The tree remained waiting.
No pressure.
No demand.
Only that ancient presence keeping the question open.
Next function awaiting definition.
Xue Lian watched the Seed for several seconds.
"Why?"
Damon looked at her.
"Good."
The tree reacted.
Not with words immediately.
The lines spread across the walls began to change.
Heshan appeared first.
Then Arven.
Other regions emerged as small white points connected by extremely thin threads.
Some connections were strong.
Others barely existed.
At the center stood the tree.
But none of the lines ended there.
The tree functioned as a passage.
Not a destination.
Then the answer came.
Preserve paths.
Damon frowned.
"Which paths?"
Between roots.
"For what?"
A pause.
Balance.
Damon looked at Xue Lian.
"It still talks like an ancient ruin."
"Were you expecting casual conversation?"
"After you started swearing, my expectations went up."
She ignored him.
"Balance between what?"
The Seed took its time.
