“No requests yet?” Rika asked. Her arms were crossed, and a sly grin tugged at the corners of her mouth as she watched Kenneth rummage through the empty request box.

  Kenneth let out a sigh, closing the lid. “Not a single one. After all the effort we put into setting this up, I'm starting to think we might be too… intimidating for anyone to approach.”

  Rika raised an eyebrow, her playful smirk widening. “Well, considering this club is made up of the academy's most talked-about students, it's no surprise. We've got heirs, prodigies, and let's not forget...” she gestured to him, “the mysterious Fireon successor.”

  Kenneth chuckled softly but didn't lose his thoughtful expression. “You might be right, but I've got this nagging feeling. When the first case does come, it's not going to be something simple.”

  Rika tilted her head. “You sound like you're narrating a prophecy.”

  Before Kenneth could respond, a firm knock echoed through the room, cutting through their conversation. They both turned toward the door, momentarily surprised.

  Rika straightened up, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. “Well, looks like someone finally decided to test us. Let's see who's brave enough to knock.”

  The door creaked open, revealing a familiar figure.

  Standing in the doorway was Eithan Maridian, Mageia Academy's respected council president. His composed, yet serious demeanor filled the room as he stepped inside.

  “Eithan?” Kenneth asked, eyebrows raising. “What brings the student council president in our clubroom?”

  Rika stepped forward. “My dear cousin, don't tell me you've finally decided to grace us with your presence. What's the occasion?”

  Eithan glanced at her, his serious expression softening slightly, though not entirely. “This isn't a social call, Rika,” he said firmly. “I need your club's help.”

  Kenneth exchanged a quick glance with Rika, “You need our help?” The idea of the ever-competent Eithan needing assistance was hard to process. “What's going on?”

  Eithan stepped further into the room, his gaze steady. “It's a complicated matter, but it's also urgent. I wouldn't be here otherwise.”

  ＊＊＊

  Kenneth called the other members, and they followed Eithan out of the clubroom, curiosity evident on their faces. He led them to the academy's courtyard, where the massive tree stood.

  Its sprawling branches stretched so wide that their shade covered an area the size of two soccer fields. The sight was awe-inspiring, but something fell off, and Kenneth couldn't shake the feeling of unease creeping into his chest.

  He remembered reading about this tree in the novel—the legendary Tree of Life, planted by the First King as a symbol of unity and vitality.

  It was said to hold a unique magic that nurtured the academy and its grounds.

  “This is about the Tree of Life,” Eithan began as they reached the towering trunk. “Some students noticed this withering patch a few days ago. At first, we thought it was minor, but it's been spreading.”

  He pointed to a section of the tree's bark. The others leaned in, their expression shifting to concern as they saw it— a decayed, four foot path that marred the otherwise healthy bark. The withered area looked jarred, as though some invisible force had slashed and drained its vitality.

  “The Tree of Life is no ordinary tree,” Joash remarked. “It has natural recovery magic—any wound should heal within hours. It's been self-repairing for hundreds of years.”

  “But this hasn't healed,” Rika noted, her voice tinged with unease.

  Eithan's jaw tightened. “I had a plant Wizard examine it. They couldn't detect anything unusual about the patch—no toxins, no invasive species. But I can't shake the feeling that this goes beyond ordinary damage. It feels… wrong. My gut says it's tied to the First King's magic”

  “That makes sense,” Aine added thoughtfully, her gaze fixed on the tree. “Our magic—our Ultimate Elements—are tied to the First King's legacy. If something's wrong with the Tree of Life, it could be connected to those elements.”

  Kenneth stepped closer, his hand brushing against the rough bark near the withered patch. The moment his palm touched it, he froze. There was a faint resonance, it felt distorted, twisted in a way that made his skin crawl.

  He turned to Eithan. “We’ll investigate this. Whatever's causing it, we'll get to the bottom of it.”

  Eithan let out a small sigh of relief. “Thank you. If you need anything—resources, people, anything at all—let the student council know. We'll support you however we can.”

  Kenneth gave him a firm nod, his hand still lingering on the bark. “We'll let you know what we find.”

  After Eithan left, the group settled on the grass in front of the withered path, each lost in thought. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on them, and for a long moment, no one spoke.

  Kenneth finally broke the silence, turning to Joash. “What do you think? Any ideas?”

  Joash, still staring at the damaged bark, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Not yet. I need to look into this more—see if there's something I've missed about the Tree of Life. Can I head to the library? There might be records about its history or past issues like this.”

  Elena, who had been quietly observing, leaned forward. “I can help with that. I work in the library, so I know where the older archives are stored.”

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Joash glanced at her, “That would be helpful. Thanks.”

  Kenneth nodded, watching as Joash and Elena stood. “Let us know if you find anything. In the meantime, we'll see what we can figure out here.”

  As they left, Kenneth turned his focus back to the path. His mind raced, searching for a starting point. “Ash, can you inspect the soil? If there's anything wrong with it—poison or magical interference—it might explain why the tree isn't healing.”

  Ash crouched down, placing his hand firmly on the ground. His eyes narrowed as he cast his earth magic, focusing on the tree's roots. At first, everything felt normal—his connection to the earth was steady and familiar. But then, his expression twisted in alarm, and he jerked his hands away, stumbling back.

  “What the—?” Ash gasped, shaking his hands as if they'd been burned.

  “What happened?” Rika asked, her tone sharp with concern.

  Ash's breathing was uneven, beads of sweat forming on his brow. “The moment my earth magic touched the roots, it was like the tree grabbed it. It wasn't gradual—it yanked it right out of me. I've never felt anything like it.”

  Aine's brow knitted together as he stared at the tree. “The Tree of Life is supposed to draw on ambient magic to sustain itself, but it's always been subtle. What you're describing sounds… unnatural.”

