Submission (#1706) Approved

EDIT: O_O!! Oop! Sorry! Thanks for letting me know, I added it now! x.x; Igotta add it to my other one too in that case

Gift Art Submission Link: https://worldofeyre.com/submissions/view/1688
Related Prompt: Festive Gifting Spirit
1st or 2nd Submission: First
Regional Affinity: Ealei
Elnin: ELN1266

Big-Eared Impressions of Ealei Pt. 1 ---

Velia thought she knew tree roots--after all, she was a frequent visitor to Emir, where swamp trees and roots were almost everywhere the water wasn’t. However, her tree-root filled visit to Ealei made the swamp of Enmir seem glowy and uncomplicated in comparison. The roots were large but sturdy, and she did appreciate that the air felt clearer somehow.

The waters that served as Ealei’s ‘ground floor’ seemed very fresh and clear. Even high up on twisty roots and branches, she could wave down to her reflection with her massive ears and see her water-double wave back in perfect near-perfect clarity. What particularly interested her were that many of the fish she could see had shimmering scales that were almost rainbow-like. Whether they were magical or not she couldn’t tell, but they were a treat to see, and she daydreamed of a fish that had both the rainbow shimmer scales she saw and the glowing fish she’s sometimes glimpsed in Enmir’s murky waters.

The only thing she didn’t like was the notable distance between the waters below and the buildings above; it had taken her forever to work up the courage to actually visit one of the tree-cities properly, if only because she dreaded the idea of a potential fall. After all, her large ears did sometimes make her a bit clumsy when it came to balancing. Fortunately, there wasn’t much risk at all, as she eventually found them to be quite safe, especially in regards to visitors. While she wished that there were more railings overall, most were more than happy to point her to paths constructed for those seeking ‘safer passage’, most of them in the form of railed staircases lining vertical portions of tree roots, and thicker trees. It was a marvel to tour some of the buildings, many of them made from the roots themselves, or the trunks of trees. It gave that very little was really ‘built’, save for the pathways and transports set up by those that lived there. 

Living that way seemed very collaborative--not that the other places Velia had been didn’t seem influenced by the nature around them...  Ealei just seemed to have a different sort of charm, one that very much reflected how much the Eldertrees connected everyone, and how everyone connected to the Eldertrees.