Chapter : 03
The Beginning, Part 2
Omniscient POV
Arsalan kept throwing fire at the tree, but nothing changed. Ordinary flames couldn’t burn it.
The fire never spread, and all sparks naturally died out.
Eventually, Ars grew exhausted and stopped tossing the burned paper. Smoke filled the air as he panted heavily.
Even as he coughed, the wind quickly scattered the smoke. He stared at the tree with a face that showed he didn’t understand.
The atmosphere shifted. The tree began shedding lifeless leaves, and a gloomy presence spread across the backyard.
The golden mark on his chest glowed faintly for the first time, as if he were truly connected to the World Tree. Emotions flowed directly into him.
It was crying.
The paper he had been clutching fell gently to the ground as he loosened his grip. His eyes were wet, and tears ran down his cheeks.
Had the World Tree not hurt his parents? Had it really saved him? Why was it crying?
He didn’t know.
He understood nothing.
He didn’t know what to do.
Why had he survived alone?
Hiro returned with dinner. The moment he stepped inside, the smell of burned paper and black fragments blown by the wind met him.
“Boy, what is this? What did you do?”
Ars lowered his head and stayed silent.
“Answer me! Were you playing with fire?!”
“I wasn’t playing… I just… tried to burn that tree.”
Hiro froze.
“What are you thinking?! I told you not to go near it! It’s evil! You can’t destroy it! You could be harmed instead!”
His breathing grew heavy.
Ars remained silent.
“We’re leaving. This place is dangerous. Come to my house.”
Hiro began packing his things.
“I won’t go.”
When he turned around, his eyes were full of determination.
“Don’t say something foolish!”
“I’m staying here!”
He ran into his room and locked the door.
Hiro tried to persuade him, but it was useless. In the end, he left food and stayed the night.
Ars would not move until he had answers.
Always.
The next morning, an urgent call came from the hospital, and Hiro went there.
Sumiko insisted she would be discharged.
“I want to spend the remaining time with Ars.”
Their fortune had run out paying for treatment. She wanted to leave something behind for him.
Hiro could not argue.
At that moment, Gan’an Shinomiya and Masato Hayasaka appeared.
Masato had once come seeking sap from the World Tree.
“We came to give thanks. She has fully recovered.”
Gan’an announced this with dignity.
“Is there hope?”
Sumiko refused at first but wavered when her grandson was mentioned.
Discussions began.
Meanwhile, Oko Shinomiya was irritated. His father had recovered.
A man who had failed the mission appeared, his hands burned and charred.
“There was a barrier. I couldn’t get close.”
The World Tree warned of danger.
“Do not touch the child.”
Eventually, Sumiko returned home.
The next morning, a woman with blue eyes appeared.
“Hello~ I’m Nao Hayasaka. Just call me Nao. Don’t call me aunt.”
Boldly, she picked up Ars.
On the dining table, there was a homemade meal.
Daily life slowly returned.
He saw his parents’ bodies and attended their funeral.
Reporters were removed thanks to Gan’an’s intervention.
Even those with ill intent were blocked by the barrier.
Ars touched the tree and sharpened his senses.
Things he couldn’t see before began to become visible.
One night, he shouted.
“Come out!”
On the sixth day, a hand rested on his shoulder.
“You’re noisy. People will think you’ve gone mad.”
He turned, but no one was there.
A sweet fragrance lingered.
“Who are you? Why can’t I see you?”
“I am… Saber.”
The mark on his left hand shone deep crimson.
