Wizard: Starting from Escape from the Thorn Garden

Chapter 163 Elf Festival

Kate stood in the shade of the Eversong Tree and took a deep breath.

The air is filled with the fresh scent of earth after the rain and the sweet fragrance of millions of luminous flowers, mixed with the comforting woody aroma emanating from ancient trees.

He had just survived a fierce battle with the Seed of Nightmare, and now the Tranquil Forest had finally returned to its former peace and tranquility.

This land is like a giant recovering from a serious illness; though weak, its pulse is strong and full of new hope.

Kate could feel that the pure life energy flowing in the air was more gentle and active than before, cleansing his body and mind like a warm stream.

He decided to stay for a while to fully digest the rich rewards of this adventure and refine his heart of reincarnation to a more perfect state.

Under the arrangement of the Light Fairy Elders, Kate moved into a treehouse located high up in the Eversong Tree, naturally woven from living branches.

With its expansive views overlooking a vast expanse of emerald-green forest, and its proximity to the core energy pulse of the giant tree, this place is an excellent spot for meditation and spiritual practice.

Every morning, as the rising sun casts its first golden rays upon the treetops, Kate sits cross-legged on the moss-covered terrace and enters a deep meditative state.

He closed his eyes and looked inward. The complex and mysterious Heart of Reincarnation in his spiritual sea slowly rotated, emitting a soft yet magnificent four-colored radiance—emerald green representing life, gray symbolizing death, silver blue belonging to space, and the newly integrated, unpredictable amber color of dreams.

Although the battle with the Seed of Nightmare was fraught with danger, it also allowed him to reach a new level of understanding of the rules.

At this moment, he carefully sorted out every insight he gained from the battle: how life energy could more subtly neutralize the erosion of death, how spatial structures could more stably bear the collision of rules, and especially how the newly acquired "Dream" law could act like a universal adhesive, building a bridge of communication between life and death, allowing the power of reincarnation to operate more smoothly and freely.

Aisha also transformed into her true form, a crystal-clear, star-studded Void Star Core plant, which quietly floated beside him, its branches and leaves moving without wind, silently exchanging energy and resonating with his rules.

The spatial insights she conveyed were serene and precise, like the most accurate coordinates, helping Kate stabilize the framework of the Garden of Space.

Kate then channeled life energy back into her, helping her repair the damage she had sustained in battle.

This symbiotic relationship makes their connection even closer, as if they have become an extension of each other.

Kate not only consolidated his cultivation to the point of perfection, but also felt that the structure of the Heart of Reincarnation was becoming more solid and profound, as if a miniature universe was approaching perfection within his body.

He could even vaguely touch that tough and mysterious barrier leading to the second environment.

During Kate's secluded training, the Tranquil Forest was also quietly undergoing changes.

The dark, corrosive shadows have completely faded, and the forest is recovering its vitality at an astonishing pace.

The eroded land sprouted tender green grass and glowing mushrooms, the dried-up streams flowed merrily again, and even the air became exceptionally clear.

To celebrate this hard-won victory and to thank the hero Kate, the Light Fairies decided to hold a grand and ancient celebration.

The celebration was held on a full moon night.

The vast open space beneath the Eternal Song Tree has been meticulously decorated.

The glowing vines, like natural colored lights, twine around the branches, weaving a dazzling ribbon of light. Countless luminous petals and twinkling fireflies are cleverly arranged to form flowing rivers of light.

Huge, fragrant fern leaves and delicate flowers were laid out as a soft carpet.

The air is filled with the sweet aroma of various fruits, candied fruits, and baked fairy pastries, mixed with the fresh scent of grass and trees, making people feel relaxed and happy.

As night fell completely, a full moon, like a silver platter, rose above the treetops, and the celebration officially began. The fairies, dressed in their most magnificent gowns made of fresh vines, petals, and delicate cicada wings, gathered from all directions.

They began by performing a sacrificial dance that has been passed down for thousands of years—the Dance of Natural Echoes.

The dance steps are solemn and graceful, accompanied by the ancient and melodious sounds of the wooden flute and harp, as if telling the ancient history of the forest and expressing gratitude to the spirit of nature.

As a VIP, Kate was personally invited by Elder Qingye to the front of the viewing platform.

