Ori and the decayed land

Chapter 13: A talk with the Spirit tree

The trio arrived at Wellspring glades as the sky was now dark enough to see the stars.

They soon reached their hut and entered "I feel so exhausted from not only trekking the reach, but also running from Shriek and that avalanche." Ori spoke exhausted as he fell onto one of the beds "Yeah, that was tiring. I should thank you for getting us away from it, even though it eventually buried us." Sein replied but Ori didn't answer as he fell asleep. "It seems that Ori had fallen asleep." Seir said to Sein "I can't say that I blame him. He not only trekked the reach, which was tiring on its own, but also saved us from Shriek and the avalanche before it buried us." Sein replied.

Sein approached the bed that Ori had fallen asleep on and joined him on it as Seir floated to the other one and floated onto down onto it "Good night, sis." Seir spoke as her light dimmed "Good night, Seir." Sein replied before she turned to Ori and placed a kiss on his forehead "Good night, Ori." she said before she fell asleep.

Ori opened his eyes as he entered the dream realm. He looked around to see darkness "Darkness. Doesn't feel like Mouldwood depths, though." Ori spoke. Ori soon heard a very familiar voice "That's because you're not in that place." Ori knew this voice all too well "Spirit tree. It's been a while. A few days in fact." Ori replied.

"It has been a few days since we last spoke. How is it over in Niwen? I can imagine there would be creatures of decay." the Spirit tree spoke "It's been eventful, to say the least. But before I get into that, how's Solas doing without Sein and I?" Ori asked the great tree "She misses you both dearly. Both Naru and Gumo are doing the best they can to keep her happy." the Spirit tree told Ori "Can you tell her that we're alright and that we miss her too?" Ori asked "Of course. Hearing that both you and Sein are alright should cheer her up." the Spirit tree replied.

The spirit tree soon spoke again "I would like to know what happened in Niwen." he said curiously to Ori.

Ori was ready to tell the Spirit tree about what he had learned not just about the land, but also about himself "Well, there is the presence of decay almost everywhere. The Spirit willow, Niwen's only protection from the decay perished from old age, which caused Seir to shatter. Sein and I are acquiring the wisps to piece Seir back together, we're going to get the last wisp tomorrow. I also found out that I wasn't the spirit that I thought I was." Ori told the Spirit tree. The Spirit tree tried to act confused "What do you mean-" the great tree was cut off by Ori "You know what I'm talking about. I'm talking about Orin, tree. Why did you keep my previous life hidden from me?" Ori asked, he had an angry expression but spoke calmly. "You know about that? but how?" the Spirit tree asked, shocked "The Spirit willow told me and gave me all my memories from my previous life with her last bit of light. Now please, why didn't you tell me or let me keep my memories?" Ori told the Spirit tree before asking again "I kept it hidden from you because I didn't want you to try and go back." the Spirit tree told Ori "And yet, look at where both Sein and I are now, back in Niwen! I understand if you didn't want me to remember about Niwen, but keeping things hidden isn't the way to do it. That's how trust can be broken." Ori replied to the great tree.

It was then that Orin appeared next to Ori "Ori's right you know. Please don't hide things from others, it could break the trust between you and them." Orin said, which made the Spirit tree even more shocked "Ori, you and Orin are separated? How did this happen?" he asked Ori. Ori shrugged "I don't know, myself. Neither does Orin." Ori answered "Yeah, we don't know. But it could be something to do with your light being in our light." Orin said to the Spirit tree. "It may be possible. Ori could use my light in ways that I never knew were possible, so it could be possible that he has subconsciously split you from him, Orin." the Spirit tree replied.

Ori then had a strange, yet curious thought "Out of curiosity, Since I have your light within mine, could I bring back spirits?" he asked the Spirit tree, which surprised both the Spirit tree and Orin "Why does that feel oddly specific?" Orin half-asked himself "Yeah, that does seem oddly specific. There's something more than just curiosity there." the Spirit tree agreed with Orin. Ori sighed "Alright, you got me. There is something more than just curiosity. After finding out that Orin was able to speak to me, I wanted to bring him back, back to life with a physical form. Sure, I'm supposed to be Orin but now that we're separated, I don't want him to be stuck here in our mind." Ori explained as he looked at Orin, who had a more surprised expression now.

"You would do that for me?" Orin asked, still shocked "Of course I would. You should know more than anyone, even my mother that I want to help anyone, even if it's my previous self." Ori replied with a smile.

The Spirit tree thought for a moment "Well, knowing that you can use my light in ways that I didn't think were possible as I said before, with enough time, spirit light, and determination it may work but I'm not so sure." He told the two. Ori felt himself began to wake up "I'm waking up. I'll talk to you two later." Ori said as he began to fade from the dream realm "Understood. I'll tell Solas that you and Sein are alright." the Spirit tree replied.

Ori slowly opened his eyes and stretched only to see that it was still dark outside when he looked out the window "Still dark. Must've woke up extremely early." He thought as he carefully left the bed. Ori began to think once he left the bed "'With enough time, spirit light, and determination.' I say that I have the determination to make this work. But what about spirit light?" he mentally asked himself. He suddenly got an idea "The spirit well!" he thought and quietly left the hut that he, Sein, and Seir resided for the time being and headed to the spirit well.

Ori soon arrived at the spirit well "What's left of Seir's light runs through the spirit wells. I could use the light to try and bring Orin back." he quietly spoke.

Ori took a deep breath and held out a paw while focusing; Ori as well as the spirit well began glowing as some of Ori's light travelled from his paw and to the well. The light in the spirit well quickly flashed as Ori almost collapsed to the ground. Ori felt incredibly weak "Did it work?" he mentally asked himself as he was too weak to speak. Ori soon felt the light of the spirit well enter his body, which restored his spirit light. Ori was now able to stand as he looked at the spirit well. When he looked though, he saw a spirit laying in the centre of the well "Was I successful in bringing Orin back?" he asked himself.

The spirit on the spirit well soon began to awaken "My head... What happened?" the spirit said as they opened their eyes. The spirit looked at Ori "Ori? Is that- Wait Ori!!" they spoke with a semi load tone as they became shocked "Quiet! Others are sleeping!" Ori told them quietly. Ori soon realised that this spirit knew him "Wait, Orin?" Ori spoke with the spirit nodding "Yeah. It seems you brought me back." Orin replied quietly this time.

Ori couldn't believe it, he brought Orin back "I don't believe it. I have actually done it." Ori spoke.

Ori soon felt fatigue catch up to him "Wow... That really took a lot of energy out of me." he spoke as a slight yawn escaped his mouth "You should go back to sleep then." Orin replied "Doesn't sound like a bad idea. I can take us to the hut Grom had made for Sein and I." Ori said to Orin, who agreed.

Ori led Orin to the hut, and they entered. "Where will I sleep?" Orin quietly asked "You might be able to share the bed with Seir. I know it may feel a bit strange, but it's better to sleep on a bed instead on the actual ground." Ori quietly replied. Orin thought and nodded at Ori before he went and laid down on the bed that Seir was using while Ori went to the other bed with Sein. Both Ori and Orin fell asleep soon after.