Round 45

The building's wardstone pulsed once more, its light growing stronger and more insistent. The structure groaned in response, wood creaking ominously as stress fractures spread through the walls like veins of doom. Halie redoubled her efforts, divine energy crackling around her hands as she tried to stabilize the collapsing floor, but it wasn't enough—every pulse from the wardstone made the building shudder harder.

"Someone has to finish this," Halie gasped between strained breaths, sweat beading on her forehead. "Now." Her eyes locked onto Hera's, and the younger woman swallowed hard, her cheeks flushing crimson as she nodded slowly. The wardstone pulsed again—faster now—and Jeane felt something deep inside her respond with a desperate thrum that had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with primal fear. She tasted dust in the back of her throat as the structure strained against Halie's divine efforts.

"Finish what?" Her voice came out harsher than intended. They didn't...