Could the Otherworld Tree drain the excess Humanity from Oddities... and could draining Humanity from mad Oddities restore their sanity?
Annan doubted it was that simple. If it were, their world would never have "died."
"A Fireball is enough to destroy something, but restoring it to its original state requires mastery over time itself."
The Burnt Girl, the Invisible Man, and Slug could be saved because they had been rescued in time, before the Abyss Annan had glimpsed took complete hold of them.
As they spoke, the three regained their senses. The Otherworld Tree slowly withdrew its roots. It had grown nearly half a meter taller in just a few minutes.
The dessert had proved more filling than the main course.
"How do you feel?"
"Sleepy. I want to sleep..." said the Invisible Man.
Slug had regained his usual bounce, though he hadn't enjoyed the experience. Besides the weakness of having his strength drained, there was the fact that the other two had only had their arms or waists wrapped up. He'd been wrapped all over—
"Let me introduce you. This is the Otherworld Tree."
"The flowerpot you're always carrying?" Slug looked up.
"Yes. That's the one."
"Sorry," Annan said. "I had you moonlight as Executioners to produce Oddities for it to feed on. I just didn't expect you to lose control..."
Flattered and embarrassed, Slug wriggled and said they had volunteered.
"Good. Then I have another job for you: carrying the Otherworld Tree. Once you've executed the prisoners, come to the Garden and feed it."
With no middleman taking a cut this time, and with Irilanze and Dade tending it as Gardeners, the Otherworld Tree could finally flourish.
Annan looked forward to the day it grew into a towering tree.
He no longer needed to worry about the Otherworld