He saw hundreds of light fairy dancers changing formations to the rhythm of the music, their movements perfectly synchronized, like waves formed by the wind blowing through the forest, full of the beauty and rhythm of life.

Their fingertips dripped with emerald green light, which gathered as they danced and rose into the air, gradually forming a huge, swirling green cloud of light.

Immediately afterwards, several elder elven priests began chanting the epic poem "The Forest Era," with its ancient tone and long, drawn-out syllables.

Their voices were ethereal and penetrating, each note seemingly resonating with the ground beneath their feet and the surrounding trees.

The lyrics tell the magnificent story of the World Tree sprouting, the birth of the spirits, the covenant made with nature, and the heroic deeds of the wise men of past generations who protected the forest.

When the song speaks of the recent struggle against darkness and Kate's help, all the elves look at Kate with gratitude, and the lyrics include improvised verses praising his courage and wisdom.

Although Kate couldn't fully understand all the ancient Elven vocabulary, he clearly felt the sincere emotions and profound respect.

As the chanting reached its climax, the green cloud of light in the sky, formed from the energy of the dance, seemed to receive a command and slowly descended, transforming into a warm and delicate rain of life, shimmering with a faint glow, gently sprinkling down on each participant.

This rain of light contains pure life energy and the intention of collective blessing. It instantly blends into the skin upon contact, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort and nourishment.

Kate felt the fatigue from days of cultivation vanish, her mental sea became clearer, and even her heart of reincarnation seemed to have been cleansed, operating more smoothly.

The fairies laughed and twirled in the rain of light, their faces beaming with pure joy and happiness.

The enthusiastic elves have not forgotten their heroes.

Amber was the first to run over, take Kate's hand, and lead him into the celebrating crowd.

They served chilled berries soaked in morning dew, sweet honey cake, and a fermented mixed fruit wine that would make you feel light and carefree.

Several lively elf girls even laughed and pulled Kate up, teaching him a simple ring dance.

Kate was a little clumsy at first, but he was a quick learner and soon got the hang of it, immersing himself in the joyful atmosphere.

He felt a long-lost sense of ease and peace, free from killing and scheming, and his soul seemed to be purified by this pure joy.

The celebration lasted for three whole days, with singing, dancing and laughter continuing day and night, immersing the entire Tranquil Forest in a joyous and hopeful atmosphere of rebirth.

Despite being immersed in the joy of the celebration and the fulfillment of her training, Kate did not forget her responsibilities.

Every few days, he would come alone to a secluded branch of the Eternal Song Tree, concentrate his mind, and use his newly acquired "Mind Weaving" ability.

He closed his eyes, slowly spreading his senses like a spider web, no longer confined to the material world, but delving into the mysterious collective subconscious and dream realm.

At first, he sensed the light fairies' general sense of relief after surviving a catastrophe, their anticipation for the future, and the occasional, subtle remnants of fear of the past.

These emotions are like the various small fish in a stream, clearly discernible, but the overall flow of the water is warm and positive.

Then, his perception range continued to expand, covering more and more remote forest areas.

He "heard" the trees' tranquil "dream"—their longing for sunlight and rain, and their satisfaction with their roots reaching deep into the earth;

He "saw" the simple and direct dreams of the small animals in the forest—chasing, playing, and sleeping soundly after a full meal.

These dreams, though primitive, are full of natural vitality and life.

Most importantly, he repeatedly scanned and filtered every possible discordant "ripple".

He searched for the unique, cold, viscous, predatory, and malicious frequency of the Seed of Nightmares.

Once, twice, three times—he was like the most patient hunter, leaving no corner unchecked.

Sometimes, he would capture fleeting nightmares of fear arising from predator-prey relationships, or fluctuations of anxiety caused by natural storms, but these were all transient and essentially part of the natural cycle, quite unlike that utter, twisted malice.

After weeks of repeated confirmation, Kate was finally able to conclude that the dream realm of the Eternal Night Forest was like a sky thoroughly washed by a spring rain, clear and serene.

The unsettling gray-green nightmare ripples had vanished completely, as if they had never existed.

The Seed of Nightmare was indeed completely annihilated, leaving not a trace or hidden seed behind.

This confirmation put his mind at ease.

A month has passed quietly.

Kate felt that she had reached an unprecedented peak in her condition.

