Re:START/If {Book 1.0}
Chapter 11: The answer is at the beginning (Part 01)

About a month after the battle against the Black Dragon, the western area of the Sacred Tree Forest had recovered by more than three quarters. The burning and damaged trees had already started to grow back quickly thanks to the Mana sucked from the hardened Black Dragon carcass.

Walk in the forest with strangely colored foliage with a Crystal Horn Deer and two Branched Tail Apes, Reyah brings medicinal ingredients in the form of herbal plants and roots containing Ether with unique properties for treatment. The plant he carried in the root woven basket was nothing but for Odo who had not opened his eyes since the incident, and now the black-haired child was still lying inside the Sacred Tree. Helped by the Intermediate-ranked Spirits accompanying him, Reyah looked for another medicinal plant within the forest. The apes take the leaves of herbs that grow under the trees, while the deer dig with their toenails looking for nutritious grains that may fall on the ground.

Now Reyah is in the form of a teenage girl, just like when fighting the Black Dragon, wearing a green dress and a shabby black conical hat. Although she looked beautiful and bright, but somehow tertirat deep sadness from her expression.

Reyah carried a small root-woven basket in front with both hands, standing dreamy and his gaze blank. Eagerly, the Dryad leaned back against the tree behind him and fell down with a dead look. There were already many ways to do, from potions to Mana transfers, but all of them still could not make Odo wake up.

“Why ... has he not woken up yet?” Reyah sat down, putting the root basket on the lap. Taking the powder medicine wrapped in green leaves, Reyah stared with a glazed look.

“If I don't wake up ..., there's no point in me defeating that Black Dragon .... Who am I fighting for, why don't you get up? If this is .., I better not have this position .... That damn spirit alone is next to you! Why .... should be like this ..”

Reyah threw a leaf wrap containing medicine and threw a basket along with all the herbs that had been collected. The Great Spirit folded his legs, then lowered his face and curled up. Tears flowed down the face with that flat expression, removing the always calm facial expression. He sobbed, the animal-type spirits accompanying him looked on with anxious and fearful gazes. Two apes took the root basket, then gathered the scattered herbs.

The Crystal Horn Deer approached, then lightly pulled the bottom of Reyah's leaf dress with its mouth. The Great Spirit raised a face full of tears, then looked at the animal spirits before him saying, “Sorry. I feel myself ..., this emotion .. really very ..., this feeling ... weight.” After the Deer who had the crystal horn took off her clothes, Reiah woke up and tidied up her dress.

Wiping away the tears, the Great Spirit straightened his body and strengthened his determination on his priorities. Two small crowded apes conversing with their language, look relieved because the figure of the ruler of the forest a little back in spirit. After taking the basket containing the herbs that were handed over by the Two Tailed Apes, Reyah again set foot towards the Sacred Tree.

Arriving near the Sacred Tree, the Intermediate-ranked Spirits who followed Reyah left. Giving a light greeting with a wave of the right hand, Reyah looked at those who entered into the forest with eyes that still looked sad. Turning towards the Sacred Tree, one first step forward created a magic circle from the root, and during the second step, Reyah had been enveloped in green light and transferred into the Sacred Tree.

Arriving at the room inside the Sacred Tree, he opened his eyes and stared flat at the place all made of wood. Reyah set foot again, then placed the wicker basket on the table. “Hah ...” Sighing heavily, the Great Spirit looked towards the flower bed located in one corner of the spacious single room. From where Reyah stood, Odo's body was seen lying on a pile of flowers, closing his eyes with an open position and his hands closed.

Leaving his legs and reaching nearby, Reyah stood beside the bed where Odo lay. Staring sadly at the boy who never woke up, Reyah's tears flowed back as if he could not resist the sadness. It felt strange to him, even though he had memories of the world, but he should not inherit the feelings of his predecessors who were the custodians of the Sacred Tree's life order. Even so, the sad feeling that pierced his chest made him sick. Kneeling and laying half his body beside Odo, the Great Spirit stared with tears in his eyes.

Actually the sign of the existence of the Black Dragon in Odo has slowly disappeared and the child should be able to wake up at any time. However, he was still asleep, though still breathing, but his heartbeat was very weak and the signs of his life could fade quickly. In the white shirt outfit and dark-colored trousers Reyah had reconstructed with her strength, the black-haired child lay lifeless.

