Lady Of the Holy Tree

When I opened my thinking I was out of the Holy tree already, "At last, we finally have a bit of privacy to peacefully converse, Young Lord!" a familiar voice rang in my ear.

As soon as it spoke, I took a look around only to notice that I was floating in a boundless golden place. But, there was huge tree in the midst.

I should've known. Even if I'm seeing a tree inside, I'm still inside the tree aren't I?

Sighs

I could feel myself gape, but even the words to express my confusion couldn't come out.

Without being able to muster up even a voice to curse in surprise, I just idly waited.

In this golden place, it was only me, the tee and the source of a speckled pair of eyes.

By the time my eyes were able to adjust to the sudden brightness, A women appear in front of the tree.

Her jade-green hair cascaded down behind her back, and her eyes were the same colour. Her figure was slender, and her light-green dress outlined it perfectly. Her snowy-white and slender arms were exposed.

She was filled with a captivating aura of the Holy Tree, making her look like the Holy Tree's spirit.

With her voice, I think she was the one who greeted me and announced my results at the start and end of all the trials.

"Greetings. I go by Hama, and I'm the Dryad of this Holy Tree!" The Women said.

Dryad eh? This is the first time meeting one.

"I felt this form would be more appropriate for our conversation, Young Lord!" the women announced matter-of-factly.

Why is she calling me Young Lord?

I opened my mouth to say something but I held back. Thinking of what Hama wanna talk to me about.

Dusting my clothes off I responded, "Do what I owe this visit?"

Hama smiled gently and came near me. "You really do look like her!' she murmured.

Look like who?

As she stood before me, "Young Lord! I'm sorry for what you went through! I just did my duty to prepare you for the future!" She said.

She could've have said test, but why prepare? I can't figure anything at this point.

"Its fine. It was an effective training for me!" I replied to her.

"Well, that makes me happy!" she said.

"So, why did you came to see me? Is there something you wanna say to me about?" I asked her as I saw her expression which was practically meant 'How I should to explain him' or something like that.

"Young Lord is quite precisive!" She said with a smile.

"Yeah, you know!"

Then she closed her eyes as the tree in the centre extended one of its branches and grew towards me. I remained motionless, waiting to see what would happen. Suddenly, the branch bent towards my right hand's ring finger and started to swirl around my ring finger as that part of my finger was emitting a golden light.

There was a ring in my ring finger when the branch retracted its branch from my finger. The ring was quite magnificent, with a silver band and golden wave-like rune engravings that complemented my hand and style.

"Erhm...I pleased to know that Young Lord has taken a like to the Lifeful Ring!" Hama said as I was thinking about the ring. I nearly forgot Hama was still here.

"Sorry, I lost in my thought!" I said to her.

"Don't worry Young Lord, it is a special ring after all!" she replied.

Now that she mentions it, I do feel a life inside this ring.

Taking a look at the ring once again, I looked at Hama with curiosity.

"Miss Dryad! Thank you for your gift, but why are you calling me Young Lord?" I asked her.

"Oh no, its not a gift!" She said.

"Its not? Then why did you give me this ring?" I asked her with curiously.

"Its because, it's Your Destiny to protect him, Young Lord!" She said.

Who is him? Is she talking about the the life I felt inside the ring?

"Okay! Does that mean, I should return this ring or give it to someone?" I asked her as I thought its like mission.

"Oh no! Its yours to keep. It belongs to your mother after all!" She said.

What? My mother?

"My Mother? How?" I asked her.

"Young Lord, one day you will fully understand everything that has occurred and will occur. This applies to all of your questions. You must become strong until that day arrives!" She stated.

Her expression shows that she is both concerned and pleased with me. However, I wish I could get answers to all of my questions, even if I will find out about them later.

"Okay! I will give it my all!" I responded to her.

"Hmm!"

"But, Please don't call me Young Lord again...Its weird!" I said to her.

"Then I will call you Little Ethan then!" she replied.

That was fast. She is really sweet.

Suddenly, My body was flickering inside the Golden place, like I'm going to disappear.

"What's going on?" I said out loud as Hama gave of a serene smile and kind look on her face.

"It seems our time is up! We will meet again...Little Ethan!" As Hama said, the next instant I dissipated from that place and I found myself standing in the Holy Tree's lobby, from where I started my trials.

The Holy Tree's entrance was open, and it seems I have really returned outside.

Taking a look at myself and my body, even my torn dress was repaired with my body healed completely.

I raised my hands and looked at my real mother's ring that Hama gave me. Lets see, she said this is called the Lifeful ring. I wonder though, what kind of life is inside the ring.

Just when I was thinking about that, I removed my Spatial Ring and tried to compare it with the Lifeful ring. Unknowingly, one of my dresses' and my sword was pulled out when the two rings starts to oppose each other, and when I distanced  my spatial ring, the my sword scratched my face.

A drop of blood dropped on the lifeful ring and suddenly the ring starts to glow making me feel a strong aura from it.

***CHAPTER 37***