[Leif's POV—Morning Chaos—Thorenvald Estate]
Thalion was still clinging to me like a vine possessed by grief, sobbing waterfalls onto my shoulder.
"OUR TREE OF LIFE IS DEAD, LEIF! DEAD!" he wailed, shaking me as if I were personally responsible.
I patted his back awkwardly. "Okay, okay—calm down. It can't be that bad—"
"IT'S THE TREE OF LIFE!" he shrieked louder.
Okay, maybe it is that bad.
Eryndor stepped forward, his expression as flat as a frozen lake. "The Tree of Life is withering. It has never… withered."
"That's not the same as dead!" I pointed out hopefully.
Thalion gasped. "Y-Yes! Exactly! So it's dying—NOT dead! That's worse!!"
… Right. Logic doesn't exist this early in the morning.
Alvar dramatically appeared behind me, arms wrapping around my waist from behind and chin resting on my shoulder. "He just woke up. Must the world collapse now?"
Thalion glared. "It's already collapsing!"
Alvar scowled back. "Collapse politely later."
