[ john has never claimed to know the first thing about how other forms of magic work, so he has no idea if she means it or not, and lightly laughs at her joking tone. ]

You should check out the Baubles Market, in any case. There's plenty to see with all the master artisans' work on display.

[ as much as he's willing to offer shopping tips, he's never considered himself good at small talk and is happy to keep discussing the Tree, given the opportunity. ]

Oh yes, assuming the conditions are right. It tries to protect us and mourns us when we die, granting many of us visions or dreams.

[ so clearly he doesn't mean it literally speaks to people. ]

It does its best to communicate in ways our simple meat brains can understand.