"Are you… going to kill me?" I asked, keeping my face expressionless; even in the face of death, my voice sounded calmer than I expected.
Perhaps because, from the moment this world stopped feeling like the pages of a novel to me… I had already accepted that possibility.
The incarnation of the World Tree watched me for a few seconds.
Then it slowly shook its head.
"No."
Just that—just those words—managed to break the expression on my face.
But it wasn't a comfort; rather, it felt like a wait.
And then she made a small gesture with her hand.
The vines that bound my body stopped tightening.
They didn't disappear entirely; rather, it seemed as if the grip had loosened slightly, allowing me to breathe.
But before I could relax, at some point she brought a hand to her abdomen.
