The Tree is-- power. The world rests in its branches, but it's-- it's not the same as a normal tree you walk up to. It's solid when you move closer to it, but closer to it isn't just a place.

[Alphonse isn't wrong to think of the comparison. Geir doesn't know the words "it's another order of existence," and he can't talk about the power of metaphors and how they intersect with the world (and would think it was a bit of a blasphemous assertion anyway), which means that offhand, he can't find words that Alphonse would be sure to recognize about it. he tries one more time anyway:]

We talked about power: I guess you could say, it's something you can reach out and grab if you have power enough. I'll try to talk about it better some othertime, okay?

[losing his nature more than he has already as a result of being far away from home is a scary thought, but apart from the effects of being in a low frequency place for his powers, he hasn't noticed any changes.]

...I guess it's close enough. Or physical distance isn't the same thing. Or it's just part of me enough that it doesn't matter. I don't feel any different, anyway.

[he was born to be hungry enough to eat the world. he's still hungry.]