The Flight to Luthanyr

  All nations maintained strict border laws, especially when it came to travel between continents. To prevent unauthorized entry, they erected magical barriers that would alert the nation of any unwanted visitors or accidental trespassers. These barriers weren’t designed to physically block entry but to serve as an early warning system for border security. Some nations, particularly those governed by a single overseer, had no need for such defenses, as their borders were already unified under one rule.

  However, Luthanyr’s borders were an exception. Unlike other nations, the elves strictly prohibited outsiders from entering their sacred lands. Their forests contained one of their most valuable treasures, guarded by elite warriors and magical beasts. Only the ruler of Luthanyr and a select few were granted access to this sacred place.

  Yet, for Caelorian Valtheren, these barriers were nothing more than a passing breeze. In his dragon form, he flew straight through them without resistance, the magical defenses incapable of stopping a being of his power. His supersonic speed turned what should have been a long journey into mere moments.

  Despite living so close to Luthanyr, Arlena had never set foot in the elven lands. She had always wanted to visit, especially after hearing from Sylvara about the grand libraries filled with ancient scriptures. However, at Caelorian’s current speed, everything below was a blur, vanishing before she could make out any details.

  Frustrated, she turned to Sylvara. “Grandmother, can we slow down a little? I want to see the surroundings.”

  She could have spoken directly to Caelorian, but given his massive form, there was no guarantee he would hear her properly. Sylvara followed her gaze downward, then let out a sigh.

  “We’re already late, so we should be reaching the capital as soon as possible. But…” she glanced at Caelorian, narrowing her eyes slightly, “I suppose a few moments won’t hurt. Besides, I think your grandfather is flying faster than necessary.”

  With a faint smirk, she raised her hand. A small magic circle appeared in her palm, glowing softly with Sol energy. Instantly, Caelorian’s speed dropped, his massive wings adjusting to a gentler pace.

  The great dragon let out a deep grumble. “You were the one who told me to fly quickly because we were late. Now you want me to slow down?”

  Sylvara’s cold stare was the only answer he received. With an exaggerated huff, Caelorian rumbled, “Hmph. Fine.”

  Instead of speaking aloud, Sylvara had used Sol-Link, a telepathic communication technique that connected minds through Sol energy. This ability allowed individuals to communicate without words or gestures, but it wasn’t something just anyone could use. Both participants needed to recognize each other’s Sol patterns and share a strong familiarity. Furthermore, if one person had a vast Sol reserve, they could unintentionally overwhelm the other, causing harm.

  However, Sylvara and Caelorian had spent centuries together, making it easy for them to communicate effortlessly. Their deep understanding of each other’s Sol patterns allowed Sylvara to send her message without being affected by Caelorian’s immense power as a Greater Dragon.

  As Caelorian slowed down, the world below began to take shape. What had once been streaks of light gradually became clear landscapes. Though they had only just crossed the coastal borders, they were already deep within Luthanyr’s landmass—a testament to Caelorian’s earlier speed.

  The horizon stretched endlessly with lush green forests and towering trees. Soon, structures began to appear—small settlements at first, followed by a grand elven city emerging from the heart of the land. Even from their high altitude, Arlena could make out the intricate designs of elven architecture.

  Despite the densely built homes and industrial structures, massive trees stood untouched in the middle of the cities. The wood elves revered these trees as divine beings, and so the dark elves had built their cities around them, respecting their presence.

  Some of these trees were so enormous that if Caelorian had flown just a little lower, he could have crashed into them. To an outsider, flying at such speeds through these towering trees would have been reckless. But Caelorian was no stranger to the elven lands—he had visited Luthanyr many times before.

  Sylvara turned to Arlena, nodding toward the trees below. “Look down there—those are the Divine Trees. See how tall they are?”

  Arlena’s eyes widened in wonder. “What are they called?”

  Sylvara smiled knowingly. “Have you ever heard of the 'World Tree'?”

