Way of the Knights

Chapter 306 - Harvest

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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. 

A tree that doesn't devour dreams but instead bestows one. A tree that is not poisonous and aggressive, but instead a kind and peaceful one. A tree that spread not poison but blooming flowers. 

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. 

But that is a story for another time.

***

"Waa~!" 

A joyful and amused tone came out of a tiny creature as it stared at the two children in front of it. 

"Look! Look! Aren't they just like us? They're also twins!" The little creature said onto another one of its kind. 

"Yes, Aina. We can see that." Aisha said as she shook her head. 

"Waa~! Tiny people! Tiny people with wings! Waa~!" One of the child pointed while holding the hand of her twin.

"Yaa~! Cute and tiny! Say, say! Play with us? Pwetty pwease?" The twin asked the tiny ones. 

"Yes, yes! Play, play with us!" The other said while jumping excitedly. 

The twin pixies, Aina and Aisha, looked behind towards a boulder which is placed not too far from where they are. 

It was Aina who spoke first and asked: "Mother? Can we play with them?"

"We won't go far, we promise." Aisha followed. 

"Alright, just make sure you watch over them okay?" A voice sounded from the boulder which echoed on the twins' ears. 

"Yay~! Thanks, mother." Aina exclaimed and held the hand of a girl named Tori. "Come, come! Let's play over there."

Aisha also did the same and together, they went near the fields and started playing tag. 

Watching over them, is an outstanding lady who chuckled as they watch them play. She peeled her gaze away from the twins and went over towards the boulder. She sat in front of it and said:

"How are you faring here, Godmother?" 

A reply came from the boulder, saying: "I am doing well, Luna. Specially now that I returned to your Godfather's embrace."

"Oh you." A deep sounding voice came. "Stop that already. You're making me blush." 

Luna chuckled and said: "Godfather, you are a tree."

"Oh, I know." The Kind Ent, Elmar replied. "Don't sweat about those unnecessary details, young lady."

Myrna, the Moonlight Butterfly, chuckled and asked: "How's your parents?"

Luna smiled and said: "They're alright. Father's taking his maintenance and Mother already adjusted to her current condition."

Even though Myrna and Elmar are technically her great godparents, they told her that it's fine to address them as such. 

But even though she was smiling, both Myrna and Elmar could hear the tinge of sadness and longing on her voice. 

Elmar's roots gently moved and caressed her face, saying: "Don't put a long face, Darling. He is the most formidable human that I've ever met. I'm sure wherever he his, he will be fine."

"Your Godfather's right. Just focus and take care of yourself, it won't be long until he returns."

A smile bloomed on Luna's face as she heard those words. She then said: "Thank you. I keep your words in mind." 

She then stood up and said: "I'll watch over the twins. Who knows where they'll end up without supervision."

The three chuckled and Luna went over to guard the children. She then looked up to the sky and muttered:

"I miss you.. Please be safe."