The glow built rapidly, folding outward from Sol's core in bright, blinding golden waves. The heat coming off him intensified further and further. The grass near Sol literally ignited.
And yet despite the blazing heat, the burning heat destroying the very environment around him, Eden was entirely fine, even soothed by Sol's bright flames.
"What…?"
Eden felt it through the bond as a second heartbeat pressing against the inside of his mind, steady and growing louder. Sol was thinking of him. Through the sight of Eden about to take the heavy blow for him, Sol was moved to the point of unlocking his inner potential.
The Vermillion Bird's fire column was still coming.
Sol's wings spread wide and he screamed, cutting through the air and splitting the fire column around them both. Eden felt the heat pass to either side of him but not touch him.
The column died just like that.