  Arlena’s expression immediately changed to one of astonishment. She nodded quickly.

  Sylvara continued, “Those trees down there? They are World Trees, still in their early growth stage. Even though they are young, they already stand this tall.”

  Arlena could hardly believe what she was seeing—so many World Tree saplings growing together.

  World Trees were a rare species of colossal plant-like beings, capable of growing to unimaginable heights. Their roots could stretch to the core of Mythril, while their branches reached the very borders of the Outer World.

  Until now, Arlena had only heard of them in ancient stories and legends. She had never imagined she would witness them with her own eyes.

  In fact, no one had ever seen a fully grown World Tree. Some claimed that one existed deep within Arkanthar, but there was no proof. Their extreme rarity was due to their immense energy requirements.

  Since World Trees required centuries to grow and consumed vast amounts of Sol energy, most of them never reached full maturity. Only the strongest, most resilient of them survived.

  Yet here, in Luthanyr, dozens of them stood proudly—mere saplings, but already towering over the elven cities.

  The World Tree of Luthanyr

  As the World Tree saplings continued to amaze Arlena, she had no idea what awaited her next. As they neared the elven capital, the skies suddenly darkened—not from clouds, but from something far greater.

  A colossal World Tree loomed before them, its towering branches stretching across the sky, far higher than Caelorian was flying. This was no ordinary sapling—it had grown far beyond its early stages, standing on the verge of maturity.

  Arlena stared in disbelief at the sheer size of the tree. Sylvara, noticing her reaction, spoke with a small smile.

  “This is the largest World Tree in Luthanyr. Its branches cover most of the capital’s sky.”

  Even though the tree’s immense canopy cast a vast shadow over the city, rays of sunlight still pierced through, scattering golden light onto the lands below. The tree’s trunk was nowhere in sight, hidden beneath layers of branches. Arlena could only imagine what it would look like at full maturity—a true World Tree towering over Mythril itself.

  Moments later, the base of the tree finally came into view, revealing something even more breathtaking—the Royal Castle of Luthanyr, built directly into the World Tree’s trunk.

  Bathed in the golden light filtering through the branches and surrounded by falling autumn leaves, the castle was a masterpiece in itself. Unlike anything she had ever seen before, it blended seamlessly with the ancient, living colossus it was part of.

  Arlena thought she had already seen the most incredible sights on this journey, but this? This was beyond anything she could have imagined.

  She turned quickly to Sylvara, “Grandma, you never told me the castle was built into a World Tree!”

  Sylvara smirked, “If I had told you beforehand, would you have been this surprised?”

  Arlena opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. She simply turned back to stare at the castle, making sure to take in every detail before landing.

  Unlike Caltheris, where dragons had dedicated landing platforms, Luthanyr’s castle had no such structures. The elves rarely allowed dragons near their sacred grounds, meaning Caelorian had to find a way to land safely.

  If he were alone, it wouldn’t have been a problem—he could have simply shifted back into his human form in mid-air and landed effortlessly. But since he was carrying Sylvara and Arlena, that option was out of the question.

  “I don’t see anywhere to land,” Caelorian muttered. “You two will have to jump off once I get close enough.”

  Sylvara didn’t even blink. “Take us to the castle entrance. We’ll handle the rest.”

  Following her command, Caelorian adjusted his flight, moving toward the grand entrance of the castle. Below, Luthanyr’s soldiers had already taken notice of his presence, their sharp eyes tracking his descent.

  Among them, one figure stood apart—a regal dark elf escorted by guards, emerging from within the castle. It was Arenis Daerion, the ruler of Luthanyr.

  As Caelorian prepared to land, he erected a barrier beneath him, preventing the forceful winds from his wings from scattering debris or harming the people below. However, he couldn’t land completely. Instead, he hovered just above the ground, turning his head toward Sylvara.

