A few hours had passed, and the young boy with jet-black hair of that dark night woke up, sitting on the ground, still leaning against my tree trunk. A few seconds later, he stood up and stretched his body, as sleeping on a hard surface and in an uncomfortable position might have made him stiff.
It had been a long time since I had seen anyone with such black hair. Though it was common and very typical in my previous world, I had not seen it again in this place. Most fairies had blonde and brown hair, and none of them had black hair like his.
It really made me nostalgic. I didn't remember that something could trigger memories of my past life so vividly, making it hard for me to hold back my tears, if only I had it.
The boy lowered his hand. He seemed to realize something and then unbuttoned his shirt. His blue eyes widened in surprise.
"What happened to me?" He looked confused as he examined his arms and stomach, then turned his head here and there, wrinkling his forehead. When he looked in my direction, I could finally see his face clearly.
His face seemed sweet, but it was already evident that he would become a handsome man when he grew up. He had sharp eyes, but they were full of loneliness that he tried to hide. He had a small, pointed nose and slightly chubby cheeks, but he would have a perfect jawline when he became an adult.
Is he a celebrity's child? He looks too handsome. Ah, I see. In this world, he might be a nobleman's child.
But after I hurt his cheek with my branch, I could sense a different kind of blood, one that wasn't human. He wasn't just a human, he was a hybrid - a term for a race with mixed blood.
Whether it's between fairies and humans, or giants and elves, there are many races in this world, but hybrid races are quite rare. Because each race hates each other and rarely communicates or interacts with one another.
They are truly individualistic.
Actually, I understand them quite well. They feel anxious. It's not enough to trust someone who is completely different from them. It's difficult to understand what others living in a different environment are thinking. And whether there is truly love between them.
What else can be done, every race truly has its own way of thinking. For example, the human race is crazy about wealth. Giants are crazy about power. And demons are crazy about control. It's a natural instinct of a race - one that may not be understood by other races.
"Is anyone here?" the confused boy shouted. But there was no response. Of course, because there were no animals or other creatures living in this area except for the plants. Since it was not the fruiting season, the animals would go to places with abundant food supplies, and the beings of other races had their own hidden abodes from the outside world.
The boy looked up at the sky. His face was truly handsome. He would surely be the man coveted by many upper-class women when he made his debut at the first dance party.
"Young Master--where are you?!" The faint shout came from the distant jungle. But due to the quiet and peaceful atmosphere, the shout could reach the boy's ears.
The boy then rolled up his shirt sleeves, tore a little piece of cloth from his shirt, and hung it on my branch. This was one way to mark the unfamiliar forest area so that he would not get lost.
The boy touched my branch, then smiled and said, "Whoever you are, thank you." He said and then ran away, leaving this place.
("He said thank you.") The tree next to me said.
("Don't talk to me.") I replied. I grabbed the cloth he left with my branch, touched it, but couldn't feel anything.
Human skin feels so different from tree bark. Trees couldn't feel anything because their outer skin was hard. This was good for protecting me from the changing air temperature in the environment, but sometimes I missed the sensation of human skin that could feel something.
I wanted to feel the cold, I wanted to feel the warmth, and I also wanted to feel the different sensations that were caused by different textures of objects. Although, I was sure that if I were injured, I would feel tremendous pain.
Because as a tree, when I was injured, I didn't feel much. I just needed to regrow my body parts like before - something that was not too difficult for me.
The next day, the boy returned, wearing different clothes but no less expensive than his previous ones. His hair was now neatly combed back, showing his forehead that made him look a little more mature - although in my eyes, he was just an ordinary boy.
He wore a white shirt, with a V-shaped vest that looked like it was made from expensive animal skin. He also wore shoes - unlike last time when he was barefoot in this dangerous place.
He jumped and took the piece of cloth he left, which was still on my branch. He then wiped the cloth and put it in his pants pocket.
"Who healed me yesterday..." he complained, looking quite frustrated. He messed up his neatly combed hair and looked around.
The boy then climbed me and sat on my branch. He took one of my leaves and looked at it.
"This is a strange tree." He commented, looking at my golden-colored leaf. He gazed up at it, looking at the leaf which, for a human, was something quite strange and new.
But, I just realized he said something odd, oh right! He called me strange!!! I am not strange! This bratty boy!!
Oh my, doesn't he know the difference between special and strange? I clearly fall into the category of 'special'. My shimmering golden-colored leaf, I produce more Mana than other trees. I am the hope of this earth.
If I die, you will die too because you will run out of Mana. You should be grateful and owe it to me. I kindly and selflessly give you safety.
But because he couldn't hear me, he didn't respond. He just remained silent, looking at the leaf. He suddenly realized something and seemed to have an idea, as seen from how his expression changed.
