When looking from the opposite side of the lake, its hard to appreciate how other-worldly beautiful this tree is. Sure, its gigantic, blue, and has hundreds of thick branches stretching up to the azure sky, donned by snow white leaves. But when you're right next to it... imagine a piece of art, something so old and extraordinary, that only a god-like master painter would be capable of bringing it to life, yet here it exists.

The first thing you notice, is how the water that girts the tree goes from a light blue, to a white. The water itself doesn't change color, its the overhanging branches that sprinkle leaves who are at fault. The current isn't strong enough to wash away the leaves before the new ones fall, so there's a thick layer of glowing white leaves everywhere, although they look more like petals than leaves because of their size and shape.

The second thing you notice is the tree. It seems to grow in size the closer you get. Which sounds obvious, but it's still bigger than I thought. I'm upgrading it from gigantic to gargantuan or colossal. Even the larger roots jutting from the ground are the size of regular trees. Just looking at the trunk makes me feel like a spec of dust in comparison. Very magical indeed.

As Bartlon rows the boat through the water we leave an out of place, yet pretty, trail of clear water where the leaves were pushed aside. From the front of the boat it feels as if I'm floating through a light falling snow towards an enchanting tree. If it wasn't for the humidity and heat, the illusion would be perfect! Such a shame, maybe I can come back in the winter? But then the tree wouldn't have leaves to shed! urrghhh.

"You'd better hop down now!" Bartlon says from behind me "we're about to land!"

Land? why is it called landing when we aren't flying? Boats are weird. I comply flap down to the floor as the boat grinds against something beneath the layer of leaves and shudders to a halt. Which in my opinion was a close call! Bartlon should of warned me sooner! I could have fallen!

I choose to say nothing, I just hum away the anger as I watch Bartlon use an oar to poke at the leaves in front of the boat. I'm guessing that the leaves are obscuring where the water touches the shore, making it hard to judge if its safe to disembark. Unless its more strange boat things I don't understand. Like, maybe he's knocking on the floor to announce his arrival?

"It will take about 2 hours for me to collect the sap, so be back by then!" he groans, each word separated by a poke of his oar.

Bartlon gives one last poke into the bed of leaves before he's satisfied and he tucks away the oar back under the wooden seat. He opens up a little pouch on his hip, rumages around and drops a purple stone in the boat, strange. Then, with a combination of 'grrnts' and 'hupps', he jumps out of the boat with unexpected grace and lands in the leaves that go up to his shins. He turns to face me with a lofty smile on his face, as if he performed an amazing acrobatic act, and trudges towards the hulking tree.

"2 hours" the back-turned old man reminds me again.

"Okie Doke" I promise back.

I can hear a sloshing sound as he walks and I can see a glimmer of reflection in his footsteps. I know what watery evil is hiding under those white leaves. There's no way I'm jumping down there too! It might go up to Bartlon's shins, but that would be my chest! That's almost fully submerged! I'd die! Or at the very least, be super uncomfortable! I need another way to cross!

There's a thick root about three meters away from the boat. There's actually many aerial roots breaking up the landscape of white leading to the trunk, but this one's the closest. This is the perfect chance to get some flying practice done! Sink or swim! Hopefully I swim!

Not literally of course, that would be the worst.

In all honesty, I'd rather call back Bartlon before he's too far away and ask him to carry me to land, but I can't bring myself to. I'm an independent bird! And flying is at the top of my to-do list now that I've arrived at the tree! Also, I'd be reminding him that I can't fly, which after hearing how amazing pheonixs' are supposed to be, makes me a little depressed.

HOWEVER! This time! I have a secret technique!!

It starts with a 'C', and ends with an 'inders'.

Of course, I'm talking about using Cinders to propel me upwards! I can already fly somewhat, so using Cinders should help me stay airborne! The thought occurred to me when I was fighting the Misty Death, or was it the the Rattling Snakes? I don't remember, yesterday feels like so long ago, let alone two days ago, but I'm eager to try! This will be spectacular!

I flap up to the boat's side and eye my target. Its a little bit less than 3 meters away and slightly higher in altitude to the boat. I already know I can fly directly up about a meter, which is more than enough. I'm not sure how far I can go, but 3 meters shouldn't be too far, I'm feeling confident, Cinders should help too!

