Re: Elf Prince—A Degenerate's Second Chance-Chapter 99. Trial Of Fire Heart Ritual (1)

99. Trial Of Fire Heart Ritual (1)

A few minutes before noon a dozen beastial warriors walked into the steel cage and tied their hands with a special leaf that stopped the flow of magic throughout their body. They did not try to struggle as the beasties could just send the iron cage plummeting down without any regard for their own life so they complied.

They were ushered away from there and down a number of rope bridges that crisscrossed over the dwellings of the trees. None of the prisoners spoke a word, Eryndor was greatly discomforted at being so high up and was also more cautious of how much the rope bridge swayed. But his fear did not keep him from taking in the sight around him.

He could see the wooden houses constructed well to every branches and trunk of the tree, they all bore a similar hut like design, he could beast people going about their business carrying fruits in baskets and chatting. He could also see children playing and he felt it wrong to let children play so high up, there was a time he noticed one or two children falling off the wooden platforms that supported their houses or off one of the rope bridge and every time a funnel of wind would carry them back up. It only took a while for him to acknowledge that the tree was alive. It was their home and it cared for them.

Eryndor wondered if the tree was sentient and if it was, what would it look like. They soon reached a much bigger hit that looked aged and more traditional than anything in the village, as they reached it thick leaves parted away from it showing that the tree itself protected this dwelling meaning it was unarmed but the flames of the previous attack.

As they took one step forward Eryndor tripped and almost fell had one of the guards not held him up. "Shit. What the hell was that?" He thought to himself.

He could feel a very powerful force like and invisible hand striking his chest with and heavy blow repeatedly, he could feel the pounding of his heart causing his body to reverberate. He looked to his side to see that he was not the only one in this situation, Elise had passed out with only a single beast guard holding her up, and Ash was still standing stubbornly and gritting his teeth as his body shook, he seems determined not to fall under any condition.

They walked into the hut where six old beastials sat on their seats, they were the elders of the tribe and one of them was familiar to Eryndor, he did recognize the two orange haired beast girls standing at the back with a group of people. They were the beast girl he had an encounter with and Elze her twin, he also caught sight of a similar much older female beast and acknowledged it to be their mother. Her features were more striking and her shape more streamlined, mesmerised by the beauty of the beastial females he failed to hear what the elders were saying in time.

"You will be put under the trial of fire heart ritual by the world tree, a glimpse will reveal a true heart that carries the fire of truth and a liar with a diabolic heart will suffer and irreparable damage." The village chief said and soon a loud chanting started, the words made Eryndor’s skin crawled, even Ash could not stomach it as he dropped to his knees, they all did, Elise sprang back to life and clutched tight to her chest and so did them all. They could feel the primal power surging all around them and a few minutes passed when a swirling mass of green and black light formed in the middle of the hut. It was then the chanting reduced but did not stop.

The village chief started to talk again. "This is the mirror of the world tree, it sees all. One by one you will come up and be judged. We are not against you or the help you have given us, but we have a tradition not to let in any intruder, if the world tree accepts you then you are invited to stay and if not you will be punished. We will now begin."

In the crowd Merylin had her eyes on Eryndor the whole time, she still remembered what he did to her and wondered if the world tree would let it slide but she believed it would since he was responsible for saving it. Still she was worried, she owed him her life and did not want to see him die.

Eryndor fought against the primal pressure and raised one leg and pushed himself up on one knee, the veins around his neck strained and threatened to pop but he fought against it and spoke. "I have something to say you bag of old fools."

Merylin cried inside. "Was the insult really necessary." But then again she knew him to be someone who did not take death lightly.

The village elder nodded. "Very well then, you Kay speak."

Ash was very much interested in what his junior disciples had to say that he strained himself to hear him.

Eryndor started to speak. "I should have never saved you damn dogs, to think I almost died and none of you have a hoot about it. Screw you all when I get out of here, I’ll send my army down on you. Funny thing I’m actually the prince of the elf empire." Using his tile was one thing Eryndor hated to do but there were times he had to remember who he was and he was sure this would send shivers running down their spines but it had a very different reaction to what he expected.

They all stood there unmoved by his words and others chanting underneath. Instead of them feeling intimidated Eryndor was beginning to feel intimidated himself. The next words that came out of the village chiefs mouth caused him to shudder. "We know. Your escapades as the degenerate prince of the elf empire has been a subject of ridicule among our people for a long time, strangely the children here drew inspiration from you. I am sure if we rid the world of your pitiful existence the royal family will send gifts of gratitude."

Eryndor’s jaw dropped as he fell back on his knees, he felt utterly defeated. He was beginning to feel wasted, so they knew who he was from start. He felt deeply enraged not by what the village chief said exactly but by the fact that his degenerate status completely over shadowed his heroic deed. It felt like even after four years he was still the degenerate everyone would mock, there was no change in his situation, he was still a degenerate.