Congratulations to @wrestlegirl1 for 1000 watchers.

​"Look," Alistair said simply, pointing to the forest floor.

​Slowly, the dark grass began to glow. One by one, tiny spheres of soft, violet light drifted upward. They weren't LEDs or magic spells; they were Will-o'-the-wisps, the ancient spirits of the forest.

​First ten. Then a hundred. Then, in a breathtaking wave of silent luminescence, exactly one thousand purple lights rose into the air. They swirled around Amethyst, not swarming her, but dancing in a respectful orbit, turning the dark forest into a galaxy of purple stars.

​Amethyst stood in the center of the vortex, her eyes wide, the violet light reflecting in her dark hair. For the first time, she wasn't fighting to protect them. They were rising to thank her.

​"A thousand watchers," Alistair murmured, a rare, genuine smile touching his lips. "And every single one of them loyal. A fine army, Amethyst. A fine army indeed."