#203 - Seven Ancient Tribes

In a not-so-large valley, a giant willow tree appeared before Moon's eyes.

The willow tree's trunk was extremely large, requiring at least ten people to encircle it.

Dense willow branches drooped down, connecting to the ground, resembling small willow trees rising from the earth.

Around the large willow tree, there were also peculiar stones laid on the ground, shaped similarly to some kind of magic circle.

"Is this a magical tree?"

Seeing the strange green energy emanating from the willow tree, Moon knew that the willow tree before him was a magical tree.

When crafting wands, he had planted a magical willow tree and had also seen similar willow trees in a valley.

That tree was also very large.

However, that willow tree had very lush foliage, while this one not only had withered branches and leaves, but its entire trunk was covered in black.

However, this scene was exactly the same as what Moon had seen in the Mirror of Erised.

"So the Mirror really can show the future."

Moon remembered the description of the Mirror of Erised in the books: "I show only your heart's desire."

However, Ron had always believed that the mirror presented the future, and now encountering this black willow tree seemed to corroborate Ron's words.

"The Spirit Tree was actually afflicted by a curse long ago, and the magic circle on the ground was set up by the priests of the past."

The Spirit Tree Great Witch said, carefully stepping over the stones on the ground, slowly approaching the Spirit Tree.

"The magic circle was originally intended to allow the Spirit Tree to grow well, but now the power of the magic circle has been weakening, and we have not been able to master it, so the Spirit Tree has become weaker and weaker."

Through the Spirit Tree Great Witch's explanation, Moon understood.

When the Spirit Tree was at its peak, it would not only drop hundreds of rune-covered leaves, but also use its willow branches to screen out potential young wizards who might awaken their talents.

However, since being entangled by the cursed magic, its ability to identify young wizards has been declining, and the number of leaves falling has also been decreasing.

Now, at most, only seven or eight leaves fall each year.

The tribe's wizards also use this to select children with wizarding talent.

But this method still has a considerable chance of error, so often all the leaves are wasted, and not a single child is selected.

While listening to the Spirit Tree Great Witch's explanation, Moon also slowly stepped over the magic circle on the ground.

Although he has been studying alchemy runes and knows that magic circles are composed of runes.

However, this magic circle left by the priests of the past, which can delay the curse and help the Spirit Tree recover.

Its level is obviously not low, and Moon is not confident in helping it recover.

Just as Moon carefully stepped over the magic circle, the Spirit Tree seemed to sense something.

Several very thin willow branches were swaying back and forth, especially the willow branches closer to Moon were swaying more noticeably.

"This is... Could it be that the Spirit Tree isn't dormant?"

The Spirit Tree Great Witch keenly observed these anomalies in the willow branches.

She discovered that after the willow branches touched Moon's shoulder, they leaned on him as if they had found a kindred spirit.

Moon had seen a similar situation in the valley of Snow Eagle Mountain.

At that time, that magical willow tree also draped its willow branches over his body, and then he felt a sense of joy and delight.

The emotions conveyed by the black willow branches in front of him were more like a plea for help.

As more and more willow branches wanted to get close to him, Moon couldn't help but look at the Spirit Tree Great Witch beside him.

"The Spirit Tree is indeed not dormant, but it is very weak now."

Hearing Moon say this, the Spirit Tree Great Witch seemed to think of something, and then lowered her head helplessly.

"I knew that everything I did was futile. Without the ability of a priest, it is impossible to repair the magic circle and help the Spirit Tree recover."

According to the tribe's wizards' explanation, the curse suffered by the Spirit Tree has become more and more serious since the last priest of the tribe passed away 300 years ago.

Every subsequent Spirit Tree Great Witch has been trying to repair the magic circle and strive to maintain the Spirit Tree's growth, but all have had little effect.

In the hands of the current Spirit Tree Great Witch, in addition to the Spirit Tree becoming more and more decayed, problems have also appeared in the wizarding inheritance.

Now, none of the young wizards can become a Great Witch, and the Spirit Tree Great Witch is also getting old.

Without the existence of a Great Witch, the Spirit Tree Tribe may never be able to obtain another leaf.

"Great Witch, don't worry, can you tell me the origin of the Spirit Tree? Was it originally on Star Ember Island, or was it brought and planted by the tribe's wizards in the past?"

Moon couldn't empathize with the Spirit Tree Great Witch's emotions. He just wanted to help the weak tree in front of him.

However, the Spirit Tree Great Witch seemed to see a glimmer of hope when she heard Moon's voice.

She tried to push away Lu, who came to support her, and then quickly walked to Moon's side.

"What is it, Great Priest, can you save it?"

Seeing the Spirit Tree Great Witch's eager gaze, Moon didn't know whether to nod or shake his head.

He tried to appease the old woman in front of him before speaking again.

"Great Witch, don't get excited, if I want to save the Spirit Tree, I must understand it, so you must tell me, what is the origin of the Spirit Tree?"

"Oh, the tribe's stone carvings record that the Spirit Tree has been the tribe's guardian sacred tree for a long time. The tribe existed because of it, but this one on Star Ember Island is not the old sacred tree."

Under Moon's questioning, the Spirit Tree Great Witch revealed the origin of the willow tree in front of him.

The Wizarding War three thousand years ago affected the old sacred tree.

Because of the Holy Church's destruction, the old sacred tree was destroyed.

The tribe only found three saplings in the end, and then left their ancestral land with them.

And this Spirit Tree on Star Ember Island has survived from that time until today.

"I see, weren't there three saplings? Why not try planting a new Spirit Tree?"

Hearing Moon's question, the Star Ember Great Witch walked out.

"Great Priest, actually, after that war, the tribe's priests were also afraid of being affected by the Elpus Curse, so they split the tribe's seven tribes into three branches, each taking a sacred tree sapling and leaving their ancestral land to live in seclusion."

"Seven tribes?"

Moon asked curiously. He originally thought that the tribe only had the three branches on Star Island.

"Yes, the Ice Flame and Snow Mist went north, the Wind Whisper and Mountain Forest went south, and the three of us went to sea."

According to the knowledge that the Great Witch had imparted to Moon, the tribe's original range of survival was very large.

It spanned the entire Loseth Continent from east to west, which is now the central area of the Menira Empire.

And the Star Ember Great Witch said that one tribe went south, so it is very likely that they are living in seclusion in Snow Eagle Mountain.

"Great Witch, I also found a similar willow tree in Snow Eagle Mountain, which is likely to be one of the old sacred tree's branches."

"Snow Eagle Mountain?"

Hearing Moon's words, the three Great Witches were stunned.

"What is it? Is there a problem?"

Moon didn't know why the three Great Witches had this expression, so he asked again.

"We have actually been looking for members of other tribes all these years. Later, after I divined that there might be members of the tribe in Snow Eagle Mountain, I sent many tribe warriors to explore, but no news has returned."

"I see. Would these tribe warriors carry Selma flowers?"

Hearing the Star Ember Great Witch's explanation, Moon thought of the little witch who had been following him.

"Of course, it is very dangerous to go out alone to find members of the tribe, so some hemostatic herbs like Selma flowers must be prepared."

Moon finally knew who gave Chris the Selma flowers.

But now it seems that his fate with the tribe is indeed not shallow.

"Great Priest, let's not talk about these herbs for now. Did you see any members of the tribe around the Spirit Tree?"

After learning that Moon might have seen another Spirit Tree, the Sea Blue Great Witch was very eager to know the whereabouts of other tribe members.

However, Moon's words made him silent.

"No, it was very desolate there, with only some small animals."