306 Harves (1/2)
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With a height of 50 meters and thickness of about 25 meters, branches that are as thick as a grown man's arm, pitch black leaves, pulsing roots and a core which pulsed with dark purple energy, the Withering Dream Tree is finally a couple steps away from Raven.
The rain of thorns had finally stopped, its roots remained still and it no longer reanimated any dead beast. It was like time stopped, it was as if the tree was waiting for what Raven will do next.
Raven took a deep breath and walked slowly towards the tree. The suspended vines and roots started moving once more, seemingly anxious as they watch him move closer. He remained impassive to its reactions. Instead, he fueled his voice with his Chaos Force and said:
”There's no need for violence any further.” Raven's voice sounded archaic, specially when speaking the Elven tongue. ”You acted on self defense, I did too. I hope it ends there.”
Several creaking sounds emerged from the tree. Raven felt its movements but he didn't stop walking towards it.
”I'm only here for a piece of your bark and a handful of your leaves, that's all.” Raven uttered, ”I do not have any intentions of cutting you down.”
The tree didn't move this time, it only observed as Raven went closer and closer until he was finally inches away from its trunk.
Raven took out a small dagger and coated it with his Chaos Force. He then carved the tree's bark, retrieving a five by five piece with some allowances and placing it on a jade casing to preserve it's properties. After that, he jumped up onto one of its branches and started plucking several leaves, he coated his hands with his Chaos Force as well to ensure that he won't get poisoned since there leaves are coated with it as well.
After grabbing the things he needed, Raven jumped down and placed the leaves on a separate jade casing. He then placed his harvest on his spatial ring and sighed.
”Alright, that's one out of the four places I need to go.” He muttered under his breath.
His attention then went back to the Withering Dream Tree. Raven stared at the pulsing purple core and became lost on his thoughts.
Another sigh escaped his mouth as he said: ”If you just endured hunger and loneliness, you wouldn't have been like this. If you didn't fall for the temptations around you, then you might've been something even greater.”
Raven's voice was filled with pity. The tree was seemingly protesting about his claims, evident with the continuous creaking sounds its making. It was as if it was sending him away since he already got what he wanted.
Nevertheless, Raven remained unmoving and just stared at the tree's core.
He was not having any ideas about taking down the tree, no. In fact, he has something else entirely on his mind.
Before this Withering Dream Tree became what it is today, it was something else entirely.
Before it became Withering Dream Tree, it once was a Blooming Dream Tree.
Blooming Dream Trees are considered as one of the darlings of Nature. Not only do they boast incredible beauty, they also represents the mystery and profoundness of what Nature can do.
If a person sleeps within the territory of a Blooming Dream Tree for five consecutive days. The tree would bore a Dream Fruit that solely belongs to that person. If the same person waits for another two days, the Dream Fruit will become ripe and the tree would give it to them.
It is said that the Dream Fruit contains the deepest secrets about a persons dreams. Consuming a Dream Fruit would cause one to fall in a deep slumber. Their dreams will be filled with what they are longing for and these dreams are lucid.
In these dreams, they could be whatever they want. In these dreams, they could live their own realities. But the most important part about these dreams, are not the dreams themselves but the conclusion they reach after experiencing such dreams.
Their conclusions may provide a re-ignition to pursue their dreams and make it a reality, it may also provide them with a sense of contentment or something else entirely. No matter what their conclusion is, it will have visible impact on their lives. And that is what keeps the Blooming Dream Trees alive. Such effects are also effective on any living beings as well.
But since these trees are sentient, they could also feel human-like emotions.
An in the event that a Blooming Dream Tree succumbs to hunger for someone to come and dream with it, or feel great loneliness since no one dreams anymore. It will weep and wither, transforming it to the very same tree in front of Raven right at this very moment - a Withering Dream Tree.
Raven shook his head and removed these excessive thoughts, he didn't know how long he had been staring at these tree but doing nothing wasn't his style.
”Well, consider this as payment for the ingredients.” Raven murmured, ”Plus, it would be nice to future generations to see such a sight.”
He sent a beam of light towards the core of the Withering Dream Tree. It was unceremonious and too quick that the tree was late to react to it. Thinking that Raven attacked and broke his claim, it attacked him on instinct. But when it realized that Raven didn't, it stopped on its tracks.
Raven remained unmoving and waited until the tree finally realized what he did. When he saw that it's retracting the vines it sent, Raven then said:
”Don't succumb to temptations next time.” He said as he started turning around to leave. Confident that the tree won't stop him from doing so. ”Have patience. In the near future, people will come and they will dream with you. Be a good girl 'til then.”
The Withering Dream Tree watched as Raven's back disappeared. His words echoed on its core and the gift he remained fresh on its memories. At this very moment, it made an important decision that will have a huge impact on the future.