Chapter 274: Old Tree Mission

Is this... the old giant tree?

The voice answered her thought directly, almost amused.

> "Oh yes. It is me, the old giant tree, the one you think of."

She gasped aloud, stumbling a step back.

Her eyes widened. "You can... hear me think?!"

Renkai lifted his head immediately, brows furrowed.

Thalanir lowered the watering pot he was holding.

Serelyth straightened up, wings twitching in alert.

Even Fluffy in the corner tilted its fuzzy head.

All eyes turned toward Lira.

"I think..." she managed, still in shock, "the tree spoke."

Renkai gave a low, resigned laugh. "Honestly? It wouldn’t surprise me at this point. Flying islands, glowing cats, singing flowers—why not a talking tree?"

Thalanir stepped closer, his expression calm but intrigued. "In the old elven archives, there were myths. Sentient trees who spoke with chosen guardians. I thought those were stories."

Serelyth, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes at the great trunk. "Well?! Is it dangerous? Should I burn it for you?"

"No!" Lira blurted, throwing her hands up. "No burning!"

The dragoness crossed her arms, pouting a little. "I was just asking. Talking trees can be suspicious."

Renkai grinned crookedly. "Oh no, of course. It’s completely normal. Nothing suspicious about a massive ancient tree whispering in people’s heads at night."

Fluffy let out a soft "mrrp," as if agreeing with him.

Lira shook her head, her heart still racing. "No—listen. He... he said he has a quest."

That caught everyone’s attention.

Renkai groaned dramatically. "A quest?! Oh, well, good gracious. Here we go again. When will I ever get a chance to brush my fur and actually rest?"

Thalanir raised an amused brow. "You never rest anyway, Renkai."

Serelyth tilted her head toward the massive trunk. "So... tree old-man has missions now?"

Lira looked at the glowing bark again, and the voice returned.

> "Little hands that planted my younger self... will you help me?"

"The balance of the grove is not yet whole. There are pieces of my roots scattered across the land, places once connected to this grove. If you find them, I will grow stronger... and so will your sanctuary. Bring me what was lost, and I will give you strength in return. And... secrets."

The last word echoed inside her like a bell, sending a shiver down her spine.

Lira swallowed. "He says... parts of his roots are scattered. He wants us to bring them back. In return, he’ll make the grove stronger. And... tell me secrets."

Renkai sighed dramatically, covering his face with one hand. "Of course. Secrets. Why wouldn’t a tree have secrets?!"

Serelyth laughed under her breath. "I like this tree."

Thalanir stepped closer to the glowing trunk and bowed slightly, the way elves greeted ancient beings. "Then it seems the grove has chosen its guardian well."

Lira pressed her hand against the bark. A faint warmth traveled up her arm, a pulse that matched her heartbeat. She felt it then—not just the quest, but a bond forming, a thread tying her soul to the heart of the grove.

> "Grow with me, young one," the tree whispered.

"And we will shape what comes."

The giant tree’s shimmering slowly deepened, its leaves glowing golden-green like sunbeams caught in emerald glass. The soft light pulsed once—twice—then the potion-making table nearby creaked.

With a sound like falling leaves, something appeared on its smooth surface: a small satchel, woven from bark fibers, dyed a rich earthen brown. It seemed simple at first, but faint runes shimmered on its seams.

Lira tilted her head. "What...?"

The tree’s raspy voice curled gently into her mind again, only she could hear it.

> "Plant these, young hand. These seeds will grow flowers that cannot be found elsewhere. Their essence will help you harmonize your multielemental nature. When you succeed, I shall grant you another reward. But remember... plant them only in this grove. My roots must cradle them."

Her gaze flicked back to the satchel. Carefully, she stepped closer and untied the soft cord. Everyone followed her—Renkai, Thalanir, Serelyth, and even Fluffy padding softly at her heels.

Inside, nestled like little shadows, lay a handful of tiny black seeds. They were warm to the touch and seemed to hum faintly, as though alive.

"Woah..." Maelin whispered softly, leaning closer.

Renkai tapped his foot, impatient as ever. "Soo?" he finally asked.

Lira looked up, blinking out of her thoughts. "The tree says these seeds will grow special flowers. They’ll help me... balance my elements. But I have to plant them here. In the grove."

Renkai lifted both of his elegant hands and stared at them dramatically. "Oh again?! Oh my goodness, I never thought I’d end up becoming a farming fox. My ancestors are surely laughing right now."

Thalanir chuckled softly and stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "Lira, I shall always help you."

Renkai immediately spun toward him. "No. I shall do everything she wishes."

The two stared at each other, golden eyes meeting sharp blue, tension sparking in the air like kindling catching flame.