  “This is as low as I can go,” he said. “If I descend any further, I’ll end up wrecking the entrance. Your brother won’t be happy, and I’d rather not deal with his lectures today.”

  Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  Arlena immediately noticed the tension in his voice.

  Caelorian had always been a troublemaker, and his relationship with Arenis had never been smooth. As the current ruler of Luthanyr, Arenis had little patience for Caelorian’s reckless behavior, particularly as a member of royalty. The two rarely saw eye to eye and often clashed over tradition, discipline, and responsibility.

  Arlena, still eager to get down, turned to Sylvara. “I can just jump from here. It’s not that high.”

  Sylvara shot her a sharp look. “You will do no such thing. Use your wind magic and make a proper descent.”

  Despite her exceptional physical strength, Arlena had also been trained in various magical arts, including elemental magic. With a nod, she extended a hand toward the ground.

  A series of glowing magic circles appeared in mid-air, forming solid wind platforms—a staircase of air leading from Caelorian’s back to the castle entrance.

  Stepping aside, she gestured for Sylvara to go first.

  With her usual grace and elegance, Sylvara descended the staircase, her long silver-white hair flowing behind her. Arlena followed closely, though her gaze remained locked onto the towering World Tree that surrounded them.

  The moment Sylvara stepped onto the castle grounds, she was met by royal attendants, followed closely by Arenis himself.

  “Welcome, Sylvara and Arlena,” Arenis greeted with a nod before turning his gaze toward Caelorian. “And you too, beast.”

  That was about as friendly as Arenis ever got toward Caelorian.

  Sylvara bowed slightly, acknowledging her older brother’s greeting. Arlena followed her lead, but Caelorian simply huffed and looked away.

  Arenis' expression darkened, his gaze narrowing at Caelorian’s disrespect.

  Before tensions could escalate, Sylvara cut in. "Will you two stop?"

  Arenis turned toward Sylvara as she gave him an exasperated look and sighed.

  "Nice to see you, Brother. Still as lively as ever, I see."

  Caelorian then turned toward Sylvara and opened a Sol-Link, his voice carrying through their connected minds.

  "I’m leaving now. Take care of yourselves."

  Without waiting for a response, he cut off the link. Then, glancing at Arlena, he spoke aloud—his deep voice carrying through the open air.

  "Take care, Arlena."

  And without another word, he took off into the sky, his massive form vanishing beyond the tree’s canopy.

  After Caelorian’s dramatic exit, Sylvara turned to Arenis, watching how he and Caelorian still behaved the same way after all these years. She let out a small sigh.

  "Nice to see you, Brother. Still as lively as ever, I see."

  Arenis ignored her remark and gestured toward the castle.

  "Come inside. There’s much to discuss."

  As they walked toward the grand entrance, Arlena’s eyes remained fixed on the World Tree’s massive base. Even as she stepped inside, she kept glancing back, unable to look away.

  Noticing this, Arenis spoke. “Marvelous, isn’t it? I’ve lived here for centuries, and yet, I still can’t get enough of it.”

  Arlena knew Arenis well—he often visited Oryndral to meet with her father and discuss political matters. However, seeing him in his own domain made him feel different, more imposing.

  Walking slightly ahead, Sylvara allowed them to talk freely.

  Arenis smirked. “I think I have the perfect solution for your fascination. How about you take the highest room in the castle for yourself?”

  Arlena’s eyes lit up. “The very top?”

  Arenis nodded.

  She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. With a wide smile, she quickly bowed in gratitude.

  Arenis waved off the formalities. “No need for that. Your grandmother isn’t here now, so no need to act overly proper.”

  At first, Arlena had considered going to Eryndor, as they had invited her to join their prestigious academies. But now, standing in the heart of the elven kingdom, she realized—

  This was where she truly belonged.

  Eryndor—The Land of Eternal Night

  Eryndor, the northern continent, stood in stark contrast to the lands of the south. Due to Mythril’s axial tilt, the southern continent remained bathed in near-constant daylight, supporting an abundance of greenery and life. Eryndor, however, rarely saw the light of day.

