Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 21]

With my eyes glowing, I leaned back, encased and entangled in Ironwood vines that caressed me lovingly.

There was so much of it. So much Ironwood.

With his last breath, the Archmage of the same name had given me as much to work with as he could. I had no idea if that was intentional; if somewhere deep inside he'd planned for this, for me to work so much with his unique ability that I'd gain control of it myself. If, in his last breaths, he'd banked everything on that and poured his life into the tree, leaving it behind as a weapon for Beacon to use. If so, he was more a hero than I'd ever realised. His sacrifice wouldn't go to waste.

I was one with the tree.

The tree's roots spread all throughout Vale.

Therefore, I was one with Vale.

Without even thinking, I could feel my roots throughout the Guild Village and beyond, tingling with power, moving slowly – ever so slowly, enough so that to the naked eye they seemed still.

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 21]