Round 167

The corridors seem to hold their breath as Halie’s eyes lock onto Jeane’s, blue light pulsating around her in defiance. You speak of guarding a sacred passage? Her voice cuts through the tension like a blade. Then explain why your methods feel so… demonic. Why the corridors shift according to our fear and desperation? Why do we see glimpses of… her voice lowers, …of what Zha'thik is doing to others in these visions?

Jeane’s wings beat once, sharply, in agitation. If you truly serve a higher purpose here, prove it through action, not vague threats and mysterious trials! She begins casting a protective ward around herself, the spell flickering with magical exhaustion. I won't let anyone else fall victim to whatever sick game this is—especially not someone as… she chokes on the words, …as valuable as Halie.

But the creature’s ethereal orbs flash with an otherworldly energy, drawing closer to Halie’s face. The trial begins... The blue light pulses again, invasive and disorienting—I have to resist the instinct to flinch away. You speak of costs like we're negotiating with a merchant—my voice carries barely controlled disgust—but this feels more like dealing with demons than guardians. I let that question hang as challenge despite the magical thorns digging deeper into my wrists—the pain is there but I won't show it. If you truly guard this passage with rules rather than hunger for our magical signatures...