Growth's End

The world kept turning. Though the Wizarding World had dealt the Forest Fairy World a grievous wound, even a Small World would not perish from a single World Convergence and a frenzied invasion.

The end of the Natural Convergence drew near, and the wizards plundered with even greater frenzy. They no longer limited themselves to resources born of the world. Anything that existed became prey. Great numbers of fairies were captured, shipped to the East Coast, and made slaves.

In the forty-ninth year, most wizards had already withdrawn. The World Passage had shrunk to roughly four or five meters across, and no wizards remained stationed on the Forest Fairy World's side. Those who appeared occasionally were heading back through the passage.

The sun shone on the earth as it always had. Even a Small World's sun held an essential power far beyond the reach of ordinary wizards. Only Fourth-Level Wizards could barely approach it. Harnessing its power was harder still: the extreme light and heat, along with the searing Sunfire, were enough to put any wizard off the idea.

The sun looked no different on the surface, but earthshaking changes had taken place inside it. Its once chaotic, scorching interior had become orderly. Every sliver of energy was allocated just right, allowing the sun to radiate its usual light and heat at a lower cost.

Tiny particles around the sun seemed to be drawn inward. They were all but invisible, yet after passing through the Golden Flame within the sun, they truly merged with it and replenished what it consumed.

In the past, the sun had burned ceaselessly to release light and heat. Now a cycle existed within it, one that could continue without end.

Golden Elemental Fire filled the sun's interior, ceaselessly refining the matter that entered.

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