"Temporarily," he assured, despite not knowing for certain. But the drain felt similar to the after effects of Xie Lian's method of borrowing power rather than.. well, the alternative.

"I learned that while this tree doesn't regulate the cycle of life and death as I'd hoped it might, it's the residual energy of birth and death that I was sensing."

He turned an admiring look back to the tree itself. There was still a part of him filled with deep affection for it.

"Death I understand, but I am curious what it means that birth happens so often around it," he mused absently. "Animals? Or is there some other custom or ceremony..? But I can't imagine this would be a nice place for that."

His eyes dropped to the ground, tracing the carpet of flora. "Or plants..?"