The pillar of golden fire burned for a full minute. There was no heat from it, only a deep sense of warmth and peace. Then, just as it had appeared, it went away.
The Blight-Heart Tree, no longer a monstrous entity of rage and pain, stood for a moment. It was now just a statue of glowing golden ash. Then, with a soft sound, it began to crumble.
CRUMBLE. WHOOSH.
The ash-form fell in on itself. It flowed to the ground like a beautiful, silent waterfall of gold. The ash spread out, covering the newly cleansed soil in a fine, glittering dust that looked like fallen starlight.
High up, where a big branch had been, there was now only empty air.
Dr. Aris Thorne fell.
