Re:START/If {Book 1.0}
Chapter 8: Fragments in Eternal Line Story (Part 01)

In the room in the Sacred Tree, Odo sat on a wooden chair, placing both hands on his lap. He removed the Dimensional Cloak, at a glance his gaze turning lethargic, glancing towards Reyah who was sitting on the similarly shaped wooden chair in front of him. Now the two of them were in one corner of a spacious wooden room that had no support pole, near the flower bed that the black-haired boy had previously used. After folding the Dimensional Cloak and placing it on his lap, Odo let out a light sigh while lowering his face that seemed to be full of thought.

“So, how do you plan to defeat that Black Dragon? Just so you know, I've never even met the dragon ..., all I know of him is from books alone,” said the black-haired boy.

“Tenakan course, more or less the basic plan already exists .... I think it's more planned than what the Swordsman did.”

Reyah's answer astonished Odo, the black-haired boy's gaze narrowed and grew sharper. Thinking of something else, Odo realized a few things from what Reyah had said earlier. Basically, the actions of his father's expedition were indeed very detrimental, whether it was to the Astral World or his own father's territory. Be it resources, equipment, thoughts, money, and life, the expedition that Marquess Luke had undertaken could really be said to be unfavorable seeing the consequences that existed. Realizing this, Odo realized that his current actions by going to the Astral World could also be said to be very careless and not planned carefully.

However, Odo himself realized that it was only an excuse. He was in this place, still alive and breathing in the Astral World after coming to such a dangerous place that could kill such a human child so easily, that was a fact that existed now. His goal of coming to the Astral World was not to look for pride or a mark of achievement, but to look for the ingredients of a potion for his mother's medicine. The choice of retreat was not there for him. If he returns now, it is likely that what he did was not much different from the failure of his father's expedition.

Odo took a deep breath and exhaled. On the thoughts that exist in the mind, He compiles questions to find information. With very calm eyes, he looked towards Reyah while asking, “By the way, Reyah .... I fainted how long?”

“Hmm ...” The dryad slightly looked away and thought, then looked back at Odo with a flat eye. “Maybe four days, according to the time calculation of this place .... Well, compared to real-world time in stable condition, maybe there hasn't been a day. You don't have to worry,” he said.

“Eh?” That answer really took Odo by surprise. Not only because of the length of time he was unconscious, but also because of the difference in the speed of time between the Astral World and the Real World. Indeed there are some explanations about the time difference because basically dimensional differences can cause it to happen, but Odo really did not think that it happened and he experienced it.

“What is the difference in time as severe as that ..., not just a few hours ... but instead until ...”

“It's not natural? In the human world there is also a time difference like that in each place, right? Like in other parts of the world it's day but in other parts it's night, or something like that ..?”

At first glance, turning his gaze and thinking, Odo realized that such a thing was natural. Time differences can indeed occur, although it is not in a different category of dimensions though.

“Reyah ..., Astral World time difference with⸻”<TAG1>

“One to four,” says Reyah directly.

“A ...?

“Always also one to one, one to two, or there are also places with a time ratio of one to one thousand.”

“Se-Seriously? What is the Astral World that is a stable place ..?”

The fact Reyah said was completely unbelievable, but unfortunately it was a reality that Odo had to swallow. The concept of time can also explain severe injuries to the stomach can heal quickly and the condition of his body back in prime, Odo really can not deny the fact of the difference in time.

“If Reyah's explanation is correct ..., that explains a little why Dad looks older than his age. She ..., often entered into this Astral World, anyway. But ..., why do you still look young? Not before ..., before the sickly Mother also ..”

At the thought of this, Odo's doubts about the secrets his mother had hidden grew stronger. Physical appearance does not change every year, but the condition of the body whose health is declining, it is too strange if it is only classified in the category of women who are young. It feels more than just an ordinary disease or curse.

“Time difference or ...”

“Quiet,” says Reyah. Odo's focus goes straight back to the Dryad.

