Reincarnated as The Greatest Scientist in Another World

The sky above the Elf Kingdom was draped in a soft, drifting mist, scattering the glow of giant fireflies clinging to the trunks of ancient, towering trees. Hundreds of these living pillars rose close together, forming a wide main road whose interwoven canopy arched into a glittering green ceiling, speckled with the warm glimmer of flower lanterns. Down this living avenue, the Null convoy moved slowly, heads tilted back, eyes wide with wonder, words forgotten on parted lips.

Children darted through the legs of weary adults, giggling and pointing at houses that looked like they had grown straight out of the bark. Living root bridges wove one home to the next, high above the mossy ground. On balconies carved into massive branches, Elf families gathered to watch. Some waved down with warm smiles and eyes full of curiosity. When had humans last walked in peace among these sacred boughs? This was new history being written under the glowing leaves.

Ain swallowed hard. Beside him, Raksa trudged along with his mouth half-open, as if he'd forgotten how to close it.

"Look at that, Raksa… that tree… it's enormous…" Ain whispered.

Raksa only nodded dumbly. Behind them, Zuko clicked his tongue. "What a bunch of hillbillies…"

Ain spun on him, scowling. "What did you say, prince?"

"Quiet. Eyes ahead," Raksa cut in, shutting down the argument before it could spark. He pointed forward — there, rising above the entire forest, stood the Sacred Tree. Its trunk was as wide as Holy Stone's stone fortress walls, its crown disappearing into the drifting mist. At its base, an immense door carved with leaves and birds shimmered gold beneath the lantern-lit roots.

"That's Queen Eliza's palace," Syarla said softly from the front of the line. Her voice was gentle, but her eyes stayed sharp, watching every flicker of awe on the humans' faces.

Before they reached the grand palace, Syarla's guards steered the Nulls toward a nearby giant tree shaped like a natural multi-story dwelling, its spiral staircase of thick green vines winding up and around the massive trunk.

"Choose whichever room you like," an Elf guard told them with a reassuring smile. "It's safe, warm, and won't collapse on your heads."

The Null children squealed with delight and dashed up the stairs, mothers laughing through tears — it had been too long since they'd seen their children run so freely.

---

At the Palace Gates

Ain, Zuko, and Raksa followed Syarla closer to the Sacred Tree. Its sprawling roots flattened into a smooth natural floor. The huge door groaned open, spilling out a gentle green glow that pulsed from the living wooden walls. Flower blossoms bloomed among curling vines, and giant fireflies floated lazily overhead like drifting lanterns.

Ain tilted his head back, breath catching in his throat. "If this is a dream… don't wake me up."

Raksa gave him a soft slap on the back. "If it is, we're dreaming it together."

Zuko cleared his throat, unimpressed. "You're all just a bunch of villagers."

---

At the far end of the vast hall, upon a dais of ancient roots, sat the Queen's throne — woven branches and flowering vines shaped like a blooming crown. Behind it hung ten portraits of queens who had come before. Syarla knelt gracefully before the throne. Zuko and Raksa mirrored her immediately. Ain stood awkwardly for a moment, glancing around.

Zuko hissed, "Down! Now!"

Ain muttered, "My knees hurt—"

Zuko grabbed him by the collar. Thud! Ain hit the floor, forced into a sloppy bow.

From the throne, Queen Eliza Foresta watched them with eyes like living jade. Her silver hair tumbled like a cascade of moonlight, crowned with fresh green leaves. A pale silk wrap slipped down her shoulders just enough to make Zuko and Raksa flush bright red and look away.

Only Ain kept staring, completely unfazed. Syarla shot him a brief side-eye — this boy really had no filter.

"Humans?" Queen Eliza's voice was soft, yet it settled into their bones like an old forest song.

Syarla bowed lower. "Yes, Your Majesty. We found them wandering lost in the Black Forest. They claim to be Nulls."

The Queen's gaze grew distant, thoughtful. "Null… I have not heard that name in five centuries. Do you know of Asik Null?"

Raksa answered firmly, "Asik Null is our ancestor, Your Majesty."

A small, almost wistful smile curved the Queen's lips. "So it's true, then."

Her eyes flicked to Zuko, sharp with curiosity. "And you, silver-haired boy. You are not a Null, are you?"

Zuko avoided her eyes. "No, Your Majesty. My name is Zuko Hearthfilia."

Queen Eliza leaned forward, a single brow lifting. "Hearthfilia… Serip's son? How interesting." She glanced at Syarla. "You were wise to bring them here."

Ain squinted at Zuko, suspicious. "Serip's your father? What kind of name is that?" Zuko stomped on his foot under the throne's shadow. Ain squeaked.

The Queen let out a quiet laugh. "You may stay here as long as you wish. Perhaps this is how fate chooses to unfold."

Syarla rose and asked permission to withdraw, but in Raksa's mind, one question burned like an ember: Who exactly was Asik Null?

