"There is still more to this story, but now is not the time. What I meant to explain is that some of the ones that follow this god have come here and poisoned the minds of humans against us. This is why I had to make sure that you were a good person," Aldren explained, and Reinhart made a snorting sound.
"Right, that begs for another question that you dodged before. How do you even know I am a person?" Reinhart asked, and this made Aldren grin and sit down. It was leaking into the afternoon now, but there was still plenty of light left in the sky.
"I did see you leave the city, and I can see your life force, or Aura, the light that surrounds all living beings. Magical objects and items do not exude such a thing, but you, my box-shaped student, have an immensely bright one!" Aldren laughed, but then put a hand on top of his head, letting out a sigh. "Just like him. And the reason why I came so close to the human city was to see if it was him that had come. I had felt the same fluctuation of Mana as the first time the human came."
Reinhart froze in the air, not sure what to say, but then remembered Bocchi. "I was sent here by some strange being named Bocchi! I was chosen for a matter of great significance, whatever that may be after giving up on life! I don't want to kill people!"
He knew the words were stupid, even as he thought them, but he was not an army guy or a person that even enjoyed using guns, or hunting! Reinhart was a man that had devoted his life to creating things to help realize his own and other people's dreams, but Aldren put up his hand with a grin.
"You are not him, but you are like him. These walls and voids you create mirror the type of abilities that he has. If there is anyone that can stand up to him, I think it will be you one day, but not in this form, I think," Aldren said with a grin. "One thing that I did notice, while I watched the two of you, is the eating of your contents."
Reinhart perked up. He had been distracted with everything that he forgot to explain himself.
"Yeah, I can change my contents, and then boost and heal my allies using my contents. The other thing is that if a person that has not eaten my contents before does, I will get four hours in my body," Reinhart explained, and Aldren's eyes got big as he began to salivate.
"Really?! You can change your content to anything?!" Aldren asked excitedly, jumping up, and making Reinhart jump back.
"Yes..." Reinhart said slowly, but something told himself that he was going to regret not just giving the dragon-looking man chicken and rice.
Aldren's scaled face split into a wide grin, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Perfect! Well, in my homeland of Vashkram, we have a delicacy known as 'Lurrkia Stew'. Can you make that?"
Reinhart had no idea what 'Lurrkia Stew' was, but given his ability to transmutate his content, he figured he could create something that would fit Aldren's description.
"Sure... I guess. But, could you tell me about this... Lurrkia Stew?" Reinhart asked reluctantly, already dreading whatever concoction he would have to create based on the enthusiasm displayed by the Dralkon.
Aldren was more than eager to explain. "Ah, the Lurrkia Stew is quite unique! You start with a base of Gorgon gizzards, sautéed in the bile of a Bogemoth beast. The main ingredient is the Lurrkia fruit, of course, only found in the thickets of Vashkram. The ripe fruit exudes a pungent musky aroma, some would call repugnant but we call it delightful! That is mashed and then simmered with a large quantity of Razgoth Scales that adds a distinct crunch. Lastly, Yovish stalks are used for seasoning, that has a taste akin to fermented swamp frog skin!"
Reinhart's countenance slowly shifted from apprehension to absolute horror. Whatever gastronomical nightmare Aldren had just described seemed to defy logic, and the very idea of consuming it was verging on revulsion. However, he mustered all his will and conjured up the described dish. The resultant packet had a distinctive odor that hung like a suffocating fog within the distance, something that had Reinhart trying desperately to hold his breath.
Aldren wasted no time in noshing down the contents, his face showing pure bliss as he tasted the dish. Shortly after, Reinhart felt his form shift as he returned to his human self.
However, the overwhelming stench of the food still lingered, causing a nauseating churn in the pit of his stomach. To his utter surprise and Aldren's amusement, Reinhart instantly metamorphosed into a human and began to throw up, but not in the normal way one might expect.
Rainbow-colored swirls erupted from his mouth, each hurl a dazzling spectacle of vibrant colors. However, the spectacle seemed to have passed over Reinhart's confused and dizzy head, leaving him breathlessly panting with his face half buried in the green grass while Aldren chuckled at his expense.
"Suc...cess...?" Reinhart wheezed out, seeing stars - possibly actual ones or just manifestations of his dizziness, he couldn't tell.
"Yes, indeed, my unusual friend," Aldren chortled, but then looked to the puke spot and frowned, but his eyes got big as the ground started to shake, and the puke was sucked in.
Both man and Dralkon were blasted back as a massive technicolored tree of moving colors erupted from the ground. The tree shot up and above the other trees until it stood over 150 feet in the air.
Reinhart gaped at the tree, aghast and amazed in equal measure. But he was soon brought back to reality by Aldren's hearty laughter that rang out through the forest.
"That was truly something, my friend," Aldren wheezed, slapping his knee. "I think that tree is here to stay, a monument to your unique… culinary skills."
Feeling somewhat offended, Reinhart shot back. "Hey, don't blame the food on me! You're the one who requested that awful dish."
Aldren only chortled harder, the sound echoing through the towering trees around them. Nodding at the colorful giant that had sprung from his puke, he managed to choke out, "True, my friend, but I never expected my request would lead to such a vibrant… result."
Reinhart looked up and down the tree as he stood back up, but the thing made no sense. For one, the bark that spiraled up was a constant unnerving rainbow of changing colors.
Yet, something pulled at Reinhart to approach the tree, and he unconsciously walked towards it. The moment that he touched it, Reinhart was sucked inside.
"That is one way to make a tree-house," Bocchi commented, and Reinhart blinked. He was back in the clouds where he had met Bocchi.
"What did I do? What is this tree, and how am I talking to you?" Reinhart asked, his hands feeling his body as he did to make sure he hadn't changed back to an instant dinner.
Bocchi chuckled. "Oh, it seems you've unlocked quite an interesting feature, my friend. The mixture of elements from another world, your peculiar abilities, and your own...er, output, created a convergence point between our realms. This tree serves as a bridge between the world of Fallenia and here. And, of course, as it was created by you, you can access it at will," Bocchi explained, looking quite pleased.
Reinhart grumbled, "Did you know about this? Is this why you chose me?"
"No, of course not," Bocchi was quick to refute, but there was a twinkle in his eyes that gave Reinhart pause. "This is truly a fortunate accident."
"You know, this whole situation seems to be filled with 'fortunate accidents'," Reinhart retorted dryly, crossing his arms. Bocchi merely laughed.
Their discussion was cut short as a rippling effect surrounded Reinhart. "Ah, it seems your time here is over for now. You'll be transported back to Fallenia. Remember, the tree can be your sanctuary or your weapon, depending on your need."
Reinhart only nodded, unsure of how to feel about this new discovery. As he found himself on solid ground again, he saw Aldren staring at the tree with wide eyes. He was quiet for a long time, then finally muttered in a hushed voice, "That's the Yolk Tree. I've heard legends about it, but I never thought it was real. It's said to possess inscrutable power and was deemed a sacred symbol among the Dralkons for generations."
Reinhart didn't know what to say. Was he doomed to cause chaos wherever he touched? In all confusion and revelation, he looked towards Aldren who seemed captivated by the tree's magnificence. There was something about Reinhart's present discovery that echoed gloom and fascination in Aldren's voice, dredging an eerie sensation in Reinhart's heart. He realized instantly what a strange day it was turning out to be. And for the first time in a while, they both retreated into silence, lost in the mysteries of the seemingly never-ending day. Little did they know, things were about to get even stranger.