“A comparison of the time of the Astral World is indeed faster than the world where mortal beings live. But, I think the fastest rate of time in this area of the Astral World is only one in four. Things like one to a thousand only exist at the end of the world ..., a place where the range of the singularity concept is getting weaker,” Dryad continued.

Hearing that, Odo put on a flat expression, not out of disbelief but out of common sense unwilling to accept the fact. At the same time, Odo also begins to understand that Reyah cannot really read his mind, the proof of that is because Dryad did not discuss Odo's thoughts about his mother.

The black-haired boy stood up, then briefly looked away and sighed. He put on a friendly face to completely divert the topic of the conversation going on.

“Actually how vast is the Astral World? I feel like my head is dizzy .... Really, if I'm not wearing meda⸻”

When Odo was about to hold the medal that was the Existence Stabilizing Magic Tool while in the Astral world, it did not exist. He should have always draped it to stabilize existence and space, but now it was completely out of it.

“Eh?!There ain't?! Medals .... Then why am I not ... thrown like before ..?”

“You looking for a magic medal?” ask Reyah. Odo immediately looked at her in panic, then nodded.

“You no longer need the tool, now your presence in this place is patent and there will be no space distortion that throws you into the middle of nowhere.”

“EH?! Berati ... am I dead?” asked Odo with a worried look.

“Why is that even the conclusion?” Reyah had a flat expression.

“Ya ..., isn't it just Astral beings that can be stable in the Astral World? You know ..., physical body.”

“Who said?”

“Book.”

Reyah momentarily fell silent without serving back Odo's words for a moment. He looked away, then smiled to himself as if he had heard something funny. Odo who saw it was silent, he did not feel anything funny or had said anything funny.

“Hah ..?”

“Sorry ..., sorry. Really, I didn't think you were too fixated on such a book. Well, if according to the theory that humans and the races of the mortal world out there are indeed like that, but everything there are exceptions and new things are always found, you know ..”

Hearing that, Odo sat back down while crossing his right leg over his left leg. He put on an enthusiastic face, staring with curiosity. “What does it mean?” asked the black-haired child with a pure gaze of curiosity.

“Did you never think like this? If only Astral Beings could be stable in the Astral World, why would the Dragon Race be able to stay in this place? You know, the dragons also have a physical form.”

Odo was only aware of this, Astral said in his knowledge that a little misunderstanding was justified after hearing the words of Reyah. Basically, the Astral World is a term for dimensions whose inhabitants with the most population are Astral beings (do not have a physical form and only in the form of Ether or energy), while the place itself is just an ordinary place like the Real World but it's just that there is often a distortion of space because the dimension has changed its nature. The change in nature occurs because of its inhabitants, namely Astral beings. Just as the Real World was geographically changed due to the influence and actions of its inhabitants, the Astral World also had almost such characteristics.

“Crue .... But ..., why is my body suddenly stable in this Astral World? Adaptation can be as fast as that, or kar⸻”

“I see modified your body.”

“Eh?” Instantly Odo was surprised to be silent about the words.

“I see modified your body.”

“What?”

“I modified tubu⸻.”

“I heard that! I mean what!?”

Reyeah briefly looked away with a slightly reluctant face. He squinted for a moment, then looked back at Odo with a flat gaze. “What indeed? As I said, modify yes modify, change and add some upgrades,” said Reyah as if there was nothing strange in his speech.

Hearing that, Odo narrowed his eyes and increased his magic pressure. Although he had been patient in having discussions with creatures whose common sense was very distorted, but it had reached its limit. By channeling Mana into his right hand and changing his nature into lightning, Odo pointed towards Reyah. The hand covered in bright blue lightning could have been fired quickly without spreading it evasive given the distance between them, even so Reyah only put on a flat face and did not flinch.

“You know, violence does not solve anything,” Reyeh said .

“I know, even more than you. But, just so you know .., not all humans always think rationally. Sometimes humans squeeze emotions over logical thinking.”

Rey closed her eyes when she heard that. He tried to understand it and understand it. “Like me too much teasing him,” thought as he opened his eyes, then looked at Odo flatly.

“Sorry, I was wrong. Will myself explain ...”

