After Skyl forged the Elden Ring, the Silver Tree and the door-shaped mark became one.
The tree's roots grew even more vigorous and abundant, spreading throughout the multiverse and into worlds far beyond it.
The Harry Potter world, the Elder Scrolls world, the Marvel Universe, and the Elden Ring world had all been anchored by the door-shaped mark. Now, the roots of the Silver Tree began extending into each of them.
Pure white roots pierced through the void. Wherever they emerged, they sank into the earth and took root.
At Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald were boating across the Great Lake when they noticed a faint white glow beneath the shallows. A network of slender roots was spreading across the lakebed like freshly fallen snow.
"What is that, algae or some kind of vine?" Grindelwald asked, his attention drawn to the glow of the roots.
Dumbledore might have been old, but his eyesight remained excellent. He had also noticed the faint light beneath the water.
"Look, it's growing. I confess I don't recognize it. Perhaps Lily would know?"
"Be careful, Albus. Danger often begins with something small. Those roots may look delicate, but they could be filled with poison."
Dumbledore leaned over the side of the boat, drew the Elder Wand, and lowered it into the water. The tip touched one of the Silver Tree's roots, producing an extraordinarily powerful magical reaction.
The old headmaster clutched his chest and made a peculiar expression.
"My Tower of Tomes mark is growing hot. This plant is connected to the Tower of Tomes."
"I imagine this is another masterpiece created by that wonderful student of yours," Grindelwald said with a smile.
"Yes, most likely. We may as well leave him to it."
Dumbledore withdrew his wand and leisurely leaned back to admire the bright moon.
At the College of Winterhold, the Well of Magicka stood before the statue of Shalidor in the central courtyard. It normally gathered immense quantities of energy and projected a stream of blue magic into the sky, but overnight, that flow had ceased. In its place, a half-translucent silver sapling had suddenly taken root inside the mouth of the well.
The discovery shocked the College's mages. The Well of Magicka was one of the institution's most critical facilities, and nothing could be allowed to happen to it. They immediately sent word to Brelyna Maryon.
The Dunmer mage stepped through an Oblivion gate. A young human witch accompanied her, Hermione Granger, who was currently on summer vacation.
Hundreds of mages had gathered in the courtyard. The College's membership had grown far beyond what it had once been, and it could now reasonably be called the foremost organization of spellcasters on the continent of Tamriel.
The Nord mage Onmund and his apprentice Ron pushed through the crowd while bickering under their breaths.
"What's the situation?" Onmund called out loudly. "Is the Well of Magicka all right?"
Brelyna was speaking quietly with the Khajiit mage J'zargo. Hearing the question, she turned and replied, "There's nothing wrong with it. This is Mage Skyl's work. Lord Mora already confirmed it for me through the Guide."
"Ah, Mage Skyl. Where is he?"
"Skyl is not here. J'zargo misses him. May warm sands lie before his feet," the Khajiit mage said in a slow, solemn voice.
The phantom of the Silver Tree was only waist-high. Its form was radiant and immaculate, making it resemble an exquisite work of art.
While the gathered mages discussed it among themselves, a familiar voice emerged from the phantom.
"It's me, Skyl. Mage Maryon, Mage Onmund, Mage J'zargo, how have all of you been?"
Brelyna was startled, but she quickly smiled.
"So you finally remembered us?"
"Don't slander an innocent man, Mage Maryon. I never forgot any of you," Skyl said. "This tree is the result of my latest research. It can connect separate universes and construct a Weave between them. I've had an interesting idea. Come to my classroom when you have time, and we can all catch up."
Onmund laughed.
"You said it! We'll see you tonight!"
"Fine. I recently learned how to make buffalo potato wedges. There should be enough to feed you."
In New York, a silver meteor skimmed past the Statue of Liberty before plunging into the harbor. The impact raised a wave hundreds of feet high and gave the residents of an otherwise peaceful New York City something new to talk about.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury received the agents' report and personally traveled to the meteor recovery site.
The winch aboard a ship reeled in its cable, hauling a diving bell from the water. The salvage team emerged carrying a glowing silver sphere.
"Possible extraterrestrial object," Agent Coulson said, issuing a preliminary order. "Initiate Class A-4 containment protocols."
Nick donned a protective suit and approached the silver sphere. His deep, amused voice sounded muffled through the radio.