He put the leaf on his lips and closed his lips, blowing air between his lips and the leaf. Creating a melodious sound that filled the corners of the forest.
The sweet sound flowed gently like the sound of a beautiful flute. The sound was so warm and calming, causing the other trees to sway their leaves to follow the rhythm.
I also enjoyed it. It had been a long time since I listened to music. It really felt like medicine for the boredom and fatigue I experienced right now.
I had forgotten what it was like to relax. I wanted to lie on a warm bed and fall asleep in a comfortable position, not fall asleep standing like this. Although it had been 120 years, I still couldn't get used to it.
The notes he played made me remember the past. My comfortable life--where I only dreamed of the luxurious and grand life that awaited me in another world--but in the end, I ended up like this.
Having no face, no mouth, and unable to speak, having no sense of touch - I really missed my life as a human.
And without realizing it, I fell asleep in the daytime--although I rarely did that.
When I woke up, the sun was starting to set and the sky was turning red. I looked around and saw that theboy had already left. The forest once again became quiet and empty.
I felt a little lost, even though our interaction was brief. The boy had added a bit of color to my monotonous life as a tree.
In silence, I hoped that someday I could speak with humans again, as I had done before. I wanted to experience human life again, feel happiness, sadness, and other emotions that I couldn't feel as a tree.
But, I also realized that I had an important role in maintaining the balance of nature. I had to remain as a tree and contribute to the environment around me.
In my thoughts, I hoped that in the future, humans would pay more attention to the environment and preserve it so that I and other trees could live peacefully and contribute to the survival of all creatures on this earth.
With hopeful thoughts, I once again pondered in silence, waiting for the next guest who might come to this forest.
.
.
.
When I opened my eyes, the boy was gone. He played a song that I didn't recognize, but it sounded so gentle and comfortable in my ears.
The next day, the boy returned. He didn't say anything like before, just climbed onto my branch without speaking. He picked one of my leaves and blew on it again.
This time, a feeling of sadness flowed in the melody he played. His voice was truly capable of making anyone who heard it cry.
The other trees shed some of their leaves, creating a dramatic atmosphere that made the foliage sway in the wind, following the melody created by the boy.
It turns out that the trees really love music.
And once again, I fell asleep listening to it. When I opened my eyes, the boy was gone. And the day was already turning into night.
The full moon had risen, displaying white light that illuminated the trees, creating thin specks of light that floated in the air.
At the same time, several other groups of light approached me - they looked like fireflies, but slightly larger. And it turns out, they were a group of fairies.
A woman walked in their midst. Her form was not as small as the fairies. She wore a long white dress that trailed on the ground and dragged behind her with each step.
Her golden blonde hair flowed down to her feet. She had a very beautiful face - if I were a man, I would surely fall in love with her.
She was a very beautiful woman. With eyes that were so beautiful.
"Hello, my name is Orchidia," the woman said as she smiled at me. She spoke to me as fairies always do when they talk to trees. "I am the queen of the fairies. How are you?"
I couldn't answer her, so I just waved one of my branches in front of me as if I was returning her greeting.
"Wow, you are very polite," Orchidia said as she smiled gracefully.
"..." I didn't say anything.
"So, here's the thing," she said, touching me lightly. "There may be a war that could happen when they realize your presence here, I want to hide your leaves, is that okay?"
All I had to do was hide my leaf?
"I will make it have the same green color as the other trees, I know the leaves are your crown, but I'm really sorry I have to do this for the good of everyone," she said.
I moved my branch, indicating to her that it was okay with me. She then smiled gracefully. She cast her magic on me, slowly changing my foliage to green.
[New skill obtained!]
[Camouflage: The user can camouflage and change their physical appearance]
[The type of change increases depending on the skill level]
The maximum skill level is 15. After reaching that, I can get a special ability called a bonus.
Like the Forgiveness of Sin skill, the special ability I obtained is 'emotional control'. I can control my emotions not to be too excessive in reacting to everything.
Another skill that has reached its maximum level is the regeneration skill. The special ability I obtained is 'Healing'. I can heal others when I make wounds on their bodies. As long as the injury or illness is not caused by me, I can heal them.
And this is camouflage. The skill that I have been waiting for!
A skill that might be able to restore my human form.
After 120 years of living here, I know how to obtain skills. I can get them when I experience something - something that sounds easy - but there aren't many experiences I can get because I'm just a tree.
If I keep using the skills I have acquired, the level will increase. And when I reach the maximum level, I will receive a reward. That sounds very interesting.
"Done. Hopefully it will protect you," Orchidia said as she smiled. She then turned around and walked away, followed by the other fairies who were wandering around her.
Thank you so much for your help. Now I have a glimmer of hope to escape from this dangerous situation.
This is the best gift after 120 years of never having anyone celebrate my birthday. Hah...