I will change this so-called fate

---

Tucked safely within the thick leaves of the tree, Karli exhaled. The voices inside the library faded, and the night wind rustled gently around her.

The tree, oddly enough, almost seemed to hold her — like its branches had shifted just enough to cradle her weight without creaking.

"…Guess this tree likes me," she whispered, brushing her hood back and setting the books on her lap.

One of them caught her eye again — the second book.

The World Tree: Origins and Secrets

The cover was old but elegant, etched with flowing runes. As she opened it, the scent of aged parchment filled her nose. Her eyes scanned the pages quickly.

The book spoke of the origin of magic in this world — not from the stars, nor the gods, but from the World Trees.

Ancient, powerful trees said to be alive with mana. They were the first to awaken when this world formed, breathing life into the soil, sky, and rivers.

Karli paused at an illustration.

A towering tree — silver leaves, spiraling roots, glowing bark — exactly like the one she'd passed when entering the elf village. The one that had felt… oddly familiar.

Her fingers lingered on the image, a quiet pulse of recognition fluttering in her chest.

(That's the tree... I knew it felt strange.)

And then—

A tiny voice, almost like a breeze:

"What are you doing?"

Karli, too lost in thought, absentmindedly replied,

"Reading books."

The same voice asked again, "Why?"

She barely looked up.

"To find something."

"What are you trying to find?"

"…Treasure."

There was a pause.

Then the voice said brightly,

"You're reading the wrong book, then!"

Suddenly, a gentle gust of wind lifted the old untitled weapon book she had left beside her and floated it upward — plopping it right on top of the World Tree book.

Karli blinked.

"…What the—?"

She looked up. Finally.

And froze.

Floating in the air just a few inches from her face was… something small. And glowing.

A drop-shaped creature no bigger than a palm, transparent like morning dew, but shimmering faintly with soft golden light at its center.

It wobbled in the air as if proud of itself.

Karli's jaw dropped.

Then she promptly slipped off the branch.

"GAH—!"

But before she could fall, a sudden cushion of wind swept under her like a pillow, lifting her gently and placing her right back into the crook of the tree.

The branches rustled, shifting again — weaving more tightly together around her. In seconds, her hiding spot was now a leafy cocoon. From the ground or windows, no one could tell she was there.

Karli stared at the floating creature, still breathless.

"…What are you?"

The tiny being wobbled, cheerful.

"Me? I'm a spirit. A Wind Spirit."

Karli's eyes widened.

A spirit?

She'd read about them in the library just earlier. Books described them as reclusive, bound to nature, and notoriously uninterested in humans. They didn't speak. They didn't show themselves. Even in the manga, spirits were mentioned only briefly — usually as legends. Mysterious. Silent. Untouchable.

And yet…

Here one was. Floating beside her. Talking.

"I…" Karli blinked. "You're… talking to me?"

The spirit bobbed up and down.

"Yes! It's rare. But you seem nice. And funny. So I wanted to help."

Karli's heart thumped loudly in her chest.

(What… what is happening right now?)

---

The little spirit floated closer, its watery glow brightening slightly.

"In this book, you will find the information," it said with certainty.

Karli raised an eyebrow and gave it a patient smile.

"I've already checked it," she replied, gently patting the worn book. "Nothing. Not even a shiny footnote."

The spirit bobbed thoughtfully. "Hmm… strange. Would you open it again? Please?"

Karli sighed, a little amused but mostly skeptical. Still — the spirit was trying to help, and it had literally saved her from falling just moments ago.

"Alright, alright," she muttered, flipping the book open again. "See? Just weapon names. No divine treasure. No map. No—"

"Wait!" the spirit chirped suddenly. "Close it. Try again. But this time… use your magic."

Karli blinked. "My… what?"

"Magic," it said firmly, floating in excited circles.

She hesitated, lips pressed in a skeptical line. Still — she had nothing to lose. Setting the book carefully on her lap, Karli placed one palm over the cover and focused.

A slow, gentle pulse of magic flowed from her fingertips.

The aged leather began to shimmer.

Then — crackling softly like paper catching fire — the weather-worn black cloth around the book peeled back. The faded silver mark of a blade on the front gleamed to life, glowing with renewed energy.

The title, once invisible, now shone in elegant silver ink:

"Divine Blade: First Treasure."

Karli's jaw dropped.

"What…? What?! What?!" she exclaimed, blinking at the title as if it might disappear again.

She turned to the spirit, who bobbed proudly.

"You're amazing," she said with a grin, eyes lighting up with excitement. "Thank you! Seriously — thank you so much!"

But just as she was about to say more—

The light radiating from the book grew brighter. Too bright.

The surrounding branches twitched.

A flicker of movement below.

Then voices.

Elves.

They'd noticed the glow.

"Oh, no no no—!" Karli panicked, clutching the book tightly.

The light had disrupted her perfect hiding place. The branches were loosening. Her cover was vanishing.

From the window below, several elven guards emerged, alerted by the magic. Their eyes locked on the glowing tree cover.

"A human is up there!" one shouted.

Karli turned to the spirit and the tree with frantic eyes.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you with all this light—!"

But the great tree responded before she could finish.

Its thick branches moved gently, slowly lowering her to the ground as if in a cradle of vines. One leafy twig brushed her head with surprising gentleness — like a hand patting a child's hair.

Karli blinked at the soft touch.

"…You're not angry?" she whispered, heart full.

A breeze danced around her as if in answer.

"Thank you," she murmured.

The moment her boots hit the grass, she dashed away from the library's edge. Elven guards were just seconds behind—

But before they could leap forward, a gust of wind surged around them. The same spirit floated down, a swirl of magic in its tiny form.

It turns once.

Whoooosh!

The elves were lifted into the air — their feet dangling helplessly above the ground as the wind tangled around their robes.

Karli, already vanishing into the shadows, waved back.

"Bless you, tiny air angel!"

The spirit giggled and zipped after her, leaving the elves flailing in midair.

And from the highest floor of the library, a pair of sharp violet eyes watched the entire scene unfold from behind a carved wooden railing.

The wind stirred their silver robes.

"…A human ," the elf whispered, "and a spirit?"

They narrowed their eyes.

"Interesting."

---