of the Chestnut Sanctuary, and the left is water, gained by embracing the Water Elemental as a member of the sanctuary. From now on, elves born and raised in this Chestnut Sanctuary will live with talents in both wind and water. That is the first benefit the Water Elemental brings to the sanctuary.”

“When you say ‘first,’ I assume there are others?”

“Though nothing is certain yet… if the Water Elemental now dwelling in the lake merges with a young tree growing in this forest, and if the quality of mana and various other conditions align—”

“There’s a possibility that a new Spirit Tree sapling might be discovered near the sanctuary!”

Orpheus exclaimed, jumping to his feet with uncontainable joy.

“It’s only a small hope. The chances of it not happening are much greater, and I can’t guarantee that conditions will be met before the current Spirit Tree withers. But isn’t it happier to hold onto even a small hope rather than waiting for the Spirit Tree’s end with a gloomy heart? Of course, we shouldn’t turn our eyes away from the future that awaits us.”

“You speak wisely. I hope great blessings lie ahead for the Chestnut Sanctuary.”

“When we meet again decades from now, it might no longer be called the Chestnut Sanctuary. Ho ho ho.”

Euclid slowly raised the whirlwind and water droplet from his palms and extended them toward Phillis.

“And I believe this blessing should also be shared with our kin from the Willow Sanctuary who came to save this sanctuary.”

“What…? B-but I am not the Elder’s successor! I, not my sister, cannot receive attributes from another sanctuary’s Elder…”

“Of course, if your sister Iris were to visit the Chestnut Sanctuary, I would gladly pass them to her as well. For that to happen, you must successfully rescue her.”

“That’s… true.”

“Broaden your perspective, Guardian of the Willow Sanctuary. Unlike human mages who expand their magical breadth through academic study, we elves have only one path to growth: building proficiency with magical elements through our lives. And the only way to rapidly enhance that proficiency is through attribute transmission via sanctuary pilgrimages. Originally, this would be the role of one training to be an Elder, but isn’t it even more necessary for one trying to rescue that Elder?”

Faced with Euclid’s earnest persuasion, Phillis stood motionless, staring intently at the two magical powers presented before her.

Though I know little about elven magic, I can tell that what Euclid is offering is a rare opportunity to greatly enhance Phillis’s magical talents.

Phillis is probably hesitating between this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the elven principle that it should have been offered to her sister Iris first.

“Come now, don’t be shy. This is an apology from an old friend who couldn’t help Shuraine five years ago, a reward for saving the Chestnut Sanctuary, and a gift from the spirit that was able to fulfill its wish thanks to your efforts and a bit of luck.”

With Euclid looking directly into her eyes and slowly nodding in continued encouragement, Phillis silently bowed her head and accepted the magnificent gift with both hands.