Sacred Tree

The Sacred Tree is a colossal magical tree at the heart of the Republic of Alzer, its roots threaded through the floating continent the Republic occupies. The tree's magical output sustains the continent's altitude, its weather, and the bloodline magic of the Republic's noble lines.

Its priestesses — Noelle Zerberg among them — are formally the keepers of the tree's spiritual function and informally the political balance point holding the noble houses apart. The corruption of that role by Ideal and its allied bloodline is the third arc's central crisis.

If the tree dies the continent falls. The series uses that fact as a permanent gun pointed at the heads of everyone trying to use Alzer for short-term political gain — including Leon's enemies.