Before Farolynch and Shire's eyes, a stretch of flame-like markings appeared high on the trunk of the enormous tree.
My name is the Silias World Tree. My master, Mulan Jonester, bestowed a will upon me. I am the tree of life standing upon the earth, and the torch of light piercing the clouds. I guide the dawn as it spills across the land, protecting this sanctuary belonging to the great heroes!
The words and firelight lasted only a dozen or so seconds, gradually fading away as soon as all the text had appeared, but Farolynch and Shire had already grasped their meaning.
The two continued to stare blankly at this tree that truly towered into the heavens. If any tree deserved to be called a World Tree, it was surely this one.
After a long while, Farolynch and Shire turned to look around again, at the endless land stretching into the distance. They had no idea where the boundaries of this secret realm lay.
"What a beautiful place. Living here would probably be happy and safe, wouldn't it?"
Farolynch murmured those words, while Shire pointed beneath the tree in the distance.
"Why not ask Mulan?"
They walked toward the giant tree's trunk. Mulan lay fast asleep on ground carpeted with fallen emerald leaves. He slept peacefully, enjoying a rare respite from nightmares, with no trace of the Raven Queen entering his dreams.
Just as they approached Mulan to wake him, a faint blue-gold radiance appeared over his body. A dreamlike phantom rose from him, transforming into an enormous sacred being as it landed on the ground.
"Please don't wake him. He's more exhausted than you imagine."
The elf's voice rang out. Strangely, despite this being their first encounter with the being before them, and despite its appearance alone making its