Chapter 585

Siyan peered through the hole in her blanket at Raon, her mouth hanging open.

“W-what?”

She trembled, not knowing what sounds were coming out of her mouth in her flustered state.

‘W-what does he mean by checking?’

Siyan glanced at her limbs hidden under the blanket, her lips quivering.

‘Do I smell? Or is he disgusted with how I look?’

With Raon suddenly wanting to check on her, a flurry of thoughts crossed her mind.

As she struggled with how to respond, Raon’s words continued.

“I can’t say for certain, but I might be able to improve your condition a little.”

“My condition…?”

“You said you couldn’t resonate?”

“Yes, still…”

Siyan nodded, glancing at Raon.

“I want to see why that is.”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Siyan.

‘There’s a good chance.’

Siyan’s mother had visited this place while carrying her, and Wrath had mentioned that Siyan had been blocked by something profound since birth.

Although not certain, Raon suspected that the energy from the orbs left by Zieghart’s ancestor might have merged with her.

‘Because she’s a High Elf.’

High Elves, being close to nature like the World Tree, might have absorbed the energy that nurtured the World Tree if Siyan was special among them.

“So, what should I do? Should I take off my clothes?”

“…No, just your hand will do.”

“Gasp! O-okay.”

After a moment of squirming in her blanket, Siyan extended her trembling hand.

Raon had seen many women’s hands, but her arm was so pale it seemed almost transparent, as if it had never seen the sun.

“Excuse me.”

Holding Siyan’s hand, Raon began to channel the energy from his [Flow of Mana], but before he could even infuse it, her arm started to shake as if electrocuted.

“Lady Siyan? Are you in pain?”

“N-no!”

Siyan shook her head quickly.

‘How can I say I’m just nervous!’

It was her first time holding someone else’s hand besides her family, and it was her idol, Raon. Her heart felt like it was going to dance out of her chest.

Raon gripped Siyan’s hand firmly to steady it and began to channel both [Flow of Mana] and Glacia’s energy into her mana circuits. Having previously treated Rimmer, he quickly navigated her mana paths.

‘Clean.’

Siyan’s dantian was pristine, free of even the smallest impurities, and her mana circuits were vast, rivaling those of a Grandmaster like himself.

‘With such a body, it’s strange she can’t use her aura properly.’

Raon licked his lips and inspected her middle dantian. It was as clean as her lower dantian but less developed due to her low level.

Lastly, when he moved his aura past the middle dantian towards the upper dantian, he encountered a massive blockage, like a boulder lodged in her mana circuit.

‘It’s solidified.’

This crucial mana path, usually blocked from birth and only cleared upon reaching Grandmaster level, seemed to hold no abnormality.

Despite being an area that should not be touched, Raon trusted Wrath’s words and infused two streams of [Flow of Mana] and Glacia’s energy into the blockage.

Woooong!

Normally, such blockages could only be cleared by the owner’s enlightenment, but the combined heat of [Flow of Mana] and the cold of Glacia began to penetrate and diffuse into the blockage.

‘It really wasn’t natural?’

Raon thought his hypothesis was correct and increased the intensity of the energies when Rimmer’s voice called out.

“Raon! Siyan! Come here. It’s starting.”

“Hmm…”

Raon retrieved his aura and let go of Siyan’s hand.

“How is it?”

“I’m not sure yet. May I try again after the purification ceremony?”

“Ah, yes…”

Siyan, her voice trembling, nodded while still wrapped in her blanket.

“Thank you.”

Raon bowed and headed towards Rimmer and Sterin.

Siyan followed Raon, her hands clasped over her chest.

‘So warm…’

And it was cool too.

She clung to the lingering sensation, following Raon with hands tightly clasped.

As they approached the World Tree’s center, the elves radiated an intense aura as if preparing for battle.

“Come closer.”

Sterin gestured for them to approach.

“Yes.”

Raon and Siyan moved closer to Sterin.

“Listen carefully.”

Sterin emphasized the importance of his words, indicating his ears. He seemed intent on giving them the full benefit of his knowledge.

“Resonance is about harmonizing one’s spirit with this world. But if you try to merge your spirit with the world…”

His voice dropped to an ominous tone.

“Nine times out of ten, you’ll die.”

“Die?”

“Yes. Compared to the vast world, one’s spirit is too small to become one with it. But if you narrow down the target, it becomes possible.”

“Narrowing the target…”

“There is a state that swordsmen like you aim to achieve.”

“Could you mean… the Unity of Sword and Spirit?”

“Exactly.”

Sterin nodded calmly.

“High Elves like me are born with the ability to resonate with the World Tree.”

