Round 17

As Silra caught Jeane by the elbow, her eyes darted towards the staircase, its creaking steps seeming to groan under their weight. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay, and the sound of rushing water grew louder with each step, a constant accompaniment to their descent. Hale's voice echoed up from below, her smile still fixed in place as she called out, "Come, let us see where this passage leads." Silra's grip on Jeane's arm tightened, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her dagger, a subtle reminder of the dangers that lurked in the shadows. The rusted key in Jeane's hand pulsed softly now, its vibrations almost soothing in the face of their recent danger.