Seeing the innocent face of the child, a strange impulse from within him made the Great Spirit bring the face closer to the innocent look of the boy. In a mixed feeling, with a saving passion, the Great Spirit brought his lips closer to the lips of the black-haired child. Just as their lips were about to meet each other, Odo suddenly opened his eyes and .... The double! The boy pointed Reyah's nose as he was about to sit down and pushed the Great Spirit, then tripped his own feet and fell flat on the wooden floor.

Odo who woke up with a blank look slowly turned his head towards something he was heading towards. Seeing Reyah lying on the floor, the child opened his mouth and was about to say, but the voice could not come out because he slept long enough and made the throat and vocal cords a little stiff. Pointing out the intention to speak, the limp and empty-looking child lowered both of his legs to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed.

Reyah got up in a hurry, stood up and looked at Odo with a face of disbelief. A sense of happiness instantly enveloped him upon seeing the boy before him had truly awakened. Without thinking twice, the Great Spirit immediately hugged Odo and began to shed tears with haru. Odo remained silent while being hugged, not knowing why, but seeing Reyah's expression before hugging her made Odo decide to leave her like that for a moment.

“Thankful .. hiks ..., Odo .... Thank goodness you woke up ...”

Hearing Reyah's scattered voice crying while hugging her, Odo remained silent without hugging back. Highlight the child's eyes still looked empty and hollow, his vision was still a little blurry, and the voice still could not come out properly. Swallowing the dry saliva from his mouth, Odo tried to speak.

“Su ... Never mind ..” Odo spoke with a little hoarse. Reyah releases a hug and holds both sides of the child's shoulder, then looks at him. Odo still hasn't looked back at Reyah and still looks empty. Rigidly, the black-haired child raised his head, then looked towards Reyah whose face with a flat expression was still covered in tears. Wanted to speak, but Odo could not make a sound.

“Sial ..., why my voice ...?” think Odo. The boy moved his right shoulder to get rid of Reyah's hand. But when he was about to move his left shoulder, his left hand was numb and did not move. “Current influence in the Soul Realm, yes?” his mind.

Reyah raised his hand from Odo, took one step back and put both hands in front of his chest, and looked at the child with a sense of happiness that was clearly visible on his face. Odo who saw it could only put on a flat expression, He really could not move his body well until his facial muscles could not express what he felt.

“O-Odo ..?” reyah asked slightly anxiously at the expression of the child, the fear that the child's body was taken by the Black Dragon was still there.

Odo wakes up with a limp body. Just as he was about to step up, his body that was too weak collapsed towards Rayah. The Great Spirit restrained him and hugged the child with a confused look on his face.

“Your body ...” Realizing that the child was still weak, Reyah lifted him up and laid the child's body back on the bed. Odo was annoyed at being laid down again, but his face could not express it.

Reyah immediately ran towards the root basket previously placed on the table, then immediately concocted medicine to recover Odo's body. The Great Spirit knows the cause of the child's body can be very weak, it is one of the effects of people who faint for too long, in other words the muscles are still stiff and the body tissue has not returned to normal. Upon being aware of the information, Reyah made a tea from the leaves of existing herbs.

Finished making the concoction tea, Reyah put it in a wooden glass and brewed it with the Sacred Tree Nectar that had set the temperature. Once the medicinal drink was ready, Reyah immediately returned to Odo. Helping the child sit back, Reyah helped him drink the tea slowly.

“Do not rush ...”

Odo drank a full glass of the medicinal tea. The child's cold body temperature began to return to normal, the look in his eyes was no longer empty, and his muscles recovered. After leveling the glass on the table near the bed, Reyah turned around, and looked at Odo while asking, “Have you been better?”

“Lu-Lumayan ... Ugk! Uhkh!” Phlegm several times to adjust the throat fiber, Odo stared at Reyah with a face that looked bright and not pale anymore. “I think it's mending ..” he continued.

“Uhm ..., thank goodness .... I was worried that you were permanent like that ...”

“Haha.” Odo let out a dry laugh, then looked around and understood that he was inside the Sacred Tree. “By the way, Reyah .... After that how?” ask Odo.

“After that ...”

Reyah began to explain the events after the Black Dragon was defeated. At that time, Reyah's priority was to save Odo and bring the child into the Sacred Tree to recover his condition that could at least save his life. After that, Reyah used the Mana captured from the Black Dragon to recover the damaged forest and grow the part of the Sacred Tree that was hit by the dragon's attack. In addition to the explanation, Reyah only talked about his concern for Odo and not too important to listen to, according to the black-haired child himself. Upon hearing Reyah's explanation, Odo was struck by the shocking fact that he had been unconscious for almost a full month according to the time that took place in the area of the Sacred Tree Forest.