He explained that his ability to resonate with the World Tree was not something achieved through training but an innate gift.

“But to use resonance only for purification ceremonies seems wasteful. That’s why we have…”

“Empathy.”

“Now you understand.”

A faint smile spread on Sterin’s lips.

“While you can’t fully merge with the World Tree, you might learn the flow of resonance.”

He nodded towards them, indicating he hoped they would learn from him.

“Let’s begin.”

Sterin leaned against the World Tree and closed his eyes. His previously steady breath slowed, and his presence grew more intense, like a spreading wildfire.

As his aura expanded to cover the World Tree, his breathing ceased abruptly.

‘Dead… no.’

Just when Raon thought Sterin had died, the World Tree, bathed in a soft blue light, began to glow with a brilliant green.

The majestic yet gentle spirit of Sterin was now emanating from the World Tree’s core.

Raon looked down at Sterin, who was still leaning against the tree.

His body was there, but his spirit seemed absent.

“The purification ceremony has begun! Everyone, stand guard!”

The Great Elder, having somewhat regained his composure, directed the elves to form a cold and disciplined perimeter around the World Tree.

Though stubborn and traditional, the Great Elder genuinely cared about the elven world.

Raon activated the [Ring of Fire] and gazed up at the World Tree.

‘This is resonance.’

Just as a swordsman becomes one with their sword, Sterin had transcended his body to become one with the World Tree.

‘Unity of Sword and Spirit. Becoming one with the sword…’

Thinking of the Unity of Sword and Spirit, Raon recalled his sparring with Sterin two days ago.

When he had launched the [Soul Crushing Sword], feeling that he didn’t want to end the sparring that way, the sword had responded to his will and followed his command.

‘I understand now.’

Because both he and the [Soul Crushing Sword] did not want to lose, their wills had merged, giving him a glimpse of the Unity of Sword and Spirit.

Raon’s gaze followed the path Sterin’s spirit had taken.

“Raon… Ah?”

Siyan tried to speak to Raon but was stopped by Rimmer.

“Brother?”

“Don’t disturb him now.”

Rimmer gestured to Raon’s dreamlike, unfocused eyes, putting a finger to his lips.

“He’s in a trance.”

“Trance?”

“Yes. Most people only experience it once in their lives, if ever. But this damned guy enters it as easily as taking a dump.”

Rimmer cautioned Siyan to leave Raon undisturbed, moving her aside.

Fwaaah!

The World Tree spread its branches to shield Raon from the sunlight, as if protecting him.

“…”

The Great Elder and the other elders watched with narrowed eyes but didn’t interfere.

Rimmer chuckled at their restraint.

‘At least they’re not completely rotten.’

He had been ready to intervene if anyone had tried to disturb Raon, but thankfully, they had shown no such intent.

As Rimmer smiled at Raon, unseen by everyone, a small cotton candy-like figure was throwing a tantrum.

-Damn it!

Wrath looked up at the sky and screamed.

-Why does this guy get all the love wherever he goes? Meanwhile, I suffer and lose my abilities wherever I go! Why is he so happy while I suffer?

Wrath waved his hands in frustration at the unfairness of it all.

-I want to be happy too! And…

He shouted the most important part.

-This guy didn’t eat again before going into this state!

Siyan watched Raon in his state of selfless absorption, biting her lip.

‘Raon is truly amazing.’

To gain enlightenment and enter such a state upon first seeing resonance was beyond her imagination.

‘The books didn’t do his abilities justice.’

She had thought there might be some exaggeration in the stories of Raon Zieghart, but the reality was beyond those accounts. He had received the World Tree’s greeting and made the Great Elder kneel; he was a true monster.

‘I have to protect him.’

As she resolved to protect Raon, ensuring he wasn’t harmed, the voices of other elves reached her ears.

“How can that human gain enlightenment upon seeing the ceremony, while Siyan remains unchanged?”

“Indeed. She participates in every purification ceremony but still can’t resonate…”

“If Sterin leaves, won’t the World Tree be in danger?”

“Why did such a High Elf have to be born…”

The elders and elves criticized Siyan openly, unconcerned if she heard them.

“The future of the World Tree looks bleak. It might be better to ask that human…”

“Why don’t you shut your mouths?”

Rimmer glared at the elves, his brows furrowing.

“The ceremony hasn’t even fully begun, and you’re already running your mouths. Shut up and stand guard properly.”

“Humph…”

“Indeed…”

The elves, casting sidelong glances at Rimmer, murmured amongst themselves that he wasn’t entirely wrong.

“These bastards.”

Rimmer spat and approached the elves, but Siyan grabbed his sleeve.