Although Reyah had apologized, Odo still did not lower his hand and still pointed at the Dryad and was ready to fire lightning magic at any time. The gaze of the black-haired boy's eyes looked indifferent, so dark and as if it did not reflect light.

“I admit, at first I intend to make you a food reserve just like the humans hanging above,” said Reyah.

“Do you remember the ore that came out of your body and I swallowed earlier?”

“Ya, I remember.”

“It is Sacred Tree Ore.”

Hearing that, the concentration of lightning magic on Odo's fingertips disappeared. He stopped pointing, then placed his right palm over his lap, then lowered his right foot to the floor. With a gaze that did not change at all, Odo asked, “What's wrong with that?”

“Sacred Tree Ore, in other words a Magic Core seed that came out from the Sacred Tree. The ores I usually use to find food supplies. Do you see the roots and shoots coming out of the humans hanging above?”

Odo looked up, up there indeed came out the roots of the bodies of the soldiers connected to the ceiling of the room inside the Sacred Tree where the two of them were now. However, on the bodies of the soldiers who were hanging on top there were no buds, only roots growing out from the mouth and chest.

“No shoots there,” says Odo. The black-haired boy looked back at Reyah.

“The shoots are in their bodies .... Do you understand what I mean?”

At first glance Odo squinted his eyes. He understands what Reyah is saying, even though it is not thorough. The ore that Reyah said also mentioned with the seed, in other words it will grow. Reyah also said to use the ore to find food supplies. In that case, Odo could clearly know that the ores were what made the conditions of the soldiers of the Kingdom of Felixia become what was above them both.

“So yes, obviously there he said he intended to make me like the soldiers above. Previous ores ..., can grow in the body and ..”

Odo took a light breath, then stared at Reyah flatly. “So, why don't I become your food backup?” ask with a sense of indifference.

Reyah was surprised, Dryad thought Odo would be angry or not believe him anymore. However, the black-haired child asked the reason with a look as if he did not care about the facts.

“You are not suspicious or angry ...? This myself ..., originally intended to make you food, loh.”

Reyah's words made Odo again put a sharp gaze. In a dark tone, he replied,” Do you .. want me to rampage like crazy and fight with you to the death now?”

“Ti-No...” Reiah shaking. The boy's words and gaze were indeed nothing really bad, but it felt very unnatural and terrible.

“Back to my question, why don't you make me your food reserve? Don't tell me you're compassionate or anything like that,” said Odo.

“Indeed no. I did not make you a food reserve and hung you like the humans above because I could not.”

Odo was silent hearing that. He looked up, then looked back at the soldiers who had become like dried corpses. “What is there because there is a human age limit that can be used to reserve your food?” ask Odo. He looked at Reyah sharply back.

“Not that. Thou ..., the ore of the Sacred Tree cannot grow on your body.”

“Hmm?”

“Basically the Sacred Tree Ore that enters the body of living things will experience drastic growth because it has the properties of sucking Magic Core from other creatures. The incoming ore would move closer to the Mana source, then quickly take over the Magic Core and begin to grow. Once it grows, the existing shoots begin to take root, and the roots will hold the body until it can return to the Sacred Tree. Of course, when the ores return .., they will bring their hosts to serve as food reserves for this tree. But ..., strangely the ore does not grow when it enters your body ..”.

“Why ..?” ask Odo flatly. The question really made Reyah afraid, for a human was impressed like Odo was not afraid of death.

“Sa-As I checked, the Magic Core of the Sacred Tree Ore that entered you was swallowed up by your Magic Core. Your body completely devoured the life of the Sacred Tree Ore and made it your own. Because of that too ..., your existence in this Astral World has become stable without that medallion-shaped magic tool. Your existence ..., more precisely your existence even now almost resembles a Sacred Tree. What are you really? Why are you ..., is your body so strange?”

“Hmm, I think it's reasonable ..”

“Wa-Just ...? What do you mean swallowing the Magic Core of the Sacred Tree Ore is natural?” Reyah opened his mouth, then took out some Sacred Tree Ore from within his mouth onto his right palm. Seeing this, Odo put on an expression of disgust with what the Great Spirit was doing.