  Ash shook his hand, still catching his breath. “It wasn't just subtle magic absorption—it was pulling my magic. The moment it felt my earth magic, it locked onto it like it was starving.”

  Lucian approached the withered patch next. His aura shimmered faintly as he activated his light magic, golden light radiating softly from his hands. As he extended his magic toward the patch, the glow faltered, then dimmed slightly.

  Kenneth noticed Lucian's brow furrow, but unlike Ash, he didn't step back or show any visible strain.

  “What did you feel?” Kenneth asked, watching him closely.

  Lucian withdrew his hand and stared at the patch, his golden eyes narrowing as light faded from them. “It pulled my magic, just like Ash said. But…” He trailed off, glancing at the others before stepping back. “This isn't just any magic affecting the tree. It's dark magic.”

  The air seemed to grow heavier with his words. Kenneth's stomach dropped. Dark magic. The magic that causes the disappearance of Fire magic.

  “It's faint,” Lucian continued. “But it's lingering here, and it's stronger near this path.”

  “Dark magic? That doesn't make sense,” Aine muttered. Her disbelief was clear, but the seriousness of Lucian's face silenced any protest.

  “Is it draining the tree's magic?” Rika asked, her voice quieter now, laced with concern.

  Lucian nodded. “That's likely. The tree is feeling on elemental magic to heal itself, but the dark magic is interfering—slowing the process and twisting its balance.”

  Kenneth took a deep breath, trying to steady his thoughts. “So it's a slow drain,” he said. “That means the tree still has time to recover, but if we don't find a way to stop the dark magic, this will only get worse.”

  For a moment, no one spoke, the weight of the revelation settling over them. Kenneth's mind raced, piercing together what little they knew. This wasn't just about the Tree of Life—it felt like the start of something much bigger, something far more dangerous than he'd anticipated.

  ＊＊＊

  Meanwhile, in the academy's library, Joash and Elena were hunched over a collection of old books and scrolls, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of a nearby magical lamp. The faint rustle of pages turning was the only sound in the otherwise quiet room.

  “Elena,” Joash said softly, his voice cutting through the silence. He pointed to a paragraph in a dusty, leather-bound tome, his finger trembling slightly as he read. “I think I found something important.”

  Elena leaned over to look, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the faded text.

  The Tree of Life serves not only as a symbol of unity but as the anchor for elemental balance in this world. Should the Tree weaken, all elements risk instability…

  She trailed off, her expression darkening as the implications of the words hit her. “It's not just symbolic,” she murmured, glancing at Joash. “If the tree weakens further…”

  “All elemental magic could fall apart,” Joash finished grimly. His voice was steady, but the weight of his words was clear. “The disappearance of fire magic was the first crack in the system. The tree's been compensating for the imbalance, but it's only a matter of time before it's stretched too thin.”

  Elena's gaze flicked back to the book. “And now, with the unknown injuring the tree…” She paused, her voice dropping. “It's not just about the tree surviving. If it fails to stabilize the elements—if it dies…”

  Joash's throat tightened as he nodded, finishing her thought. “All elemental magic could vanish forever.”

  A tense silence settled over them. The reality of the situation was stark and terrifying. The Tree of Life wasn't merely a source of elemental harmony—it was the fragile thread holding their magical world together.

  If it were to fail, the very foundation of their society would crumble.

  ＊＊＊

  Meanwhile, back at the Tree of Life, Kenneth's group stood in uneasy silence, the weight of their discovery pressing heavily on them.

  “So, dark magic… This isn't just some random occurrence, is it?” Kenneth asked, suspicion thick in his voice.

  “No,” Lucian replied gravely, his gaze fixed on the withering patch. “This is deliberate. Someone is trying to weaken the Tree of Life.”

  Just then, Joash and Elena returned, a thick, ancient tome in hand. Joash's urgency was evident as he flipped through its worn pages.

  “We found something,” he said, his voice tight. Stopping at the section, he handed the book to Kenneth. “This isn't just a tree. The First King planted not only as a symbol of unity between the kingdom and the academy, but as a crucial anchor of elemental forces.”

  Kenneth leaned in, reading aloud.

  The Tree of Life acts as the central node of a vast magical network, connecting saplings planted across the kingdom. Each sapling draws strength from the central tree, and together they maintain the elemental balance throughout the land.

  Rika's eyes widening. “If this tree is weakening…”

  “Then the saplings are losing strength too,” Elena finished, her voice steady but grim. “The imbalance isn't just localized—it could ripple across the entire kingdom.”

  Joash nodded, flipping to another section. “The Tree of Life and its saplings don't just stabilize magic. They safeguard the balance between the elements. If the central tree fails, the saplings can't maintain the system on their own.”

  Kenneth's jaw tightened as the full implications sank in. “If someone's targeting this tree, it's not just a local attack—it's a threat to the entire kingdom. And if the saplings die…”

  “Magic could destabilize everywhere,” Joash said, his tone steady. “A total collapse isn't out of the question.”

  “But why?” Aine asked, her worry evident. “Why now? Who would even want to destroy something that keeps everything balanced?”

  Kenneth's expression hardened. “It's not just about destroying magic—it's about control. The elemental balance isn't just a source of power. It's tied to the kingdom's prosperity, it's stability. Whoever's behind this isn't just attacking the Tree of Life. They're trying to unravel the entire foundation of Anterthon.”

  A heavy silence fell over the group. The Tree of Life wasn't just a tree. It was the lifeblood of the kingdom. If it failed, the very fabric of their world could unravel.

  The magnitude of what they faced was staggering, but they knew they couldn't afford to hesitate.

  The future of Anterthon—and all magic—depended on them.