I Won't Die A Villainess

Chapter 5 // Party //

It took me a couple of minutes before I got the hang of riding on a mythical giant bird with a murderous psychopath god driving in front.

I peered over and saw that we were coming close to a big golden tree. "That's it!" I pointed. "That's the tree!"

Elios grunted and we soared down towards the big tree. We landed gracefully and Elios helped me down (surprisingly). "Would this take long?" He asked.

"I'm sorry, do you have other plans for this evening except being stuck in a box?" I countered sarcastically as I got off the giant bird, Aisi.

He glared at me. "I don't know why, but this place irks me."

"You irk me." I countered as he got off as well. "Besides, this is a holy place."

"I'm an unholy god."

"I believe you," I muttered as I went closer to the tree and examined it.

I remember in the story that this is where Ella first awakened her powers when she encountered a dead sparrow and cried as she kneeled under the tree. That was a magical scene in the manga where the heroine was blessed with ancient powers and was able to heal the sparrow, who later became her familiar.

"What are you doing?" Elios' voice snapped me back to reality.

"Kneeling, hoping the tree would give me ancient powers," I answered.

He scoffed. "Why would a piece of wood do that?"

"Because I read about it in the story, that this is a holy tree."

He sighed as he crossed his legs and sat down next to me. I watched as the snow around him melted and the ground cleared for him. "Child, this tree holds no power. There is nothing holy about this place."

"That can't be, this is where Ella awakened -will awaken her powers."

"I assure you this tree isn't holy."

That can't be if the tree isn't holy, then. What if what's underneath the tree is-

"Ella's mother was buried here," I uttered. "You don't think-"

"That's impossible." He scoffed. "Something that's dead, holds no power. What's underneath feels more like, primeval. It has no power, no holiness, it's just- fossil."

"What do you mean?"

He shrugged. "I don't know child, just something familiar. Do you want me to dig up the dead body for you to examine?"

"I'm gonna pass on that one." I sighed as I turn my gaze upon the tree. "So this is it? Nothing? I'm stuck here forever?"

"Not forever." Elios chimed. "Just until you die." 

I glared at him. "Wow, that's comforting."

"Cheer up little sapling. You still have about 50 cycles or so. How old are you again?"

"I'm fourteen in this body, and my name is not girl or sapling or child. It's Ari." I said as I stood up and walked towards the tree to examine its beauty. I turn to face him. "And I would like it if you would address me as that." 

"As what?"

"My name!" I told him. "Or would you like to address me as 'Master'?"

He sighed as followed me. "Fine, Ari."

I smiled triumphantly. He rolled his eyes. "Okay, so how does this work exactly?"

"What?"

"This whole master-servant thing, do you follow me wherever I go or something?" I asked, leaning my back on the tree.