“And I only chatted with Seliari, but the pace of time was very .... Is it because the time concept is different or ... just because I chat until I forget the time?” think Odo

The child gets out of bed, then begins to warm up by jumping lightly. After making sure both legs had started not stiff anymore, Odo tried to move both hands. But as before, the left hand was still numb and could not be moved at all.

“Still paralyzed, huh?”

“Odo ..., what are you doing?” reyah asked confused to see Odo's behavior. He wiped the tears, then showed a face that looked a little chaotic after crying.

“Hmm, this is just a small warm-up. Stretch ...” Odo again stretched his body, from both legs, knees, waist, right hand, and neck. When he finished, Odo sat back on the bed. Without wasting any time, the black-haired boy looked at Reyah and said, “So ..., for now what do you want, Reyah? Honestly speaking, after hearing that I have been sleeping for almost a whole month, I want to immediately bring the Black Dragon Horn and Fangs after getting the Sacred Tree Springs from you.”

The words did indeed sound very hasty to the person who had just come to a realization. Reyah wants to ask him to be patient and rest first until he fully recovers. But seeing the sharp eyes of the child, Reyah understood that Odo really was not wanting to waste time.

“Why are you in such a hurry, Odo? Don't you know that time in this place is faster than the real world?” Reyah stared anxiously, She wanted the child to remain silent inside the Sacred Tree until he completely recovered.

“Indeed you said. But, now the time in the real world should have been a week missed .... Just so you know, I came to this Astral World not because it was sent or anything, I came sneaking around without my parents' permission .... So ..., as soon as I want ...”

Reyeah understands the reason. Taking a deep breath and exhaling it lightly, the Great Spirit said, “You came to this Astral World with the same purpose as the Swordsman, right? To obtain medicinal ingredients that could cure the curse that the Light Witch suffered ...”

“Ya ..., indeed. I want to find a medicinal ingredient that can cure my mother, which is why I need the Black Dragon Fangs and Horns along with the Sacred Tree Springs of yours ..”.

“After you have all the ingredients ..., what do you want to use them for? Is it ... You have an acquaintance who can concoct it into a medicine that can eliminate the curse of the Light Witch?”

Odo narrowed his eyes after hearing this. Indeed, at this time he did not know what to do for all these materials, he also did not know what his father would do after getting these materials. Considering something else, the black-haired child tried to digest Reiah's words earlier.

“If I say ..., I can make a medicine that can definitely remove the curse that the Light Witch suffered, what will you do?”

Odo was silent for a moment, the boy realized that Reyah was offering something very profitable for him. Literally, bidding meant there had to be reciprocity, therefore Odo felt suspicious of him.

“Don't be convoluted ..., just tell me what purpose did you give this offer?”

Reyah lowered her hand from the front of her chest, then took a breath to calm down. Staring seriously at Odo, the Great Spirit replied, “I am eager to build a relationship with you ..”

Odo was silent with a confused face, He could not understand his words. “Building relationships ...? What do you mean?” ask Odo.

“I want to make a Spirit Contract with you, I want to be your Spirit.”

Odo understood what Reyah said. Spirit Contract, a covenant made between Spirit and a real-world being. Given the contract, the person who had the contract could bring the Spirit from the Astral World as his companion or servant. As with Mavis who made a contract with Vil, the contents of the contract can be adjusted between the agreements of both parties. But from Reyah's offer, Odo felt there was a little unreasonable. The Spirit Contract was not a light thing that everyone could do, the higher the Spirit level, the higher would be the consumption of Mana to be able to sustain a Spirit in the real world. In the case of the Great Spirit, it was necessary to conduct a special medium such as a temple or a place with a very complicated magic structure to be able to maintain existence in the real world. In other words, humans could not accommodate the Great Spirit directly with the body.

“Reyah, you know that a Great Spirit like you needs a big medium for b⸻”

“I know and understand that. It is impossible for humans to carry the form structure of the Great Spirit. These countrymen of me who also make contracts with humans also only make contracts to keep a place or something, no one makes contracts with humans directly.”

“Hah, as long as you know, I have no place that can accommodate you ...”

“No.., you should already have it.” Reyah pointed straight at Odo. “I have made it .... In the near future, the construction should be appropriate and I can build a small temple there.”

“Don't say ..., you ..”

“Yes, I have inserted a part of the Sacred Tree into you. In less than a year, it should be able to develop and your body would be equivalent to one empty moving temple. When that comes, I will build the structure and I want you to make a contract with me...”

