Earth's Greatest Magus
chapter-1737

The soothing expanse of a vast blue ocean unfurled before him.

Each wave that crashed against the shore echoed like a familiar lullaby in his ears. The gentle breeze playfully tousled his hair, caressing his skin with its cool touch. He took a deep breath, letting the fresh scent of green grass mixed with the salty tang of the ocean fill his lungs. A rush of nostalgia washed over him as the environment awakened deeply buried memories.

With a soft whisper, he uttered, "I am home."

Feeling rejuvenated, he closed his eyes and let the natural energy of the Earth envelope him. Slowly, his feet lifted off the ground, and he began to float. His eyes, now focused with intent, were drawn magnetically towards a distant forest—a place that seemed to whisper his name, beckoning him.

Propelled by an unseen force, he soared. His immortal body allowed him to glide effortlessly like an eagle, casting a shadow over the verdant landscapes below. The emerald canopy of trees and rolling hills passed beneath him in a blur until he reached the boundaries of the forbidden forest. Hovering for a moment, he then descended gracefully into the hidden village nestled within.

The sudden appearance of the silhouette against the bright sky caught the villagers off-guard. Gasps of astonishment filled the air, and faces turned upwards, squinting against the sun to get a better look. Among the mutterings and astonished whispers, came a familiar voice.

"Emery... Brother Emery!"

His eyes scanned the gathering crowd and a woman, emerged from the crowd. Her flowing white hair shimmered like a cascade of moonlight, and her sincere smile, was unchanged by the passage of time.

"Glita…" Emery's voice was tinged with emotion.

She didn't respond with words. Instead, tears pooling in her eyes, Glita ran towards him, much like she did when she was young. When she reached him, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.

"Brother," her voice quivered, "I've missed you. I've missed you so much."

From behind Glita, two other familiar faces appeared, looking slightly older but just as dear to him—Lilith and Lelith. The three sisters, bound to Emery by the unbreakable ties of blood, felt a void in their hearts filled upon his return. It was as if a missing piece of their soul had been restored.

The heart of the village quickly became a thrumming epicenter of activity, voices merging into a harmonious blend of awe and disbelief. Even those who had never laid eyes on him before felt a deep connection as if they were meeting a legend from their bedtime stories.

Emery's gaze swept across the gathered crowd, a silent acknowledgment of their welcome. Yet, amidst the bustle, an invisible tether seemed to pull at his soul, guiding him to a place of great importance. Drawn to it, he began to move toward the shrine that lay nestled deeper within the village.

Following a pathway, he walked through an arched tunnel that opened up to reveal the breathtaking grove. Being attuned to the law of nature, the shrine felt even more alive than before. Each footstep he took on the moss-covered ground reverberated with energy, and every breath he drew was like inhaling the very essence of the world.

At the grove's center stood a regal figure, her aura radiating wisdom and ageless grace. Emery recognized her immediately. It was Tyra, the eldest of the fey sisters and the village's high priestess. Her eyes met his, and a gentle smile graced her lips. "Welcome back, Emery."

She stepped aside, allowing Emery to reconnect with the sacred grounds. He walked past the tranquil lake, where the body of Nimue rested in eternal slumber. Further ahead, the majestic form of the bear, Arturo, stood in its timeless vigil. Next, Emery approaches the sacred tree in the center.

Tyra's voice broke his reverie, her tone somber. "It's been years since Gaia grew silent."

Emery gently placed his palm against the tree's bark. Channeling the power of [Nature Grasp], he delved deep into the consciousness of Gaia. Contrary to the priestess's beliefs, Gaia was not silent. But her voice was faint, like the last embers of a dying fire. However, with his finely honed abilities, Emery managed to connect with that fragile whisper.

"Gaia, "I have returned. Show me..."

The visions that unfolded before Emery were eerily familiar. Vast landscapes ravaged by cataclysmic storms, thunderous clouds that roared with fury, and once-majestic trees now ablaze, their fiery anguish reaching the heavens. But unlike before, when he was consumed by the sheer intensity of the vision, this time he navigated it with an observer's clarity. detail.

In the midst of the chaos, he noticed the presence of two other trees of significance. One stood tall within the confines of the Gaya temple, its aura unmistakable. The other was hidden deep below the earth's crust, its voice echoing the same dire warning. Like a map unfolding in his mind, he began to perceive various locations, pinpointing the areas of disturbance. He methodically counted and committed to memory 108 such locations scattered across the globe.

As the visions began to wane, the prevailing emotions became evident—Gaia's profound anger and sorrow intertwined in a haunting melody.

The scene shifted, and Emery found himself standing in an ancient, untouched forest. Towering trees stretched endlessly, their canopies merging to form an unbroken verdant ceiling. At the end of a pathway, a mesmerizing entity pulsated—a luminous green orb of energy, a form that came with a name; primordial wisp.

Drawn to it, Emery advanced, but as he neared, the ground beneath him rebelled. Roots snaked out, wrapping around his ankles, halting his progress. The message from Gaia resonated clearly: he wasn't welcome in this sanctum.

"Why?... tell me…?"

The forest responded with a whirlwind of emotions—shame, doubt, and confusion so palpable it was as if the very air around him quivered. Emery pondered the situation, torn between respect for Gaia's wishes and the pressing urgency of the looming threats. He attempted to press on, but after a mere three steps, an unseen force expelled him from the vision.

Emerging from the trance, Emery took a moment to compose himself. Drawing a deep breath, he whispered a solemn vow to the Gaia tree, "I promise to uncover the secrets of what befell you two millennia ago. And then, I shall return."

With newfound determination, Emery approached the patiently waiting high priestess, Tyra, his voice steady yet tinged with concern, "Has Morgana returned yet?"