บท 5: All Thanks to You

****(POV)

He called me his friend. At first, I had no idea what it meant. I had no idea how much this word would come to mean to me. When we first met, I was nothing more than a seed of my current self. I was already grown, but I was nothing more than a plant.

I would instinctively turn myself towards the sunlight. I would have my roots draw in the nutrients necessary to my growth. I would simply be existing peacefully.

My lush leaves swaying in the wind, my bark growing thicker and thicker year after year, my branches becoming longer, my crown becoming taller and taller. I was growing, but only my body that is.

I was definitively existing and a living thing, but that was all that I was. A mindless tree that would …just be that a tree. Nothing more, nothing less. Of course, I was never an ordinary tree. It is only when I gained a consciousness that I realized that.

The other trees were all so small and frail compared to me. The other trees couldn't feel nor use magic. I have always been a special existence, but I would never have known without him.

He came into my life abruptly. Someday, some wounded life form fell on one of my branches. There he was, leaking blood all over the place. Somehow his unwillingness to die resonated with my being.

It was my first contact with a humanoid creature, and it proved confusing. I could not figure what that thing was, but I took care of it. Instinctively brought it into my embrace and fed it my sap to keep it strong. His spirit nestled itself in my sea of consciousness.

Then I tried inspecting that curious thing. He would produce sounds over and over. Also, do weird things from time to time like trying to leave my sea of consciousness. Of course, in the beginning, I didn't know what that place was or how it was called.

I'm not sure why, but he took a liking to me. Started calling me his friend. Started telling me about the world, his stories so vivid I started wishing I could see them.

Then my psyche grew many folds. My intelligence increased. In here, I was but a vague spirit of a tree, but out there I was a giant.

I also realized I had a special ability. It is something he refers to as sleep mode. Apparently, it is something some creatures called "computers" do a lot. It allowed me to bring my consciousness to the outside world. In that state, I would be in sleep mode inside and living in the real world.

It meant me finally being able to interact with what I learned about in the stories. At first, it was especially empty. Some other plants and animals, but none quite like me. Once again, I realized how special I was.

One part by nature, being an uncommon plant species at the very least since I have no sibling in the whole giant forest where I reside. Another part because of my education.

How many trees have the chance to have their own personal teacher in their own sea of consciousness? Probably none.

It was pretty boring out there for me. I would quickly return for more entertaining lectures. But in the few latest millennias, it changed. Many animals appeared that could talk and had special abilities. From time to time appeared some humanoids too.

That's when I encountered magic for the first time. I instantly mastered it to the dismay of my temporary teachers. They dubbed me a genius or a monstrous entity, but I knew. Yes, I knew that my success was all thanks to the soul living inside of me.

I spent most of my time with him. From time to time, I would check on the outside world. See how it evolved, see if anything changed. My curiosity toward it was high, but I soon realized something way more impressive.

The one that called me his friend had more knowledge to share. It was not limited to this world I was in, it also included knowledge of some multiverses or even god realms.

Many times, I wanted to ask him more questions, many times, I wanted to talk to him, many times, I wanted to do more for him. But always my inability to speak hindered me.

In the outside world, I could use my branches to relay my meaning, but for some reason, I just couldn't in that space.

The more time passed the more I found him to become pessimistic. The more the light of hope in his eyes would darken. A change that was so gradual that he probably did not notice it himself.

I needed a way to cheer him up. It took me a while, but I found a way. I found the answer in the stories he always tells me. Then I etched a plan. I would transfer some of my own power to him. I would bring him to see the outside world.

It was my longest sleep mode to date. It was a bet. I mostly had no idea what I was doing. I transferred most of my lifeforce to his body that had long fused with mine. His body was kept alive by my sap.

Somehow this exercise had 3 consequences. First, it would revitalize him. He would still be dependent on me, but his spirit would be free. Second, it exhausted me and would force me to do something ludicrous. To sleep. Third, it somehow allowed me to finally breakthrough.

I felt it then. That I would be able to use my mind to talk from that point onward. I would finally be able to talk to my mentor. I would finally be able to talk to my savior. I might have saved his body, but he saved me from spending an eternity as a mindless oversized stick.

I would finally be able to ask him more about all these amazing stories. Actually, probably not. I am getting tired. I need to make sure he is ready to head outside before I nap.

This time it will be different. Yes, this time old friend you should just relax and have fun. I will be the one to shoulder the burdens from now on.

Hum, if I am to be his backing, I need to act the part. I take an old and dignified voice, melodious yet seemingly as ancient as the world. From now on it will be the start of your story my friend.

[Hello little friend.]

After all, you deserve this.

All I am is thanks to you.