Time passed quietly, and morning arrived.
Light spread naturally through the branches. The tree's roots had now emerged from the soil more than before, like veins that could no longer stay hidden and had pushed to the surface. They pulsed slowly, not with obvious movement, but with a very subtle rhythm that only someone like Daniel could feel.
The fruit on the highest branch was no longer just a bud. Its light had become clearer, deeper, and with each short pulse, something like a living beat flowed within it. It was clear that devouring all the life force of those mercenaries had caused the fruit's growth to undergo significant changes throughout the night, increasing by leaps and bounds for a short period.
