73 The Resolution

The Super Ilphyr i grew always shrinked to normal size. This happened continuously to frustrate me in my experiments to grow the Ilphyr tree twice as large as normal ones. I pondered on the issue and theorized it has to do with the nutrients the tree gets through its trunk.

The energy i send into the tree using my gift is a supplemant an addendum that only helps for a short period of time. After i stop using the gift, its the trees own nutrients that should support it and for my Super Ilphyr it wasn't enough.

I started getting interested in expanding the nutrients the Ilphyr gets. In my subsequent sessions while growing the Ilphyr, i tried to find and expand its root sysyem under the ground.

I was again suprised and found that the Ilphyr didn't have much of a root system under the ground. It had a single root almost as big as its trunk that transported almost all its nutrients.

I tried to send my awareness through its roots but found it endless stretching across a large distance. All my efforts ended up in vain as i couldn't reach its end until one day when i decided to play with fire directly.

Eventhough i was largely driven in experimenting on my gift these days, i didn't fail to notice the plight of my group. Even with how hard they worked we continuously lost Ilphyr trees in 4th and 5th sections bringing our tally to 10.

The number seemed to physically weigh on all of us as everyone pushed themselves more and more. The old head had started marking the worst trees to die to reduce the strain the rest of the group has to go through to save one.

Bayaar and Myself had moved to fifth section to start our work. Bilgun took me and Buld to the tree i had to work on for the day. When we reached it, we saw another tree nearby that had the Zukr constricting it resulting in its trunk getting broken in several places, a sure sign of a zukr in critical state.

When we turned to Bilgun he sighed "The head had marked the tree for fire" and shook his head. We looked at each other grimly until he left to find Bayaar.

I placed my hands on the tree, i was pointed to and after a few moments turned and resolutely walked towards the big Zukr.

"Gan, what are you doing? Leave that tree and work on the one you are pointed to"

"No Buld, i don't want to leave a tree to the fire before my eyes."

"But, its no use if we strain everyones gift for a single tree."

"Thats if we involve others, i want to use my gift alone on the tree. You stand watch and if you see the Zukr moving interupt me and drag me away."

Buld looked reluctant, but i didn't give him a chance and determinedly went and sat beside the tree. I took a deep breath and activated my gift.