Kael had known the Elven High Council would make trouble for him. There was no way around it.
Leveling up wouldn't fix the problem. Three days was nowhere near enough—and even thirty days, or three months, wouldn't make him strong enough to stand toe-to-toe with monsters like those.
For now, all he could do was leave it to fate.
The system wouldn't make him master of the World Tree for only three days... would it?
The longer he turned it over, the less certain he felt. In the end he shoved the High Council out of his mind, logged out where he stood, and went to sleep.
The next day, close to noon, Kael logged back in atop the observation deck in Starbough Village.
He looked up at the Eye of Elunara and willed it open.
A panel appeared.
Most of its functions were still locked.
[Observe: Available]
[Appointments: Unavailable]
[Blessing: Unavailable]
[Prayer: Unavailable]
[Divine Communion: Unavailable]
…
Kael selected [Observe].
The Eye of Elunara cast a three-dimensional projection into the air. After studying it for a moment, he realized its range and clarity went far beyond anything he'd expected.
The view didn't stop at the forest. It reached all the way to the ruins of the shattered Grom'kar Outpost. In time, it might even stretch to Starlight Town, Stonehaven, or Crescent City.
The detail was more unsettling still. It could display a monster's face and stats—and it could pick up nearby player conversations too.
That was genuinely terrifying.
No wonder elves had such long ears. The whole race had been built to eavesdrop.
Kael shuddered.
Good thing he was master of this World Tree. In anyone else's hands, there was no telling what kind of mischief the Eye of Elunara might get up to.
This was not authority to be handed off to players lightly.
Kael closed the Eye and left the observation deck.
He rose above the village and looked down.
A sea of people filled his vision.
Humans, beastmen, elves. Players and NPCs alike.
The funny part was that most of the NPCs were human.
"Whoa—so this is what it's like inside a World Tree?"
"This place is massive."
"Why are there barely any shops?"
"The NPCs probably haven't all moved in yet."
"Wait—what the hell is Garrick from Starlight Town doing here?"
"Forget Garrick. You see the bakery next door? That's Miss Mara. She's selling honey cakes."
"Holy crap. So those two finally got together?"
"Mara opened a shop too? Come on, let's go check it out."
"There are hardly any elf NPCs around here."
"Tons of players, though. Has to be a hundred thousand at least."
"A hundred thousand? It wouldn't be this packed. Try a million."
…
Kael took in the scene, faintly dazed.
Was this still an elven village?
Where were the elves?
He'd have to ask Isilwen.
Searching the old-fashioned way, finding one person in a crowd like this would be a nightmare. Lucky for him, he was the administrator. He could summon Isilwen straight through the system panel.
A minute later, she appeared before him.
"Greetings, Dawnbreaker Arch Elder."
Kael waved off the formalities and got straight to the point.
"What's going on down there? Why are there so many human merchants?"
"Acting Mayor Sylvara arranged it," Isilwen said.
Kael pressed a hand to his forehead.
Starbough Village fell under Starlight Town. Sylvara must have caught wind of complaints that Starbough had no NPC services, so she'd posted some people here for the time being.
To be fair, the girl knew how to get things done.
Kael set the human NPCs aside for now and asked the question that actually mattered.
"There are far too few elves in our village. Is there any way to fix that?"
Isilwen nodded; she'd clearly anticipated the question.
"Arch Elder Caelthas said he would send people over." She paused, then added, "For a long time, the High Council's deliberate suppression kept elves from other regions away from Aelinbough Village. But now that Arch Elder Caelthas holds the Scepter of Aureleaf, elves from across the kingdom have come to stand with him."
"Aelinbough is no quieter than Starbough these days."
Kael let out a breath.
He didn't want Starbough to become an ordinary settlement wearing a World Tree like a costume.
For it to feel right, elves had to remain at its heart.
When Isilwen finished, she looked at him as though she wanted to say something but couldn't quite bring herself to.
Kael caught the look. "Isilwen, is something wrong?"
A trace of embarrassment crossed her face. She bit her lip, gathered her nerve, and said, "Dawnbreaker Arch Elder, about the village's management positions…"
She stopped there.
Kael understood at once.
Right. He'd been handing her the work without giving her the title.
He straightened and spoke with weight. "Lady Isilwen, from this moment on, I formally appoint you High Priestess of Starbough Village. All matters concerning the Starlight Tree are entrusted to you."
Isilwen started. "What? High… High Priestess? But we're only a village…"
The title of High Priestess normally demanded at least a city—if not a kingdom. Its authority was immense.
Kael nodded. "That's right. High Priestess. Starbough won't stay a village forever."
Isilwen dropped to one knee and bowed her head. "Thank you, Dawnbreaker Arch Elder!"
Kael looked at the diligent elf before him and felt a deep, quiet satisfaction.
Stronger elves might come in time, but they would serve beneath her.
For a leader, ability mattered. Loyalty mattered more.
A powerful traitor was still a traitor—all smiles to your face, a knife in your back, and you left wondering where it all went wrong.
"As for your sister, Ayna, I'll settle her position along with the others once the rest of the elves arrive."
"Yes."
Kael wasn't entirely easy about Ayna yet.
Down the line, she was someone who could fall into darkness. He needed to take the measure of her character first.
Once Kael's appointment took hold, Isilwen's name prefix changed.
[Acting High Priestess of Starbough Village: Isilwen]
Kael froze.
High Priestess was one thing.
But what did "Acting" mean?
Then he remembered the Eye of Elunara had an [Appointments] function, and it clicked.
So formal appointments had to go through the proper channel.
But if he remembered right, [Appointments] had been unavailable.
What was the catch?
"Isilwen, are there requirements for making an appointment official?"
"It's simple," Isilwen said. "The appointment must be made through the Eye of Elunara on the night of the full moon."
"The night of the full moon…"
Kael cast his mind back to when the last full moon had been.
Then he went still.
"Damn it. That was yesterday."
The next full moon was a month away.
And in three days, the Elven High Council would send people to assess him.
Kael looked at Isilwen's beaming face and ground his teeth.
Isilwen, I swear I'll make you the real High Priestess.