“Brother, I’m fine.”

“But…”

“Really, I am.”

Siyan shook her head, asking him to stop.

“I’m used to it. And they’re not entirely wrong.”

Their words were harsh but not false. Without Sterin, no elf could perform the purification ceremony.

‘I really am useless.’

While Raon had gained enlightenment at a glance, she had gained nothing despite participating in numerous purification ceremonies. It seemed she was born with nothing.

‘But I won’t give up this time.’

Raon had encouraged her to persevere, so she wouldn’t give up now.

Siyan leaned against the World Tree, where she had once felt the wind with her mother, and closed her eyes, practicing the breathing techniques Sterin had taught her.

‘Hmm? Something feels different.’

To her surprise, her body and mind felt lighter than usual.

‘I hope it’s not just my imagination.’

Smiling faintly, Siyan closed her eyes. Red and blue auras shimmered above her chest as she slowly breathed in and out.

Raon opened his eyes, a gentle smile spreading across his face.

‘I think I understand a bit.’

Witnessing Sterin’s resonance had given him a glimpse into what it meant to become one with his sword.

While he hadn’t achieved Unity of Sword and Spirit, he felt he had taken the first step towards it.

Looking up, he saw the World Tree swaying its branches as it had before he entered the state, and Sterin sitting as he had been.

‘It didn’t take as long as I thought.’

-Not long?

Thinking it was remarkable, Raon tilted his head, only for Wrath to shove his face in with a sullen expression.

-You were in a trance for a whole day and you think that’s short? Are you insane?

Wrath shook him by the collar.

-I’m starving!

‘A day?’

Raon realized it had been 24 hours, feeling as if no time had passed.

‘So it was longer than I thought.’

He smiled as Rimmer approached, waving.

“You really have no sense of timing.”

Despite his sigh, Rimmer wore a smile.

“How do you enter a trance like it’s nothing?”

“I was lucky.”

“When will I ever get that kind of luck?”

Rimmer muttered in frustration, waving his hand.

“So, did you gain anything?”

“I got a rough idea of what Unity is.”

“That’s more than enough.”

Rimmer nodded, satisfied.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“Out?”

“A day has passed, so the elder is fully immersed in the ceremony. He’ll be like that for two weeks. No need to wait.”

Rimmer gestured for him to leave, saying the elders would guard the place.

“But…”

“You’re a guest and a benefactor. No need to stand guard.”

Rimmer assured him, pulling him along by the shoulder. Siyan also stirred and stood up.

“Are you alright, Lady Siyan?”

“Ah, yes.”

Siyan nodded slowly, her voice sounding a bit weak.

Rimmer watched her for a moment before placing his hand in the air, creating a green light that split the space, revealing Sterin’s tree house.

“I’ll take Siyan. You head back to the dorm. We’ll eat soon.”

He made a gesture of holding a fork before following Siyan.

‘What happened?’

-While you were in a trance, other elves harassed that elf girl.

Wrath frowned.

‘Harassed?’

-They complained that while you quickly entered a trance, she couldn’t resonate despite countless ceremonies.

Wrath twisted his lips, expressing his dislike for the elves.

‘I see…’

Raon watched Siyan’s retreating figure, licking his lips.

‘I wanted to confirm it properly.’

He wanted to verify if the blockage in Siyan’s upper dantian was a natural barrier or the result of the energy from the World Tree, but that would have to wait.

-Everything aside, hurry up and eat! You haven’t eaten all day!

‘I haven’t eaten all day, so how about some Nadine bread?’

-Do you want to kill me? Eating that now would twist my intestines!

Wrath shook his head, pleading for sanity.

‘Alright, alright.’

Raon chuckled, nodding.

‘This time, I’ll eat the elf food you wanted.’

-Oh? What’s gotten into you?

‘It’s about time.’

Wrath, despite hating Siyan for making Nadine bread, had come to her defense upon learning she was bullied for her lack of talent. Seeing this human side of him, Raon felt a bit of kindness.

As they conversed, they reached the dorm. Yua and Dorian were still learning music, so there was no sign of them.

Raon grabbed the door handle when a small fox darted out of the bushes.

“A fox?”

A fox shouldn’t be here.

Rimmer had said only creatures invited by the elves could enter this place, meaning the fox couldn’t be a wild animal.

‘No way…’

-Eek!

Wrath, who had been eagerly anticipating elf food, jumped back in fear.

-It’s that madwoman! It has to be!

As Raon had the same thought, the fox spoke in human language.

“Raon!”

As expected, the baby fox was Merlin, but her voice was unusually urgent.

“You need to leave here immediately!”