Game of the World Tree

Side Story One Doreen Shadow

My name is Doreen, Doreen Shadow.

My mother told me that my name was finally decided by my father after searching for three days and three nights in the Elvish language. In the Elvish language, the name means "hope" and "gift from the goddess".

My father is a devout goddess believer and a powerful ranger known far and wide. Ever since I can remember, my family has always had guests visiting my father. Every time they visit, they bring many, many Fun, tasty gift.

I still remember when I didn’t move, when I lived with my parents in the Chosen City, the biggest and most spectacular city in the world, full of towering towers and speeding magic trains.

At that time, almost every day, new guests came to visit my dad day and night, which even gave him a headache.

What impressed me the most was my father's bloodshot eyes and heavy dark circles because he couldn't sleep well for a long time, as well as his helpless expression every time he was woken up by a knock on the door in the middle of the night.

I clearly remember my father sighing and complaining to my mother more than once, saying that these shameless guys don't even give him a break, even if he is a good friend, there are new people coming one after another every day to find it uncomfortable.

However, at this time, my mother just chuckled.

She would always cover her mouth, and while staring at her father with affectionate eyes, she smiled softly and playfully:

"Now you know our difficulties? You also knocked on my door in the middle of the night when we first met."

At this time, Dad would be at a loss for words.

He would scratch his head and use his blunt chatting skills to change the subject with an embarrassed look on his face:

"At that time...Isn't it ignorant?"

"Later, I changed it..."

"Well, are you hungry?"

"I'm going to cook some noodles for you?"

...

Dad's noodles are still delicious, after all... that's the only meal Dad can cook.

Pasta is not the traditional food of our elves. According to my mother, it was brought by the chosen ones from far, far away places.

The Chosen Ones have a detached position in our elves, they have great power and the magical ability to come back from the dead.

It is said that it is the proof of the goddess.

My mother told me that my father used to be a powerful Elf Chosen.

When I first learned about this past, I was shocked.

As far back as I can remember, the story of the Chosen One has been discussed most often among friends. They are the protagonists of the troubadour who love to sing about. They take risks in one seat after another. The experience is very longing.

"So... does Dad also have the magical power to come back from the dead?"

At that time, I kept asking.

"No, not anymore, he has 'retired' from the job of the Chosen One."

Mom replied, stroking my head gently.

"retired?"

"Um."

"why?"

"Because Dad is tired, every Chosen gets tired, and when they get tired, they retire."

"Oh……"

At that time, I seemed to understand.

Of course, I later learned that it was because the Chosen Ones also lived in another world far away.

When they die in that world, they lose their Chosen status.

"Death...for relatives in that world, it must be a very sad thing."

When I found out about this, I couldn't help but say sadly.

However, Dad shook his head:

"Do not……"

"Death is more of a new beginning for me than sadness..."

That day, I learned that most Elf Chosen actually have three lives.

In that distant world, they lived as ordinary people, their first life.

In our world, they are constantly taking risks, constantly fighting, and constantly exploring the unknown, which is the second life.

And when they die in another world, the memory of that world is forgotten.

At this time, most of them will start their third life as ordinary elves...

...

Later, we moved.

From the city of heaven, he moved to a manor in the countryside.

The reason is very simple. Dad really can't stand those chosen ones who go on and on.

I still remember the day before I finally decided to move, my father dragged his tired body (mentally), came home from get off work at the guard hall, and complained to my mother again that the new arrivals were like clinging spirits, and they rushed no matter what. don't go.

The mother shook her head and said that she went to the temple to pray today, and heard the priests of the temple say that the goddess has issued an oracle recently, and the number of new candidates seems to be increasing again.

Dad's face turned green on the spot.

The next day, he took us to the country.

The new home is located on the outskirts of a beautiful lake, the lake has a moving name - Amber.

Even today, thirty years later, the beautiful scenery of the lakeside manor still fascinates me.

I still remember the day we moved, the drizzle that lasted for several days washed the lush green trees into a bright green, the cheerful sounds of birds resounded in the forest, the cool September wind made the Miscanthus sway from side to side, and the sky was cloudless. Clear blue.

The wind blew across the lake, bringing the unique freshness after the rain, and the sparkling lake rippled, reflecting the green willows with rustling leaves.

Occasionally, I can hear the long roar of a giant dragon coming from the depths of the forest. The voice sounds a little vague, as if it originated from another world. I can't help but imagine what the hometown of the Chosen Ones...is like.

The manor is huge, with flowers and green grass everywhere, and my new bedroom has quadrupled in size, and the big soft bed is enough for me to roll around by myself.

Dad also specifically asked Alice to set up a magical barrier outside the manor. After that...there were a lot fewer people who came to disturb the chosen one.

The rest of them are not so much the chosen ones, but the friends of my father.

I learned later that they were all teammates that Dad fought together when he was the Chosen One.

Every time I visit, they bring me all kinds of interesting gifts, beautiful flowers from other planes, and delicious food full of exotic scenery.

