Vrooom!
Boom!
The beam struck the ground around Zenith and Isla, scorching the grass beneath their feet and sending a wave of heat rippling outward.
Elion tensed instinctively.
For a brief moment, he was worried something had gone wrong. But Zenith looked toward him through the radiant light.
She was smiling. She raised one hand and gave him a thumbs-up before blowing him a playful kiss.
Elion released a breath of relief and smiled back.
The figures of Zenith and Isla gradually began to blur.
Their bodies became faint and indistinct as the brilliant pillar stretched endlessly into the sky, carrying them upward until they seemed to merge with the radiance itself.
Then they vanished. The light lingered for a few seconds longer before fading away completely.
All that remained was a scorched circle etched into the ground, along with several strange markings burned into the surrounding earth.
Elion stared at the empty space for a moment.
