Higher and higher it grew—until one couldn't see where the tree's leaves ended and where it met the sky. When the Priestesses from Mashiro Temple arrived at the same level from whence the tree sprouted, it had already been more than a day—far more time than what they had been afraid of.
"Are we sure that this man is still actually alive?" One of the Priestesses asked Mitsuko with a forlorn look on her face. "Who knows if he had died and was buried in the sno—"
"He is alive." Setsuko glared at this Priestess. She motioned to the unnatural tree that blossomed in the most freezing of blizzards and said, "He must have gone up there—"
"This journey has used up far more resources than we were prepared to use."
The Lady crossed her arms. "Then go back now if you wish to leave all by yourself."
