Freya didn't know where she was after she awoken, but this weird place that she was taken to was familiar to her, at some point deep inside her. She just can't muster the strength to move and think clearly to assess her situation. Trying to move was futile, as she will just be returned to where she was laying and repeat that process if she ever does try to stand up again.
After being trapped at a certain point in time, she realized that this place was similar to her dreams, where she will under a giant tree with a spring below it, forming wonderful sceneries around her. Freya started to dream like this after she was taken to the Monastery after a high priest recognized that there was a divine will inside her and it was left by a powerful unknown god.
The Holy Pope back then treated her warmly despite him coughing blood from time to time and appointed the Paladins to watch her. The nuns at the Monastery were all kind to Freya, especially the Abby that really shows her caring towards her, while being strict sometimes.
The only thing that she remembers after being dragged inside her 'dream' was that she was playing with the metal ball that Andres and the other Zodiacs gave to her. She played with it even though Liza strictly warned that it will be dangerous to get her hands on it.
But she was curious, this girl. Just like a cat couldn't resist playing chasing a beam of light, a child couldn't resist playing with something that's considered a toy for her. "I had to...", that's the thought that came ino Freya's mind when she became overly curious about the metal called the Zodiacs called 'Bifrost ball'.
"How can it be activated? Does it require a large amount of energy to use?" She played with it before falling asleep, "Can I throw it like this? Why does it called 'Bifrost'?"
As she fell asleep while holding the bifrost on her hand, she didn't realized that she will awaken her star soul and cause a phenomenon that the Paladins guarding her never could have guessed. Before her body was transferred into her soul core, her hand holding the bifrost ball loosened and let the ball roll out of her hand.
That's why the Paladins are in disarray at the Monastery because they thought that it was the Regulus Army who behind the sudden disappearance of the Saintess. But Freya didn't know about the things happening outside the place she is in.
"Never give up... Do what your heart tells you, Freya." She heard the same warm voice of a woman the night her family in their farm was killed and burned by the townspeople.
Looking at the sky as she lays down, Freya noticed that the gigantic tree in this dream was even covering the heavens. Its branches reached the horizons and the shadow of its trunk and countless leaves loomed all over the things it embraced. Freya couldn't see the end of it, even if she tried to stand up and look, then being returned back to the soft grass again.
"A world tree..." She unconsciously thought out of nowhere. Which later surprised her, and curled up her face pondered for a moment. Just by seeing the gigantic tree in her dreams, why did she thought of it being a 'world tree' all of a sudden.
"Come to think of it, it does look like a world tree. It's beautiful and large, there are birds flying on its branches and a large spring underneath it. I only saw a rainbow once, but there are so many rainbows forming here," Freya, this time, did not stood up, instead she just sat and watched the animals drinking spring water.
She giggled while watching them run cutely, "There are so many of them! I don't even know the other kinds." Then, a pair of rabbits came beside her and played around her, running and hopping.
Freya touched their fur as white as a cloud and as soft as cotton while she giggled, attracting the other animals. She played with the two rabbits whilst the different species of animals surrounded her and formed a circle.
Noticing that she was now surround by them, Freya smiled and giggled with joy, "What, you want to play, too?" She then gestured to the animals for a hug, excepting the animals to come, except, they ran away quickly as if something scared and surprised them.
"H-hey, wait up! I thought we were friends!" Freya stood up, attempting to follow them, but she was returned back to her lying position again.
"Mu!" Frustrated, Freya pouted her cheeks and sat up. Although she was irked by what's happening to her, she was grateful that she can at least sit up and look around her.
The animals were now gone and she was left alone in the dreamworld again. "I have to think of a way to stand up or, at best, get out of here," Freya thought. And then, she recalled what the woman's voice said to her earlier.
"Never give up... Do what your heart tells you," Freya muttered, repeating the sentence she heard. She pondered for a moment, then her eyes glinted with determination.
"If she said that do what my heart tells me, then..." Frey said, attempting to stand, "I want to get out of this place!" She shouted and skyrocketed, but later found herself in the same position as before.
"Ughhh!" She grunted while planting her face on the grass. "What is with this dreamworld? I can't even make it obey mine, its owner's, orders and trapped me here." Freya said in a tired tone.
"Follow your heart... Do what your heart tells you." She heard the voice again.
"What do you mean follow my heart? It's right here," Freya pointed at her chest, where her heart is. She waited for the woman to say something again, but it never came.
So, Freya got bored and started to do what the woman said to her. She laid down the grass, then closed her eyes, thinking what she wants to really do. Laying solemnly, Freya found peace and tranquility, closing her mind to the world and at the same time fully opening her heart.
"This dream world is mine, I created it. To control it, I need to be thinking the same as my dream world, no, I have to make it my own world. I have to blend with it. My soul and heart, my mind and body, I will make it obey its master!"
With a single thought of merging with this world, the world tree vibrated as if it was releasing something out of its bark. The tranquil spring water became wild and the ripples turned to waves, crashing down the shore to the grass where Freya was laying down.
The spring water touched her hands and feet, then soaked Freya's whole body, until she was engulfed by the water. As if it was alive, the huge wave of the spring carried Freya's body towards the world tree, lifting her up until she was in the middle part of the tree.