"I don't know why, but this damn thing reminds me of someone."
"Wizard Skyl?" Coulson asked without thinking. "The person of interest hasn't returned since leaving Earth."
"Exactly. That's probably why he threw this thing down from space. Damn it, if he'd banked the shot off the Statue of Liberty and damaged it, those members of Congress would fly into orbit themselves to demand compensation."
Coulson barely suppressed a laugh.
"All right, secure it for now. The bastard keeps his promises, at least. He returned what I lent him."
The silver seed was placed inside a secure case and transported under armed escort. It should have been delivered to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s local New York facility, but after a series of interventions by HYDRA infiltrators, it was diverted to a secret base in the Eastern European nation of Sokovia.
The base commander picked up the silver seed and clicked his tongue in admiration.
"What a magnificent creation. The secrets contained inside it may place it several generations ahead of anything on Earth. Make this the primary focus of our research from now on."
In the Lands Between, Miquella's Haligtree stood upon an island in the vast sea beyond the Consecrated Snowfield in the far north.
Planted by the Empyrean Miquella, the Haligtree had followed a path that ran alongside the Golden Order while also diverging from it. The Haligtree welcomed all living beings, making it a peaceful sanctuary coveted by many of the Lands Between's persecuted peoples.
The path leading to the Haligtree had been sealed many years ago. Those who wished to reach it now had to overcome trial after trial. Luck, skill, and courage were all indispensable.
Millicent, the red-haired swordswoman, had traveled all this way in search of the demigod Malenia. After finally reaching the mighty city of Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, she found herself surrounded by Haligtree soldiers.
These unwavering warriors were deeply enthralled by Miquella. They would sacrifice their lives without hesitation to stop any outsider from intruding upon the Haligtree.
Millicent's swordsmanship had reached an even higher level.
When a sword came for her, she cut through the sword. When a spear thrust toward her, she severed the spear. When the wind blew, she split the wind. When the rain fell, she struck the raindrops from the air.
She wielded the curved sword in her hand as though she were wielding life itself.
One slash descended and severed an enemy commander.
Faster.
Another slash deflected a greatsword held in both hands before splitting open the warrior's chest.
She could be faster still.
Do not think about how to wield the blade. Allow the blade to carry you toward your enemies.
More opponents surged forward. The soldiers were formidable, the Haligtree Knights stood like walls of iron, and the Cleanrot Knights fought with savage, desperate ferocity.
Swords and spears descended alongside rings of sacred light that tore through the air. She faced a mountain of blades and an ocean of steel, a military formation crashing toward her like a landslide.
Pale yellow tabards, gleaming silver armor, and blazing golden incantations filled her vision.
Countless cold eyes stared at her from merciless faces.
Within Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, every step had to be fought for, and every step claimed another life.
Such were the Lands Between. Reason and justice held no authority here. Power alone was king. Win a hundred battles without defeat, and one's heroic name would spread throughout this chaotic age. Fail, and one would become nothing more than another nameless skeleton beside the road.
Standing at the center of the maelstrom, Millicent caught a flash crossing the sky from the corner of her eye.
A silver meteor streaked across the heavens above the Lands Between.
"Skyl..."
Her heart trembled. That momentary hesitation was enough for the surrounding blades to close in. An instant later, her wine-red hair disappeared beneath the tide of enemies.
A blade skimmed the fine hairs of her skin, and a terrible chill surged through her.
Millicent closed her eyes and leaped into the air like a waterfowl taking flight.
Bear witness to the sublime skill of a sword goddess. Your deaths will not be in vain.
Waterfowl Dance.
The swordswoman spun through the air. Her curved sword produced a vast atmospheric howl, unleashing overlapping waves of blade light like the swirling currents of a violent tide. Everyone touched by those blades was torn apart, warriors and weapons alike.
Millicent landed and gasped from exhaustion. Several wounds split open across her skin.
Fifty paces away, a Haligtree Knight drew a greatbow and released an arrow.
Millicent barely managed to twist aside, moving her heart out of the projectile's path.
The great arrow hurtled toward her, only for a hand to appear from nowhere and seize it from the air, catching it as effortlessly as someone grasping a bolt of lightning.
Millicent raised her head and looked beside her.
Skyl nodded in greeting.
"It's been a long time, Millicent."
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