God's Tree-Chapter 107: A Conversation in the Mist & A Feast for the Gods

"You are different."

Kaelred didn't stop walking. "I feel different."

The Tree of Faith had not vanished, but its voice no longer felt heavy in his mind. It was… lighter. Distant, but still present.

"The first tree has marked you," the voice continued. "The path is set. You will not walk it alone."

Kaelred frowned, glancing at the white leaves rustling in the distance. "Then why do I feel like I am?"

The mist shifted, curling like smoke.

"Because faith is often unseen."

Kaelred sighed. He should have expected that answer.

But still—

He knew what the tree meant.

This journey wasn't just about taking the lifeblood of the trees. It was about believing he could handle what came next.

Even when he didn't know what that would be.

The path twisted and narrowed again, but Kaelred kept moving. His muscles ached, his legs burned, but he refused to slow.

Then—

A familiar sound.

A boot scuffing against dirt.

Kaelred's instincts flared, his hand tightening around the hilt of his dagger. But before he could react—

A voice.

"You look like hell."

Kaelred grinned.

Argolaith stood at the edge of the mist, arms crossed, blue eyes sharp yet relieved. Malakar stood beside him, his violet gaze unreadable, though Kaelred swore he caught the hint of amusement there.

Kaelred rolled his shoulders, letting out a breath. "Feel like it, too."

Argolaith glanced past him, toward the trees still shifting in the distance. "So? You get it?"

Kaelred nodded, tapping his storage ring.

Malakar's eyes flickered. "And?"

Kaelred hesitated. Then—

"It was… different."

Kaelred sat down near the roots of a smaller tree, stretching his legs out. His body needed the rest, even if his mind was still turning over everything the Tree of Faith had told him.

Argolaith sat across from him, watching. "Different how?"

Kaelred exhaled, staring at his hands.

"It wasn't about strength," he admitted. "Not like I thought it would be."

He flexed his fingers, as if expecting to feel something change in him.

But it wasn't that kind of power.

"The tree wasn't testing if I could fight," he said finally. "It was testing if I could keep moving forward even when I had no reason to."

Argolaith's expression didn't change, but Kaelred saw something shift in his blue eyes.

Understanding.

Recognition.

Kaelred smirked. "Guess we're both stubborn as hell."

Argolaith chuckled. "No argument there."

Malakar, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "And what did it give you?"

Kaelred's fingers twitched toward his storage ring. He didn't take the vial out, but he felt its presence there.

It was his now.

His burden. His strength.

His faith.

"I don't know yet," he admitted.

Malakar tilted his head slightly. "Then you will learn."

Kaelred sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Yeah.

He would.

The night deepened around them, the last remnants of mist finally fading. The forest was still.

Kaelred leaned his head back, staring up at the darkened canopy.

One tree down.

Four to go.

His fingers curled into fists.

Kaelred stretched out on the ground, his body still aching from the trials. The vial of lifeblood was tucked safely away in his storage ring, but he could still feel it—like a quiet pulse beneath his skin. It wasn't something that changed him outright, but something that waited for him to understand it.

He wasn't sure how long that would take.

Right now, though—

His stomach growled. Loudly.

Argolaith smirked. "Guess that means it's time to eat."

Kaelred groaned. "I feel like I haven't eaten in days."

Malakar's violet gaze flickered toward the sky. "You haven't."

Kaelred frowned. "Wait—really?"

Argolaith waved a hand. "Not important. What is important—" He clapped a hand on Kaelred's shoulder, grinning. "—is that you just passed your first trial. That's worth celebrating."

Kaelred raised a brow. "How are we celebrating? More trials?"

Argolaith scoffed. "No, you idiot. We're feasting."

Kaelred blinked.

Argolaith gestured toward the storage ring on his finger. "I've got enough war beast meat in here to make a banquet that would make even the gods jealous."

Kaelred sat up straighter. "…Go on."

Malakar sighed. "I assume this means we'll be staying here longer?"

Argolaith grinned. "We've been fighting, freezing, and nearly dying for weeks. We deserve a damn good meal before moving to the next tree."

Kaelred met Argolaith's gaze.

Then he nodded.

