Chapter 375: Elven Sacred Tree
Chapter 375: Elven Sacred Tree
"Nee, Mr. Ali. What do you want to see from the Heavenly Tree?" Arlayna slowed her pace so she could walk side by side with her target.
"Hm, we have a little business with the Heavenly Tree, and yes, we want to talk to this sacred tree." Elysia glanced at Arlayna, then looked back at the Heavenly Tree.
At a glance, it was similar to the Celestial Tree on the Fairy Continent, but this one was smaller and had a level slightly below Celes.
Rhea also glanced at Arlayna briefly with a look of disdain, but it was only a fleeting glance since they would be separated after this. So, she just needed to be patient a little longer. She didn't know much about Arlayna or the Vencan Family, but she really didn't like this coquettish elf.
"Fufu, you want to talk to Heavenly Tree? But let me remind you this, the sacred tree might not respond. Heavenly Tree is very picky about it." Arlayna giggled lightly, but her expression was flat as she looked at the Heavenly Tree.
"It's okay, but thanks for the reminder." Elysia continued walking until she reached the border between the city area and the sacred area of the Heavenly Tree.
Behind the beautiful wooden gate was a fertile land overgrown with some small plants and beautiful flowers. It was like a small garden surrounding the 200-meters tall sacred tree. Similar to the Celestial Tree, there was also a dome barrier with holes at the entrances.
Besides the elves who happened to be visiting the Heavenly Tree, many imperial guards were also present in various positions.
'Well, quite a lot of visitors in this morning. We were lucky enough to come to the Celestial Tree in the late afternoon and there were no other visitors but us.' Elena scratched her head as she saw dozens of elves present around the Heavenly Tree.
'Uh, it's going to be a little difficult to talk to Heavenly Tree in private, but let's give it a try.' Elysia was also feeling a bit confused, but she decided to give it a try. First, she asked Rhea and Nell for advice, then she entered the queue.
Elysia just waited for the two other elves to enter, then she showed her homemade adventurer ID to the guards.
"Sir Ali, B-rank adventurer. Alright, please explain your purpose." The guard looked at the card and carried out his duties as usual.
"We only have a little business and would like to talk to Heavenly Tree." Elysia explained her goal with true honesty.
"We? You and your daughter? Alright, you may proceed. Just as reminder, Heavenly Tree will rest at noon. Please leave before that time if you don't want to be chased away by the guards." One of the guards nodded. He gave a piece of kind advice because he thought this pretty man was a traveler from another city and might not know the rules.
"Understood, then excuse me." Elysia smiled slightly and entered through the barrier gate without waiting for Arlayna.
"Halt! You need to follow the procedure if you want to enter Heavenly Tree sacred area." The guards immediately prevented Arlayna from entering.
"Huh? I need to do that procedure too. Don't you know who I am or who my father is?" Arlayna complained with a frown. She wanted to enter, but she couldn't find her ID card in her Space Bag.
"We don't care about that. You show your proof of identity or you can't enter. Please follow the rules like a good citizen." One of the guards gave a stern reminder.
"I am Arlayna Vencan, core member of the Vencan Family. Ardryll Vencan is my father. I am a member of the local aristocracy and I still need to show my identity?" Arlayna was a little nervous because her target wasn't waiting for her, or maybe he didn't realize that she was stuck and couldn't enter.
"Even if you are a member of the Vencan Marquess Family, you still need to follow the established rules. If you can't show anything, please leave. You're blocking the queue behind you." One of the other guards narrowed his eyes and shooed Arlayna away with a bit of politeness.
"Tch." Arlayna clicked her tongue and could only wait outside the dome barrier. She just hoped her target would come out soon, or she needed to do something.
While Arlayna was stuck outside the barrier, Elysia and her little group already approached the Heavenly Tree.
'Let's find a spot around Heavenly Tree that's a bit quiet.' So Elysia went to the other side of Heavenly Tree, and Nell followed right behind.
Arriving there, Elysia sat on the ground in a seiza position and put Rhea on her lap. Then, she clasped her hand in prayer like the other elves just to pretend.
