Chapter 54 Singing the Moon, Erlan HE Ending Walkthrough Progress: 9...

Congratulations to the player for completing the side quest [The Calamity of the Tree of Life].

The player receives 80,000 gold coins, 150,000 experience points, and reaches level 43.

Ancia no longer cared about how many gold coins the system gave her; only experience points could motivate her. The experience from side quests was quite generous, allowing her to directly break through the four-star barrier.

However, the experience points she received varied among the side quests she completed. What standard did the system use to measure the value of a side quest?

Whether it's the Thief Demon, the Lord of Greed, or the Lord of Gluttony, they all made a move for the sacred relic. What are their reasons for wanting to obtain it?

The Moon Crown atop her head changed as the Tree of Life healed her, interrupting Ancia's thoughts. The branches and leaves from the Tree of Life regained their vitality, no longer appearing dilapidated and withered. Now, with the Moon Crown on her head, it no longer amplified the negative effects in her heart.

The matter has been resolved, and the Crown of Moonlight should be returned to Ellan.

But Erlan stopped Ancia from taking it off, saying, "No need to return it, the Moon Crown is for you."

Ancia's eyes widened slightly, somewhat surprised. "Give it to me? Isn't this a sacred object symbolizing the throne of your elven race?"

Erlan: "Only when it is worn on the head of the Elf King does it become a symbol of the throne. Now it is merely a sacred relic filled with life energy. After the forest fell ill, my body also began to show signs of discomfort. You saved the Misty Moon Forest, which is equivalent to saving me. Without you, the Tree of Life and the Crown of Moonlight would have withered. This is the Misty Moon Elf race's gift of gratitude for your healing of the Tree of Life."

He whispered in a voice that Ancia couldn't hear, "Besides, if Heligalo can give up the Wedge of Radiance, I won't be stingy like him."

The restoration of the Tree of Life brought relief to the entire Mistmoon Elf race, but before returning to normal life, they had one more thing to do—send their companions back to the embrace of the Mother Tree.

The pit beneath the tree had been filled in, and Vivian's remains lay on a small bed woven from vines. Her familiar elves gathered around, singing a farewell song to their companion.

As the elves sang melodiously, the Tree of Life released a silvery-white energy that enveloped the skeleton. The skeleton curled up spontaneously within the silvery-white bubble, which gradually solidified and shrank, transforming into a silvery-white fruit that hung on a branch.

Returning to the Mother Tree was a happy thing, and the elves were happy for Vivian, except for one elf.

Minos stood silently outside the crowd. He neither sang a dirge nor offered Vivian a blessing. He simply gazed at the fruit for a long time before pulling out the arrow from his back.

He pierced his own heart with an arrow.

Blood gushed from the wound, and Minos knelt on the ground, revealing his first smile in days. He looked at the silver fruit on the treetop and gave up calling for help.

Arlan was standing not far from Minos. When he saw Minos's actions, he subconsciously raised his hand, then abruptly lowered it, letting the scene unfold.

Ancia noticed his hesitation. "Why didn't you stop him?"

Minos was a subject of the Elf race. As the Elf King, shouldn't Erlan have stopped Minos from committing suicide?

Ellan shook his head. "It's no use, he can't go on living. Elves are loyal; they will never live alone after their partner dies. Although elves can be resurrected by returning to the Mother Tree, the newborn fruit has lost its former memories and personality. It's a completely new elf, no longer the Vivian that Minos loved. What's more, he cooperated with the demons who killed his lover. The demons used his love to enter the Tree of Life's barrier, corrupting the Tree of Life, and burying Vivian deep underground... All these things combined make living torture for him."

Ancia looked at the two silver fruits not far apart on the treetop, and her gaze involuntarily fell on Erlan. She wanted to ask him, "And what about you?"

But this question is meaningless.

Ancia: "I'm going back to the Eternal City."

Airland: "So soon? That makes sense. You should have gone back by now. When are you leaving?"

Ancia: "Tomorrow."

Airland: "I'll come to see you off tomorrow."

*

That night, Ancia returned to her treehouse. Her luggage in the Misty Moon Forest was packed, and she could return to the Mage Tower the next day by activating the teleportation crystal.

When it was time for her to rest, she sat on the edge of the bed instead of going to sleep as usual.

Ancia is waiting for someone who might appear.

Knock, knock, knock—an irregular knocking sound rang out.

A smile, unnoticed even by herself, spread across Ancia's face; she had waited for this moment.

Behind the wooden door stood Erlan, his eyes sparkling with surprise. His chest heaved as he breathed heavily, holding an envelope in his hand, the words on it gleaming faintly in the night.

Arlan calmed his breathing and extended a hand to Ancia, "I've come to invite you..."

"Spending our first summer night together in the Misty Moon Forest."

Ancia blinked. "I was wondering if you'd see the reply."

