Chapter 84: The Forsaken Palace [6] (1/2)

Ju Feng took a couple of steps towards the tree before mindfully checking the surroundings. He had to be sure he wasn't walking into any trap of illusion or the ever deadly trap of dreams.

”Don't stress yourself, young one. If I want you dead, you'll be dead by now.”

He continued to observe the grey tree with extreme caution as he contemplated maybe it was time for him to use the safe word and bade farewell to the place instead of facing another revenant-like situation.

”Are you just going to stand there while my poor soul wallows in sadness? A lonely tree like myself can do with a little company. It's been a long time since I last saw a living soul, though, never seen one pitiable like yourself.”

Ju Feng closed his eyes and continued to ruminate on the situation. It would be reasonable and just for him to call it a day and to return to safe archway. But from the little he had seen of the small grey tree, he could truly have been dead already. The aura of the tree convinced him of its power. What's the point of standing where he was if it didn't make any difference? Hence, he decided to move closer to the tree and to find out more about the place.

”What is this place? Is it even real?”

”Is this place real? Do you want to find out by me killing?”

”Uh?”

”Hehehe. Relax your mind, young man. That's only for a good laugh.”

”Now, tell me who you are.”

”I'm Ju Feng.”

”Okay, Ju Feng. You should be able to know the difference between an illusion and reality by now. Maybe you are too young to know, which is fair to you. But you are definitely too weak, which could've also affected you.”

The tree changed its voice to a more serene one before continuing.

”Can you see me?”

”Mhm.”

”Can you hear me?”

”I can.”

He replied with a thoughtful nod.

”And you can also feel the snow. That's real enough for you, young Jufeng. Now that we have settled that. Welcome to Aculum Divinis. The unending frosty space between illusion and reality.”

”This place has no end?”

”It's the effect of this place that affects the space and time creating traps of illusion and dreams. You could be lost in illusion or dreams of this place forever if you are not strong enough. The time in here is very much different from that of the outside space. This I have come to know. Do you understand what that means?”

”Yes.”

”I don't care how you got here or why. But, ignorance could easily get an entity killed. Maybe you wouldn't have come if you had known what this place is. But, here you are and I don't mind a little company either. And if I were you, I would try to make the best use of my time here. Although, this place is filled with illusion and dreams, many are the great things hidden in here. Great things like treasures, if you know where to look.”

”I guess you know where to look.”

”How did a tree like me knew where to look? For millions of years I've been existing here. At first, I wasn't the only one here. There were others but they gained transformation before me and they went after most of the treasures. Some were fortunate enough while others were not so fortunate, but most left with one item or the other. Then, I came to be, at this side of the Divinis, all by myself. One thing is that, It takes a very long time for divinis daimon trees like myself to gain awareness talkless of any form of transformation.”

After a brief pause, the tree continued.

”During all this time, I've been gathering more information about some valuable things,  especially treasures. Treasures you wouldn't even imagine could exist here. It may look like saddened life, but solitary life has its advantages too. I guess you also want to know where to look, don't you?”

”Well, if it's not too dangerous. It's worth a try.”

”That's the spirit of an adventurer. We all know that every adventure carries an amount of danger. It is left for you to use your own initiative to survive them. I will give you the location of the treasures you need to know and are much more safer for you, their specific directions and steps. The rest is left to you. Is that alright by you? ”

”It's alright.”