The two continue to climb the many, many stairs of the tower, winding upward toward the top. There, the stairs empty into a chamber, from which spills blue-and-green light and the shadows of flowers and trees.

Halea: No, no, Daphie. This is all quite new and strange.

Daphne: It REALLY is, Hallie.

Halea: But you know? I think Cheline summoned me at the PERFECT time. Perhaps she foresaw these recent events, and knew we could use a helping wing. With my new gifts, I may be uniquely suited to help you rebuild and recover.

Daphne: You think so? What could you do?

Halea: Oh, I may have a few ideas...

In the towertop garden, soft blue light illuminates a group of small birds nestled around a bird bath. Some of them are sleeping. Nearby, a statue of Shoshana serenely holds a bowl from which spills a fountain of water. Bird-of-paradise flowers rest in the evening light amidst other greenery. But nearby, thoughts are being shared.

??? (thinking): If only she'd been ALIVE when you roasted her. Maybe then I'd have come to watch.