Chapter 124: The Heart of the Mother Tree (2)

Maeve smiled warmly. "It’s perfect. Thank you for preparing all of this."

As she picked up a piece of the flatbread, she noticed that Ikarus and Axan hadn’t touched their food.

The two men stared silently at the table. As the people of Azuryn Tribe, they were used to eating meat. A meal without it felt... strange.

Maeve narrowed her eyes when she saw them acted like kids.

Smack!

She lightly slapped the back of Ikarus’s head.

"Ow..."

Before he could complain—Smack!

Axan received the same treatment. The two men looked at her with innocent expressions.

Maeve crossed her arms. "Eat."

"..."

"..."

"We’re guests," she continued in a low voice. "They welcomed us with everything they have. It would be rude not to eat."

Ikarus scratched the back of his head with an awkward laugh. "I wasn’t trying to be rude..."

"I know," Maeve replied. "But they shared the best food they could prepare. We should appreciate it."

Axan nodded first. "You’re right."

Without another word, he picked up a piece of the flatbread and took a bite.

Ikarus followed soon after. To his surprise, the bread was soft and slightly sweet, while the vegetable soup had a rich, comforting flavor.

"This is actually good," he admitted.

Several villagers nearby let out soft laughs.

"Our mushrooms grow with the Mother Tree’s aether," one of them explained proudly. "They have a different taste from ordinary mushrooms."

Ikarus happily reached for another roasted mushroom, his eyes shining with excitement. "We should grow these at home too," he said between bites.

Axan nodded in agreement. "I think it’s possible," he said and then looked at Maeve. "Since you can connect with the Mother Tree, your aether energy shouldn’t be very different from its own. The mushrooms might be able to grow with your help."

Maeve let out a soft laugh. "Alright, alright," she said, raising both hands with a smile. "We can talk about farming later."

She looked at the two of them before shaking her head in amusement. "For now, just eat before the food gets cold."

The three of them continued eating while chatting with the elders.

As everyone enjoyed the meal, Elthira suddenly looked at Maeve. "There is one more thing we wish to give you."

Maeve blinked. "To me?"

Elthira nodded. "The Mother Tree has already accepted you as its Heart. Although you do not need to remain here, you have inherited part of its blessing."

The other elders exchanged glances before one of them carefully brought over a small wooden box.

The box was old, and delicate vine patterns had been carved into its surface.

Elthira slowly opened it. Inside lay a single green seed no bigger than a fingernail.

Unlike an ordinary seed, it gave off a faint emerald glow, and gentle aether could be felt flowing from within.

"This is..." Maeve murmured.

"It is a Heart Seed," Elthira explained. "It was born from the Mother Tree many years ago."

She carefully picked it up. "If you plant it in a place filled with life and nurture it with your aether, it will grow into a Spirit Tree."

Maeve’s eyes widened. "A Spirit Tree?"

Elthira smiled. "It will never become another Mother Tree. There can only be one."

"But it will enrich the land around it. Plants will grow healthier, the soil will become more fertile, and its aether will slowly spread through the surrounding area."

Ikarus and Axan looked at each other. Both of them immediately thought about their own settlement.

If they could grow a Spirit Tree there, the barren land around the Azuryn Tribe might become greener faster than now.

Maeve stared at the tiny glowing seed resting in her palm. Even though it was no bigger than her fingernail, she could feel the gentle warmth flowing from it. It almost felt as though it had its own heartbeat.

"A Spirit Tree..." she whispered. "This is an incredible gift. Thank you," she said sincerely.

She carefully closed her fingers around the seed. "I’ll accept it."

A warm smile spread across Elthira’s face, and the other elders looked just as pleased.

"We’re happy to hear that," Elthira replied. "I’m sure the Mother Tree will be glad as well."

Maeve gently placed the Spirit Seed into its box again, making sure it would remain safe until they returned home.

As soon as she closed the box, she silently promised herself that she would find the perfect place to plant it.

She wanted the Spirit Tree to watch over the Azuryn Tribe, just as the Mother Tree had protected the Sylvara Tribe for countless generations.

"Oh, Maeve, there is something I need to tell you," Elthira suddenly said seriously, making Maeve look up from the Spirit Seed.

"What is it?" Maeve asked.

Elthira glanced at Ikarus and Axan before looking back at Maeve. "Now that you have fully connected with the Mother Tree, your body has changed."

Maeve blinked in confusion. "Changed?"

Elthira nodded. "The Mother Tree is overflowing with life. Since you have become its Heart, your own life energy has also grown much stronger."

She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "You may find yourself feeling much more energetic than before. Your emotions, your senses... and even your desire to be close to your mates may become stronger for a while."

Maeve froze. "Huh?"

The tips of her ears slowly turned red as she realized what Elthira meant.

Ikarus and Axan also stiffened for a brief moment before quietly looking away, pretending to be very interested in the wooden table.

Seeing their reactions, Elthira smiled knowingly. "There is nothing to be embarrassed about. It is a natural effect for those who form a complete bond with the Mother Tree."

She gestured toward a large wooden bucket that had been placed in the corner of the hut.

"We have already prepared warm water for you. After your long journey, you and your husbands can wash and rest comfortably."

Beside the bucket was a small pouch filled with strips of dried red tree bark.

Elthira picked it up and handed it to Maeve. "And this is another gift."

Maeve accepted it carefully. "What is it?"

"It is made from the bark of the Redwood Tree that grows deep within our forest," Elthira explained. "When brewed into tea, it helps prevent pregnancy for a time."

"We usually give it to couples who wish to wait before having children," Elthira said gently. "Whether you choose to use it or not is entirely up to you."