Fia quickly finished her ice dessert, quietly slipped the wooden spoon from earlier into her spatial backpack, and headed with Claire toward the spot where a crowd had gathered not far away.
People were surrounding a tree.
The trunk was so thick it would take three or four grown men to encircle it, and it stood at least twenty or thirty meters tall, its canopy stretching across both sides of the street.
It looked like a giant tree carved from emerald, lush and dripping with green.
Both the trunk and the gnarled roots snaking across the pavement glowed with a translucent green, and green streams of light swirled around the branches.
If she didn’t know for sure she was in another world, Fia would have thought this was some kind of holographic projection.
Clearly, this semi-transparent green banyan hadn’t always been here.
Because of the tree, the whole street was blocked off, but instead of complaining, people seemed to know something—one after another, they knelt on the ground, facing the green banyan and praying in hushed voices.
No one cursed about the blocked road.
Even nobles in fancy clothes, after seeing the green banyan, would get down from their carriages, bow slightly, and show nothing but respect on their faces.
Amidst the sea of kneeling worshippers, Fia and Claire stood out like sore thumbs, but neither of them had any intention of kneeling—they just stood in a corner, watching from afar.
“What is this…?”
“The World Tree’s Branch.”
Claire’s gaze lingered on the top of the World Tree as she answered softly.
“Legend has it this continent was formed by the World Tree, so sometimes you’ll see things like this.
A green, gem-like ancient tree—this is an extension of the World Tree’s will, representing pure goodness and absolute peace.”
“Almost every story says that when the World Tree hears the cries of suffering, it will send out a World Tree’s Branch.
If people make a wish to the branch, and their wish is pure enough, the World Tree will grant it.”
“Because the World Tree’s Branch is part of the World Tree itself, the embodiment of the will that nurtures all life on the continent, no one dares disrespect it.
Even royalty and nobles must get out and pay their respects, or they’ll be drowned in gossip and lose their standing.
There was even a time when two countries were at war, and a World Tree’s Branch appeared in the middle of the battlefield, causing both sides to stop fighting.”
“Does it ever disappear?”
Fia actually wanted to say, if a country’s about to fall, why not just fake one and save the nation, but that was a bit out of place, so she wisely kept it to herself.
“It does disappear, usually only lasting a few hours.
Most people never see a World Tree’s Branch in their entire lives.
The last time one appeared was five years ago, and before that, it was centuries ago.
That’s why it’s so precious.”
Claire looked up at the World Tree’s Branch, a complicated emotion flickering in her emerald eyes.
“Don’t you want to make a wish, Claire?”
“…I did before, but it didn’t work.
It’s just superstition—people pin their hopes for a better life on something out of reach, just like they believe in gods.”
She’d believed once, but didn’t get what she wanted, so she stopped believing.
Fia could guess what Claire had wished for.
It had to be to get rid of her curse.
Something stirred in Fia’s chest, and she straightened up and asked,
“How do you make a wish?”
“There’s no set ritual.
Legend says as long as your wish is pure and without malice, the World Tree’s Branch will grant it.
You can try, little Fia.”
“Okay, then…”
Fia took a deep breath, faced the World Tree’s Branch, closed her eyes, pressed her slender hands together, gave a little clap, and bowed her head.
—My wish is “to have two wishes.”
After making her wish, Fia peeked open one eye to check the World Tree’s Branch, but it didn’t react at all.
Her wish was definitely pure and not malicious, so if the branch didn’t react, maybe it was waiting for her to finish.
Since she didn’t really believe in this mystical stuff, Fia had made her wish in a pretty cocky tone.
She closed her eyes again and continued.
—I hope Claire’s curse disappears soon.
Still no reaction from the World Tree’s Branch.
So it really was just a spiritual comfort.
Fia subtly curled her lip.
Of course, that didn’t stop her from making more wishes.
Just because she didn’t think they’d come true didn’t mean she wasn’t sincere—her wishes really did come from the heart.
But the next wish was a little embarrassing.
Afraid someone might hear her innermost thoughts, she bowed her head even lower, her back hunching a bit.
—I hope I can be together with Claire, loving each other.
As soon as she made the wish, Fia’s cheeks flushed pink.
Ahem.
Even if it’s just in my head, that’s way too shameless.
Maybe I should change it.
Fia sneaked a glance at Claire, planning to rephrase her wish.
But before she could close her eyes again, the World Tree’s Branch suddenly changed.
The green light swirling around it flared up, and a breeze swept down the street.
