I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 459: [Event] [Elven Utopian War] [1] Heart



"How could this be happening..."

Alector's voice was barely a whisper as he stood inside the Holy Tree of Eden.

He stood deep within its sanctuary, in a place few eyes had ever glimpsed: before the radiant root itself, which pulsed with a life and magic older than the ages.

An armchair sat before the root, bathed in the root's radiant glow. This was the Prophetess Claudia Tepes' seat, where she often meditated, about her Prophecies.

Reaching inside the Holy Tree of Eden was, in a sense, deceptively easy. Guards patrolled, yes, but there was less security than one might expect for such a sacred site. Amael, a member of one of the Eight Great Houses, had managed to enter this place in the past without undue trouble, even as an Olphean-a title which alone should never have granted such access to the tree's depths.

But there was a reason for the apparent laxness. Alector knew that, while many could tread through the tree's outer layers, no intruder could ever reach this place uninvited. The outer sections of the Holy Tree were only a shell, protective layers meant to mislead or deter. The true heart was veiled in spells powerful enough to repel all but two: himself, the Guardian, and Claudia, the Prophetess. Even the most exalted members of Sancta Vedelia couldn't.

Alector stretched out his hand, fingers reaching for the radiant root. The white root seemed to glow brighter, casting patterns across his palm. The instant his fingers brushed its surface, a sudden rush of energy overtook him. His vision blurred, spiraling into light, and he felt his consciousness pulled inward, drawn deeper into the tree's core.

When the world reformed around him, Alector stood in a vast space that defied all logic, larger on the inside than the outside. It was a sight that never failed to overwhelm him, no matter how many times he came. Towering white roots branched endlessly, twisting upward and outward like the ribs of a great beast, casting their gleaming light across the chamber.

The silence here was absolute. All sounds from the world outside were cut off, swallowed by the tree's inner sanctum. Alector found it almost comforting-peaceful. He would often find himself wandering here in quiet contemplation.

But today, peace couldn't be obtained even in this place.

Ahead of him, a narrow pathway formed from intertwining roots stretching out, its edges aglow with the soft, faintly golden hue of accumulated Prana and Mana. The sheer density of these energies could be overwhelming, potent enough to make any unprepared intruder collapse upon entry. Yet Alector wasn't perturbed in the slightest, his body having long since adapted to the sacred blend of energies that filled this domain. As Guardian, he was intimately bound to this place. It responded to him, recognized him, and would defend him if ever needed.

Alector's steps echoed softly. His staff tapped lightly on the root-laden floor as he walked, the Holy Tree of Eden seeming to embrace him with a quiet stillness. Nothing obstructed his path. The Tree knew its Guardian, and so his journey inward was undisturbed. Here, within these sacred depths, he was recognized, his every step as natural as the pulse that resonated through the holy roots.

Soon, he reached the very heart of Sancta Vedelia, a place more sacred than any other-a chamber of radiant purity that felt untouched by the corruption and conflict of the outside world. White vines and roots protruded from the ground and walls, weaving around the circular chamber, bathed in an ethereal glow. At the center, something extraordinary lay: a throbbing, pulsing mass, beating with the slow rhythm of a heart, alive with an unearthly energy that filled the room with its gentle, silent hum.

Alector's gaze settled on the woman encased within the throbbing core. Her body was enveloped entirely by the heart of the Holy Tree of Eden, as though she were woven into its very essence. Her head was bowed, her arms outstretched and caught firmly within the Tree's white vines, which had embedded themselves into her skin, binding her as one with the living core. The roots snaked over her arms and shoulders, their veins alive with the same pulse, linking her to the heart that encased her, as though her life force and the Tree's had intertwined.

With a quiet movement, Alector knelt down, setting his staff gently on the ground before him. He lowered his head.

"Thank you... and forgive us once more," he whispered.

As expected, there was no answer, only the gentle pulse of the heart surrounding her. "An enemy is at our doorstep," he continued solemnly. "Seeking to take Sancta Vedelia and without doubt take hold of the Holy Tree itself. Please, continue to lend us your strength." After a long, silent moment, Alector sensed a presence outside, faint but distinct. Here, as the Guardian, he was connected to every inch of the Holy Tree of Eden, able to feel even the most delicate shifts in its surroundings.

Slowly, Alector rose, taking his staff. He glanced one last time at the woman bound within the throbbing heart.

With a final nod, he turned and departed.

...

...

In the heart of Central Vedelia, Alector made his way toward an imposing tower, the nerve center from which he oversaw the city's movements. The path was lined with towering stone walls. His steps echoed against the cobblestone as he neared the entrance, knowing full well the weighty matters that awaited him. A council was convened.

The guards at the entrance, clad in polished armor bearing Vedelia's emblem, acknowledged Alector's approach with nods. Without a word, they guided him through a series of grand corridors toward the council chamber, a vast room with walls adorned by ancient banners and tapestries that recounted Vedelia's storied history. At the far end carved wooden doors loomed large. As they swung open, Alector stepped into the room, greeted by a circle of familiar faces gathered around a grand, circular table.

Some of the council members were seated, others stood. They were all armored, ready to leap into battle at a moment's notice. Eyes turned toward Alector as he entered.

"You are late, Lord Alector," came a low, gruff voice from one end of the table. Reiner Dolphis looked up with a furrowed brow. His gaze was hard, his once-vibrant expression now clouded with worry. Since the fateful attack on Dolphis, which had left him beaten by Navas Dolphis, a hardened expression had replaced his former demeanor. The toll of recent events was etched in his expression: his wife, the Queen, lay in a lingering depression, deeply affected by their son Adrian's ongoing coma.

Fortunately, Reiner had not yet told her the full extent of what he had recently uncovered through John Tarmias-the mysterious affliction that had overtaken their daughter, Amelia. Despite Reiner not approving John, he could not deny the man's concern for Amelia. Behemoth's unknown influence over her was weighing heavily on Reiner's mind, especially with the added pressure of Utopia's advancing forces.

"I apologize. Urgent matters demanded my attention," Alector said, taking his place at the table with a curt nod. He settled into his seat as a flickering projection emerged above the table. The 3D map of Sancta Vedelia unfolded before them, displaying in startling detail the current positions of Utopian forces versus those of Sancta Vedelia. Red markers showed the unsettling extent of Utopia's incursion into their territory. Alector's gaze hardened as he examined the map, noting the expansion of Utopia's reach. The kingdom of Elaryon had nearly been swallowed whole. Half of its lands had fallen to the march of Utopian forces.

Namys Elaryon stood nearby, her expression shadowed with grief as her eyes traced the red encroachment on her homeland. She clenched her fists, the knuckles white against her armored gauntlets, her mind undoubtedly haunted by the personal betrayal that had led ton/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

this moment.

"Who would have believed that Rolaem and Edea would betray us like this?" Alector murmured, his tone bitter as he cast a somber look in Namys' direction.

Namys' fists clenched even tighter. Rolaem, her older brother, and Edea, his wife, had not only betrayed their family but had aligned themselves with Utopia's rising tide. Obviously, their son Lykhor was involved as well.

Namys knew the hate Edea showed to her because Rolaem didn't get to be the King since in the Elaryon Kingdom it had always been Queen ruling which also meant that Namys' daughter, Aerinwyn was meant to be the next Queen as well.

She knew that hate but still she didn't expect her brother to betray her like this... He seemed so meek after all. Rather she was certain Edea brainwashed him...

Alector sighed, turning back to the projection.

"A month has passed since they invaded and we are already overwhelmed."