"Was that form called a tree spirit...?"
Iver nodded slightly, deep in thought. "I think I've heard of it before..."
"Yes, I asked someone about it. Once Aya is completely transformed, her soul will ascend to the Dream Realm, and she'll become a sleeping tree. She might appear anywhere in the Dream Realm where there are trees, and she'll look no different from any other tree.
"If she's awakened gently and comfortably by soft music, she may grant the one who wakes her a wish. But if she's jolted awake, the enraged tree spirit will attack any phantom fiends that pass by."
"...I think I've heard something similar."
The story sounded familiar to Iver. "In the Herasul Empire's literary classic Hero Series, there's a chapter called 'Forest Goddess.'
"It tells of a hero who traveled throughout the world. While arguing with his fiancée over 'what love is,' neither could convince the other. He asked all his friends, but couldn't get a satisfactory answer, so he decided to seek one from the legendary Forest Goddess. During their journey, however, the hero was badly wounded fighting a beast, while his fiancée accidentally consumed poison while searching for medicinal herbs to treat him, leaving her on the brink of death and even hallucinating.
"After trying every possible method without success, the hero carried his unconscious fiancée and sadly leaned against a tree. He played his harmonica, wanting to stay with her until the end.
"When the tree behind him heard the harmonica's music, it came to life and gently wiped away his tears.
"She was a beautiful girl with long hair like branches, the parts of her body below the knees gradually transforming into roots. She healed the hero and his fiancée. When they awoke, they thanked her together. They were also pained