In my lucid moments, I can always hear a low, persistent murmur deep within my heart, constantly echoing one word:
"return."
"return."
Escaping is no longer an option; my heart is filled with confusion.
No matter where I wander, no matter where I am.
That voice was like a seductive spell, or a devout prayer.
It constantly pressured me, relentlessly driving me forward.
I heard that soft and ethereal voice again.
...
A chill ran through him, and Cocotte felt as if he were immersed in a gently rippling pool of water.
She slowly opened her eyes and found herself in the warm embrace of the sacred tree.
Koko slowly propped himself up.
The azure water droplets that lingered on her fair skin slid down her arms and body, gently dripping back into the ripples of the pool.
A glimmer of light filled her eyes, and Cocotte shook her head, as if trying to dispel the fog in her heart.
"Is this... the heart of the divine tree?"
She slowly walked out of the pool and stepped into a space that was both calm and filled with flowing magic.
Her slender hands gently caressed the thousand-year-old vines of the sacred tree, and she closed her eyes.
As if a gentle breeze stirred the window of his mind, the barrier before him became indistinct. Cocote opened his eyes.
Her gaze seemed to pierce through mountains and rivers, reaching into the lush Elf Forest and glimpsing the distant frontier.
Beyond the sacred tree, the elves lived in peace and joy, and Kokot's gaze swept leisurely over every living being.
The young elves were busy yet orderly, the tender elves laughed and ran in the green field, while the elders were holding a solemn ceremony.
Time seemed to flow by at an accelerating pace before her eyes. Suddenly, countless elves prostrated themselves beneath the divine tree, paying homage in reverence.
At that moment, one voice after another echoed in Kokot's mind:
“Protected by the sacred tree,”
“A gift from the Queen,”
"May our people prosper forever."
These sounds, like ancient hymns, filled Kokot with a strange aversion, and her mind was filled with wave after wave of heaviness.
Even when my body was immersed in the embrace of the pool, those sounds still followed me like a shadow.
So Kokot raised his head, opened his eyes wide, and stared at the intertwined ceiling, his mind beginning to resonate with the meaning of his existence.
Soon, the noise of the outside world gradually faded away.
It was as if an invisible barrier had blocked out all the noise, leaving only one voice echoing in Kokot's heart—
'Return to nature.'
'Once you return to nature, the peace you yearn for will no longer be disturbed.'
"..."
I don't like this sound.
...
As if after a long journey, Kokot opened his eyes again.
This time, she had left the sacred tree and come to the depths of the forest.
She walked barefoot on the ground covered with soft green grass, slowly moving forward into the distance.
Her figure moved among the dwellings of the Elf Forest, passing by the warm gazes of the elves.
When they caught sight of Kokot, they would bow deeply, their faces filled with piety and respect.
"You've worked hard, Your Majesty."
As the elves on both sides offered their salutes, Kokot's face remained expressionless, maintaining an almost frightening calm.
She was somewhat confused. Was simply lying inside the sacred tree and sleeping really such a difficult task?
Every living being who spoke with her said the same thing; it must have been very arduous.
'Return to Nature'
That irritating voice echoed in her mind again.
Kokot stared blankly at the elves who were bowing to her, some even kneeling in worship.
Without uttering any words, it simply silently rejoined the sacred tree.
As her body lay in the pool, at that moment, she became one with the sacred tree once more.
Kokote closed his eyes again.
I'm so tired.
I think I'll take another nap.
...
"Miss Kokote Yad".
A shadow, like a veil, drifted down from mid-air and landed lightly on a patch of grass-covered ground.
In the gentle breeze of the forest, a person wrapped in a long robe shouts towards the vast treetops.
Kokot heard his voice, drowsily opened his eyes, and lazily rubbed them.
She looked down in the direction of the sound and saw a person wearing a long robe, standing upright, but she couldn't make out their features.
Something's strange.
"……Who are you?"
“I am Heim Horn, from the Council of Mages.”
Heim Horn gave only a brief introduction before making his request directly:
"Your strength, quality, and experience all meet our standards."
“I would like to invite you to become a member of our Mage Council.”
Kokot stared blankly at Heim Horn, who was bowing to her, her mouth slightly open as if she didn't know what to say.
She was somewhat surprised. She hadn't done anything, so how did she meet the standards of the Mage Council?
I don't understand, and I'm too lazy to think about it.
Why does someone need her again?
Having spent three hundred years in the Elf Forest, she was already feeling somewhat impatient.
Cocotte wanted to refuse outright, because all she wanted right now was a moment of peace and quiet.
Enjoy the comfort of the afternoon breeze and drift peacefully into a dream.
If one could remain asleep like this until the end of their life, it might not be such a bad choice.
But then a familiar voice echoed in her mind again:
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