The group decided that staying at the academy wouldn't uncover the full scope of the problem.

  Kenneth divided them into two teams: one to remain at the academy and monitor the Tree of Life, and another to investigate the nearby town and its surrounding saplings.

  Rika and Ash volunteered for the town investigation. Stepping through the bustling streets just beyond the academy's walls, they were greeted by the vibrant energy of merchants, locals, and students going about their day.

  But amidst the liveliness, their focus remained sharp. They began to inspect the saplings scattered throughout the town, their purpose to spot any signs of decay.

  Most of the saplings appeared healthy and vibrant, their leaves shimmering under the sunlight. But occasionally, they found troubling signs—a sapling with leaves curling at the edges, branches dropping unnaturally, or patches of bark that looked dry and withered.

  Their attention was drawn to one particularly fragile sapling near the town square. Its branches hung low, as though burdened by unseen weight.

  An elderly woman tending to the tree noticed their concern and approached.

  “I've witnessed this tree since I was a child,” she said, her voice tinged with worry. “It used to be so strong, but over the past few weeks, it's been weakening. I've noticed the same time happening to others around town”

  Ash ran his hand along the bark. The surface is brittle, the texture unnatural. As he channeled a small pulse of earth magic, he felt resistance—something faint but distinctly dark. A chill ran through him as he pulled his hand away.

  He straightened, exchanging a grave look with Rika. “I also feel a faint sense of dark magic here.”

  Rika frowned, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the area. “This is worse than we thought. We'll need more eyes on this. There are too many saplings in town for just the two of us to inspect.”

  Rika immediately reached out to Eithan through her communication bracelet. After explaining the situation, including the spreading decay and the possibility of it being linked to the Tree of Life, Eithan quickly understood the gravity of the problem. Without hesitation, he agreed to help.

  Within minutes, Eithan arrived at the town square with a group of students from the Practical Division and members of the student council. Their expressions were serious as they listened to Rika and Ash brief them on what to look for—drooping branches, brittle bark, and any trace of unnatural energy.

  “We'll split into small teams to cover more groups,” Eithan instructed, his usual calm demeanor replaced by quiet determination. “If you find anything unusual, report back immediately.”

  As the students dispersed to begin their search, Rika glanced at Ash. “At least now we have the manpower to figure this out.”

  Ash nodded, though his expression remained grim. “But the fact that we need this much help shows just how bad this is getting.”

  Rika couldn't argue with that.

  Back at the academy, Kenneth and the others gathered around the large map of the kingdom's capital town, spreading it out across the table in their clubroom. Joash careful pinned notes and sketches to the edges, marking each location where withering had been reported.

  The map, once a pristine representation of the town, was now crowded with ink marks and annotations.

  As they stepped back to take in the bigger picture, a chilling realization began to form.

  Kenneth traced a line across the map with his finger, connecting several marked locations. “These places… they form a network.”

  “It's like a web,” Lucian said, his voice low but tense. “And the Tree of Life is at the center. If the core fails, the whole network collapses.”

  Aine's eyes darkened. “We need to act fast. This isn't something we can handle alone. Headmaster Nero needs to know what is happening.”

  Kenneth nodded, “Agreed. We need more resources, more support. This isn't just about the academy anymore—it’s about protecting the kingdom.”

  Joash sighed, his frustration clear. “We're running out of time. The withering is spreading faster than anyone realized.”

  ＊＊＊

  Kenneth made his way to Headmaster Nero's office, his mind racing with everything they had uncovered. Sitting across from Nero, he recounted their discoveries—the withering Tree of Life, the spreading dark magic, and the potential collapse of the elemental network.

  As he spoke, Nero listened silently, his expression calm but contemplative, his fingers steepled beneath his chin.

  When Kenneth finally finished, Nero leaned back his chair, his gaze distant. “Hadrian must be troubled to see his beloved trees suffering,” he murmured, almost to himself.

  Kenneth frowned, catching the trace of emotion in the Headmaster's voice. “Headmaster, I read that the tree of Life could disrupt magic across Anterthon if it weakens too much. Is that true?”

  Nero's gaze remained fixed on the towering tree visible through the office window. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked, “Do you know who created the Tree of Life?”

  Kenneth nodded slowly, recalling the research they had poured over. “The First King, Hadrian.”

  “Indeed,” Nero said, his voice tinged with reverence. “Hadrian infused the Tree of Life with Aether Magic—a rare and ancient power that predates most elemental magic. The tree became more than a mere symbol or source of life. It grew into a living artifact, its roots spreading far and wide to protect and stabilize Anterthon's magic.”