Like witnessing a miracle, the crowd gasped.
Fia instinctively looked up to see what was happening, but all she saw was a world filled with emerald light.
The green glow didn’t feel dangerous at all—instead, Fia felt like the world was welcoming her.
For a moment, she even felt her senses sharpen: the flow of the wind, the crowd’s exclamations, dust dancing in the sunlight, even the distant church bells—she caught it all.
It was like the whole world revolved around her.
If she had to compare, it was like someone carrying a can of food into a cat café, and all the cats swarmed around, rubbing against her legs.
The green light was the cats, and Fia was the one with the can.
“A miracle!”
“Who is that girl?”
“The World Tree has chosen her… Unbelievable.”
“What did she wish for?!”
The shocked shouts of the crowd snapped Fia out of her daze.
Now, whether it was the kneeling commoners or the nobles who only had to bow their heads, everyone was staring at her with a mix of awe and surprise.
Fia instinctively looked at her hands.
Then she realized what was going on.
The reason she saw everything in green was because she was bathed in the light from the World Tree’s Branch—no one else on the street was.
She was basically under a spotlight on stage; of course everyone was staring.
Is my wish really coming true?
Fia wasn’t stupid.
She immediately thought of the wishes she’d just made and quickly looked at Claire.
Claire, too, was surrounded by the World Tree’s green light.
Compared to Fia’s panic, Claire just widened her eyes in disbelief, reaching out to touch the glowing light in a daze.
Since only she and Claire were wrapped in the green light, it was obvious which wish had been granted.
The one that should have come true didn’t, and the one that shouldn’t have did.
Wasn’t the World Tree’s Branch supposed to be just a spiritual comfort? Was my wish really coming true?!
Fia had no idea what to do.
A few seconds later, the World Tree’s Branch began to dissolve into the air, starting from the leaves, and the green light faded fast.
In less than ten seconds, the World Tree’s Branch had completely vanished.
Fia snapped back to reality.
Putting aside whether her wish had come true or not, she needed to deal with the problems that were about to come first.
After the World Tree’s branch disappeared, people got up from the ground, their curious gazes all focusing on Fia and Claire.
Some people who looked important were already walking toward Fia.
Fia didn’t even have to think to know what they wanted.
They wanted to ask her what wish she made to earn the World Tree’s favor.
There was no way she could say something as embarrassing as “I want to be together with Claire, loving each other.” Before anyone could ask, Fia had already come up with the perfect answer—world peace.
Nothing could top that answer.
Just as Fia expected, when she said her wish was for world peace, she was immediately showered with praise and respect.
Some nobles even wanted to recommend her to the church, saying that anyone chosen by the World Tree must have a kind and pure heart.
Fia politely declined, saying she would be leaving the city soon.
She was an elven princess, after all, and had no desire to get involved with the church—at least not with the Yuna Church of the Holy Nation of Milcandis.
After spending some time calming everyone’s curiosity, Fia and Claire finally managed to leave the crowd.
But news of the World Tree’s branch favoring her spread quickly, and no matter where Fia went, people would point and whisper, giving her admiring looks.
Embarrassed by all the attention, Fia had no choice but to give up her original plans and head home.
The setting sun painted the sky orange, and their shadows stretched long behind them.
The streets were now filled with tired faces, people heading home.
Fia glanced carefully at Claire.
Earlier, because the curious crowd kept asking questions, Claire hadn’t had a chance to ask her anything.
Now that it was just the two of them, Claire should be asking what wish she made, but Claire hadn’t said a word.
Even when Fia tried to read her expression, she couldn’t tell what Claire was thinking.
It was both surprising and unsettling.
Surely the wish hadn’t actually worked and made Claire fall for her—if that were the case, Claire wouldn’t be this silent.
As if she’d heard Fia’s thoughts, Claire suddenly spoke, her face still expressionless.
“I didn’t expect the legend about the World Tree granting wishes to be true.
What did you wish for, little Fia?”
Sure enough, Claire knew her wish wasn’t as simple as “world peace.”
Before Fia could answer, Claire reached out her hand, studying the back of it.
“I felt the World Tree’s branch welcoming me… I’ve never felt that before.
I used to only feel rejected by the world, but just now, it was like everything was celebrating my existence.
The elements were blessing me, it felt so warm.
That’s all because of your wish, isn’t it, Fia?”
Well, here it comes.
Fia couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
“Actually, my wish was to get two more wishes.”
