Although she had spoken, Maggie didn't actually have any ideas on how to save the Elf Mother Tree. Fortunately, Haransel was a very responsible Elf King, and the two of them stood on the Elf Altar and began to discuss and research how to cleanse the Elf Mother Tree of its filth.
"So the source of this filth might be the dead?"
After listening to Harlanser's explanation of the whole story, Maggie asked a question that seemed to understand but not quite.
"I don't know the specifics very well. At that time... the undead calamity had just descended. Although I ordered the entrances and exits of the Green Wilderness Forest to be sealed, quite a few undead still managed to sneak in, causing considerable casualties to the elves."
Haransel's expression darkened as he spoke. He had just ascended to the position of Elf King and was already facing such a terrifying situation; it was truly a helpless situation.
He couldn't have predicted the invasion of the undead, so it wasn't his fault.
But he clearly remembered it and was saddened by it.
"The mother tree was already corrupted at the beginning of the Scourge, and even now that the Scourge has ended, it still shows no signs of improvement. During this time, the elves have been taking turns cleaning and absorbing the filth on it..."
"I have been looking for a solution, and I have persisted until now, but this is my limit. I am still helpless."
Harlanser could not hide the bitterness in his voice; his handsome face was filled with sadness, as if he were grieving for the foreseeable future.
"Since you've forbade other elves from absorbing the filth, you'll have to take on the burden yourself, won't you?"
From the moment Haransel descended before her, Maggie noticed something amiss about him. Elves, being creatures of nature, dislike being fully clothed and prefer flowing, ethereal garments that expose their arms and chests.
But Harlanser completely covered himself up, which was very strange.
"..."
Harlansel didn't speak, but his silence said it all.
Maggie frowned slightly and reached out to pull open his sleeve. She saw that his once fair and clean arm was covered with crooked, dark purple lines that extended deep into his clothes.
A menacing black aura emanated from the patterns from time to time, resembling cracks forming on the skin.
However, such patterns covered Harlanser's entire body, even his neck, with only his face well protected.
Of course, it's also possible that he was afraid his tribe would discover that he was in poor condition, and in order to keep people's hearts at ease, he tried his best to maintain his appearance.
"...You really are...a responsible king."
After holding it in for a long time, Maggie could only manage to utter this one compliment.
To be honest, she was a little shocked, recalling the God of Light, Nophiel, whom she had met before.
She discovered that although the gods had different personalities, they all had an extraordinary sense of mission towards their respective races.
Perhaps this is why they were able to become gods.
Such strong conviction and sense of responsibility are truly admirable, which made Maggie somewhat frustrated, feeling that her chances of obtaining divinity had become even lower.
She didn't believe she was someone who would willingly dedicate herself to her race to such an extent; in fact, she was selfish and would do anything to survive, making her spiritually inferior to these gods.
"No, I am not a good king. If I were really powerful, I wouldn't have let the Elf Mother Tree become like this."
Harlancel simply withdrew his hand silently, refusing to acknowledge Maggie's praise, believing himself unworthy of it.
"Never mind, I'll think of something."
Maggie sighed, filled with respect for Harlanthel, and decided to seriously try to find a solution for him.
Her current actions have nothing to do with pity or sympathy; they stem purely from admiration for those with noble spiritual qualities, and contain nothing else.
She turned and walked toward the Elven Mother Tree, reaching out to touch the trunk. Harlanthal saw Maggie's action and instinctively tried to stop her, but his arm remained frozen in mid-air, and he did not actually stop her.
In fact, Maggie's current behavior is extremely dangerous. For someone from another race to touch the very foundation of another race without prior notice is the most impolite and offensive act. She could very well be killed.
But she was only thinking about the elven mother tree being corrupted and didn't consider anything else.
Fortunately, Harlanthal realized that Maggie meant no harm, so he did not do anything irreversible.
Maggie placed her palm on the trunk of the Elf Mother Tree, gently closed her eyes, and could vaguely sense the flow of magic within it, as well as a force that made her feel very uncomfortable mixed in with it.
She thought that this was probably the culprit behind the withering of the Elf Mother Tree by that corrupting force.
As it stands, the ratio of corrupting energy to life energy within the Elf Mother Tree is nearly one to one. If the corrupting energy increases even slightly, the Mother Tree will quickly perish.
It has reached an extremely dangerous situation.
However, since the power flowing within it is of the wood element, and Maggie does not have the magical talent of the wood element, she was unable to guide the power within the Elf Mother Tree, and in the end, she could only helplessly open her eyes.
She really couldn't help with this.
I thought that if the poison was caused by the dead, it might be possible to absorb some of it, like Ficklin did, by using the gray beads inside her body to guide it.
Even if it can't be completely cured, it can still help relieve some of Harlanser's stress.
As it turned out, she really had no solution.
The corrupting power that erodes the Mother Tree of Elves, while its source is similar to that of the undead, is different, as if it contains something else entirely.
It's important to know that even toxins can be categorized into mixed toxins and single toxins.
In comparison, a single toxin is obviously easier to treat.
If there are mixed toxins... that would be far too troublesome.
Maggie turned around and saw Harlanthal's expectant expression, but she could only shake her head in silence.
"Feel sorry."
Harlanser's eyes dimmed at a visible speed; the glimmer of hope that had just risen was shattered, and no one would feel good about that.
This made Maggie a little sad.
"It's alright. You're human, and I'm already very grateful that you're willing to help find a solution."
Harlanser did not blame or reprimand Maggie. He simply forced a smile and expressed his gratitude to Maggie in a gentle tone.
"Um... don't be discouraged, there must be other ways."
Maggie didn't know how to comfort Harlansel, and her words sounded weak and powerless.
But she knew for certain that the real Elven Mother Tree was not dead; on the contrary, it was thriving and looked to be in good condition, so Haransel must have found a way.
The Elf King before us will grow into the God of the Forest in the future.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com