Unlike Atal, where there was a wall, here in the forest there were no such things. That didn't mean that there weren't guards, there were, and we were certainly stopped well before we got to the shade cast by the arboreal king that dominated this region. Most of them only took a few moments to look us over and ask basic questions though, and since we were a small group with a woman and youth in tow it was clear we weren't here to make war.

Once we were under the branches themselves I couldn't stop looking. There were houses and businesses grown from the thick bark, pulled up with even more plants atop them. More than that though were the clouds.

“It has its own weather,” I remarked, looking at the condensation hanging in the air.

“Oh yes,” Rolan confirmed. “Particularly at this time, near the rainy season this place is unbearably wet.”

“Why?” asked Isha, outside the branches there were no clouds this low.

“Water evaporates, like your hair drying, and when it does it goes into the air. From there it moves about, into the sky to fall again as rain. However with the leaves covering it here it cannot escape. It acts like the roof of a hut, keeping smoke, or in this case water, in.”

All of them looked at me, and I realized that once again I'd said something strange.

“I've... never heard it put like that,” Rolan said, giving me a questioning look.

“Justin's weird,” Chien answered.

“But normally right,” my lover added.

“Yes, normally right.” For the time that seemed to satisfy Rolan, but I made not to keep my mouth shut around him for just a bit longer.

Some of the bridges here were getting to truly impressive sizes, living vines and wood grown was only so strong. As we approached one moving us to a branch with something akin to a road on it I bent down to look, letting a few drops of the forming rain bounce off the back of my neck.

“See something boss?” Chien asked.

“These shouldn't work,” I said.

“And why not?” our guide asked, seemingly offended.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Look at the size Rolan, they're massive, and plants are only so strong. Is something done to strengthen them?” There had to be magic worked into them somewhere, either a special type of plant or something else, I just couldn't work out what.

“The Old One back in the village did some things to make the vines there stronger, so probably. I'm sure we could ask someone, but how did you know?”

“Rolan I've built a lot of things now. Not a lot of bridges, but a lot of things, and there's a certain point where all materials stop working. A short crossing made of plants is one thing, they can do that no problem. This one will take us to a count a at least a thousand and four people could walk it beside one another. That's different, and I don't think most plants could handle that, their own weight would be a problem.”

“And you don't trust them?” Rolan inquired.

“Oh, I'm sure they work, I just want to know how. Would help for doing things in the future.”

After a few minutes I decided that it was both a question for later and one I hadn't the expertise for right now. I wasn't really a plant guy, just thought they were neat, and I'd wasted enough time on it. We also had several people stopping to look at us strangely, and we weren't really here to cause a ruckus, so it was time to keep going.

It took over an hour to reach the trunk of the central tree, and when we did I was still stunned. The size simply couldn't be overstated, looking almost like something from a painting surreal. It put to shame anything from Atal, or that I'd seen in this world so far, and gave me some hope that there were many new things to see.

A path had been grown for those going up or down, stretching and winding between the different branches and their districts, and we began to climb. Going a mile up didn't seem like too big a deal, until you realized that we weren't going straight up. To keep the incline manageable the ramp wasn't that steep, meaning it was long, miles and miles long of circling the massive tree, almost seeming to go up by mere inches.

“Don't suppose you know a way to fly Justin?” Chien asked, looking tired.

“I've got some ideas, but none that are immediately helpful.”

“On flying?” Isha and Rolan chorused.

“None that are immediately helpful. Are you sure we have to go up all the way Rolan?” It had been him who'd led us here so far, though he didn't look as bothered by the hike as the rest of us.

“The Ancient resides on the highest level, not quite the very top of the tree, but close. Being high and above others indicates how close to him you are.”

Looks like the idea of 'having a view' was almost multiversal too. I couldn't really blame him, the ruler of this place could probably have things brought straight to him if he wanted, and seeing the whole forest from that height really had to be beautiful, at least a bit.

“I'm sure we could find you a mountain or a massive tree to live in one day Justin,” Chien needled, seeing my thoughtfulness on the subject.

“Nah, never really liked being too high up. Pretty to see, but not where I'd want to live.”

A few more moments and our break was done. I had to give it to the locals, even if I thought their idea of living like this was weird they did at least put plenty of sitting areas along the path for those ascending to take breaks on. It'd be necessary for people who didn't have body-based magic or weren't able to just hurl themselves through the sky by some method or another. By the forth hour though I was sorely tempted to try and figure out how to fly though, if not for me than for Isha, as she looked miserable.

“Please tell me we're nearly there,” she griped.

“Almost, but we might want to wait here for a bit longer. If you're not in a rush?” Rolan said.

“Not horribly, but why?” I returned.

“You'll see.”

It was already late, the sun starting to set, so we took a longer break to eat some and have a little picnic. Even this high up there was plenty of room, and since these areas were specifically for rests nobody cared. As darkness fell I began to see what Rolan meant too.

Slowly, quite slowly at first, the dark places below us began to shine. In the shadows near us I saw them too, flowers and vines that gave off a pale radiance in varied colors. It wasn't bright, not the strong light of a fire, but it was more than enough to see by. I'd not noticed it on the way here either, the leaves shielding the glow, but now below me the branches and homes began to stand out.

“No fires, just... plants?” Chien said, looking below us at the shimmering lights.

“It gets dry, fire would be dangerous, but these,” Rolan nodded.

I was glad we'd stopped like he said, perhaps I wasn't much for 'views' but this one was certainly one to see.