The Heart of Reincarnation is perfectly integrated and transparent, and its control over the four rules is effortless; its spiritual power is full and refined, reaching the pinnacle of the first ring realm; and it has also begun to digest and absorb the knowledge it gained from the Light Fairy's Treasury.

He knew it was time to return to Evergreen Barrier.

With its superior facilities, quieter environment, and mentorship, it was the perfect place for him to break through to the second environmental realm.

In the early morning, the soft morning light filters through the gaps in the leaves of the giant tree, casting dappled golden spots.

On the natural plaza formed by the intertwined aerial roots of the Eternal Song Tree, Kate bid farewell to Elder Green Leaf, Elder Morning Dew, High Priest of the Dead Tree, and many other Light Fairies.

"Your Excellency Kate, are you really not going to stay a little longer?"

Elder Qingye's tone was filled with reluctance and gratitude, "The Tranquil Forest will always be your home."

Kate smiled and bowed: "Elder, I appreciate your kindness. But I must return for my final seclusion to seek a breakthrough in my cultivation level."

The crisis in the Tranquil Forest has been averted, and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

At that moment, Amber squeezed out of the crowd, grabbed Kate's sleeve, her small face upturned with slightly red eyes, her big eyes filled with glistening tears, expressing deep reluctance: "Kate—do you really have to go? I—I will miss you—" her voice choked with sobs.

Having fought side by side and spent time together, she had long regarded Kate as her closest brother and mentor.

Kate's heart softened. She knelt down and gently stroked Amber's emerald green hair. "Amber, you are already a brave and outstanding forest guardian. The Tranquil Forest needs you. Train hard and grow up well. I promise you, I will definitely come back to see you in the future."

Amber nodded vigorously, trying hard not to let her tears fall.

She carefully removed a thin, shimmering vine thread from her hair; the thread seemed to have a life of its own, twitching slightly.

She skillfully wove it into a small, knotted amulet and placed it in Kate's hand: "This is a keepsake woven from my primordial vines! Wearing it, wherever you are, as long as you're near the Evernight Forest, it will guide you back to the Eversong Tree! And—and when you see it, you'll remember me—"

Her voice grew softer and softer, tinged with a hint of shyness.

Kate solemnly accepted the small and warm amulet, feeling the pure natural energy and sincere blessings contained within it, which originated from the same source as amber.

He carefully tucked it away from his body: "Thank you, Amber. I love this gift and will cherish it."

Elder Qingye also gestured for his attendants to present the prepared gifts: in addition to the previously promised Rainbow Life Fruit and Star Dew Marrow, there were also a large number of special products from the Eternal Night Forest, including Moonberry which can enhance spiritual perception, Dawn Dew containing pure life energy, and exquisite handicrafts made by elven craftsmen and imbued with natural magic, etc., a dazzling array that filled several dimensional bags.

"Your Excellency Kate, please accept this small token of our appreciation. The Tranquil Forest's friendship towards you will last forever."

If there is any need, simply send a message through amber tokens or any natural medium, and our tribe will certainly do everything in its power to assist you!

Elder Qingye solemnly promised once again.

"Thank you all for your kind gifts. Kate will always remember this kindness. Until we meet again!"

Kate clasped her hands in a fist salute to all the elves.

Under the reluctant gazes of many light fairies, Kate left the settlement.

He took one last look at the beautiful, revitalized forest and its innocent, warm-hearted elf friends, his heart filled with warmth and a touch of melancholy.

A few days later, when Kate stepped onto solid ground again, she was back in a familiar place—the vibrant and orderly hall of the Evergreen Fortress.

The familiar, slightly damp air, mixed with the fragrance of various magical plants and the faint scent of magical solvents, wafted towards me.

The hall was bustling with people, mostly wizards and apprentices in a hurry, a stark contrast to the tranquility of the Silent Forest.

Kate took a deep breath, feeling the familiar atmosphere of "home," and a strong sense of belonging and urgency welled up in her heart.

He didn't linger and went straight back to his treehouse near the Garden of Life.

The door was closed, and all protective measures were activated, instantly isolating the room from all outside noise.

The room was as it always had been, simple and tidy. He carefully took out and put away the gifts from the light fairies, especially the fragment of the Dream Core, the Rainbow Life Fruit, and the Star Dew Marrow, which would be key resources for his breakthrough.