Auteur/autrice : sënkaworld

It did not begin with him.

The tree had always been there. Silent. Waiting.

But something changed.
In the connection. Through the connection.
With him.

What had only been felt began to awaken.

And for the first time, the tree responded.

He did not come by chance.

Something emanated from the tree. A silent, living energy not everyone could feel.

He felt it.

And something in him came to stillness.

Unlike the others, he did not turn away.
He stayed.

He placed his hand.
And it answered.

He could have left.
His body stepped back.
One second.
Then stopped.

Something held him.
Not a thought.
A sensation.

So he stayed.
He made this place his home.

And, slowly —
he became one of the guardians.

There had been others. He was among the first to find it.

But he did not leave.

He drew closer. He observed. He stayed.
Too long.

And in staying — his body forgot itself.
His flesh became stone. His presence became guardian.

He had not chosen to become a statue.
He had chosen to never leave.

The sanctuary was built.
But it did not open to everyone.

Some searched for it and never found it.
Others walked past and felt nothing.

It was not a matter of worth.

Something in you responded.
Or stayed silent.

The tree did not choose.
It revealed.

From the beginning, it was there. Visible — incomprehensible.
No origin. No reason.
Just something… alive.

Those who passed could feel it. No words. No proof.
A warmth. A pull. A presence.

They did not understand.
But they knew.
It had to be protected.

So they built around it. Not to pray.
To contain.