Ancient Tree

(Ceruno)

"Everyone, I have an idea!"

Yesterday, when I couldn't think of any performances Barbara could do, I had a sudden inspiration and came up with an idea that I'm not sure if it's appropriate.

How about making Barbara herself the stage?

It was originally just a casual idea, but it received enthusiastic support from Miss Halley, which led to the stage we see today, which is now in its unfinished state. Barbara is the final piece of the puzzle to complete this incomplete stage.

Go ahead.

Halley gave Miss Barbara a shove.

The petite, green-haired girl put down her tablet and leaped through the gap in the stage...

In a short while.

A blinding white light burst forth, Radiance the dome of the City School and transforming it into a lush, towering tree.

"Wow, it's huge! This is a 1,400-year-old cypress tree..."

The Radiance faded.

The tree is over thirty meters tall, with a thick trunk that requires several people to encircle. Looking down, you see ancient tree roots that are deeply embedded in the ground, while looking up, you see a vibrant green canopy, with lush branches and leaves, this green cloud blocking out the sky.

The ancient Shenmu of Skyreach City, with a history of over a thousand years, has appeared here.

Miss Barbara herself truly possesses an indescribable awe.

Recalling the giant pit in the Forest Park, Miluno told me that it was the area where Miss Barbara once lived, and that the pit was left there so that one day it could turn back into Shenmu...

I didn't believe it before, how big a tree could have such a wide root system, but what I saw before me convinced me.

"Truly amazing, no wonder it's Ancient Tree capable of giving birth to intelligence and chosen by the Star Crystal."

Miss Freya, still wearing her headphones, stepped forward.

Known as the "Harvest Goddess," she raised her hand, summoning green fluorescence from the surrounding forests and flowerbeds, which flowed into Miss Barbara's tree trunk.

"This isn't the land she grew up in, so she might not adapt well... but I'll take good care of her, since she's chosen to settle down in this garden."

"Thank you, Miss Freya."

"No need for thanks, it's a gardener's duty."

Miss Barbara has become one with the stage itself.

Miss Halley gently stroked the tree trunk and asked softly:

"Barbara, can you still hear me?"

As if in response, the tree canopy swayed slightly.

Like the Golden and the Antarctic Star, Miss Barbara, who has turned back into a tree, still retains her wisdom.

"So, let's start adjusting... Next, you need to become more suitable for this stage."

With a creaking sound...

The tree began to move.

The stage arrangements are now in the hands of Barbara, Freya, and Halley.

The other magical girls returned to the school building for classes.

It's worth mentioning that Xiaojie has also officially joined the Support Class as a new student.

To help this child integrate into the class as quickly as possible, Ms. Bai Ze arranged for her to sit next to me. However, she was still mentally a child, so she couldn't concentrate very well. She would fall asleep mid-lesson, leaning her head against my shoulder, and even drooling...

However, the child's magic was very popular; it was like a human-sized walking hot spring, and everyone in the class wanted to experience it.

It was lunchtime, and I went to the Garden District again.

The concert stage is complete faster than expected.

Miss Halley is taken by Miluno to Professor Stratos for a medical examination, leaving only Barbara, who has turned back into a tree, and Miss Freya, who is in charge of taking care of her, on this side of the stage.

"Wow, it's so thick?!"

Miss Barbara's tree trunk has grown horizontally to perfectly accommodate the stage, becoming a large, fat cypress that requires more than ten people to encircle. As a result, even its 30-meter height has shrunk considerably.

If she was considered a tall and beautiful woman before, she now looks like a short tree stump.

"Won't forcibly reversing the growth pattern have negative effects?"

As I muttered this, Miss Freya laughed and said, "Trees always grow freely and without rules, especially these ancient cypresses. There are even thicker and more twisted cypresses in nature. Barbara doesn't grow crooked at all; she's already considered a beauty among cypresses. As long as there are enough nutrients and water, she can grow even stronger..."

I've said a lot.

I was able to communicate with Miss Freya like this thanks to the City School's translation system; I had no idea she was such a talkative person before.

Barbara's canopy swayed gently, as if greeting my arrival.

Miss Freya added, "Anyway, you don't need to worry about Barbara's health; I'll take good care of her."

"Thank you, but will she have to maintain the tree's appearance for the next few days?"

Although this was also a more comfortable posture for Miss Barbara...

Miss Freya replied, "It's already fully grown, so it's fine to turn back, but it doesn't seem to want to."

This mentality is similar to our Doggy's...

Although the Golden enjoyed all the conveniences of being human, it ultimately felt more comfortable being a dog.

Miss Barbara was the same. Because a cabin had been built for her in the original pit, she hadn't been able to truly undo her transformation and return to her true self for so long. Although it wasn't the direct goal, she wanted to maintain this opportunity for a few more days since she finally had the chance to be her true self again...

But I still asked, "Won't it get bored?"

Miss Freya laughed and said:

"Ceruno, four days will Past in the blink of an eye for a thousand-year-old cypress, and I will be here with it."

Thinking about it now, I realize I was overthinking it.

Fourteen hundred years have passed; for an ancient Ancient Tree, four days is but a blink of an eye...

"Then Miss Barbara, please rest here."

I touched the rough tree trunk to say goodbye and left the Garden District.

Monday afternoons are for academic classes.

For magical girls, academic classes are electives, since many magical girls are already working adults and don't need to go back to academic classes.

Miluno and I skipped class to continue rehearsing for the performance in the music room. Miss Halley and Miss Fahrenheit came to visit, saying they wanted to design costumes for us and also took some photos and videos for pre-performance promotion.

The news that the Galaxy duo was going to hold a fundraising concert spread rapidly online thanks to Sirius's influence, becoming a hot topic of discussion in less than a day.

Also generating buzz is Barbara, the Ancient Tree magical girl who strives to save the forest.

She was even surrounded by other magical girls on the street and asked about it (and was also forcibly hugged), and many people went to the Garden District to see the legendary Ancient Tree.

While having dinner, looking at the overwhelming discussions online, Xiaoling couldn't help but sigh:

"Now, Miss Barbara is famous!"

As a non-human magical girl, she was already widely known, after all, she was the only plant magical girl.

"This is all good; the higher the buzz, the more money can be raised on the day of the concert."

Miluno spoke, she ate all the rice from her bowl.

"Ceruno, let's prepare to move out."

Hmm, I should go investigate the Dantai Society.