However, it then asked, "Hey boy, what's your name?"
"Its Neil, it's the only thing I remember regarding my personal life." I answered.
"Is that so...well, Neil, do you wanna get strong as a mage? I see that you only have the measly strength of outer disciples, and even then you can be considered quite weak. I even wonder how you managed to reach deep into this place with that strength, the forest is teeming with beasts far, far stronger than you." It spoke in my mind, however, the contents of the lower half sentence confused me.
"What do you mean strong beasts? I've only been meeting a handful of tier-2 wild beasts, with many of I encountered only being around peak-stage tier-1 beasts. I wouldn't place them into a category far, far stronger than me as, those I encountered, more-or-less, has the same level as I am." I refuted.
Silence dawned, a moment later it said, "Is that so...this place isn't the same as the past anymore I guess..."
The ancient trees voice was but a whisper when it said that, barely audible.
"Anyway, I just have the perfect practice ground for you to grow stronger. What do you say?" It went back to the main topic.
"What's in it for you?" I asked, skeptical.
"Well, nothing boy. It's just that, hundreds of years ago, a mage left an inheritance of sort in this place, Labyrinth as you may call it. It is filled with lots of resources of your wildest imaginations—" before it could finish its sentence, I cut in.
"—but is also filled with danger am I right?"
"Smart boy!" the ancient tree didn't seem to mind my rude interruption. It then continued, "Of course, opportunities comes with danger. Don't they say that it is danger that opens up opportunities don't you agree?"
"Ohh, do not worry to much, the mage who built it had the intention to find a heir, not to make it into a death trap. I can guarantee it to you that it won't be something that you won't be able to achieve."
Listening to the ancient tree, I was thinking if what it was saying was the truth. After all, no trust was established between us, we just meet after all.
For all I know, the tree could just be playing with us. But what for? Fun? No, no...it was far too beneath it to toy around with people.
"You see boy, the Labyrinth I'm talking about has a special mechanism. There are trials you will face but thank to this special mechanism, the trials you face is not fixed. It gets adjusted to match the strength of it's trialist. This ensures that it is fair to everyone who wishes to become a trialist, so that they may have a chance to come out victorious." The ancient tree went into the details, I listened attentively.
"The more you do well on the trials, the reward you get at the end of it would be equally worthwhile. Magnificent right? Resources you'd need to rise to higher ranks as a mage — you would find those there. Training and at the same time getting awarded? Killing two birds with one stone right?"
I thought about it deeply, after a short moment, I breathed out.
"Let me ask you this first, do you know how to leave this forest?" I was not blinded by the temptation infront of me and still had my goal in mind.
"Ohh? You wanna leave the forest? Well, that's easy actually. There is a portal inside the depts of the Labyrinth I was talking about — the training grounds, unfortunately to get there, you would need to face the each trials that guards the portal. It's the fastest route I know, after all, I have never even left this forest once also in my entire life."
I rolled my eyes, 'Duh, you're a tree, how can you leave the forest where your roots are?'
"How can I know you're not lying?" I probed.
"You can't, but I'm actually saying the truth. You will find your way out in the bottom of the Labyrinth." It replied in my mind, firmly.
I sighed. Leaving this forest was not easy at all.
But if what the ancient tree said was true, then not only can I leave the forest, I can also grow stronger along the way. Much more stronger than I am currently now?
After a thinking for a time, I answered, "I'll think about it with Neph, we'll just be staying here for a few days and enjoy, and relax, the fresh mana in the air to our hearts contents."
"Very well, do tell your decision once you've done your choice. Enjoy your rest and relaxation, I don't mind having the company of two people at all."
I could see the tree leaves sway around, glowing a beautiful light.