Chapter 10: Insight

"So, you're the World Tree, huh? Does that mean you're worshiped by a bunch of tree huggers too?"

"Yes, and no. I'm a World Tree not the World Tree. And I don't know what tree hugger is."

"What do you mean? You're not the only World Tree? And tree hugger is an environmental campaigner"

"Yes. World Tree is my species not specific distinction. Some others have a name that those who worship them gave them but World Trees don't have individual names."

"Does that mean this sprout in my Door will grow up to become a World Tree too?"

"Yes, it will."

Hmm interesting.

"Now that's out of the way can I ask you some questions?"

"Yes, you can but you need to answer my questions too."

"Okay, fair enough. So first can you give me a basic information about where am I?"

"You're in The Forest. On planet that is known by many names. But it's most mainstream name would be Azhuris. At least that is the name that those who live in the vicinity of The Forest use."

"So, this forest doesn't have a name just The Forest?"

"Yes, no other name just The Forest. Now my turn, how did you come here? Most beings that don't live here usually dies in the outer region of The Forest."

"About that even I don't know. When I woke up I was already here. You were here before I came here didn't you see me come? And do you mean that outer region of the forest is more dangerous than the inner one? Isn't it usually other way around?"

"Well I suppose your soul is like a blank slate. I was here before you came but you just appeared out of thin air. Wasn't teleportation because I didn't feel any energy disturbance. It was like you literally just materialized out of thin air. And stronger creatures live in the outer region of the forest because their survival instinct and intelligence are higher thus they know to stay away from me. Weaker the creature more stupid they are and thus they don't fear me as much and I don't concern myself with them."

"Hey what do you mean blank slate? Are you calling me ignorant?"

"No, you idiot. I'm calling you newborn baby with no exposure to life. No memory of your own."

"Still you call me idiot. You're pretty rude for a tree."

"Huh? Then how do you suppose a tree should act?"

"I don't know. Gentle and soothing."

"SPIT. You try living in middle of a gigantic forest alone for eons and not get cranky."

"HAH. That was the first time I heard a tree make a spitting noise. So ultimately you're just a bored old tree huh?"

"Well frankly yes."

"Then it is fortunate for you that I materialized here right?"

"Well I suppose it is."

"So according to you, you are the strongest in this forest huh?"

"You're damn right I am."

"Oh, mighty one can you elaborate more on the planet then?"

"Well seeing your humility, I suppose I can enlighten you ignorant one. First of all, this planet is colossal so colossal even after growing my roots nonstop for eons I can't even cover 10% of it. Creatures and races on it are countless. I only know about 100 of them. It has 3 different suns and 1 moon."

"That was unexpectedly brief and informative. So, this planet is big that's clear and full of different creatures. But what do you mean by 3 different suns? Aren't all of them same."

"For planet this, big you would obviously need more than one sun. Suns we have is when they rotate they change the climate entirely. Yellow, blue and green. I just call them by their colors but other sentient races call them by individual names and some worship them as their deity. Each one is in the sky for a month when they rise. Yellow one makes it warm, hot and smoldering hot. Blue one makes it cool, cold and freezing. Green one is actually the best one, temperature is just right soothing and it simply exudes life thus it is best one for me. Other two's effect of temperature is affected by place's energy saturation. If there is too much energy then climate changes for the bad. Blue one makes it freezing and yellow one makes it smoldering. Well green one makes it awesome. It saturates the energy in the atmosphere with vitality and that's like a gourmet meal for trees."

"Hmm. That sound's cool. Then which one is in the sky now? I can't see it from under all the leaves. And what about the moon? Does it have similar effect on climates too?"

"Right now, blue one is in the sky. Moon is a whole different beast. First of all, it's much bigger than the three suns combined. And when it rises it saturates the atmosphere with Pure Energy. And almost all sentients races that I know worship the moon. Name of course differs."

"So, that means energy saturation here is low since it's nice and cool here right?"

"No, energy saturation is highest in The Forest. At least as far as I can see. Reason it's nice and cool is the leaves you blamed for restricting your view reduce the sun's effect on the Pure Energy in here. Now let me ask a question. How did you absorb that wolf's dissipating life force? No creature is capable of that."

"So, you saw that huh. I don't know how I did that. My guess is this little one here apparently absorb energy and converts it to vitality to give to me so I think to heal me faster, while absorbing all the nearby energy to convert this little one absorbed the wolf's dissipating life force and gave it to me. And since it's not vitality my body used it to nurture itself. That's the best theory I got. What do you think?"

"Hmm. World Trees do convert energy into vitality to grow. But we do not absorb life force of other creatures no matter the situation because we simply can't. So most likely reason would be it's your soul that did that. After all its structure is so unique and your soul itself is really powerful."

Hmm. This tree is unexpectedly useful for information gathering. Well it is nice to finally to have an insight into where I am.