Upon entering the World Tree, Karo made his way down the path to meet the Mother Tree with practiced ease.
As the Ancestor of the Tribe of the Tree Spirits, the Great World Tree naturally possessed Tree Spirits as well. Or rather, Tree Spirits had originally been an accidental creation of the Great World Tree, made in its attempt to free itself from its predicament.
The inside of the World Tree was immensely vast, its passages branching in every direction.
The passing tree elves bowed respectfully to Karo. Clearly, he was a frequent visitor here.
At the end of the path stood a palace. It was incomparably enormous; when Karo entered it, he seemed like a tiny person stepping into a giant's room.
Yet the palace was utterly empty. There was nothing at all within its vast halls.
Only at the center of the palace stood something resembling a flowerbed.
Within that flowerbed stood an aged-looking Tree Spirit in silence.
This Tree Spirit had blackened bark and sparse leaves. Its leaves, which should have been emerald green, now bore a sickly yellow-green tinge.
Yet from this Tree Spirit's body emanated an unimaginably immense vitality.
He stood there, his aura perfectly fused with the surrounding environment, as if he had been standing there since time immemorial.
"Mother Tree."
Karo came to the Great World Tree's side and gently shook his crown, producing a rustling sound.
The Great World Tree opened the eyes on its trunk. Its eyes were somewhat yellowed, like those of an old man.
"Karo, why do you think there are always people who want war?"
Karo replied respectfully, "Because war benefits them, Mother Tree. I once heard a saying: there are always people willing to do a business that costs heads, but no one will do a business