Chapter 496: A Seed for Ollie (Part Two)
"It’s better that you get a normal seed," Heila added, rushing to reassure Ollie as she could see a trace of disappointment forming on his face when he heard he wouldn’t receive the seed that he wouldn’t be receiving a seed that would make him as mighty has Heila seemed to have become. "The Ancient Trees have seeds that are powerful from the beginning but they come with all sorts of catches and challenges that make them dangerous," she explained.
"But your seed," Heila added. "Mother Ashlynn has been nurturing your seed for months so it will be just as powerful as mine, but it won’t be twisted by an ancient tree’s spirit. It’s harder for her to make your seed, but Mother Ashlynn cares so much, she..."
"Enough Heila," Ashlynn said, stretching out an hand to ruffle Heila’s soft brown curls. "I think he understands now. The seeds from ancient trees have advantages, but they have disadvantages as well. The seed I’ve prepared for you is one that is free of entanglements so you can grow into the kind of knight you want to be, and the kind of witch as well."
"I see," Ollie said, nodding as the shadow of disappointment cleared from his features. "But that doesn’t tell me what kind of tree the Cypress is or why you picked it for me. Is it strong the way an oak is strong? Or is it softer like the red cedar trees of the Vale of Mists?"
"The red cedar wouldn’t suit you at all," Ashlynn said with a laugh. "That tree is suited to people who meld with the world, changing their shape and blending in with the earth. People who can show one face to the world while their heart holds something different entirely. That tree doesn’t describe you at all."
"No, I guess it doesn’t," Ollie thought, though he wondered if it fit a little too well for someone else. "I don’t exactly blend in," he added, gesturing at his flame-red hair and tall figure.
"The Cypress tree is one that grows in adversity," Ashlynn explained. "They take root in the swamps of places like the Briar and the Endless Marsh, far beyond the High Pass. Some day, I’ll take you there, but I brought several seeds with me if there’s somewhere you’d like to have them planted. Maybe in this village of yours?"
"They grow in swamps?" Ollie said, raising a brow in confusion. "But wouldn’t the waters just wash them away?"
"That’s what makes them such powerful guardians," Ashlynn said with a smile. "They surround themselves with walls of... well, they’re called ’knees’ and they’re neither roots nor trunks but they help to shield the tree from storm surges, they anchor it in place and help it to breathe," she explained.
"More than that though," Ashlynn continued when she saw him struggling to visualize the strange trees. "They become anchors for all manner of creaturs to rely on and shelters that can withstand the worst of storms."