Chapter 161

Going over all my various projects made me realize even though i might be in a shit situation, I’ve come far in my journey. It made me happy.

That said, it was time.

I couldn’t be a chicken shit and not talk to buttons and the pain mushroom when I had the translation nodule all figured out. Well mostly figured out. It was nice that it gave me the complete MEANING of the words or intentions but a simple conversation appealed.

In any case, I quickly fashioned translation nodules at the end of my mycelium to both buttons and the pain mushroom.

I froze for just a moment on deciding on who to talk to first. I couldn’t decide for the longest while but eventually i just went in the same order I found them in which meant, buttons.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

That decided, I hesitated for just a moment, this time, on what exactly I would say but I quickly determined that a simple greeting would do.

“Hello tree I am guardian.”

A pause. Then an influx of emotions hit me.

Confusion, hesitation, reserved gratitude. And beneath them indignation.

Confusion was the easiest to grasp. It was confused that I was talking to it. It knew that I was attached and closely bonded with its roots but didn’t expect to be contacted through them.

Hesitation was obvious as well. It was hesitant to talk to me. I was the same way back as a human, I took no offense.

The reserved gratitude and the indignation beneath all the other emotions hit me like an uppercut though.

The first one was not great to receive but understandable. It didn’t ask for my help. I simply came in and while helpful intruded on its space. Something it cherished apparently.

Autonomy was something I understood and while it hurt to be sort of told off I took it for what it was.

I looked at my connection with it to mean as something like a pet when it was never like that for it. While a cat could fit this description to a T, that was besides the point. The point was that it deserved its space if that’s what it wanted.

The last one, the one it didn’t intend to send hit me the most and fully made me feel and realize that what I had done was wrong.

Indignation.

It did not need to be coddled, It never asked for this, it did not need assistance.