The vines grew fast—far faster than any ordinary Spirit spell.
They sprang outward in all directions, surrounding the fleeing elders.
Within moments, they twisted together, weaving into thick walls and arching up toward the sky.
The four sect elders skidded to a halt, their escape path completely blocked.
More vines followed. They crawled and spiraled through the air, joining above their heads. In just a few seconds, the entire area was enclosed in a dome of twisting, interlocking vines.
The sound of the night forest dotted by occasional distant cries of Spirit wolves and other nocturnal creatures faded away. All that remained was the soft rustle of leaves and the deep hum of Spirit energy in the air.
The elders turned back toward Aksai in shock. He was now slowly standing up from his log, brushing the dust off his hands. His wine cup still rested beside the fire, untouched since his last sip.