  For this reason, it was known as the Land of Eternal Night.

  Despite its harsh environment, Eryndor was far from weak. It was the wealthiest nation in Mythril, boasting the greatest financial growth and the most advanced technology. Unlike other regions, which relied on natural light and warmth, Eryndor had mastered artificial climate control.

  By harnessing Fire magic, they generated warmth throughout their cities, making the land habitable despite its frigid conditions. Meanwhile, Light magic was used to create artificial light, allowing for daily life activities and even small-scale agriculture within controlled environments.

  Beyond its technological advancements, Eryndor held dominance in trade, monopolizing Sol energy refinement and reusable magic items—including enchanted scrolls, books, and artifacts.

  However, trade was not the empire’s only strength.

  Eryndor had deep ties to many gods and champions, boasting the largest concentration of champions in the known world. In fact, nearly half of all known champions served under the emperor.

  But this was no coincidence.

  Eryndor had a deliberate strategy for acquiring champions like Arlena, seeking to bring them under its banner. Their reasoning was simple—champions were unique beings, unlike mortals or even gods.

  A champion was the only entity incapable of attaining godhood, due to their innate connection to Elyser from birth. However, there existed a rare exception—a champion could become a god if this rule failed, an event that had occurred only a handful of times in Mythril’s history.

  The last known champion-turned-god was Drazhael Vytheris—a name that needed no introduction. His power far surpassed all others, even standing above the gods themselves.

  Since his ascension, no champion had ever walked the path of godhood again. But if another were to appear, Eryndor wanted them under its control.

  Thus, the empire aggressively sought out every champion, hoping to secure their loyalty before they could be swayed by other factions. Even if a champion never reached Drazhael’s level, they were still among the strongest beings in Mythril, making them indispensable for military strength.

  However, not all champions accepted Eryndor’s offers.

  Many were drawn in by the wealth, prestige, and rewards offered by the empire. But some had turned them down, refusing to serve under the emperor despite the benefits.

  The Celestial Accord, a powerful faction within Eryndor dedicated to handling champion-related affairs, worked tirelessly to recruit, manage, and oversee champions. While many followed its directives, only a select few operated under the emperor’s direct command.

  Yet, despite their continued efforts to expand their influence, Emperor Kaeluth had turned his focus elsewhere.

  While champions remained an important focus, Eryndor had recently made a discovery of far greater significance—one that could reshape their understanding of the void itself.

  For centuries, Eryndor had led the world in astronomy, mapping the positions of worlds supported by Solaris. Their researchers had already charted most of the known celestial bodies, expanding the boundaries of what was once thought possible.

  But now, they had found something unprecedented.

  Until now, it was widely believed that Solaris was the only Sol cluster in existence. However, recent findings suggested otherwise.

  Eryndor’s astronomers had detected another Sol cluster, far beyond their known system, deep within the void. Though they lacked the means to observe it clearly, its very existence was groundbreaking.

  The moment this discovery was made, Emperor Kaeluth took immediate action.

  Before news could spread, he ordered his scholars to deepen their research, convening multiple scientific and arcane councils to analyze the implications.

  His interest was no coincidence—Kaeluth was not born of royal blood. He had climbed to the throne through his strength, intelligence, and divine connections, earning the favor of gods and powerful entities.

  More than anyone else, he understood the significance of this finding.

  If another Sol cluster truly existed, it could redefine their understanding of the void’s very nature.

  But Kaeluth had no way of knowing what he had truly discovered.

  The existence of another Sol Cluster challenged everything they understood about the cosmos. But beyond the veil of time, a far greater truth remained hidden—one that had already been set in motion long before they ever gazed into the void.

  Character Details :

  Name : Loryn

  Title : Champion, Warden of the Glades

  Race : Wood Elf

  Appearance :

  Personality :