409 The Night Before Tomorrow

*Sniff* *Sniff*

After falling unconscious from the pain, Mika woke to the smell of a forest.

Aren't I still in my bedroom…?

Opening her eyes, she found herself looking up at a stone ceiling. Sitting up, she felt dirt underneath her palms.

Ah Mika, you're not in the Amara clan anymore…

Looking around, certain features in the area reminded her of the cavern back at Ash City.

It can't be…!

Doing a three sixty, she found herself face to face with a magnificent tree. It looked nothing like the tree she had seen months before. Gone were the dried peeling bark and dying wood. In its place was a sturdy trunk with green moss and rich dark brown bark covering its body.

Lush green leaves on its branches, rustled as she walked closer, as if it was happy to see her.

Unable to help herself, Mika reached out to touch the tree. With her palms placed on the trunk, Mika felt a zest of energy rush into her body and straight down into her core.

The nanos in her body went crazy at the feel of the energy they felt.

Lifting her head, Mika notice multiple glimmers in the air.

Wondering what they were, the energy flooding her body moved towards her eyes, sharping their sight.

Getting a clearer picture, she could see that they were little spirits being drawn towards the healthy honey tree.

Watching them closely, she saw them gather in the leaves and branches joyfully, as they began grooming the tree.

Why can't I link with them...why can't I feel Yumsa around?

Mika searched among the spirits for Yumsa until she finally found her floating in the air, guiding and telling the other spirits what to do.

The delighted expression on the little flying woman's face was infectious. Mika decided to leave her to her work as she continued to examine what brought her here.

Turning her attention back towards the trunk, Mika closed her eyes and concentrated on looking inside its structure.

The nanos she left inside the tree were working with the cells to rid the plant of any impurities.

Skimming over the data the nanos were sending her, she came to know that the infection was still trying to "eat" its way throughout the tree.

However, because to her nanos and the evolution of tree's cells, they are able to push the illness out.

Disconnecting herself of the trunk she walked towards the spring water surrounding the area. She could see the impurities float at the surface. With the illness contaminating the water supplies, none of the spirits were getting close to it.

Not everything is working...I still don't have a functioning ecosystem yet.

All of a sudden, Mika could feel a suction pulling her from the cavern.

When she was able to open her eyes again, she was back in her mind's space with Yumsa and Drako calling out for her.

"What are you two doing?" Hearing her voice from behind them, they turned around and was shock to see her standing there.

"Mikaela?" Drako looked at her up and down.

"Yea?"

"Where did you go?" He was still unsure that she was standing in front of them.

"What do you mean?"

"Your connection to both me and Yumsa was cut off, we couldn't connect with you...I couldn't even feel your presence. I had to break my hibernation."

Mika thought about this and remembered the feeling of not being able to talk with Yumsa in the cavern.

"Mikaela, what happened?"

"I don't know. I went to bed fine, but later on a pain started in my lower abdomen. I blanked out and when I woke up, I was in the cave in Ash City."

"What!?" Drako and Yumsa shouted out in surprise.

"En...I saw everything that is happening there with the tree just now." She looked towards Yumsa, "You didn't feel my presence there?"

"No...all this time, I've been trying to get contact with you about it."

"Is something wrong with the tree there?" Drako asked.

"No, quite the opposite actually." Mika answered then looked to Yumsa, "There seems to be many spirits gathering there."

"En. The tree has come a long way from what it used to be. Now it can host most of the spirits in the area. I have been gathering them there to help me take care of it...I hope that's not a problem?"

"Yea, that fine. As long as they don't disturb my nanos…"

"Okay! I'll make sure to tell them!" Yumsa disappeared.

With only the two of them left, Drako questioned Mika more on what happened.

"Mikaela, do you think someone knows about the tree?"

"No...I think my nanos and the tree were responsible for what happened tonight."

"….how can that be possible?" Drako was stunned by she guess.

"When I touched the tree in the cavern, the nanos that are in my body reacted like they were getting energized…almost like the spirits."

"You think they are becoming spirits?"

"En... I did create them to help me solve this problem, like Analise created you guys, so I'm not really surprise it has worked out this way."

"Mmm, your right. I should have seen this coming." Drake contemplated.

"Heh... However, this means I need to think over how I'm going to use them in my plan now."

"Your plan... You found a solution!?" Drako flew in front of Mikaela's face, nearly smacking her with his body.

"Maybe...I won't know until I test it out."

"When will that be?" He asked eagerly.

"I wanted to test it away from prying eyes, like maybe Lord Tasar's orchard, but it will be pretty hard to go back there. So, I will just have to use my father's orchard." Mika bit her bottom lip thinking of how she is going to hide this rest of the clan.

"How positive are you about your plan working?"

"We won't know until tomorrow." With that she disappear from her mind's space.