Marie stood at the crater's edge where the pale tree had once dominated Helios's skyline. Her light-gold eyes tracked the barriers forming overhead as she saw the golden cages spreading across the sky, and sealing Eastern Hesod from the rest of the continent.
Around her were the others who were frowning. Vlad, Brunhilde, Joseph, Amiya, Janus, and Veryn all stared at the sky.
"We need to hurry and begin Reinhard's plan." Marie said after a couple of seconds.
She took a deep breath as she began preparing body and spirit for what came next. Her boots found a stable position on the ground while her hands rose to chest height, arms extending slightly.
Then her hands came together.
Not a simple clasp but deliberate interlocking, fingers weaving through each other. Then instantly, two wings of pure gold unfurled behind her, and the wings spread to full span, each feather individually visible despite being composed of light.