'Rhea, please open a conversation with this Heavenly Tree. We can only do everything? in secrecy, okay? I mean, just between us and the Heavaenly Tree.' Elysia asked Rhea to start the bargain for five vials of Dew of Life.
'Un, leave this to me, master.' Rhea patted her chest with confidence.
She estimated that Heavenly Tree was younger than Celestial Tree and just a little weaker than Celes, so this bargain would be a bit easier than before.
After reviewing what to say, Rhea immediately sent her greetings via telepathy. 'O, Heavenly Tree with the origin of the Tree of Life. You are now in the presence of the divine beings. We've come to talk to you. You may respond to me via this telepathic link and stay calm.'
'Uh? Divine beings? Is that you little baby? You don't look like one, though? Wait, how can a baby send me telepathy? Am I asleep and hallucinating?' A woman's dazed voice rang out in response to Rhea's telepathy.
Hearing that, Rhea just stretched out her hand to touch the tree trunk. She had to make her interlocutor fully aware of her and take everything seriously.
*Bzzt*
Rhea sent an electric shock using subtle nature magic and emitted golden aura energy even though it was very thin.
'Uwaah! Uh, what's that? I was electrocuted all the way to my roots, but it wasn't electricity? Wait, did you emit the golden energy aura earlier?' Heavenly Tree was surprised and glanced back at the baby on the beautiful father's lap.
'That is me. We've come in disguise and please stay in secrecy if you don't want anything untoward to happen. I am the Goddess of Nature. Don't try to doubt my credibility or I need to do something to make you see the truth.' Rhea looked up to return Heavenly Tree's gaze because she knew that the latter was already focused on her.
'Oh well, I will try to trust you then. So, what kind of interest do you desire by speaking with me, o the Goddess of Nature? Uh, wait, you mentioned the Tree of Life, what do you know about this legendary tree?' Heavenly Tree responded calmly, but she had an interest in a different aspect.
After that, Rhea explained what happened to the Tree of Life with similar content to what she told Celes yesterday.
As if to believe the authenticity of the information, Heavenly Tree heaved a sigh of sorrow. So, the Tree of Life had indeed fallen apart, and she had lost her chance to meet the legend of her race.
'So, that's what happened. But, please don't feel sad because the Tree of Life will live in peace and serenity in the paradise land of her dreams.' Rhea tried to console Heavenly Tree a little.
'Oh well... So what's your relationship with the Tree of Life? You seem to know a lot about the Tree of Life.' Heavenly Tree only put aside her disappointment and sadness.
'I am the Goddess of Nature, daughter of the Goddess of Life, or you may refer to her as the Tree of Life." Rhea spoke the truth without hesitation.
'Uh? The Goddess of Life is the Tree of Life!? So, the Elven Goddess that has been known all along...' Heavenly Tree stared in shock as if she couldn't believe it.
'In the past, I carried out my mother's duties as the Goddess of Life at my mother's behest. The known Goddess of Life was me, but now I am the Goddess of Nature.' Rhea smiled gently to introduce herself again.
'Oh, I see... It may be a little late, but I am the Nirvalent Hea, known as the Heavenly Tree. Let's return to our original topic, what can I do for you, o the Goddess of Nature?' Hea introduced herself because she could believe this divine existence's words.
'Very well, we have come to request five vials of Dew of Life from you. However, we won't ask it for free. In exchange, we will give you a technique to manifest your spirit entity and give you 500 grams of Heaven Grade high quality fertilizer for each vial.' Rhea conveyed her goal in a gentle but still dignified manner.
'That sounds interesting, but let me ask you a few things that puzzled me first. You said that you came with another divine being? Who is it? Did you come here for only five vials of Dew of Life? What are you going to do with the Dew of Life?' Hea began to weigh the pros and cons in her mind.
'I am with the Goddess of Light and the Goddess of Blessings. You can come with us later to the palace over there to find out more.' Rhea pointed at the white palace not far away. 'As for the Dew of Life. It is to help the Tree of Life.'
'Fine, I'll give you five vials of Dew of Life but on some conditions from me.' Rhea made the decision with some considerations in mind.