"The barrier's weakened, but I still can't get through," Diana said, yanking her hand back after it bounced off the shimmer surrounding Ivy's tree. "It's like hitting a wall."
"Let me try," Grace stepped forward, placing her palm against the barrier. It felt like jelly—soft but impenetrable. She pushed harder, and her hand slipped through about an inch before the barrier pushed back, ejecting her.
"Whoa!" She stumbled backward. "Did you see that?"
"It let you partially through," Willow observed, her bark-like face creasing with thought. "Interesting."
"Is it because of her fancy new corruption-absorbing power?" Diana asked, still giving Grace side-eye whenever Petriel came within ten feet of them.
Willow ran her hands over the barrier, studying it.
"I believe the barrier has changed properties. It now seems to only permit entry to beings carrying corruption energy."
