Chapter 244: The Universe tree
Tessa stood firm, her heart open and unguarded. She had nothing to hide. Whatever trials the Universe Tree had in store, she would face them head-on. For her promise, her home, and the hope of justice, she would endure.
Tessa moved forward, and with every step, her skin began to glow softly, as if kissed by an ethereal light. Warmth coursed through her veins, and she felt a surge of vitality so profound it was as though life itself was being rewritten within her. Her once-mortal flesh hummed with a boundless energy that made her feel untouchable, her entire being radiating with the essence of something far greater than herself.
It was exhilarating, almost overwhelming. She stopped briefly, gazing at her hands as they shimmered like liquid starlight. Her breath hitched. Immortality. She couldn't shake the thought. This wasn't just a rush of strength—it was the touch of eternity. If merely being in the proximity of the Universe Tree could cause this transformation, what would direct contact do? The thought sent a shiver of awe and fear through her.
The golden glow she had seen in the distance now enveloped her entirely. Her surroundings melted into an iridescent haze as she approached the source of the brilliance. She had expected to find a colossal golden tree, its towering branches disappearing into infinity. But as the glow softened, revealing the heart of the Universe Tree, her breath caught in her throat.
What stood before her wasn't a tree at all—or at least, not in the form she had imagined. Before her was a woman, radiant and otherworldly. Her legs extended into the ground like roots, merging seamlessly with the blackened soil that pulsed faintly beneath them. Her arms were outstretched, their form shifting into branches adorned with crystalline leaves, each one holding a universe within its depths. Her skin gleamed with a golden hue, and her hair flowed like streams of liquid light.
She was the most beautiful being Tessa had ever seen, her presence both overwhelming and comforting. It was as though the cosmos itself had taken shape in her form. Her eyes, deep pools of shimmering galaxies, seemed to peer into Tessa's very soul.
Then she smiled—a smile so enchanting it felt as if the universe had paused to bask in its light. The air vibrated with a melodic hum, a resonance that seemed to cradle Tessa in warmth and belonging.
"TESSA, MY DAUGHTER, YOU HAVE FINALLY COME…" the being spoke, her voice not with sound but with an all-encompassing presence that echoed directly within Tessa's mind and heart.
The words struck Tessa like a bolt of lightning. Daughter? The Universe Tree—or rather, the woman-like entity—was addressing her not as a stranger, not as a mere visitor, but as family.
For a moment, Tessa couldn't speak. Her thoughts raced, trying to process the enormity of what was unfolding. The trials she had endured, the sentinel's warnings, the weight of her mission—all of it seemed to culminate in this moment.
Gathering her courage, she finally managed to respond, her voice trembling yet firm. "You… know me? How… how am I your daughter?"
The woman smiled again, a knowing and gentle expression. "YOU BEAR THE SEED OF ZORATH, THE TIME GOD. HIS ESSENCE FLOWS THROUGH YOU, AND BY HIS DEPARTURE, YOU WERE CHOSEN TO CARRY FORWARD HIS LEGACY. THIS MAKES YOU PART OF ME, FOR ZORATH WAS MY FIRST CREATION, MY FIRST CHILD."
Tessa's eyes widened as understanding dawned upon her. The Universe Tree wasn't just the source of power she sought—it was the origin of the very forces that shaped existence. And now, she was tied to it in a way she hadn't fully comprehended until this moment.
"I… I came here to fulfill a promise," Tessa began, her voice steadying as she spoke. "To protect my home and to gain the strength to stand against those who would destroy it. I seek not to exploit your power but to preserve the balance you created."
The woman's gaze softened, and a subtle breeze stirred the air, carrying with it a faint melody, as though the universe itself was listening. "YOUR INTENTIONS ARE PURE, TESSA. BUT THE PATH AHEAD IS NOT WITHOUT SACRIFICE., YOUR WILL, AND YOUR SOUL HAS TO BE ONE. ONLY THEN WILL YOU BE WORTHY OF THE POWER YOU SEEK."
Tessa nodded, her resolve hardening. She had come too far to falter now. No matter the test, no matter the cost, she would face it. For her promise, for her home, and for the justice she sought, she would endure.
The golden light around the woman intensified, and the ground beneath Tessa's feet began to shift once more. The final trial of the Universe Tree was about to begin.
A halo dropped from the leaves or rather, the hair of the woman and then fell on the space before Tessa as a open door way. Then the woman tree universe spoke, "YOU MAY FREELY ENTER MY DAUGHTER, IF YOU ARE WORTHY, YOU WOULD OBTAIN WHAT YOU SEEK, IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU WOULD BE BANNED FROM EVER COMING HERE, THAT IS MY MERCY FOR NOT COMPLETELY SNUFFING YOU FROM EXISTENCE. NOW GO..." The woman universe tree smiled as she pointed towards the halo doorway.
Before her, the doorway shimmered with a brilliance that defied description, its edges rippling like molten gold. Beyond it lay a realm unknown, a swirling void of endless potential and uncharted mystery. Tessa paused for a heartbeat, her chest tightening as the gravity of the moment bore down on her. This was it—the culmination of her journey.
She turned briefly to look at the woman-like entity, the Universe Tree. The being's expression was unreadable, yet her eyes held a glimmer of something between hope and expectation. The crystalline leaves on her outstretched branches swayed gently, creating soft chimes like a celestial orchestra. The sound was reassuring, grounding Tessa in her resolve.
She took her first step into the haloed doorway, her breath catching as her foot passed through the barrier. The sensation was neither cold nor hot but an indescribable melding of energies. Each step forward felt like walking through time itself, memories flashing before her eyes—her childhood, the faces of those she loved, the battles she had fought, and the promises she had made.
The doorway sealed behind her with a resonant hum, and the air changed. Tessa found herself standing in an enclosed space. The space felt like a place where one would face trials. The ground was a reflective surface, as if she stood on a mirror, and above her was a canopy of stars, galaxies, and nebulae swirling in vibrant, impossible colors.