Indeed, Atrus later found out that the boys were doing very well. Even when Atrus had to leave for Osmoian, Sirrus insisted to let them stay Atrus reluctantly consented, with the warning not to take advantage of the respect the creatures had for them. Eventually Atrus returned with Sirrus and Achenar ( Catherine refused to follow) who went surprisingly well with the creatures and picked their language fast. The creatures provided him with ink to write his journal. In the following 3 months Atrus learned some of their language. The creatures paid much attention to Atrus and constantly offered him food or strange objects of affection. During the funeral pyre the surrounding waters mysteriously changed to dull green, and by the next day expanded and remained permanently so. A procession of tree-dwellers went down the nearest rope ladder and carried his body to the end of a short pier, which they cremated with some potion. When he ended the conversation, he stood up with difficulty, said that Atrus was expected sooner, and blessed the tree-dwellers who surrounded him and knelt before him, and then exited and threw himself down. However, the old man explained to Atrus the history of the Age and his people. The following days he realized that the old humanoid was treated like a god, and Atrus was revered in a similar fashion, which made him uneasy.

At night the tree-dwellers gave Atrus a bed. At sunset they led him to an enormous hut, that of their leader, and next to him was a very old being, the last survivor of the Channelwood humanoids, who surprisingly could speak Atrus's language. Once they saw him, were surprised and then fell to their knees worshiping him, and then guided him (with enthusiastic hand motions) through the passageways to a ladder that led up to their village. He was awakened by strange noises by a group of the Tree-Dwellers. He first linked at night and decided to sleep. The last human survivor dwelt among the tree-dwellers, and they were expecting for another like him to come.Ītrus gave this Age its name from its conception. The tree-dwellers worshiped the humans as heroes or gods, perhaps because of that self-sacrifice to save the island.

The only place left for those who survived were the trees but for some reason they eventually all died out. The humanoids sacrificed themselves (although it's unclear how) in order to stop the collapse and many died. One of the frequent tremors quickly grew to unprecedented levels and the island started sinking slowly into the sea. As a result, the two peoples didn't interact. Ages ago, humanoids lived peacefully on the surface of the island while the tree-dwellers lived among the trees, high above the ground.

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