Chapter 13 : The spirit tree

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Tsireya decided to take all of us to the Spirit Tree. Lo'ak had run off somewhere, but we didn't question it, as he'd been doing that frequently over the past couple of weeks. We followed Tsireya, with Tuk riding the same ilu as Kiri, Rotox on his, me on mine, and Neteyam on his. Neteyam and I were at the back of the group. At one point, he signaled for me to look at him and come closer.

When I did, he quickly glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and to my surprise, he gave me a quick kiss on the lips. Shocked, I playfully pushed him away and mouthed, "Are you crazy? Someone might see!" He just shrugged casually, and we continued following Tsireya.

Eventually, Tsireya guided us to dive beneath a large rock formation, leading us into a small, cave-like area. As we emerged, a breathtaking sight greeted us with a magnificent rock structure with smaller islands floating around it, suspended in the air like a dream.

"We are here," Tsireya spoke softly, her voice filled with reverence

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"We are here," Tsireya spoke softly, her voice filled with reverence. "This is the Cove of the Ancestors, one of our most secret and sacred places."

"Eclipse is the best time to be here," she added as we all looked around in amazement. Smiling, I glanced at Neteyam, who had the biggest grin on his face as he took in the breathtaking view. The air felt electric, alive with wonder, when the eclipse set. It was then that we all noticed something glowing in the water a large, radiant figure. The Spirit Tree.

I gazed down in awe. "This is it... this is the Spirit Tree," Tsireya said, her smile broad as she watched our astonished faces. As we reached the center of the cove, I felt an intense energy, like an unseen force, pulling me toward the glowing tree.

We dismounted our ilus and dove deeper into the water, heading toward the Spirit Tree. The sight was mesmerizing. The tree shimmered, surrounded by countless glowing creatures swimming gracefully around it. I glanced at Tsireya, seeking more instructions. She gestured to us, "When you connect to the Spirit Tree, it will provide you with oxygen."

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. Moving closer to one of the tree's radiant branches, I saw Neteyam beside me. We exchanged a look of understanding before reaching behind us to grab our queues. Together, we connected them to the Spirit Tree.

Immediately, I felt my eyes close as I was drawn into a vivid memory from my past. I was seven years old, back before my father's passing. I was running and laughing with the Sully kids, Neteyam by my side, as we always were when we were younger. We acted like we were inseparable, like we were joined at the hip. I heard my father's warm laughter in the distance and walked toward him.

"Hi, Father," I said softly, and he looked at me with that kind smile of his. "Hi, Y/N," he responded, pulling me into a big, comforting hug. As we pulled away, I felt a lump in my throat. He looked at me with a tender expression. "You look just like your mother. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when you were growing up," he said, his voice filled with regret.

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