The interior of the hall was breathtaking. The ceiling rose several stories high, supported by living branches that intertwined naturally overhead.
Sunlight poured through openings between leaves, illuminating shelves carved directly into the tree itself. Ancient scrolls rested beside beautifully preserved books.
Crystal tablets stood within carefully crafted displays. Murals stretched across the curved wooden walls, each illustrating moments from a forgotten age.
Several elderly fairies waited quietly inside. Unlike the villagers they had met yesterday, these elders carried an unmistakable air of wisdom.
Lyria introduced them one by one.
"Our Keepers of Memory. The guardians of everything our people managed to preserve."
Each elder greeted the royal couple respectfully before inviting them to sit around a circular wooden table. Tea was quietly served once more.
For a few moments, nobody spoke; finally, Lyria broke the silence.
"We have many questions." She smiled warmly. "But I believe we should begin with yours."
Atheline shook his head gently.
"I think it would be better if we answered yours first."
The elders exchanged curious glances.
"You’ve been separated from the outside world for thousands of years." He continued. "Much has changed. If we’re going to speak about history... It makes sense to begin with the world as it exists today."
Lyria nodded.
"I agree."
Atheline rose from his seat and walked toward a large polished wooden board standing near one wall. Picking up a piece of charcoal, he began drawing.
First, a rough circle, then dividing lines. Four great landmasses gradually appeared.
"This..." He said while stepping back. "...is the world as we know it today."
Every elder leaned forward.
"The ancient supercontinent no longer exists. At some point during the Cataclysm...the land itself fractured."
He pointed toward the largest drawing.
"This is the Beastmen Continent; it is home to the Beastmen Kingdoms." He smiled slightly. "Our dwarven allies also reside there."
One elder blinked.
"Dwarves survived?"
"They did. They chose the mountains as their refuge."
The elderly fairy exchanged emotional looks with his companions. Another forgotten race was still alive.
Atheline moved his hand to the second landmass.
"This is the Human Continent. There are currently three major human kingdoms. They compete politically and occasionally argue but coexist."
Atheline saw no need to say one was their vassal.
Lyria nodded thoughtfully.
"So humanity endured as well."
"It did."
He pointed toward another continent.
"This one is our homeland. The Elven Continent."
The elders leaned forward once more.
"The High Elves, the Dark Elves and the Wood Elves. All three races survived. We each possess our own territories, but we share the same continent."
Lyria smiled.
"I confess... I worried our cousins might have vanished."
Lilith answered this time.
"We’ve certainly had our disagreements over the centuries."
A few elders chuckled knowingly. Lilith continued.
"But we’ve also learned to cooperate."
Finally, Atheline pointed toward the last continent.
"The Demonic Continent, our current location. The various demon races rebuilt their civilization here."
One elder slowly exhaled.
"So... Life truly continued."
"It did."
Atheline nodded.
"It wasn’t easy, but civilization recovered."
One of the eldest Keepers leaned forward.
"And these kingdoms, are they constantly at war?"
Lilith answered calmly.
"Not anymore."
The elders looked surprised. She continued.
"There was a time when conflicts between the continents were frequent. They fought over territory, resources, old grudges, and many reasons."
She paused before smiling faintly.
"But eventually... Everyone realized endless war benefited no one. There is now an agreement between the major powers. No continent may wage open war against another without consequences from all the others. The treaty isn’t perfect; there are still disputes and border incidents, but..."
She looked around the room.
"...the world has enjoyed a long period of relative peace."
Silence settled across the hall. Several elders exchanged relieved smiles.
Lyria quietly folded her hands together.
"I’m glad."
Atheline looked toward her.
"So are we."
After several thoughtful moments, Lyria asked another question.
"There is one thing we’ve wondered about for generations."
She hesitated.
"Our ancestors once lived beside the World Tree."
The room became completely silent. Every elder watched Atheline carefully.
"Does..." Lyria spoke almost hesitantly. "...it still exist?"
Neither Lilith nor Atheline answered immediately; instead, both smiled.
"Yes."
Lyria froze.
"...What?"
"The World Tree still stands." Atheline’s voice was gentle. "It survived."
The words echoed through the Hall of Memories. For several long seconds, nobody moved. One elderly fairy slowly covered his mouth. Another closed her eyes. Tears quietly rolled down weathered cheeks.
Lyria herself simply stared. She had expected many possible answers but not that one.
"It..." Her voice trembled slightly. "...survived?"
"It did."
Atheline nodded.
"It remains the heart of the High Elven Kingdom. The High Elves built their capital around it."
Lyria slowly sat back down. Her eyes had become moist.
"Our oldest songs..." She whispered. "...always ended before the World Tree. We thought..."
She looked toward the enormous living walls surrounding them.
"...we thought it had been destroyed."
Lilith gently shook her head.
"No. It still flourishes. It’s considered the greatest sacred place on our continent."
The elderly Keepers smiled through quiet tears. One of them laughed softly.
"I never thought... I’d live long enough to hear those words."
Another looked toward the ceiling.
"Our ancestors would be overjoyed."
Lyria remained silent for a while, then she smiled. It was the smile of someone who had just learned that a beloved friend, thought dead for countless generations, was still alive.
"Our home..." She whispered. "...still has its heart."
Neither Lilith nor Atheline interrupted the moment. Some discoveries deserved silence more than words. Only after the emotions in the hall had gradually settled did Lyria lift her gaze once more.
"You’ve answered questions my people have carried for longer than recorded memory."
She smiled gratefully.
"Now..."
Her expression grew thoughtful.
"It is our turn to share what little we know of the age before the world was broken."
Lyria slowly rose from her chair.
"If we are to speak about the Cataclysm... then I should show you something."