"Fine," Kaelred said. "But if you mess this up, I'm taking over."

Argolaith scoffed. "Mess up? You wound me."

Then—

He got to work.

Argolaith knelt by the fire pit, rolling up his sleeves.

First—the meat.

From his storage ring, he pulled out a slab of thunderhorn war beast meat. Thick, marbled with deep red and streaks of blackened veins that still crackled faintly with lightning energy. It was tough meat, but once prepared properly, it was rich, savory, and powerful enough to boost stamina for days.

Kaelred whistled. "Didn't know you had that."

Argolaith smirked. "Been saving it for something special."

Next—the spices.

He withdrew dried sunpepper roots, their scent so strong they made Kaelred's nose burn. They weren't just for heat—they infused a slow-burning warmth into the body, perfect for fighting off exhaustion.

Then came emberleaf, a fiery red herb that would add a rich smokiness to the meat while also helping circulate mana.

And finally—a dash of crushed stonebark powder. A rare find, known for its earthy depth and the ability to fortify the body's natural resistance.

The scent alone was intoxicating.

Kaelred's stomach growled again.

Argolaith smirked. "Told you."

Argolaith started by searing the war beast meat over a roaring flame, letting the lightning-infused fat render down. The fire crackled violently at the contact, sending streaks of blue sparks into the night.

Kaelred watched as Argolaith carefully rotated the meat, letting the exterior char before lowering the heat, locking in the juices. The smell was rich, deep, primal.

Next—the glaze.

Argolaith mixed sunpepper extract, emberleaf essence, and a drop of stormhoney—a rare nectar harvested from thunder bees. It wasn't just sweet—it had an electrified sharpness that would enhance the natural flavor of the meat.

He brushed it over the war beast meat, letting the glaze sizzle into the seared crust. The scent that rose from it was nothing short of divine.

Kaelred groaned. "Hurry up."

Argolaith chuckled. "Patience."

A feast needed more than just meat.

From his ring, Argolaith withdrew sporefruit gourds—small, round fruits with a soft blue glow. They had a natural umami flavor, and when roasted, their juices turned into a rich, savory broth.

He tossed them into a heated pan, letting them caramelize, their skins blistering under the heat.

Then—moon-vine tubers.

A rare underground root that shimmered like silver. When boiled and mashed, they turned into a smooth, buttery paste with hints of frost-like coolness, balancing out the intensity of the meal.

And finally—wildfire sprouts.

Tiny, crimson leaves that burst with a citrusy, peppery kick. They weren't just a garnish—they were an experience.

Kaelred watched as the dishes came together—

The roasted sporefruit broth, thick and fragrant.

The mashed moon-vine tubers, creamy and glowing faintly under the firelight.

The war beast meat, coated in a shimmering, golden glaze.

And the wildfire sprouts, scattered across the plates like embers.

Kaelred exhaled. "Alright. I take back what I said."

Argolaith smirked. "Told you."

The three of them sat around the fire, their plates filled with enough food to satisfy a small army.

Kaelred was the first to take a bite—

And his eyes widened.

The war beast meat was incredible—deeply rich, perfectly charred, with the emberleaf glaze sinking into every bite. The sunpepper root brought a slow burn, not overpowering, but warming.

The sporefruit broth was thick and savory, coating his throat with warmth.

The moon-vine tubers were smooth, buttery, with a cooling aftertaste that balanced the fire in the meat.

Visit ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience.

And the wildfire sprouts?

They left a citrusy kick on his tongue that kept him wanting more.

Kaelred groaned, already reaching for another bite. "Argolaith, if you weren't a fighter, you could rule a kingdom just by feeding people."

Argolaith grinned. "I'll keep that in mind if this whole warrior thing doesn't work out."

Even Malakar—who usually ate in quiet disinterest—paused, eyes flickering as he took a bite of the meat. He chewed slowly, then exhaled.

"This is… impressive."

Argolaith leaned back smugly. "I accept my praise."

Kaelred grinned. "Fine. You win. This is a feast worthy of the gods."

The fire crackled. The scent of magic-infused food filled the air.

And for the first time in what felt like forever—

They weren't fighting.

They weren't running.

They were just together.

And that?

That was worth celebrating.