Several weeks after the Gathering of World Trees, the Forgotten Root Network began changing once again.
Deep beneath the Veyris Empire.
ancient roots glowed.
Golden energy flowed through countless worlds.
Ashvattha immediately noticed.
So did the Universe Tree.
Something is awakening.
Ashvattha said.
The Universe Tree closed her eyes.
Listening.
Feeling.
Searching through the network.
Then her eyes opened.
No.
Not awakening.
Sleeping.
Everyone blinked.
Sleeping?
asked Seralyth.
The Universe Tree nodded.
A World Tree.
Silence filled the gardens.
Another one?
Lyra asked excitedly.
Ashvattha smiled.
It seems so.The Root Network revealed a vision.
An enormous World Tree appeared.
Far larger than most.
Its branches stretched across galaxies.
Its roots touched forgotten realities.
Its leaves shone like stars.
Yet it never moved.
Not once.
Dormira stared.
Oh.
It's her.
The daughters looked toward the lazy World Tree.
You know her?
asked Kaelignis.
Dormira nodded.
Everyone knows her.
The vision continued.
The World Tree slept peacefully.
As she had for trillions of years.
Ashvattha sighed.
I can't believe she's still asleep.
The daughters looked confused.
How long?
asked Veyloria.
Ashvattha thought for a moment.
Several trillion years.
Maybe more.
Everyone froze.
Even Wukong stopped eating.
That's not a nap.The Root Network revealed another shocking fact.
Entire worlds existed inside her dreams.
Civilizations.
Kingdoms.
Stars.
People.
All inside her sleeping mind.
Seralyth nearly dropped her notebook.
Wait.
What?
The Universe Tree nodded.
Her dreams became realities.
The daughters stared.
So if she dreams of a mountain.
A mountain exists.
If she dreams of an ocean.
An ocean exists.
If she dreams of a civilization.
An entire civilization exists.
Lyra looked amazed.
That's incredible.
Ashvattha nodded.
And dangerous.The vision finally revealed her.
Her name was...
Somnaria.
The Dreaming World Tree.
Long silver-blue hair flowed around her sleeping form.
Branches resembling crystal constellations grew from her crown.
Her closed eyes glowed faintly.
Dream energy surrounded her.
She looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.Naturally.
the daughters volunteered immediately.
Kaelignis.
Lyra.
Elyrion.
Veyloria.
Seralyth.
All raised their hands.
We're going.
Kael wasn't surprised.
Neither was Wukong.The group entered Somnaria's dream realm.
The first thing they discovered:
The dream world was beautiful.
Floating islands.
Crystal rivers.
Golden forests.
Flying whales.
Living constellations.
And in the center.
Somnaria slept peacefully beneath a cosmic tree.
Kaelignis approached.
Wake up!
Nothing happened.
Attempt Two
Lyra tried.
Wake up!
Nothing happened.
Attempt Three
Wukong appeared.
He brought drums.
Very large drums.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Entire dream mountains shook.
Somnaria continued sleeping.
Attempt Four
Ignisia appeared.
Her dragon flames erupted across the horizon.
WAKE UP.
Nothing happened.
Even Ignisia looked offended.
Attempt Five
Marigold transformed into a giant golden dragon.
She roared.
Nothing.
Attempt Six
Ashvattha tried.
Nothing.
Attempt Seven
The Universe Tree tried.
Nothing.
Everyone stared.
The Mother of World Trees couldn't wake her.
That was concerning.
The Truth
Eventually the Universe Tree discovered something.
Somnaria wasn't sleeping because she was tired.
She was hiding.
The dream world trembled.
Ancient memories surfaced.
A forgotten age.
A terrible war.
Lost friends.
Destroyed worlds.
The World Tree had fallen asleep to escape grief.
Silence filled the dream realm.
Seralyth looked saddened.
She's lonely.
The Universe Tree nodded.
Very.Instead of forcing her awake.
they decided to visit her dreams.
Meet her civilizations.
Help her people.
Learn her story.
Maybe then.
Somnaria would choose to wake up herself.
As they prepared to explore deeper into the dream world.
a shadow appeared far away.
Watching.
Waiting.
Something inside Somnaria's dreams knew they were there.
And it did not look friendly.
The shadow's eyes slowly opened.
Far across the dream realm.
an ancient voice echoed.
The Dream Must Never End.
Everyone froze.
Even Wukong.
For the first time since arriving.
they realized they weren't alone inside the sleeping World Tree's dreams.