Game of the World Tree

: Extra Episode 1 Doreen Shadow

My name is Doreen, Doreen Shadow.

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

My dad is a devout goddess believer, and also a powerful ranger known far and wide. As far as I can remember, my family has always had many guests visiting dad. Every time they visit, they will bring a lot of things. Fun and delicious gift.

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

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

What impressed me most was his father's bloodshot eyes and thick dark circles because he couldn't sleep well for a long time, and the helpless expression of being woken up by knocking on the door every midnight.

I clearly remember that my father sighed and complained to my mother more than once, saying that these shameless guys didn't even give him time to rest. Even if it is a good impression, there are still new people coming and finding it uncomfortable every day.

However, at this time, my mother just chuckled.

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

"Now you know our difficulties? When you first met, you knocked on my door in the middle of the night."

Whenever this time, Dad will be speechless for a while.

While scratching his head, he will use his blunt chatting skills to change the subject with an awkward look:

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

"Later, I changed it..."

"Well, are you hungry?"

"Shall I cook some noodles for you?"

...

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

Pasta is not the traditional food of our elves. Listening to my mother, it was brought by the Chosen from far, far away.

The Chosen One is very detached in our elven race. They have great power and the magical ability to come back from the dead.

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

My mother told me that my father was once a powerful Elf Chosen.

When I first learned about this past event, my heart was shocked.

From the time I can remember, the most common discussion among my friends is the story of the Chosen. They are the protagonists most chanted by troubadours, adventurous in one seat after another. Everyone is stunned by the legend of the Chosen. 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, it's gone. He has'retired' from the job of the Chosen One."

Mother gently stroked my head and replied.

"retired?"

"Um."

"why?"

"Because Dad is tired, every one of the chosen will be tired, and when they are tired, they will retire."

"Oh……"

At that time, I seemed to understand or not.

Of course, I learned later that it was because the Chosen also lived in another distant world at the same time.

When they die in that world, they will lose their identity as the Chosen One.

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

When I knew this, I couldn't help but say sadly.

However, Dad shook his head:

"Do not……"

"For me, death is more of a new beginning than sadness..."

On that day, I learned that most of the Elf Chosen actually have three lives.

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

In our world, they are constantly adventurous, constantly fighting, and constantly exploring the unknown. This is the second life.

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

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

...

Later, we moved.

From the chosen city, moved to the country manor.

The reason is simple. Dad really can't stand those who are chosen by nature.

I still remember the day before finally deciding to move, my father dragged his tired body (spiritually) and returned home from get off work in the guard hall. He once again complained to my mother that the newly-arrived people were just like clingy people. Don't go.

My mother shook her head and said that she went to the temple to pray today, and heard the priests of the temple say that recently the goddess issued an oracle, and the number of newly chosen people seems to increase 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 makes me intoxicated.

I still remember the day when I moved, the drizzle that lasted for several days cleaned the lush forest trees to be green and bright, and the cheerful voices of birds resounded through the forest. The cool wind in September made the miscanthus sway from side to side, and the sky was cloudless. Azure and clear.

The wind blew across the lake, bringing the unique fresh breath after rain. The sparkling lake water rippled and reflected the green willow rustling leaves.

Occasionally, I can hear the roar of a dragon from the depths of the forest. The sound sounds a little vague, as if it originated from another world. I can't help but imagine what the hometown of the Chosen One looks like.

The manor is very big and big, with flowers and grass planted everywhere, and my new bedroom has been enlarged four times. The soft big bed is enough to make me roll alone.

Dad also specially asked Lord Alice to set up a magical barrier outside the manor. After that... there were fewer people who came to disturb the Chosen.

The remaining ones are not so much the chosen ones who come here, as the friends of Dad.

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

Every time they visit, they will bring me all kinds of interesting gifts, beautiful flowers from other planes, and various delicacies full of exotic scenery.

I also especially like to stay by and listen to them telling about their adventures when they visit their dad.

Their adventurous experience is more exciting than the father's experience described by their mother. It is a journey through various planes, and each journey is enough to write a legend.

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

Dad also likes to hear them talk about their experiences.

Whenever they were excited about their adventures, Dad would listen quietly to the side, his eyes full of flickering light.

At that time, I realized that although Dad was no longer the Chosen One, he still yearned for adventure in his heart.

I once asked my father. Although he is no longer the Chosen, it is said that there are many ordinary elves adventuring with the Chosen. Why doesn't he continue his journey?

Dad answered gently:

"Because I already have you and my mother."

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

...

There are four comrades who used to be chosen by his father.

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

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

He always wears the simplest armor, like a day for decades, every time he sees me, he smiles gently and gives me delicious toffee.

He also has a dragon partner named Christine, a beautiful blond 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 we met on the first day.

Occasionally, she would visit me alone, turning into a dragon, taking me soaring in the sky.

The optimistic uncle often tells me enviously that Christine is better to me than to him.

However, I know that Kristen really likes the optimistic uncle.

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

Although it is hidden deep, I am no stranger to that look, with the gentleness of mom watching dad...

...

The optimistic uncle and several other friends come to visit collectively at least once every four years.

The selected time is often a fixed day in autumn.

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

However, I don't like the atmosphere of "special day" very much.

Although when that day comes, they bring the most gifts, and the smiles on their faces are also the brightest, but I always feel...When this day comes, they all seem to be covering up their sadness.

However, Dad was the opposite.

Although he still has an expressionless face, I feel that his mood is more joyful than ever when it is a "special day".

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

This makes me very puzzled.

It was not until later that I knew from my mother that this day was the day when my father died in another world.

The flow of time in the other world is one-fourth that of our world, so...that is the annual death day of my father in the other world.

"Don't they know that Dad just continues to live in this world?"

I asked curiously.

Mom answered with a weird look:

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

"why?"

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

"It's not reincarnation?"

"In their words... to commemorate the NPC."

"NPC?"

"It's the one who issues tasks to the Chosen One."

"Huh? Is that mother also an NPC?"

"That's it."

...

Regarding the Chosen, I still don't know much about it.

Everything about them seems incompatible with this world.

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

There seems to be a deep misunderstanding between them and Dad, which can't be solved anyway.

However, Dad didn't seem to care.

"Sooner or later they will know."

He said so.

At that time, I didn't know what Dad meant.

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

until today……

...

The sun outside the window was still shining, and 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 my father, on the other side is the optimistic uncle.

They are sitting on two sides.

The bonfire crackled in the fireplace.

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

Dad seemed to be holding back his smile, while the optimistic uncle was a little embarrassed.

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

No one spoke, the two were silent, but both seemed to have something to say.

Suddenly, they raised their heads at the same time 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 anymore, and suddenly laughed out loud.

Dad seldom laughed. At that moment, I almost thought I was wrong.

What makes Dad laugh out loud must be extremely interesting.

"The optimist, you can talk first."

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

"It's better for you first."

"No, Benben brother, you first..."

"Then I'll talk about it first?"

"Uh-huh……"

Dad smiled, and the optimistic uncle became more and more embarrassed.

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

Dad asked suddenly.