  Kenneths's eyes widened as the pieces began to fit together. “So… the tree isn't just symbolic. It's the anchor holding everything together.”

  Nero nodded gravely. “It's a conduit. A living link that harmonizes the flow of magic across the kingdom. But now… if dark magic is corrupting it, then someone must know that my powers are currently sealed.”

  Kenneth stared at him, disbelief etched across his face. “Your powers… are tied to the Tree of Life?”

  Nero met his gaze, his piercing eyes revealing a depth of knowledge and burden Kenneth hadn't seen before. “Not tied to it—nurturing it. When Hadrian, the First King, passed, the tree began to weaken. Without his presence, it couldn't sustain itself. For centuries, I've been feeding it my time magic to keep it alive. In turn, the tree inherited some of my abilities—manipulating time to restore itself, even reverting back to its prime state when necessary.”

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  Kenneth's mind reeled, the pieces clicking into place like a puzzle he hadn't realized he was solving. The Headmaster had been the unseen guardian of the Tree of Life, using his time-manipulating powers to preserve its magic and maintain the kingdom's balance.

  “But now, with my powers sealed,” Nero continued, his tone grim, “the tree has reverted to its weakened state. That gave the dark magic a chance to take root and corrupt it.”

  Kenneth's heart quickened, the implications hitting him like a tidal wave. “Are they trying to destroy the tree to eliminate all elemental magic?”

  Nero's expression hardened, his calm exterior hiding an undercurrent of worry. “That's their intention. If the Tree of Life falls, chaos will consume the kingdom.”

  Kenneth felt the gravity of Nero's words press against him, but his resolve only grew stronger. “How do we stop it?”

  Nero leaned forward. “To stop the withering of the Tree of Life, we must summon the successors of the elemental families. Those who inherited the First King's magic are the only ones capable of restoring its strength.”

  Kenneth's brow furrowed. “You mean the five elemental families—Fireon, Mistral, Gairos, Maridian, and Luminel?”

  Nero nodded. “Yes, but not just them. Over the centuries, the First King’s elemental magic was passed down to a few others outside the original families. We'll need every wizard who carries even a fragment of that magic. The Tree of Life was infused with all five elements, along with Aether Magic. Without all of them working together, it cannot fully recover.”

  Kenneth's jaw tightened. “What about the Fireon? As far as I know, I’m the only one who has fire magic”

  Nero met Kenneth's gaze, his tone firm. “That will be enough. The Ultimate Fire resides in you now, and that is what the Tree of Life needs.”

  Nero stood, walking to a tall cabinet in the corner of the room. He retrieved a rolled-up map and spread it across the desk, revealing a detailed layout of the kingdom.

  Red markings highlighted the locations of the saplings scattered throughout Anterthon.

  “These are the saplings connected to the Tree of Life outside the capital,” Nero explained. “While you and the successors focus on the main tree, the others—those with elemental magic—will need to tend to these saplings. Each one must be stabilized to restore the network.”

  Kenneth studied the map, the sheer scale of the task sinking in. “And how do we get them to help? The saplings are spread all over the kingdom.”

  “I'll work with the king to summon the elemental families and the current Elemental Guardians,” Nero said. “Once they understand the stakes, they will have no choice but to cooperate. This affects everyone.”

  Nero said, his voice resolute. “Time is against us, so begin to prepare immediately. Every moment counts.”

  Kenneth nodded slowly, feeling the weight of the task ahead.

  ＊＊＊

  It was the day of the ritual. Kenneth and the other successors stood in a circle around the Tree of Life, its massive trunk towering over them like a sentinel of the past.

  Nero and Winraus observed quietly nearby, their watchful eyes ready to intervene if anything went awry. Standing alongside them was Winraus's son, Willian, the magical advisor to King Vladislav. They had coordinated with the king to dispatch the elemental families across the kingdom. The Mistral family headed north, the Maridian family to the west, the Gairos—already stationed in the east—secured their position, while the Luminel family moved south.

  Their mission was to stabilize the saplings connected to the Tree of Life.

  Nearby, Joash stood silently, his expression mixed with determination and concern. Eithan, Elena and a team of students had taken their positions around the saplings scattered throughout the town. Every effort was being made to ensure the ritual's success.

  Before the successor's began, Nero instructed them. “The Tree of Life was born of unity, and so must it be restored. You must combine your elemental magic into a single, unified force. Together, your magic will resonate stronger than it ever could apart. Once the connection is formed, feed that magic into the tree.”

