BY Cartunzone Studios
It's been three years since Astra was rescued and brought to Sekai Prime. Now she's five years old. Like everyday, Astra wants to listen to a bedtime story from her Uncle Praxis.
"Uncle! Uncle!" Astra called out excitedly, hopping into bed as she hugged her favorite plush companion, a stuffed dragon she called Lumy. "It's bedtime! That means storytime! You promised!"
Uncle Praxis chuckled warmly, adjusting the flickering lantern light beside her bed. "Of course, my little star. How could I forget?"
Astra's eyes sparkled as she sat upright, clutching Lumy close. "Yippee! What story will you tell me tonight? Something new? Something magical?"
Praxis leaned back in the armchair, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Tonight, I will tell you about a tree unlike any other—a tree so extraordinary, it connects worlds."
Astra's mouth fell open, her excitement mounting. "A tree that connects worlds? Is it real, Uncle? Tell me, tell me!"
"Some say it's real," Praxis began, lowering his voice as if sharing a great secret, "and that it lies beneath our world, hidden deep in the shadows of mystery."
Astra gasped, her imagination already running wild. "A tree under our world? What does it look like? Is it magical?"
Praxis nodded solemnly, his voice tinged with wonder. "Oh, it's more than magical, Astra. They call it – the tree that connects worlds. Its roots stretch through the fabric of existence itself, weaving our world with countless others. Its bark shimmers like stardust, and its leaves... its leaves glow with a soft, whitish light, like moonbeams caught in a dance. They say the tree hums, a low, melodic tune that only the bravest hearts can hear."
Astra hugged Lumy tighter, her eyes wide. "Did someone find it? Did they hear the hum?"
Praxis smiled, his voice growing animated. "Many, many years ago, a group of explorers—seekers of truth and wonder—ventured into the unknown. They traveled through
treacherous lands, climbed mountains that touched the clouds, and crossed seas that whispered forgotten secrets. And then, after an arduous journey, they found it."
Astra leaned forward, her small hands gripping the edge of her blanket. "What did they see? What happened?!"
"At first," Praxis continued, his tone full of suspense, "they thought it was just an ancient tree. Its trunk was enormous, so wide it would take twenty people holding hands to circle it. Its roots glowed faintly, pulsating like a heartbeat. But when they touched the tree, Astra… everything changed."
Astra gasped. "What? What changed?!"
Praxis's eyes twinkled, and he whispered, "Magic. Pure, unimaginable magic. The moment their hands met the bark, they were swept away by visions—visions of other worlds, bursting with colors and creatures beyond imagination. They felt the presence of other beings, some kind and wise, others mysterious and ancient. They realized that the tree was not just a tree—it was a gateway, a bridge connecting every world that exists."
Astra was nearly bouncing on the bed, her sleepy eyes now wide awake. "Did they go to those other worlds? Did they meet the beings?"
"They tried," Praxis said with a nod. "But the tree doesn't just let anyone pass. It chooses those who are ready, those with hearts full of curiosity and courage. So instead, the explorers studied the tree, learning its secrets. They shared its wisdom with the world, and because of them, our world grew—new inventions, new ideas, new ways of living. Everything you see around you today, Astra—the cities that float, the crystal towers that sing, the sky-lights that dance—they're all because of those explorers ."
Astra's gaze drifted to the ceiling as if she could see the magical cities above her. "But… is the tree still there? Is it really under our world? Have you seen it, Uncle?"
Praxis chuckled softly, brushing her hair back. "Ah, my little star, this is a story passed down through generations. I've never seen the tree myself, but I believe it's real. Stories like these don't come from nowhere. The question is… do you believe it exists?"
Astra blinked up at him, her voice soft and dreamy. "If it's real… I want to see it one day. I'll find it, Uncle, just like the explorers did…" Her voice trailed off, her eyelids growing heavier.
Praxis smiled as he tucked her in, her tiny hands still clutching Lumy. "Perhaps you will, Astra. Perhaps you will."
As Astra drifted into sleep, she dreamed of glowing leaves, shimmering roots, and the hum of a tree that connected all worlds. And in her dreams, she saw herself standing before the tree, ready to touch its stardust bark and discover the wonders beyond.