Round 49

The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Arachne's eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on Silra and Sister Hale. "You would test my promise?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with warning. The ground shuddered again, and the scuttling sounds grew louder, accompanied by a faint scratching noise echoing from deeper in the passage. It was as if the darkness beneath Gravehill was stirring, responding to Arachne's presence.

Sister Hale stepped forward, her unholy symbol pulsing in rhythm with the walls' breathing. "Proof," she repeated, her voice carrying the weight of someone who'd seen too much already that day. Her gaze locked onto Arachne's burning eyes as she raised the symbol, its inner light casting sharp shadows across her weary face. The rusty key in Silra's hand felt heavier, its surface cold against her skin—a tangible reminder of the choices they were about to make.

As Sister Hale spoke, the scratching sound intensified, and Silra could feel the ground shift beneath her boots. She toyed absently with the key, her expression suggesting she'd rather be anywhere else. The stone-woman's gaze remained fixed on them, her eyes burning with an inner intensity that seemed to bore into their very souls. "Make this key work on something—anything—that proves your worth," Sister Hale urged, her voice firm but laced with caution.