"Her body is not fully grown yet... He must not have her until then. Protect her until she is strong enough to fight him." The woman in Freya's dream said. She could not be heard by Freya right now as she is undergoing awakening, so she used this chance to make a deal with the seed inside Freya's body.
This seed is the one that was preventing anyone to harm her or even detect her right now. An awakening of a god like star soul might cause a commotion that will surely shook the upper realm if it was revealed. The world tree inside Freya was just protecting its master until she gets her star soul awakened and be reborn to be more powerful.
The world tree was even willing to use its life force for Freya if her life was in danger, just like the time when her parents were burnt alive, if it was not for this high god that was serving its master interfering, the world tree would've shown itself to the world, destroying the fragile body of Freya in the process, repeating her cycle of reincarnation allover again.
"Freya's potential is skyrocketing by an absurd amount every time she come inside here. You must do your best in nourishing her soul and guard her. I have used up all my time to remain here now. I will leave her to you..." Then, the presence of the woman inside the dream world was gone.
Freya was still undergoing an awakening by the roots of the world tree while her body being nourished by the spring water. The world tree thought that it would take a while for its master to enlighten herself by dragging her here, in the depths of her soul, but who would've thought that she has grown clever as she was lovely.
They are bound to each other, but if they were to choose who will perish, the world tree will sacrifice itself for its master's life. Freya's soul was the world tree itself! Her abilities were just remaining dormant as they must be revealed at the right time to not harm Freya's body. The body of a small child will not contain a godlike soul and will break if it's released, so the world tree will act as a bridge, slowly returning the full power of her soul to her ever growing body.
There's no need to rush as there is still time for them. This world is safe and will not be easily invaded by the enemies. Freya can regain her strength here, if things go as planned.
Then the world tree felt it, Freya gaining her dominance a little. That means her awakening was successful! Her star soul is regained and even stronger than before! The world tree vibrated in happiness, seeing its master slowly opening her dazzling blue eyes.
In Freya's mind, she understood everything about her star soul as soon as she acquired it. There were some words that enlighted her mind, glyphs that only have one symbol, but have countless meanings. Her hand unconsciously touched the bark of the world tree, as she carved the symbols on it while muttering unrecognizable words.
"Uruz. Algiz. Eihwaz. Inguz. Wunjo. Ehwaz. Hagalaz. Laguz. Isa.", were the only ones that could be understood. For the other words, they became a blur or incomprehensible for the world tree.
The world tree shook its body, detaching its bark where the words were carved for Freya to use, and snapped a few twigs on its branches and brought to the grass. It was really happy that it could be use to Freya once again and doesn't have to watch by the sidelines anymore, therefore it showed its happiness by shaking its leaves.
Freya was amazed by the stunning scenery that the world tree had made her. "Perhaps, are you congratulating me?" She asked. And the world tree vibrated again and used the spring water to put down Freya on the grass.
There's no more force resisting her now, so Freya became glad and happily played with the animals that also wanted to congratulate Freya. Despite being scared of her, they were now shaking their tails and rubbing their furs on Freya.
"You're also here to congratulate and play with me, right..." Freya giggled and played with them, caressing their fluffy furs, then letting them chase her and vise versa.
Freya didn't know how long had she played and when did she sleep when she got tired, but when she woke up again, she was back into the reality, with Liza sleeping beside her bed.
She wanted to wake her up and tell her that she has awakened her star soul, but Liza suddenly opened her eyes even before Freya had the chance to touch her. "Lady Freya... your back!? Where have you been! We were so worried about you! Are you hurt, does your body have any injury?"
Liza touched her cheeks with teary eyes and checked Freya's limbs if there's an injury on them. She even used her pure gracia to heal her, but it did nothing to Freya except make her feel better.
Freya giggled, "I'm fine, Liza. Sorry I made you worried. I just... I just dreamt of something and many things happen after that."
After listening to what Freya said, Liza stared at her for a moment and stood up while looking outside the window. "Could it be... But that's impossible!? She is too young to awaken her star soul! And what could be the reason why there's no fluctuation of gracia in the air even after checking them repeatedly," Liza thought in surprise.
Looking at Liza who was pondering on something, Freya felt sleepy and yawn. She tried to lay on her bed to sneak a sleep on Liza, but she was interrupted by tremors and loud sounds that came from the outside.
"Uh, Liza... Why is there an earthquake? And why are there loud clanging sounds coming from the outside?" Freya got up from her bed and asked Liza.
Hearing what Freya asked, Liza snapped suddenly and stop pondering, "I... I got to go outside first, My lady. There was something going on outside that's why we are having tremors and loud sounds."
Liza walked hastily to the door before stopping again and said, "My lady should rest first. It is almost midnight now, I don't want the Saintess to develop eyebags. I'll take care of the sounds, okay?"
"Uhm! Okay! Good night, Liza!" Freya said after nodding.
"Yes, good night, My lady." Liza then shut Freya's door and her footsteps hurrying to the hall sounded.
Confirming that Liza's gone, Freya, with her curious mind, ran towards her windows and grabbed a chair to step on, then opened it. After opening her window, she saw the scene below and also so Liza stopping the fight between their visitors and the Paladin Division Captains.
"Eh!? Why are they fighting?!" Freya shouted.