"The Tree of Longevity has accepted you. You may now pluck one fruit."
Samuel glanced up at the tree. Its branches stretched high above. Each fruit glowed a different color, green, red, blue, black, and gold.
Yuliene continued walking slowly, along the tree, placing a hand on the bark. "Each fruit offers different gifts. But you may choose only one."
Samuel stared at her silently.
"The green fruit," she began her explanation, pointing to one low-hanging branch, "heals any disease, or injury in existence. No matter how critical, rare or deadly."
She moved to another. "The red fruit grants great powers. The kind of strength any mortal craves."
She looked to the third branch. "The blue fruit repairs your essence. It will give you a new essence if yours is weakened or damaged."
Then she turned towards, the black fruit near the center. "This one is dangerous. The black fruit allows you to summon the dead, one person. A loved one, or an ally. Just one."
"Emma." Samuel murmurs
His breath hitched...
But she wasn't done.
Her hands hovered over the last one, shining, A golden fruit. "this fruit offers unlimited knowledge in a single subject of your choosing. Any skill. Any weapon mastery. Any knowledge from the world or beyond it."
She turned to him now, her expression calm but serious.
"You have fought. You have bled. You have proven your will, Outworlder." she uttered.
Samuel stared at the tree. His heart beat louder with every word. His body still ached. His clothes were torn. But none of that mattered now.
Yuliene took a step back.
"So, young one," she said, "what is your answer?"
Samuel stared back at the Tree of Longevity, his heart racing. His voice trembled as he spoke one word.
"Black."
"The black one."
Yuliene glanced at him slightly. "Are you certain, Outworlder? You may only choose one."
Samuel's fingers twitched. "Yes."
His eyes remained locked on the black fruit. Nodding firmly. "Yes. I'm sure."
Yuliene reached for the branches. The black fruit pulsed faintly in her hand. She held it out to him, but didn't release it just yet. "Then listen closely. Eat it with your eyes closed. Think of the one you want to call back. Say their name three times. If their soul still lingers, they will appear."
Samuel took the fruit. It was heavy, Not in weight, but in meaning. Full of essence. Without another word, he turned, sat down cross-legged near the tree, and shut his eyes.
A bite...
It was bitter and Sour. At the same time.
He swallowed...
Then a gust of wind swept through the cave. The tree's purple leaves fell weightless, and Samuel's face tensed. Then He opens his eyes, heart racing.
No one was there.
Just Yuliene, the tree. And butterflies.
His heart sank. "Nothing..." he whispered.
He stood up quickly and turned to Yuliene. "Why didn't it work?"
Yuliene frowned. "You followed the instructions?"
Samuel nodded, clutching the remaining piece of fruit. "Yes. I did everything you said. But but it didn't work."
There was hesitation in his voice as if he didn't want to admit something.
Yuliene's eyes narrowed slightly. "Who were you trying to summon, Samuel?"
He stayed quiet for a few seconds. Then the truth slipped out. "My little sister... Emma. She was taken with me to this world."
Yuliene exhaled slowly. "An outworlder too...?"
"Yes."
"She was sacrificed."
Samuel looked down In silence...
Then he spoke hypocritical, "Well no need to beat yourself to it."
Then he smiled.
Yuliene stepped toward the tree again. "Wait here."
She picked another black fruit, bigger this time. "I'll try something."
Samuel blinked. "You?"
She glanced over her shoulder. "her soul should still be somewhere on this plane of existence... I should be able to sense it. Or bring her back..."
"Name...?" Yuliene asked
Samuel stuttered while speaking. "Her name is Emma."
Yuliene closed her eyes and bit into the fruit, chewing slowly. She went completely still.
Minutes passed.
Then her shoulders stiffened.
She opened her eyes, and for a moment, there was fear in them, But it vanished quickly behind her calmness.
"A Petite young girl, with black hair."
"Yes..." Samuel uttered with excitement.
"There's something wrong with her life force," she explained quietly.
Samuel stepped forward. "you saw something right?"
She looked away while talking.
"She's still on this plane of existence. That much I can confirm. But something is interfering with the process. Her soul... it isn't stable. It's like it's being restrained, held back by something stronger than the fruit powers."
"The gods," Samuel muttered internally
"I don't know," Yuliene admitted. "It's not natural. I've summoned many before, even true blood giants, But never like this."
Samuel looked down at the ground. His voice dropped.
Yuliene looked at him and gently shook her hair. "I'm sorry."
He didn't move for a long time.
Then slowly, his knees gave out. He dropped to the ground, sitting back on his heels. His arms rested limply by his sides.
"I tried... I did everything... and still... I couldn't bring her back."
"I promised her I'd protect her."
Yuliene knelt in front of him. "You did what most wouldn't have dared. You tried. That means something, Samuel."
He wiped his eyes, clearing the streaks of tears. After a long breath, he stood up again.
He turned away, starting to walk off.
"Samuel," Yuliene called.
He turned back.
She tossed two fruits at him, a red and a blue one.
He caught them both instinctively, then stared at them, puzzled.
"I thought you said only one fruit per person."
Yuliene smiled faintly. "Call it a consolation gift. The red is for power. The blue for essence. You'll need both."
He looked at them silently. "Why?"
"Because where you're heading... the trials ahead won't be kind."
Yuliene gestured with one hand, and the vulture's massive corpse dissolved into black mist, swirling into the air. In its place, a folded set of black clothing appeared, hooded, layered.
"Take it. The cloth is enchanted with resistance to essence corrosion. It will protect you better than that torn uniform of yours."
Samuel accepted the garments wordlessly. He walked behind the tree and changed.
When he returned, he looked different. Focused.
The black outfit clung to his frame perfectly. The faint white shimmer danced at the edges of his sleeves.
Yuliene was playing with butterflies again. When she looked up, she smiled.
"it suits you."
Samuel nodded slightly. "Thanks... for everything."
"One more thing," he added, walking closer. "Lira my companion... she was with me before we entered the lagoon. We got separated. Do you know where she is?"