novelraw Chapter 49 : The Tree’s Request
Chapter 49 : The Tree’s Request
The next morning, I was back at the tree. I pressed my palm against its bark, still warm, still humming faintly with life.
But this time… something different pulsed back. Not warmth. Not laughter. A pull.
The HUD blinked faintly:
[Connection Request: Tree of the Goddess]
[Condition: Mana Transfer]
[Accept?]
I tilted my head. “…You want my mana?”
The bark pulsed again, insistently.
I bit my lip. “Okay. But only a little. Mama will kill me if I faint again.”
I closed my eyes, guiding mana from my chest into my palm. The flow was steady, gentle—like giving water to a thirsty friend.
The ground trembled softly. The tree’s veins glowed brighter, spreading up the trunk and into every leaf.
Suddenly—whoosh—a shape formed in the air above me. A tiny glowing wisp, round and soft, with faint leaf-like wings. It floated lazily, spiraling in the air before landing on my shoulder.
I gasped. “You’re… alive?”
The HUD shimmered:
[Guardian Wisp Manifested]
[Function: Tends to soil and vegetation within 50m radius of the Tree]
The wisp bobbed happily, darting into the grass. Wherever it touched, the soil shimmered. Roots pushed upward. Tiny sprouts bloomed in seconds.
I staggered back, eyes wide. “It… it’s making the land better.”
The tree shuddered again, its leaves shifting. Green gave way to a strange, luminous gradient—deep blue at the edges, glowing green at the center. The glow spilled down the branches, into the roots, and spread into the earth.
The grass at its base changed color too, shifting from brittle brown to a soft green shot with faint blue veins, humming with mana.
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I fell to my knees, staring. “It’s… beautiful.”
The HUD blinked faintly:
[Tree of the Goddess – Growth Progress: 32%]
[New Feature Unlocked: Mana Restoration Zone – 10% faster recovery within radius]
The wisp floated back, settling in front of my face. It bobbed once, as if nodding, then zipped into the branches, vanishing into the glow.
I grinned, breathless. “Thank you.”
From behind me, I heard footsteps.
“Rooga?”
Mama’s voice.
I spun around, cheeks pale. “M-Mama, it’s not what it looks like!”
But her eyes were already fixed on the tree—on its new leaves, its glowing grass, and the faint mana rising like mist.
Her lips parted, trembling. “…Gods above…”
I crouched by the tree, scooping a handful of the strange grass. The blades glowed faintly blue at the tips, fading into green at the base. It was soft—softer than normal grass—and warm against my skin.
“Mama! Papa! Look!” I shouted.
Father came first, setting down his hoe, sweat still dripping from his brow. Selene followed, her steps quick and sharp, her violet eyes fixed on me.
“Here—see?!” I held out the glowing grass like it was treasure. “The tree made it!”
Before either of them could speak, the wisp zipped out from the branches, twirling lazily in the air. Its glow painted Father’s scarred face in soft green light.
“…A spirit,” Selene whispered, her voice faint.
Father squinted. “That little ball?”
The wisp bobbed, then darted to the soil. Wherever it floated, the grass shimmered brighter, the land humming like a heartbeat.
I grinned. “See?! It’s helping! It’s making the ground alive again!”
The HUD blinked faintly in my vision:
[Guardian Wisp – Active]
[Effect: Corrupted Soil Purification 0.3%/day within 50m radius]
Father crouched beside me, brushing his calloused fingers through the glowing grass. His lips pressed into a thin line. “…This isn’t natural.”
“Not natural,” Selene muttered, her voice low. “Not even divine artifacts can heal land this fast. This… this is something older.”
I tilted my head, clutching the grass tighter. “But it’s good, right? Look—it’s alive now!”
Father looked at me, his eyes softer than his words. “…If it makes you smile, then it’s good enough for me.”
Selene’s lips trembled. She crouched down, cupping my face in her hands. “…Rooga. You can’t show this to anyone. Not to the villagers. Not to the guild. Not even to Elara when she comes back.”
I blinked, confused. “Why?”
“Because,” she whispered, her voice shaking, “if the wrong eyes see this, they’ll kill for it.”
I hugged the glowing grass to my chest, frowning. “…Then I’ll protect it. I’ll protect our tree. It’s ours.”
The wisp bobbed once, as if agreeing, before vanishing back into the branches.
The HUD shimmered faintly:
[Bond Strengthened: Tree of the Goddess]
[Effect Expanded: Minor Vitality Boost → Family Wide]
I smiled proudly. See? Even the tree agrees.
But when I glanced up, Mama’s eyes were still trembling, and Papa’s gaze lingered on the horizon as though he expected someone—or something—to come.