[Those owls love Venti. The other one even leans it for pettings too!]

Even if we did manage to push the Darkness back, I'm apprehensive. I know that we assume that in the metaverse the area currently shrouded in it appeared barren, but what if the land has really been irreversibly corrupted?

[Then again, there are purification magics, and spring power holders can bring dead plants back to life, can't they? Hijikata steps up next to Venti to also stroke an owl's head, but it leans away. He stinks of smoke!]