After a bit of confusion and clarification with the young-looking boy, he seems to accept my position.

“So, you knew mother when she was still animate, huh? How was she?”

And so I recount of Hannah. Her mild temper, her warmth, her kindness and slightly playful attitude… And her sorrowful goodbye.

“I remember being a tree. You can decide anything. If you don’t want to feel anything, you won’t feel anything, same with all the other senses. If you are completely cut off, you only have your consciousness to content yourself with. There is no use in waiting around here, it could very well be millennia before she returns.”

Something about that bothers me.

“How do you know? I mean, she didn’t teach you anything, did she?”

“No, but some of it is sort of… Primal knowledge, I am born with it. We apparently instinctually develop ways of observing with the world, and upon observing other species, provided they do not mistake us for trees and cut us down, we mimic their appearance and sounds.”

“What is the rest of it, then?”

“Ah, I can’t really explain, but we Dryads can tell who else is a dryad. Some sort of intimate feeling, that you receive from them. Upon meeting one for the first time, she recognized it as that ability, and taught me about our people. She also gave me various hints, like adopting the form of the young makes it easier for you to escape, especially if you take the form of a girl, though I have always like matching my shape with my gender.” He smiles a little mischievously. “Also makes it easier to get with the girls, if you know what I am saying?” He is probably referring to looking as his gender, and not to looking very young. But who knows how many Mynies there are in this world?

“So, what do you gain from visiting her?” I ask, wondering if there is some special way for them to interact.

“I don’t really know. I was told that long ago, in a Dryad nation, there were forest consisting only of their ancestors. But after the massacre by humans, those forests have been cut down and most find themselves without any ancestors present. It seemed that it used to be custom to care for your ancestors and pray by them, so I thought I should do so every so often, now that I have the opportunity that so many lack.” He looks a bit sadly at the tree. “Though it is a pity what you have done to her”

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“Again, really sorry” I say and bow my head down deeply.

“No matter, she won’t feel it anyway.”

His words bring me a little relief.

“What are you going to do now?” He asks me.

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you say you were here, waiting for her to wake? Since you know she isn’t going to, potentially for a long time, what are you going to do?”

What should I do? I don’t know really.

“I guess I will just keep living here till she does come back” I say. I feel a heavy tug towards the only possible relation I have from my old life.

“You could also come with me” The dryad suggests. When I look at him, he has a big smile. “I am actually in a clan, mainly as a magic user. I am sure everyone would like an immortal guy like you on our team.” Clan, huh. Brings memories back.

“Nah, I feel like I won’t like it when they eventually disappear” I say downcast.

“Hey, why are you sounding like that? What else is more fun than spending time with people? Listen to me, while I am younger than you, I have had much more experience than you. And what makes life worth living is not the end result, but the journey, the memories and the relationships you make along the way.”

His hook doesn’t sink into me.

“Think, what are the happiest times in your life.” I think. I really liked Hannah’s warmth and kindness supplementing Jorgen’s staunch rigidness. Her hugs, her food, her care. I really liked the clan. The sights I got to see, even the dragon, though it took Asger, was a marvelous sight. The happy nights I spent drinking with friends. And Atna. Especially the short time before our permanent separation. The feeling of being wanted and desired. The feeling of that night.

“Now, you can either mourn the loss of the people you had those memories with for eternity, or you can go out there and make new ones. New memories with new people. Or even old memories with new people. Though the people change, what makes your existence worth it doesn’t.” He has held a little speech for me. I actually feel pumped up. I feel like I could actually do it. But I remember something.

“Ah, what about the girl I live with?” He seems to be a big question mark.

“Hang on, I’ll introduce you two” Guess he just forgot I mentioned her earlier with our grand talk. I lead him to our hut and enter. Amina has washed the dishes and is currently cleaning up the fireplace after cooking.

“Amina, I would like you to meet… Hang on, I never got your name?”

“Name is Yorgar, pleased to meet you”

“Right, Yorgar is my step-brother” Amina is looking like a big question mark, but quickly gathers herself.

“I am Amina, pleased to meet you.”

Yorgar looks over her once or twice before saying “Quite a wife you found yourself, huh?”

We both deny it immediately