The World of the Star-Reading Tree, Episode 6: The Day the Tree Danced

#Creative Awards2026 #Fantasy Novel Category

Episode 6: The Day the Tree Danced

The Time-Telling Grass remained silent.

The light of the Snow-Cave Grass, the swelling of the Sleeping Moss, and the trembling of the thin vines were all gradually calming down.

However, deep within Fiona's chest, something was still pulsing faintly.

Thump.

Ring, rustle, ring.

It was definitely resonating. Fiona placed her hand over her chest.

"...What is it...?"

It felt as if something unknown was sleeping inside her. Naviel slowly stared at Fiona.

"Was that reaction from you?"

"I don't know. ...I'm sorry."

Fiona shook her head slightly.

"I didn't do anything..."

Before she could finish, the depths of her chest pulsed again.

Thump.

Ring, rustle, ring.

This time, something trembled violently on the other side of the glass window.

Ring—

Something that was not the wind blew through, accompanied by particles of light.

The glass of the observatory trembled faintly.
An invisible wave traveled all the way to my feet.
No one could make a sound.

The lights of the snow-cave grass flickered all at once.
The sleeping moss rustled.

Shiroru's ears pricked up.

"W-what is it?"

Milo's fur stood on end.

"It's outside!"

Naviel walked over
to the large glass window of the greenhouse.

Fiona also looked up, startled.

Beyond the window,
the Star-Reading Tree was glowing.
Much brighter than usual.

Circling the trunk,
streaks of white light emerged,
one after another.

The layers of silvery leaves
slowly opened up like wings.

"I can't believe it..."

Fiona's voice trembled.

There was no sign of the soil at the base crumbling.
It wasn't tearing through the earth, either.

It was just that the outlines of the thick roots
were gradually turning into white light.

The roots that should have been touching the ground
faded as if they were unraveling,
and between them and the earth,
countless grains of starlight began to flow.

It didn't look like the roots were being pulled out,
but rather like they were being lifted up by the starlight.

Before long, the trunk of the Star-Reading Tree
left the ground, silently and just a little bit.

The air changed.

Into the daylight,
a pale blue like the pre-dawn sky began to mingle.

The silver leaves ripple softly.

Even though it was a massive tree,
its movement was surprisingly quiet.

It looked less like a tree moving,
and more like a giant silver bird
waking from a long slumber
and taking flight into the sky.

Ring,
rustle,
ring.

Opening its silver leaves
and gently unfurling its roots of light,
the Star-Reading Tree slowly
approaches the observatory.

The tree that had been visible in the distance through the large window
is gradually drawing closer,
as if flapping its silver leaves.

“T-the tree... is coming toward us.”

Fiona's voice is raspy.

“Is it flying...? I-I'm so surprised.”

Shiroru shouts.

“...I've never seen anything like this!”

Milo keeps his eyes wide open,
his tail standing straight up.

“S-surprising. This isn't in any of the records.”

Naviel seems to be thinking about something,
but says nothing.
He simply stares at the Star-Reading Tree.

As the Star-Reading Tree draws near,
its massive branch shadows
spread across the entire dome glass
of the observatory.

The daylight gradually begins to fade.

Shiroru, who was by the window, pricks up her long ears.

“My ears and fur are all tingling!”

“W-what on earth!”

Milo's gray back
is also wrapped in a pale blue light.

Beyond the glass,
each and every silver leaf
is swaying grandly and silently.

It looked much larger
than when it stood in the center of the forest.

With every step it drew closer,
even the air inside the observatory
became filled with the tree's presence.

The shadows of the silver leaves reflected on the dome glass
flowed slowly across the floor.

A pale blue light
illuminated the back of Fiona's hand,
and faintly dyed Naviel's profile.

Fiona,
while feeling the sound that still echoed faintly
deep in her chest,
could not take her eyes off the scene.

Ring,
rustle,
ring.

Before long, the Star-Reading Tree
descended right beside the observatory,
like a white bird touching the surface of the water.

White, thin, and long glowing roots
sank slowly into the earth,
vanishing as if grains of stars were unraveling.

...Ring.

The sound stopped abruptly.

And there, right next to the observatory,
the Star-Reading Tree stood.

As if nothing had happened at all.

The tree that should have been in the center of the forest until just a moment ago
was now right beside them,
looking down at Fiona and the others.

Unable to believe the sight,
no one could move for a while.
Everyone just stared at the Star-Reading Tree.

The silver leaves,
catching the daylight,
shimmered with a pale blue light.

Naviel instinctively
grabbed Fiona's shoulder.

"…Why?
The Star-Reading Tree is reacting to you.
It was the same back then."

Fiona kept staring at Naviel,
unable to say anything.

Shirol hopped over to the window.

"Surprise!"

Her long ears swayed gently.

It's so close. Much closer than usual.

Milo swayed his tail low.

You flew here like a bird, didn't you?

Fiona stared at the Star-Reading Tree.

The fluttering in her chest had already faded, and in its place, she felt as if something nostalgic had awakened deep within her.

You came to be by my side, didn't you?

The words spilled naturally from Fiona's lips.

Naviel took his hand off Fiona's shoulder. Then, he moved his fingertips as he always did. Star characters floated in the air. However, a tension he couldn't quite suppress still remained on his profile.

The movement of the Star-Reading Tree. The fact that its roots had turned into light. The reactions around Fiona. The silence of the Time-Telling Grass.

He recorded each one, comparing them against past records.

That was when it happened.

The branches of the Star-Reading Tree swayed as if striking the sky with great force.

The silver leaves opened, and even though it was daytime, a pale blue light like the beginning of night spread across the area.

Naviel's complexion changed ever so slightly.

Brother...

His voice was just a little stiffer than usual.

Shirol's ears stopped moving completely.

Ah!

Milo's tail stopped as well.

The next moment, another shadow appeared within the light of the Star-Reading Tree.

It didn't look like he was descending from the sky,
but rather,
appearing from a rift in the light.

Long silver hair.
Golden eyes.
A garment based in white,
with thin gold lines running through it.

He was tall and slender,
and just by standing there,
he possessed a beauty that made it impossible to look away.

If Naviel's eyes were blue,
harboring stardust,
then the young man's eyes were
a gold that seemed to have trapped the moonlight.

Shirol's ears
fluttered.

"Yuki!"

The beautiful young man who appeared from the light
first turned his gaze toward the Star-Reading Tree.

Then,
he shifted his gaze to Naviel.

And finally,
he looked straight at Fiona.

His golden eyes were very deep,
and it felt as if he could see through everything.

An overwhelming presence.

In the daylight,
the silver leaves of the Star-Reading Tree
swayed silently,
as if welcoming someone they knew well.

Continues in Episode 7, "Moonlight and Golden Eyes."

♪Bonus♪
Episode 6 "The Day the Tree Danced" Image Illustration