Odo was silent with a stare of flat expression. The doer from the tree that had suddenly grown in his Soul Realm confessed to himself without being suppressed. Taking a breath and calming down, Odo briefly looked away, then woke up.

“Akh .., the tree also helped me ..., I don't think there's any harm in accepting this offer from Reyah. But ..., to be honest why ... him ...”

“Alright, I agree,” Odo said as he looked at Reyah.

Hearing that, Reyah's face immediately beamed with pleasure. “Do you agree?” tanyakanya.

“Yes, of course. It's in my favor too, I don't think there's any harm .... After all, I also doubt my father has any acquaintances who can make his medicine better than you.”

“Hem, why are you sure you talk like that?”

“You ... This Tree Spirit, ‘kan? Your knowledge is broad .., it is only natural that I think so. Moreover ..., the potion you made earlier was enough to make me believe ...”

“He~he~ praises me you will get nothing, loh~”

“I'm not praising, it's reality, isn't it?”

“Then I take the material! I'll make the cure soon ...”

“Soal curse ...”

“I already know, the Swordsman explained his condition when He asked the Sacred Tree Springs to me!”

Reiah turned around and was about to go out of the Sacred Tree to prepare the ingredients. But just as Reyah was about to step up, Odo uttered something that brought the Great Spirit to a standstill.

“Why do you look so eager to help me, Reyeah? Is our relationship this familiar?”

Rey fell silent and stopped walking. With a slightly anxious look, He turned towards Odo and said, “What do you mean? I just want to help myself, is that wrong?” The cheerful gaze of the green-haired Great Spirit disappeared, changing with a face anxious about something.

“Not wrong or what, it's just that this is too smooth .... What are you hiding? Why are you so nice to me? Is it because you are the Guardian of this Sacred Tree and inherited the memories of this tree from long ago ...? Or is there something else? Well, to be honest .. I want you to tell me ...”

Staring at Odo, looking at the boy's blue eyes, Reyah felt that there was something nostalgic about his straight gaze. Smiling lightly and putting on a slightly happy face, he replied, “This is all doomed ..”.

The answer made Odo silent. In him, the word destiny was not an acceptable thing in response. Taking a light breath and gazing more and more sharply, Odo said, “You think I'm the kind of person who believes in destiny or something?”

“Not .., I think you are not that type of person,” said Reyah.

“Lantas ... why your answer ..”

“Because it's a fact .... It's destiny .... We meet ..., it's a predestined thing and it can't change. Because that's the determination ...”

Reyah smiled looking at Odo's confused face. He turned around while putting both hands behind his waist, then slightly turned his head with a happy expression and a happy smile. Odo was completely confused by her, although the boy realized that Reyah was hiding something, but it was very unclear and completely unpredictable.

Rey took one step forward. On the wooden floor that he was on, came out a green magic circle that began the process of moving out of the Sacred Tree. As the particles of light began to envelop him, he turned his head with a happy smile until his eyes closed. When he opened his eyes and saw Odo, he looked a little sad, and it was very incomprehensible to Odo and added curiosity.

“You don't have to think about it deeply, Odo. Let's just say you were tricked and fell into my trap .... If you still do not believe me, I want you to know that I am indeed waiting .. in this promised place, at this moment .... I have a dream like all the high-intelligence beings in the world, and that dream can only be granted by you ..”

“Ap⸻”

“Don't ask what it is. If I tell you now, that dream will never come true .... Therefore ..., please ... give myself this opportunity to be by your side .., O R⸻”

Before Reyah finished her words, her body was enveloped in a grain of glowing particles and disappeared, being moved out of the Sacred Tree. Although he could not hear all the words of the Great Spirit, but Odo could shout what he said from the fleeting motion of the lips before the Great Spirit was moved out.

“King ....? What does it mean?”

Odo couldn't understand what that meant. But from that, it was clear that there was something Reyah wanted to do to him. Taking a deep breath, the black-haired boy sat down and laid his body on the flower bed, then looked at the top of the ceiling of the place.

“Haaah, there are still many that I do not understand .... But ..., I think all of that must have been a reason for this reincarnation .... Why should I? Why in this world? And also ..., what is the reason for all this ....?”

Closing his eyes and deep in thought, Odo slowly began to get sleepy. But when he realized he did not know how to get out of the Sacred Tree, he opened his eyes in panic. “Wire! Right, how did it come out? In this case, you have to wait for Reyah, dong!”