Claire hadn’t expected such a greedy wish and couldn’t help but laugh.
“The World Tree would grant a wish like that? Is it because you’re special, or because your wish was so pure?”
“Not every wish comes true.
The first was for the curse on you to disappear, and the second…”
“What was the second?” Claire’s innocent question made Fia’s breath catch.
This was a bit embarrassing—she couldn’t say it.
But maybe it was wishful thinking, or maybe her brain was fried and her reason was being overrun by emotion, but Fia actually whispered her real wish to Claire—like a secret admirer finally confessing.
“I… I wished that I could always be with Claire.”
She couldn’t bring herself to say “loving each other,” so she left that part out.
Even so, Fia felt her cheeks burning and her heart pounding.
Quietly, Fia glanced at Claire’s face.
Claire wasn’t looking at her, but seemed to remember something, gazing at the distant sunset with a faint smile on her beautiful profile.
“Always together… No wonder the World Tree’s light shone not just on you, but on me too.
So that’s why… heh.”
Then Claire suddenly lowered her head, a gentle smile flickering in her clear green eyes.
“That’s a wish I should have made, honestly.
Because, compared to you needing me, I need you even more, Fia.
If little Fia were a boy, I’d probably already see you as my emotional support.”
Honestly, it doesn’t matter if I’m not a boy—I’m reliable enough.
Fia quietly replied in her heart.
Even before her time, gender was no longer an obstacle to love.
Getting a little bold, Fia tried to sound like she was joking.
“So it has to be a guy?”
“Hm?” Claire’s eyes widened a little.
“I don’t mind.
Just having someone in this world who isn’t afraid of me or who won’t forget me is enough to make me happy.
If I started nitpicking about the other person, wouldn’t I just be letting a good thing slip away?”
In other words, it all depended on Fia’s attitude.
Even if they were both girls, Claire could accept her—as long as Fia could accept Claire.
That was probably what she meant.
Fia didn’t know if Claire’s words had any romantic meaning, but her heart still skipped a beat.
She felt like the opportunity was right in front of her, and her courage grew.
“So… if my wish was actually… actually ‘to be together with Claire, loving each other’… would that be okay?”
Looking back at Fia’s tentative red eyes, Claire’s smile deepened.
“If you won’t forget me—then why not? Didn’t I just say, compared to you needing me, I need you more.
How do I put it… it’s like finally finding a soulmate, someone I can tell everything to.”
Was that a yes? Fia’s chest tightened.
She suddenly wanted to make things even clearer, to just say she liked Claire and get her answer.
But after hesitating for a long time, she still didn’t say it—not because of any principle, like not taking advantage of someone, but simply because she was embarrassed and felt it was too soon.
If Claire took her words as just a hypothetical about the future, not a confession, it would only make things awkward.
Honestly, if she hadn’t said her wish in a joking tone, but had been more serious, maybe Claire’s answer wouldn’t have been so ambiguous.
Maybe she’d already be thinking seriously about how to respond to Fia’s feelings.
It was a bit of a misstep, but not a big deal.
At least now she knew how Claire felt about her, and there was plenty of time ahead—no need to rush.
A little thrill bubbled up inside her, and Fia felt much lighter.
If they weren’t on a city street but back in that desert where she first arrived in this world, she’d be jumping and spinning in celebration.
Come to think of it, this was the first time she’d ever felt “in love.”
Her hand clenched unconsciously, Fia quietly gripped the hem of her dress.
For a moment, she was so happy that even the Undying Moon and the church seemed wonderful—if not for them, she’d never have met Claire by chance, or gotten her approval just now.
It was all so amazing.
Then.
Suddenly, Fia felt Claire gently touch her hand.
As if she knew Fia would look up, Claire gave her a calm, sincere smile.
“Thank you, Fia.
No one’s ever made a wish like that for me before.
I’m really happy.
Maybe this world isn’t so bad after all.”
“It’s nothing.
I really mean it.”
Honestly, she was even happier than Claire.
To hide her restless heart, Fia changed the subject.
“When we get back, Claire, can you teach me how to chant magic incantations? I want to learn the new magic I just got as soon as possible.”
“No problem.
But magic incantations aren’t as easy to master as regular language.
It’s bound to be a long process, and you won’t be able to learn as fast as you imagine, little Fia.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Fia squeezed Claire’s hand in return.
There was nothing more to say.
It felt like even one extra word would ruin the bond they had just formed.
Amid the noise of dusk, the two girls walked toward the end of the street, bathed in the setting sun.
