Chapter 353: The Fake Tree of Life
Chapter 353: The Fake Tree of Life
'It will take some time before I grow back into a small tree. You can do whatever you want to do, my daughter. I want to sleep here.' Lifa didn't know what else to do. So, comfortable sleep in warm, fertile soil was an excellent option.
'Hm, I think there is a way to speed up your body rebuilding, mother. I remember you gave a tiny seed to the Fairy Empress and Elven Empress. We only need a few vials of Dew of Life from the fake Tree of Life.' Rhea decorated the small mound where she planted her mother with some flowers.
'Well, do what you think is good. I want to sleep. Don't forget to always protect your host and master, my daughter. Elysia and Elena may be powerful, but at the same time pretty fragile.' Lifa reminded her daughter once again of the point.
'Huh? My host is Almighty Goddess. The continent will shake only because of her gentle swing, and the weather will change only because of her wish. Why do you say Master Elysia and Master Elena are fragile, mother?' Rhea didn't understand the meaning and her expression became clueless.
'It's just my hunch. There may be a price to pay to have great strength and massive Life Energy. You know that for yourself, absolute perfection doesn't exist.' Lifa shared her assumption from what she noticed every time she watched Elysia and Elena.
"There's a price to pay..." Rhea turned sideways to look at the portal gate. Elysia and Elena were chatting about something.
She was fully aware of her mother's explanation because she was the same. She possessed great strength and abilities, but she needed someone to depend on just to live on.
Her mother was also the same if that needed to be said. There was no absolute perfection even for divine existence.
'En, I understand, mother. I will protect my host well.' Rhea rounded off her determination twice as big as before.
She would definitely protect her host no matter what, but extra protection was needed given her mother gentle reminder.
"Rhea, please wear this dress." Elysia brought the portal closer to Rhea, then handed over a fancy turquoise dress with an open back.
"O-oh, thank you, Master Elysia." Rhea received the dress and looked at Elysia's blushing expression with a dazed gaze. However, she immediately looked down and blushed too because she was only wearing her underwear.
Her previous dress was torn when Elysia was healing her some time ago. She forgot about it because of her enthusiasm. So, she went around only with this indecent appearance? No wonder Elysia blushed and gave her a dress.
Rhea immediately put on the dress without waiting for anything else, then rubbed her face to handle the blush on her face.
"Please forgive me for showing myself in an inappropriate appearance." Rhea gave a slight bow of apology.
"No worries. You look beautiful in that dress, Rhea." Elysia gave a thumbs up with a smile.
"Thank you." Rhea appreciated the compliment with a tender smile.
"Big sister, these are the flowers you asked for. I've brought them." Nell flew over with a basket full of flowers. She stopped in the air for a moment to stare at her big sister, then at Elysia. "O-oh~ you are already wearing an appropriate dress, big sister. I thought you would only wear such sexy underwear to tease Elysia because she blushes easily."
"I- I have no such intentions. I just forgot... That's all." Rhea received the flower basket and decorated the earth bump.
"Hehe, is that so?" Nell hovered over with a doubtful smile. She enjoyed seeing her big sister blush because it was pretty rare.
'My daughter, you are so bold.' Lifa also joined in the fray.
'Not you too, mother. Please sleep well.' Rhea became helpless because she was attacked by two parties.
Meanwhile, Elena rested her cheek against her hand as she looked at Elysia, then at Rhea. "I thought you enjoyed the view, Ely. After all, you were the one who tore her dress and left this innocent girl wearing only her underwear."
"Nha, I don't have that kind of intention! It's because of the demanding circumstances. I thought Rhea would wear a dress when she entered the Nature Realm, but she also forgot." Elysia blushed again because of Elena. At that very moment, Rhea and Nell looked at her as if she was a spectacle.
"See?" Nell pointed with her open palm.
"En, you're right, Little Nell. However, Master Elysia's expression grew even more dazzling as she blushed. I can understand why Master Elena loves to tease Master Elysia every now and then." Rhea nodded in understanding.
After that, she stood up. Her mother had decided to sleep, and the decoration was finished. It was a lovely earth bump. Then, she expressed a request to her host. "Uhm, can we visit Fairy Continent's capital city and Elven Continent's capital city soon?"