I also especially enjoyed being on the sidelines and listening to them tell about their adventures while they were visiting Dad.

Their adventures are more exciting than the father's experience told by their mother. It is a journey through various planes, and each journey is enough to compose a legend.

They have even been to farther places, it is said... that it is a wider and more magnificent world.

Dad also enjoyed listening to them talk about their experiences.

Whenever they excitedly told about their adventures, Dad would listen quietly, his eyes twinkling.

At that time, I realized that although Dad was no longer the chosen one, deep down, he still longed for adventure.

I once asked my father, although he is no longer the Chosen One, but it is said that there are many ordinary elves who are going on adventures with the Chosen One, why doesn't he continue his journey?

Dad replied softly:

"Because, I already have you and my mother."

At that moment, I realized that in my father's heart, there was something more important than adventure...

...

Dad's former Chosen comrades-in-arms totaled four.

Although in my opinion, they are affectionately like uncles next door, but my friends told me enviously that each of them is a legendary figure in the world.

Among them, I like the "optimist" uncle the most.

He always wears the simplest armor for decades. Every time he sees me, he will smile gently and give me delicious toffee.

He also has a dragon companion named Christine, a beautiful blonde sister.

Sister Christine is very beautiful and beautiful, but...because the dragon's growth period is too long, she looks slightly older than me.

Although she is a bit arrogant, she is unexpectedly gentle. We have become good friends since the first day we met.

Occasionally, she would visit me alone, transform into a giant dragon, and take me soaring in the sky.

The optimist uncle often said to me enviously that Kristen was better to me than he was.

However, I do know that Kristin really likes Uncle Optimist.

Although she always bickered with the Optimist Uncle, and although she always put on a proud and disgusting face in front of him, whenever the Optimist Uncle was by his side, her eyes would always follow him.

Although it is hidden deep, I am not unfamiliar with that gaze, it has the tenderness of my mother when she looks at my father...

...

Uncle Optimist and a few other friends visit in groups at least once every four years.

The time chosen is often a fixed day in autumn.

It seemed to be a special day. Although they would visit individually or in groups on weekdays, each time was not as grand as that day.

I don't really like the "special day" vibe, though.

Although they brought the most gifts and the brightest smiles whenever that day came, I always felt that when the day came, they seemed to be covering up their sadness.

Dad, however, was the exact opposite.

Although he is still always expressionless, but every time it is a "special day", I feel that his mood is unprecedentedly happy.

It seems that admiring the comrades of the Chosen to hide their sad expressions with smiles is the happiest thing for him on this day.

This puzzled me.

It was only later that I learned from my mother that this was the day my father died in another world.

The time flow in the other world is a quarter of ours, so...that's the annual death anniversary of Dad in the other world.

"Don't they know that Dad just keeps on living in this world?"

I asked curiously.

The mother replied with an odd look:

"Actually, your father has explained it many times, but... they never believed it..."

"why?"

"Because every reincarnated Chosen will have the memory of another world sealed, and without the memory of another world, they don't believe that Dad is a real reincarnation."

"What is not reincarnation?"

"In their words... it's a commemoration of the NPC."

"NPC?"

"It's the one who sends the mission to the Chosen One."

"Huh? Is the mother also an NPC?"

"That's it."

...

I still don't know much about the Chosen One.

Everything about them seems to be out of tune with this world.

But at the same time, without them, the world seems to be missing something...

There seems to be a deep misunderstanding between them and their father that cannot be solved by any means.

However, Dad didn't seem to care.

"They'll find out sooner or later."

He said so.

At the time, I didn't know what my dad meant.

However, often at that time, I can vaguely feel a little loneliness from my father.

until today……

...

The sun was still shining outside the window, and the long-lost guests were welcomed in the living room.

Carefully opening the curtains, I quietly looked at the two people sitting in the hall.

On one side is the father, on the other is the optimist uncle.

They sat on both sides.

In the fireplace, the bonfire crackled.

The lights flickered and the atmosphere in the living room was strange.

Dad seemed to be holding back his laughter, and Uncle Optimist was a rare embarrassment.

He was sitting upright, his face was full of embarrassment, and his ears were even a little red...

No one spoke, both of them were silent, but both seemed to have something to say.

Suddenly, they raised their heads at the same time and wanted to speak, but after looking at each other, they closed their mouths subconsciously at the same time.

In the end, it was Dad who couldn't hold back any longer, and suddenly burst out laughing.

Dad rarely laughed, and at that moment, I almost thought I was wrong.

Something that can make Dad laugh out loud must be extremely funny.

"Optimistic, you talk first."

"No no no... Captain, you speak first."

"You still go first."

"No, Brother Bento, you first..."

"Then I said it first?"

"Uh-huh……"

Dad was smiling, and Uncle Optimist was more and more embarrassed.

"How did you die? You should be very young in reality, right?"

Dad asked suddenly.