Chapter 47: Elements of the World

For a Mayn, the Thunderbird was a symbol of their divine, a bird that’s shown to be the mount of their guardian god.

No stories of people having seen a Thunderbird and survived were true. This creature, a beast so grand one cannot fathom the actual form he had just seen in the sky, was a symbol of prayer. And yet, here he was, touching that legend.

"There’s much to see in the world, young one." Andrew had an especially warmer smile as he took Thyme away from him and let the two of them go back to their sky.

As he walked deeper into the forest with him, Andrew showed him various different creatures that inhibit this forest.

There were monkeys with eyes like gems, creatures that were said to have been lost in time.

They saw fairies in this place, actual creatures of nature that were said to be the masters of spirits.

There were insects that were born with the elemental powers, holy creatures that he did not even know of, there was a part of the forest that seemed dark and gloomy, and apparently, there were demonic beasts in that part, creatures who weren’t as dangerous as the stories made them to be.

"Pyro the phoenix has her own territory. Her family mostly lives there so they have their own ecosystem, and Liz the Wyvern lives on the opposite side to her. Those two don’t like each other much."

The prince wasn’t even listening to him anymore.

This was no treasury, this was no forest. This was a mythical sanctuary built for the creatures that you don’t hear stories about anymore.

The creatures here, these beasts were not here because they had nowhere else to go to, but because this was the only place they wanted to be in.

Their bond with Andrew, as he had seen while walking through the forest, was so unique that he couldn’t believe a single human had affinity with so many of nature-born beasts.

In fact, many times he even wondered if Andrew was a simple human to begin with. But for some reason, he could see the certain humanity that he carried.

He risked his life and he was bedridden after using a strange power against a god. He actually didn’t do it because he wanted anything from the prince or the king, but simply because that’s what he was there for.

Few people like him might still remain in this world. He wasn’t just good at what he did, he was good at heart as well.

"I call this place our treasure room because this is the true treasure for me. These creatures. Beings who used to be true owners of this world before we took everything away from them."

The prince had yet to learn about the dark realities of the past, of the time that’s not known to history anymore.

He was still unknown to the period when a phoenix was as common as a pet parrot or the time when Wyverns were as loyal to people as dogs are right now.

The only reason they are seen as mythical creatures today are the divinities and their schemes, but then again, he was still far from knowing the truths of this enslaved world.

"Come, help me." They were in the centre of the forest now, in an empty lot with stranger trees than auy other he had seen inside the forest.

He had taken out the branch of the world tree, and he was planting it right now.

"Are... are all of these branches of the world tree?" There were around a hundred branches, all of a different color, but all containing the same kind of energy to them.

He could feel it inside of him. Even though these branches were of different size and age, even though they were of a different color, they were of the same origin.

"They are. But they aren’t enough, we still need a few more." Andrew was finished digging a small hole while Arcos was holding the small branch inside of the hole.

They quickly finished planting the branch, and when they were done, Andrew stood some distance away from the branches, giving them a moment to settle down.

-Zuuuuuu...

There was a strange hum in the air, but nothing happened.

Arcos had a lot of questions right now but he did not ask him anything right away. Andrew wanted to show something to him, so he waited.

As they waited, the hum in the air grew more visible to them.

When looking closer, they could see that the humming was produced by the vibrations coming from the branches into the ground.

-Ooooooooong!

Soon, there was a glow to each of the branches as well except the one that they had planted just now.

"It might get a little uncomfortable." Andrew came closer and covered Arcos’ ears with his hands, still pointing him back to the front.

Then, something interesting started.

"Ah..." colorful particles of energy floated from the different branches as they all gathered around the branch that was previously colorless.

"They’re reviving it." He understood it at a glance.

He was uncertain why the branch that they had seemed so different from the branches present here. Why was it colorless and dryer than the others?

The reason was simple. It wasn’t ’alive’ at that time.

But the special resonance as well as the different energies from the different branches slowly brought it back to life as the brittle branch slowly regained life.

It changed from colorless to a dull shade of yellow as well, a color that brought joy to the Mayn boy for some reason.

It was a happy color.

It was a warm color.

"Pretty, isn’t it?" Andrew smiled again, finishing his work for the day.

Many a things this boy will learn from them going forward and many a times he will face uncertainty.

Why were they doing this? What is their end goal? Is he just a tool that they are using? A weapon they are sharpening?

He will have his questions and his doubts. But, he can get many answers when he looks back to this place. To this moment.

These creatures aren’t here because they are trapped or nowhere else to go but simply because they like it here, in this limited space, much more than the vast cruel world of the outside.

There they will be used, hunted down, enslaved. But here, though a small place, they are free.

And that freedom, to them, matters as much as the dead branches matter to the true world tree’s will that still lives on through these branches.

"It is said that the Forest of the World Tree is the true paradise of the universe." Arcos murmured the words of his father, the words left to them by their ancestors.

"It was, yes." Andrew, however, had a unique sadness when he said that.

He was trying to revive the world tree by gathering as many branches and elements of it as he could. But, he knew it wouldn’t be an easy task.

The world tree was a medium of Nature’s eternal will. And bringing it back to life was the same as bringing back the ones who have truly passed away to the other side.