"Fairy Continent's capital city and Elven Continent's capital city? Is there anything you want to do there, Rhea?" Elysia turned to Rhea after pushing Elena aside so she wouldn't be teased again.
"En, I need a few vials of Dew of Life from the fake Tree of Life." Rhea nodded once again.
"Dew of Life? Is it to help Lifa reshape her body into a small tree? I remember the sacred tree, the mini version of Lifa in Zhadphis Woodland and Eshvelenora Woodland. Is that sacred tree the fake Tree of Life in question?" Nell put her finger to her chin as she tried to recall the sacred tree that she saw about two weeks ago.
"Ah, then I think it's the fake Tree of Life I'm talking about. A long time ago, my mother gave away two tiny seeds, one for a fairy and the other for an elf. Now, those two seeds have become big trees. It wouldn't hurt to ask for a few vials of Dew of Life, right?" Rhea clapped her hands with a bright expression.
"Well, let's discuss this outside. I don't think it's a good idea to leave this portal open for too long. Also, Your mother is asleep." Elena gave a suggestion before the conversation got longer.
Rhea glanced at the earth bump near her feet. Her mother was asleep, and the surrounding energy fluctuation was peaceful. Then, she nodded at Elena.
Elysia immediately enlarged the portal for Rhea and Nell to come out.
"Please have a seat." Elena invited Rhea to sit next to her. After that, she closed the portal.
After Rhea sat down and Nell alighted on Rhea's shoulder, Elena started to open up a conversation. "You intend to ask for some Dew of Life from those elves and fairies? Do you think they'll give that with a smile on their faces?"
"Uhm, yes?" Rhea tilted her head. She presumed that she only needed to ask for it, then the elves and fairies would give it away willingly. After all, she was their Goddess for the last few hundred thousand years before the great world war.
"I don't think so, considering what happened three days ago. The Elven Race, Fairy Race, and Dwarven Race don't seem to respect divine beings. Did you already know that, Rhea?" Elena shook her head lightly.
"O-oh, you finally called my name, Master Elena. Thank you. But, regarding what you said. No, I just heard about this. Did something happen between you and those three races?" Rhea clasped her hands with a smile, but she became a little worried.
"It's not a problem between them and me, but their attitude. A few moments after the Tree of Life had fallen apart, those three races came with their strongest armies to seize the Tree of Life. You guess what happened after I came to mediate the battle because of your mother's request?" Elena once again gently shook her head.
Rhea tried to think for a moment, then an answer popped into her head. "Elves, fairies, and dwarves reconciled as soon as you spoke up for it?"
"Well, it would be fine if that was the case. Unfortunately, it was the opposite. Those three supreme leaders shouted disrespectfully to me, suspected me of their accusations, and what's worse was that they challenged me." Elena smirked mysteriously.
"Oh my..." Rhea covered her mouth in shock. She didn't expect it either.
Elves, fairies, and dwarves had pissed the Almighty Goddess. Elena smirked to show Elena and Elysia couldn't view those three races in a good light? Rhea became anxious and immediately glanced at Elysia.
"That's what happened, Rhea. Even though the elves and fairies discouraged their intention to attack, their bad attitude had irritated my master. So, I think the elves and fairies won't give Dew of Life easily. That's something valuable, right?" Elysia nodded and confirmed Elena's opinion.
"Ah, so the dwarves become the sole offender?" Rhea asked, and she received confirmation from the others, including Nell. "This is bad... Is the divine existence no longer respected? Have the elves and fairies forgotten about their Goddess?"
"No, maybe the elves and fairies just lost their way. Whatever it is, they will definitely respect the divine." Nell voiced her opinion. But when her big sister looked at her with a confused look, she became confused too. "I'm sorry, I don't really know about elves and fairies."
"You don't need to apologize, Little Nell. However, Master Elena's and Master Elysia's assumptions need to be considered. We need to know the truth. If we can't ask for the Dew of Life openly and kindly, we only need to ask directly to the fake Tree of Life. I'm sure they already have their own intelligence."