---

Syarla's Home

Outside the palace, Syarla guided them to her own tree-house — a beautiful dwelling nestled not far from the Sacred Tree.

Standing beneath it, Ain, Zuko, and Raksa craned their necks back, counting the dizzying spiral of stairs.

Ain groaned, "A hundred thousand steps?"

Zuko clapped him on the shoulder. "Think of it as training. Good for your skinny legs."

They climbed, exhausted, until they finally reached Syarla's door. She knocked — BANG! The door swung open so hard the branches shivered. A pink-haired Elf girl launched herself at Syarla, throwing a punch — Syarla blocked it with a lazy swipe of her hand.

The girl froze when she saw the guests — wearing nothing but tiny shorts and a thin tank top. Her generous chest nearly spilled out, and Zuko and Raksa's noses immediately erupted in twin fountains of blood. Zuko nearly toppled backward down the stairs.

Ain just stared, deadpan. "Idiots."

Realizing she was half-naked, the girl shrieked and vanished back inside, slamming the door behind her.

"Who was that?" Ain asked flatly.

"My sister, Syadza," Syarla muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.

---

Inside

Syarla sighed. "Forgive her. Rest here for now." She pointed at a door behind Ain.

They slid it open — and found a room scattered with bras and lace underwear. Zuko turned pale. Raksa coughed awkwardly into his sleeve. Ain just shrugged and stepped over a stray bra like it was nothing.

Suddenly, Syadza burst past them in a blur of pink, snatched up her clothes with a face red as fire, and slammed her door again.

"I told you not to nap in the guest room, Syadza!" Syarla called out from the kitchen.

Ain flopped onto the bed without a care. "This… is heaven!" He bounced on the mattress like a kid. Raksa dropped down beside him, equally amazed. Zuko scoffed. "Peasants. Amazed by a bed."

Ain threw a pillow at his head. "Say that again, your spoiled highness."

Zuko lobbed it back. A pillow war erupted — soft thuds and half-muffled curses flying — until Syadza reappeared in the doorway, now fully dressed. She stared at them like they were roaches on her floor.

"Dinner," she snapped.

---

Dinner Table

They sat stiffly at the low wooden table. Syarla took the center seat, Zuko and Raksa flanked her, and Ain was unfortunately stuck beside Syadza. Baskets of warm bread, steaming bowls of mushroom soup, and platters of sweet forest fruit filled the table.

Ain lunged for the bread. Zuko caught his wrist mid-air. "Wait."

Ain scowled. Raksa did his best to keep from drooling.

Syadza glared at Ain like he was something stuck to the bottom of her shoe. Ain side-eyed her back. "What's your problem? Got constipation? Or are you just on your period?"

Syadza slammed her palms onto the table. "What did you say, you filthy monkey?!"

Before it could explode, Syarla's magic flickered like a pulse of green light. The table shivered. Spoons rattled. "Enough."

Both Ain and Syadza froze. Raksa stared into his soup as if it held the secrets of the universe. Zuko hid a snort of laughter behind his hand.

Syadza's voice cracked. "You always disappear, Sister… and when you come back, you bring these… these peasants."

Ain muttered through a mouthful of bread, "Peasants, peasants. Haven't even eaten yet."

Syadza lunged forward, but shrank back under Syarla's glare. Silence fell over the table.

---

They ate until they couldn't move. Later, Zuko and Ain leaned on Syarla's balcony. The Elf Kingdom at night was a dreamscape — flower-lanterns glowing in the trees, root bridges glistening like strands of woven starlight.

Ain leaned on the railing, voice barely a whisper. "Do you think my mother… and the others… do they get to see this too? Are they warm, safe?"

Syarla appeared beside him. "They're safe. Warm. Sleeping on soft beds tonight."

Zuko spoke low, eyes fixed on the forest below. "Why did you let us stay?"

Syarla's breath left her in a quiet sigh. "Five hundred years ago, monsters tore through this forest. They hunted Elf children. We lived in constant fear. Then, a kind young human — lost, reckless, brave — stumbled into our woods. His name was Asik Null. He fought with a strange power he called Aura. Not magic, but raw force, wild as any beast's might. To end our suffering, Asik forged a relic — the Heart of Aura. He poured his life into it. As long as it beats above the Sacred Tree, monsters dare not come near."

Zuko frowned. "Aura… so it's not magic?"

Syarla's smile was small, almost sad. "No. Magic comes from the spirit. Aura… who knows where it truly comes from?"

Zuko's mind reeled. Suha… her power… it all makes sense now…

Ain looked back out at the glowing forest, the light reflected in his wide eyes. But far away, beyond the safe canopy, darkness was already stirring.

In another house, Suha's body had gone cold. Tila pressed trembling fingers to her neck — no pulse. Her mother wept beside her. Ain's mother held her close, whispering comfort through her own tears.

Tila tore herself away, bolting for the door, down the spiraling stairs, into the dark.

"Please… let me make it in time…" she whispered to the night, the lights of the Elf Kingdom flickering behind her.