The golden pillar began to thin.
At first, it was barely noticeable.
The massive column that had pierced the sky started to lose its width. The edges softened. The blinding brightness dimmed slightly, so slightly that the change was almost indistinguishable to the untrained eye.
Richard was the first to sense it.
"It's fading," he said quietly.
Without saying a word, he stepped forward.
The others immediately followed.
All four of them rushed toward the pillar together.
The moment they got closer—
Something changed.
The air around them felt different—warmer, and gentler.
The oppressive weight that had pressed against their instincts since the pillar erupted… disappeared.
A strange calm washed over them.
A sense of peace filled their minds.
Their tense shoulders eased.
The anger, the resentment, the dark thoughts that had once crossed their minds slowly eased.
They didn't fade. Not exactly.
