The blinding golden-green light slowly faded, leaving bright, dancing spots in Jonah's vision. The deep, echoing silence that followed was broken only by the sound of his own ragged breathing. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest.
He stumbled back, his legs feeling like jelly, completely drained of all strength. He collapsed against a solid metal cabinet, his body too heavy to hold up on its own.
Across the room, Vanessa was slumped over her console, her whole body trembling with a mixture of relief and pure exhaustion. But her eyes were fixed on the center of the now-silent Synthesis Loom, wide with a mixture of disbelief and triumphant awe.
Jonah forced his head up and followed her gaze.
The Heartwood Seed was gone.
