Round 8

The flickering blue light cast eerie shadows on Halie's face as she scrutinized the ancient magic binding the gate. Merrin watched with rapt attention, her eyes narrowing as she analyzed the pulsing patterns. "This isn't just a lock," Halie said, her voice steady despite a growing sense of unease. "There's something ancient tied to this gate. Something hungry." The runes pulsed faster as if reacting to her presence, the blue light flickering with malevolent intelligence.

Merrin edged closer, her fingers tracing the stone with a practiced touch. "You're right," Seraphine murmured, her voice so low it was almost lost in the air. Her fingers hovered just above the stone, feeling the subtle vibrations of the magic. It was like nothing she'd ever encountered before—a tangled web of binding and death spells, woven together with an intricate rhythm. The runes seemed to hum in response, their magic pulsating like a diseased heartbeat.