Universe's End

Zoey knew she should have been more impressed. It wasn’t every day that you saw some giant ass tree sprout on the spot, tearing apart the butt-baby love-child of a temple and an office building. Still, sometimes it felt like an everyday sort of thing with Rory.

Oh, the crowd was definitely impressed, with all the energy and significance being thrown around; it was hard for anyone beneath tier eight not to get swept up in it all.

It was only when the tree had stilled, its rampant growth phase over, that Zoey felt her eye twitch. She lacked Rory’s ‘potential vision,’ as he called it, but she still had an explorer’s instinct.

And staring at the tree, she knew that while the dramatics of the show hadn’t impressed her, the end result called to her.

Examining it, Zoey internally whistled.

What the fuck did you end up doing now, Rory?

“A rarity grade and a level, but an undetermined grade,” Rory muttered. “You’re something new, aren’t you?”

The tree did tree things, which is to say nothing.

“Cruor-Shu,” Rory called out, adding aura into his voice, certain that there was more than the tree was letting on.

Instantly, a tremor passed through the tree.

“Ah-hah! You do have an awareness,” Rory half-smiled. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Cruor-Shu.”

Re-examining the tree, Rory patiently watched the description, which had remained blank. Rory could almost sense Eon debating how much it wanted to share, like hovering your thumb over the ‘send’ button after typing up a risky text.

At last, a description suddenly filled in.