I assume a stance where both my wings are poised for flapping and I work up the courage to commit to the flight. After all, 3 meters has never been done before! I mean there was that one time when I jumped off my cliff-like mountain into the forest, but that doesn't really count. it was more like a barely controlled free-fall than flight. I've come a long way since then.

"Cinders" I caw as I jump off the boat and flap speedily.

The burst of heat on my wings and belly feel lovely, the abrupt increase in height also feels fantastic! The plan is a resounding success, as I knew it would be! Fire Flapping is a go!

"Cinders" I caw again, earning myself another jump in height, far past my personal best of a meter.

"Cinders". Another jump and I'm now at 2 meters high, way higher than I need to be to get to the root, but its just too fun not to fly higher! I bet I could easily go to 10 meters if I wanted to!

I angle my head forwards, lining up the bridge of my beak with where I'm aiming to land and I use Cinders a fourth time. The amount of speed I gain is a little unexpected, as in, I go too quick, turns out flying forward is easier than going upwards.

Thankfully, the unexpected speed means I don't have to flap much over the 3 meter gap. I just hold out my wings and glide lazily until the root gets closer, that's when the real flapping begins. The landing.

I can already see the 'Falling Damage' squiggle in my mind.

I near the target, a little too high, so I use a Cinders in front to slow me down. The Cinders slows me down a bit too much, now I'm undershooting, so I use 2 more Cinders to push me forward, which points me on course. The only issue now is that I'm falling rather quickly, so another 3 weak Cinders in rapid-fire slows me down enough so can I land gracefully in a fountain of my own fire.

+ 1 Intelligence

"How was that!?!?" I shout at the tree "My wings don't even hurt in the slightest!"

That was the best flight attempt, ever.

All the leaves that are covering the root are on fire, but that's an acceptable sacrifice. They seem to burn quickly, incinerating in the blink of an eye until the whole root is exposed in all it's blue glory. By some sort of magic, the untouched leaves surrounding the root get blown in a gust that pushes them to a safe distance from the flames and my fire quickly dies out. Lucky, good job wind!

Oh that reminds me!

"Status" I say out loud.

Name: -----, ------

Health: 81/81 Mana: 102/136 Level 4 (191/400) Strength: 12 Endurance: 19 Species: Pheonix Dexterity: 11 Intelligence: 40 Class: Pheonix, Level 2 Affinity: 24 Skills Traits Cinders, Level 2 Mythical Bellows, Level 1 Fire to Fire Profound Fire Affinity Dungeon Bound

Yup, my Mana has gone down! I had a feeling that Cinders and Bellows had something to do with mana, I think its 'insufficitnietns mana' when it reaches 0 or something like that. Its recovering quickly though, about 1 every 4 seconds. If I wait a moment it'll be back to full and I can fly again! In a way, getting more Mana would be better than Strength and Dexterity if I want to fly freely!

Though I wonder how I can get more mana? I'm fairly sure I never got any from leveling up or from running or fighting. Maybe its impossible to get anymore? I guess I can ask Bartlon when I see him next, he should know!

I eye up another root protruding from the shallow water, this time its 5 meters away and lower to the ground. Its a bit flatter too, so the landing should be easier. I climb up to the highest point on the root and I raise my wings for take-off. Another blast of fire and I'm rocketing upwards in a spray of cinders. the rush of wind and momentary weightlessness is welcoming, as if until now I've been crawling instead of walking. It feels right.

The leaves on the root that I'm aiming for are parted by another gust of wind while I'm mid-flight, as if they can sense their impending fiery doom. I don't wanna question why, it's fairly convenient. My brilliant landing doesn't ignite any leaves this time, which I'm impartial too. Even if fire is pretty, I don't won't to see all the leaves reduced to ashes, they have a certain attractiveness too.

There are still countless giant roots resting above the carpet of white on the ground, forming a natural maze around the trunk, which means plenty of practice for me! I'll fire flap my way to the blue trunk! Then... I dunno, there will probably be something cool to do there!

I've still got plenty of time before Bartlon comes back!