  Kenneth glanced at the Headmaster, who met his gaze with a subtle nod—a signal. It was time to remove the bracelet that had been suppressing his pnevma. Kenneth hesitated, his fingers brushing over the clasp. The memories of past surges of uncontrollable fire flickered in his mind, but he pushed the fear aside. He had trained for this. He was ready—or so he hoped.

  With a steadying breath, Kenneth unclasped the bracelet. A surge of raw power coursed through him, flooding every corner of his being like a tidal wave breaking free. His eyes closed instinctively as he focused inwards, wrestling with the torrent of magic that threatened to spiral out of control.

  Please, don't let it overwhelm me, he silently wished.

  His body tensed, muscles taut as he worked to rein the energy swelling within him. Slowly, he felt it begin to stabilize.

  “Are you ready?” Rika's calm voice brought him back to the moment. She had already begun channeling her water magic, its cool, flowing energy shimmering faintly around her.

  One by one, the other successors joined in.

  Aine's wind swirled gracefully around them, light and free, lifting the tension in the air. Her magic wove effortlessly into Rika's, their elements blending like streams feeding into a powerful river.

  Ash stepped forward, planting his feet firmly, the ground beneath him humming in response. Earth magic surged through his hands, its steady presence grounding the swirling energies and giving them weight and substance.

  Lucian, standing opposite Kenneth, closed his eyes and raised his hands. His light magic radiates outward, illuminating the space with a soft brilliance. It bridged the gap between the elements, pulling them closer together.

  Kenneth took a deep breath and released his fire magic, the flames leaping to life in his palm. He could feel their what intensify as they merged with the others energies. The overwhelming power that had once been so difficult to control now flowed naturally, as though it had always belonged here, bound together with water, wind, earth and light.

  The magic began to swirl, growing stronger with each passing second. The elements intertwined, forming an intricate, unified force that encircled the Tree of Life. The air became charged, crackling with energy like a storm about to break.

  The unified power glowed brighter and brighter, resonating with the tree answering the unspoken call. Guided by their combined focus, the magic flowed toward the tree, its radiant energy pouring into the withered bark.

  As their magic connected with the tree, the corruption began to retreat. The bark's ashen gray lightened to vibrant brown, the patches of decay reversing slowly but steadily. Unlike before, when the tree had to yank their magic away, this time the flow felt balanced, controlled. It was as though the sapling's stabilization had eased the strain on the Tree of Life, allowing it to focus entirely on healing.

  Minutes passed, then an hour. The ritual. Rika and Aine, with their smaller reserves of pnevma, were visibly struggling.

  Their hands trembled as they channeled their magic into the Tree of Life, their faces damp with sweat. Despite their exhaustion, they didn't falter, their determination etched into every line of their expressions.

  Kenneth could feel the weight of the ritual pressing down on all of them, but his attention was drawn to Rika and Aine. Their magic, while potent, was clearly dwindling. The threads of their connection wavered, and the strain on their bodies was evident.

  His flames burned steadily, but the sight of their struggle gnawed at him.

  He reached out—not physically, but through the bond forged by the ritual. The intertwined flow of their elemental magic had created a shared resonance, a thread that linked them all. Kenneth closed his eyes and focused, channeling a portion of his pnevma along the connection.

  The warmth of his fire magic surged through the bond, steadying Rika's flowing water and Aine's swirling wind. The trembling in their hands eased as his energy bolstered their reserves, a subtle pulse of unity flowing between them.

  Rika opened her eyes, her breathing steadying as she glanced at Kenneth. Gratitude flickered in her expression, and she gave a small nod. “Thanks,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of their combined magic.

  Aine, feeling the warmth of his flames mixed with her wind, managed a faint smile, her usual spark returning despite the strain. “Didn't think you'd be the one holding us up, Kenneth,” she said lightly.

  The bond strengthened as they stabilized, and with renewed focus, Rika and Aine extended their magic to Ash and Lucian. The five of them moved as one, their elemental forces weaving together seamlessly.

  The once-wavering connection now thrummed with power, each successor feeding off the other's strength.

  Nearby, Joash stood in tense silence, his eyes fixed on the group. The withering patch on the tree's bark was slowly beginning to heal, vibrant green creeping across its surface but the process was agonizingly slow.

  Joash turned to the Headmaster, his worry evident. “Headmaster, are they going to be okay?”

  Nero's gaze remained sharp, though a hint of concern flickered in his usually composed expression. “This is their test,” he said quietly. “The Tree of Life responds to unity—it's their connection that will save it. We have to trust them.”