Chrysalis

Chapter 757

[Hmmmmmmmmm] the big tree blinks at me slowly a few times, as if surprised that I still exist rather than focusing on the question that I asked it.

I wait patiently whilst he inspects me but my patience is quickly running by the time he finally gets around to talking again.

[You look different,] he observes.

[Obviously, I've evolved!] I explode at him. [Can you explain to me why your plant-based parent is sprouting willy-nilly and soaking up gross mana around the place?! Do I have to ask every question three times or something?!]

He blinks.

[No.] He says finally.

I take a breath.

[So why aren't you answering my question then?] I grate out.

He looks at me with an almost palpable sense of pity.

[Because mother finds it amusing and so won't let me answer.]

The leaves and flowers that sprout from every surface around us seem to wriggle with amused joy and I slump where I stand.

[This might not be diplomatic of me, Mr Grove Keeper, but your mother is a massive pain in the thorax. Is she always like this?]

The tree nods in understanding.

you be patient with her. She hasn't had the easiest life

rustle angrily and the Grove Keeper

I might be able to

the giant tree dips his head in

about mother, which may be why she is reluctant that I share, but I do not see the harm in a little truth. It is an extension

I

tree-man smiles wide, the bark

like that.] He ponders the metaphor with a pleased hum that reverberates in his chests and sets all the plants to swaying before he continues. [The Mother tree is very sensitive to mana, her roots can sniff out changes from quite a long range, and her roots

that massive thing I ran into was a tertiary? So it branched from a secondary that branched from the primary? How

The Grove Keeper chuckles.

Tree is… vast. I will not bother attempting to describe it to you. As for your other question, I will not reveal much other than to say that it is likely less than you think. Our Mother is not a normal tree, but rather a monstrous tree, thus she does not follow the same set of rules you might think she does. To grow her network here, she needed to sacrifice

shiver in an accusatory fashion and the Grove Keeper once again holds up his hands in a placating

olive branch,] he says

I can tell

this particular brand of mana, I don't even know what kind it is, that your mother finds so attractive that she would

speak overmuch. Suffice to say, Mother is an expert when it comes to containing and eradicating this particular

around us

it delicious,] the

I raise an antenna.

[Delicious?]

[Yes,] he nods.

guessing the Mother Tree doesn't need water

[This is true.]

as what I saw near the Colony during the siege, if not more so. What I don't see is nearly as many Bruan'chii. There are a few here and there, tending to the plants, engaged in what appear to be lively conversations with each other, but I expected to see many more. [Where are all your people, Grove Keeper?

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