“See! Everything dried up and turned brown! Even the ore that I had just entered a moment ago had already turned dry like this! You think this is natural!?”

Odo observed the five ores above Reyah's palm. As the Great Spirit said, everything turned brown and dried up.

“Yes, how else. My Magic Core is quite greedy and in its infancy,” said Odo

“Eeeeh? Although you are still a child, can your Magic Core also be like that easily absorb another Magic Core ... just for the reason that it is in its infancy?”

“Yes, not really, anyway. I often emptied the Magic Core and continued to familiarize the Mana supply regularly throughout the body while practicing. Thanks to that, the absorption condition of my Magic Core could be classified as extremely fast and greedy for the Magic Core and external Mana..”.

“A .... Ja-Don't-Don't that ..., Natural Way Meditation Technique? Techniques in⸻”

“Not the Way of Nature. The meditation techniques I use the Divine and Heavenly Paths. Well, even though it only improves Magic Core and Any quality, but it does not cause any changes to the physical or endurance of the body, anyway.”

The meditation technique was basically a way to cultivate the Magic Core. Natural Way Meditation is a meditation technique that uses a way of absorbing the energy of nature and carrying it out, the Divine and Heavenly Path is a meditation technique where meditation can be done by absorbing life energy directly from external energy sources. Although different ways, but people who practice meditation techniques have the opportunity to become a Grand Sage quickly.

“Heavenly and Divine Streets ...? I see, you are a descendant of the Light Witch ..., so I think it is only natural that she taught you that Meditation Technique.”

When he heard that, Odo wanted to say that he studied autodidactically. But because it was difficult to explain it, Odo chose not to say it.

“Do you know my mother, Reyah?” ask Odo.

“Not really .., but he once saved this Astral World with the Swordsman.”

“Hmm, so why did you attack the rescue-led forces?”

“Libilty and debt are different. It's his fault for not appreciating this forest rule when it comes.”

Hearing that, Odo had no choice but to nod his head and admit his father's mistake. His gaze turned dark again, and the look in his eyes felt extremely sharp.

“By the way, what does it mean to modify my body? If it only absorbed the Magic Core from the Sacred Tree, I guess that doesn't include modification?”

“Ah ..., the ...” Reyeah turned her eyes. The face with his flat expression turned slightly guilty of something.

“Why are you turning your face away? Modify what you have done to me, oi ..”

“Yes, seeing such an interesting thing ..., I got a little carried away and tried something else .... Well, honestly it's amazing. I did not think all the ore could enter and be absorbed all out.”

“Eh ..?”

“Even myself to give some special ores with high quality Magic Core and some Eaters Fruit, but strangely they were directly preyed upon by your Magic Core after I forced you to swallow it, you see.”

“Wait first ..., what did you say?” asked Odo with a pale face.

“As I said, I made you swallow some ore and fruit of the Sacred Tree. Well, with that most likely you can completely stop being human and turn into a superior being that I don't yet know about. He~He~”

That flat laughter felt very annoying to Odo, but unfortunately He was too surprised to be angry. Odo's face paled even more. Although He had prepared himself with the shocking facts of Reyah, but what Dryad said was too unreasonable and arbitrary.

Afterwards, Reyah spoke to herself excitedly and explained some things that Odo did not understand. He told that the number of ores that Odo's Magic Core absorbed reached a hundred more, and the Sacred Tree Fruit that had entered his body reached dozens. Hearing that explanation, Odo could even imagine what his condition had been like during the last four days of fainting, of course it was unpleasant considering the way Reyah had inserted the Sacred Tree Ore into his body.

“Di-She was really as willing to play my body ...”

At the time of Reyah's explanation, Odo vaguely began to realize that indeed the potential of his Magic Core increased drastically in various aspects. It was not that Odo became stronger instantly or lost his physical human nature, but clearly the Quantity and Quality of Mana increased, and the flow of magic within his body grew stronger and more orderly. The increase did not feel so great, but it was vital as it encompassed the growth factor of the Magic Core that Odo had.

Author's note:

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