World Tree

World Tree
First seen	"Fissure"
Properties	Connector of existential realms Sky paths Source of fertility and abundance

It's a huge tree of legend that's said to connect the heavens, the earth, and the underworld.
– Gedfring

The World Tree is an enormous tree consisting of two immense, arching trunks intertwined in a helix-shape, with branches that scrape the sky. It appears in place of Ganishka's twice reincarnated form after Femto uses an attack from the Sword of Beherits to split open the apostle. At the foot of the tree sits the city of Falconia.

The World Tree is ground zero of the Great Wave of the Astral World, and is explained by Gedfring to be the source of the unification of the Physical World and Astral World in the form of Fantasia. The archmage describes the tree as a massive fissure piercing deep into the physical and astral realms. Prior to its emergence, the World Tree's growth was stymied by the spirit trees of the Interstice, which absorbed power from it and hindered the expansion of its branches into the Physical World. With the burning of these spirit trees by Griffith's forces, the World Tree has grown rampant, reminiscent of the chaos of ancient times.

Sky Paths

The far-reaching spread of the World Tree's branches allows for their use as "sky paths" (空の道), which connect two disparate points in space, enabling traversal across large distances as if "[riding] through the sky [...] in the blink of an eye". These sky paths can be navigated through corridors of stone pillars, allowing for high-speed travel between pre-established locations, particularly by large groups at once. According to Sonia, among the Band of the Falcon, only herself and Griffith can safely navigate the sky paths. The Moonlight Boy can also traverse sky paths, appearing as a shooting star in the night sky while zipping through the branches to his destination.

Attempting to navigate sky paths without the required perception has severe consequences. Those who attempt it are likely to become lost among the countless forking branches and end up somewhere unexpected, such as in the middle of the sea or deep underground.

Notes

• Falconians believe the World Tree to be the source of the ever-fruitful harvest season of Falconia's surrounding land.
• On clear days, the branches of the World Tree can be seen in the open sky, and sailors can use them like constellations in broad daylight.

Trivia

• "World Tree" is an alternative name for trees of similar prominence in other cosmologies. The description of this tree in episode 307 parallels those of Yggdrasil (Norse cosmology), the Bodhi Tree (Buddhism), and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Judaism and Christianity).