Erlan chuckled. "My desk may be messy, but I remember the location of everything. I noticed the subtle movement as soon as I got back to my room." His voice softened. "Then I quietly waited for night to fall, for ink to appear on that blank page. Luckily, I waited."

Ancia smiled faintly and placed her hand in Erlan's palm. "Let's go, King of Misty Moon Forest, show me around."

Erlan took Ancia's hand and led her down the stairs of the treehouse. "It just rained, but the mushrooms still need time to grow. The flavor of the magically grown ones isn't as good as the naturally grown ones. We'll have to wait until next time."

Ancia: "It's okay, some things can be left for later."

She shook their clasped hands. "But I'm curious, what song did you say you were going to sing for me? And why can you only sing it under the witness of the Tree of Life?"

Aierlan's figure stiffened for a moment, a hint of unease flashing across his face. "You'll find out soon enough."

They reached the Tree of Life. Ancia stopped before the thorny altar. What would the Misty Moon Forest be like now if she hadn't stopped the sacrificial ritual that day? Would she ever see Ellan again?

Ancia: "Ellan, if the sacrificial ritual really takes place, will your letter still have a chance to be sent?"

Holding Ancia's hand tighter, Erlan said softly, "Yes, I've always had good luck with gambles. If it really comes to that, it's just a gamble between me and fate, and I won't lose. I will live to protect the Tree of Life until it grows, and then I will personally hand that letter to you."

Ancia: "Oh? Humans don't live as long as you elves. I probably won't live to see that time."

Ailan: "I've already planned ahead. I'll give you half of my lifespan and teach you the elven race's health preservation secrets. I'm sure I can outlive Heligalo."

Ansia: "?"

Did he just say something incredible?

Ancia's expression was so interesting that Erlan leaned on her shoulder and laughed so hard he was shaking.

"Just kidding."

No, he really thought that way.

Aierlan lowered his eyes. How could one stop the growth of greed once they fell in love with someone? From only wanting to be by someone's side as a friend, to wanting to be by their side as a lover, to finally having only him as a partner, the more he got, the more he wanted.

Moreover, the person he fell in love with was unbelievably beautiful, naturally attracting others to approach him, yet he had no reasonable justification to reject them all. Ancia was not someone who valued love above all else; like the Misty Moon Forest he protected, she also had a goal she was always pursuing, but she tacitly approved of his actions. In fact, he himself was only able to enjoy a brief moment of happiness because of this premise.

But from this perspective, they are a match made in heaven.

Ancia: "What are you thinking about that makes you laugh so happily?"

Erlan: "It's nothing. I'll take you to the top of the Tree of Life. I used to love going up there the most. You can see the whole Misty Moon Forest from the tree."

The moment the magic at his fingertips coalesced, the Tree of Life extended several vines, coiling them into the shape of a swing and placing them at Ancia's feet.

Ancia: "Huh?"

Aylan helplessly dispelled his magic. "The Tree of Life invited you up there. Honestly, it's never used such a child-rearing tactic on elves before."

Ancia sat on the swing, "It seems I'm still more charming."

The swings spontaneously rose upwards, reaching the treetop, where they formed a giant platform. The Tree of Life used vines and leaves to create a soft, cool mat for them to sit on.

They were enveloped in silvery-white shimmering light, with pristine white clouds drifting overhead, seemingly within reach. From here, they could see the tranquil and peaceful Misty Moon Forest, bathed in soft moonlight and mist, a scene of breathtaking beauty, like a fairyland. The leaves rustled in the still air, a testament to the Tree of Life's pure goodwill and joy.

Ancia lay down, her head resting on Erlan's lap. From this angle, his facial features were clear and smooth, still impeccably handsome, without any flaws.

Erlan turned his head slightly to show her his best angle, holding a light blue fan in his hand, gently fanning himself and sending a gentle evening breeze to Ancia.

He parted his lips slightly, and a beautiful, ethereal voice rang out. Ancia seemed to see the wind blowing through the forest, the lake water overflowing the moss, and fireflies dancing in the moonlight. All the beauty was rushing towards her with the moonlight. The silvery-white radiance of the Tree of Life grew even more magnificent, making it almost impossible to tell whether the moon was in the sky or beside her.

Even though Ancia wasn't wearing the Moonlight Crown, she could still understand the tenderness and joy in the song. She stared at Ellan, lost in the love of that emerald-colored ocean.

Airlan's fingers gently traced Ancia's cheek, tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear, his tone unusually tender, "Ancia, in this life, besides my hometown, I have only sung 'The Moon' for you alone."

The system's background data stream was fluctuating wildly, and the mission progress data was quietly updating—[Aierlan HE Ending Walkthrough Progress: 99%]

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Author's Note: With Erlan secured, the next target is Mortley. It's time to start balancing things out.