The air around the Time Witch shimmered like heatwaves or a mirage on a road. At first, it was subtle. It was a mere flicker, but then, the change took over violently.
Her frail, withered body straightened on the floor, with a sickening crack, her gnarled fingers smoothing out into delicate hands. The deep lines of age melted away, leaving soft, unblemished skin behind. Her hunched back unfurled, her spine stretching as if she had just shed a heavy burden.
Most of them did not understand what was going on, but her sister did, and she could not help but look at Ian in surprise.
Within moments, the ancient crone was gone. In her place lay a young woman, no older than twenty, her hair now thick and cascading over her shoulders like liquid night. Her once-cloudy eyes gleamed bright, sharp, and full of youth but still grimacing from the pain. Her bones had healed. The only resemblance to the previous form was the clothes.