Lira blinked between them, confused. "What are you two even—?"

Before she could finish, Serelyth sighed loudly and stepped between the two of them, gently but firmly pushing them apart with both hands. "Oh, stop it, you two. You act like stupified love birds."

Lira tilted her head. "Love birds...?"

Serelyth just wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her gently toward the back of the grove, where rows of freshly planted herbs and glowing seedlings stretched like quiet green soldiers.

"Well," Serelyth said with a soft smile, "it’s not so different from what we did before. And you love doing this. We’ll plant the seeds. And if you still feel like helping lost multielemental souls afterward... we’ll go find them."

Lira’s chest softened with warmth. She glanced up at Serelyth, whose silver hair caught the sunlight filtering through the canopy. "You understand me so well."

Serelyth gave her a warm grin. "That’s what friends are for."

Behind them, Renkai crossed his arms and huffed dramatically, though the corners of his mouth twitched with a smile. Thalanir only shook his head in amusement.

Fluffy leapt onto one of the garden stones, tail curling, as if claiming its supervisory post.

Together, they knelt on the soft earth behind the tree. Lira pressed one of the black seeds into the ground with care, feeling its faint pulse against her palm before the soil swallowed it. Her elemental energy instinctively flowed through her fingertips—fire, wind, water—melting into the earth like threads weaving a new pattern.

One by one, they planted the seeds. Renkai complained, Thalanir hummed an elven tune, Serelyth gave occasional sarcastic commentary, and Fluffy swatted at falling petals.

The grove’s energy deepened with each seed. The tree’s voice returned softly in Lira’s mind:

> "Yes... yes. This is good. Let the roots remember your touch. When they bloom, your power will bloom with them."

And though none of the others could hear it, Lira smiled faintly to herself—because this grove wasn’t just her home.

It was alive.

And it had chosen her.

As the tree’s shimmering faded into a soft golden glow, Lira heard it—

a deep, raspy voice echoing in her mind.

"Oh, at my old age, I see another great hand... a young woman. Ah, you remind me of someone I knew long ago."

Lira froze. Her eyes darted around, but no one else reacted. Is that... the tree?

"Oh yes," the voice chuckled, warm like creaking old wood. "It is me, the old giant tree you think of. I have quests for you, young lady. Complete them, and I shall give you rewards. The special seed you planted—it is like a younger me. You have gifted hands."

Lira gasped softly. You can hear me think?!

Renkai, Thalanir, Serelyth, and even Fluffy in the corner turned to her in confusion.

"I think..." she began slowly, "...the tree spoke."

Renkai raised a brow. "Well, it wouldn’t surprise me."

Thalanir nodded thoughtfully. "We have myths about talking trees. It is not unheard of among the elves."

Serelyth tilted her head. "Well? Is it dangerous? Should I burn it for you?"

"No, no!" Lira waved her hands. "Calm down, everyone. He... has a quest."

"A quest?" they all echoed.

Renkai groaned dramatically, lifting his elegant hands. "Oh gracious stars, another quest. When will I ever have time to brush my fur and take a proper rest?"

Before anyone could react further, a warm light pulsed through the roots. On the potion-making table, a small brown satchel appeared, its fabric threaded with faint golden vines.

Lira stepped forward and gently opened it. Inside were several small, black seeds that shimmered faintly. The others crowded around to see.

The tree’s voice returned in her mind.

"Plant these, and they will grow into special flowers you cannot find elsewhere. They will help you harmonize your multielemental powers. But remember, plant them only here, in the grove. When they bloom, your reward shall follow."

Lira bit her lip, thinking.

"Well?" Renkai asked impatiently.

She turned to them. "The tree wants me to plant these seeds. They’ll give us special flowers."

Renkai stared at his slim, beautiful hands. "Oh, again?! I never thought I’d become a farming fox."

Thalanir stepped closer, his eyes calm and certain. "Lira, I shall always help you."

Renkai immediately stepped in front of him. "No, I shall do everything she wishes."

Their eyes locked, sparks practically flying between them. Lira blinked, bewildered.

Serelyth sighed, rolling her eyes as she stepped between the two. "Oh, stop it, you stupified love birds." She slipped her arm around Lira’s shoulders, guiding her toward the back of the grove where neat rows of herbs and plants grew.

"Well," Serelyth said with a grin, "it’s not so different from what we did before. And you love doing this. We’ll plant it, and when we’re done, we can go outside and look for some of those multielemental lost souls you love helping."

Lira looked at her, warmth softening her expression. "You understand me so well."

Serelyth gave her a small squeeze. "That’s what friends are for."