63 There lies value in all life

Failure! How was that possible?

It felt like I was rejected...

I tried again and again and again, only to be met with strong rejection every time. I must not be using enough magic, crank up the output and everything will be fine.

I sent a veritable flood of magic barreling past the outer layer straight into the pneuma. The resistance flared up again but was drowned by the mass of the magic I had sent.

Success? An explosion. The tree was gone now. In its place were only charred remains and a hole, reminding of the tree that once stood here. Again!

"If you continue trying to force the issue, you will end up destroying the whole forest and still be unsuccessful. I advise you to stop and divert your efforts to something else."

What was it with all the people appearing out of nowhere?

Who was it this time some god of nature who's mad I blew up some tree?

Following the voice, I discovered a young man levitating next to one of my branches. At first, I just took a quick look at him, labeling him as ordinary. His aura was barely perceptible.

But wait! I know that face!

I took a closer look and discovered that I knew this person!

'Lord Abel, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?'

"Hahaha, and why are you suddenly so polite? Last time I checked even Aurelia wasn't treated with such respect when she came here."

'You must be joking lord Abel, how could I show someone I don't even know more respect than you! The only person who might deserve more respect would be the principal. Sorry, you probably don't know what I'm talking about.'

"If you mean the whole reincarnation thing you went through, I know. You were the student back at my lecture about dragon bloodlines, died as a high mage due to exhausting your potential and became a tree. But you really don't know huh. That's so comical."

'What do you mean by I don't know?'

"You said you would show your principal more respect than me, right? Have you never met your principal in your former life?"

'I've indeed never met the principal but so what?'

"Well let me describe her to you. She wears blue has blue hair and her name is Aurelia."

'Then the one I met before...'

"Was the principal you respect so much."

Well, that was unfortunate. So let's just pretend this all never happened.

"Anyway, just don't attempt making another ent, you'll just waste trees."

'Why?'

"Pneuma is not as simple as you might believe it to be. Touching it opens a connection between your consciousness and the pneuma, allowing it to look into your mind. Now you, are a human reborn as a tree, bringing many benefits but also some inconveniences. You do not value life as you should but instead treat it as an expendable resource. The pneuma in the tree felt that and rejected you. Simple as that."

'I don't understand. Why would I not value life?'

"This is a problem that you should solve by yourself. I can't help you with that. Take this, you'll know when to use it."

Dropping a small wooden plate he was suddenly gone from my sight and perception in general. The only thing that proved I hadn't been hallucinating was a small disturbance in the space where he had been.

I collected the wooden plate but couldn't find any use for it.

Not that this was of much concern to me. As of now, the most crucial point was my inability to create ents. Whatever this valuing life business was, I couldn't figure it out.

This was all too much for me. Suddenly knowing I've met two of the most powerful beings in all of existence. It would probably be best to just forget about all of this.

I continued meditating on the issue of life for a few weeks until the war finally reached me.

Loki paid me a visit and brought me up to date to the current situation.

Essentially, things had played out roughly as follows. After the fiasco with Balder, the Aesir had relaxed the pressure on the northern front and launched a massive offensive against the Vanir to the west. Thor and Odin together fought Frey, the Vanir magus king, and nearly crippled him. Only when it looked like the Vanir were about to be exterminated did Odin suddenly pull back. Apparently, Freya had made a move. Though Loki was unwilling to tell me who exactly she was.

After that, the Jotuns had broken through the Aesir's weakened defenses in the north. Valhalla was halfway destroyed and Tyr had been forced to retreat. Only when Odin and Thor rushed over could they push the Jotuns back. However, due to the constant pressure, the Aesir army was in no condition to continue fighting.