The force wasn't violent, but it was utterly unstoppable. Like a tide that gently yet firmly rejects an intruder, the mushroom's presence pushed Selphira's mana out of Ren's body.
Selphira collapsed to her knees, the mental exhaustion hitting her like a hammer. Her serpent instantly loosened its grip on Ren while she struggled to catch her breath. Blood continued to drip from her face, staining the polished floor.
The ancient Ashenway, who had faced abyssal horrors, who had stood in the presence of the King in his full splendor, who had survived battles that would have destroyed most beings, trembled slightly as she gathered herself.