Round 4

Jeane's voice cuts through the oppressive silence, sharp and commanding. "Everyone, freeze! Do not move or speak unless absolutely necessary." She raises her hands in an arcane gesture, a faint blue glow emanating from her fingertips as she casts a spell of silence around the group. "The magic in this place is old and powerful—if we're not careful, it could react to our presence in ways we don't want to experience firsthand." Her crimson eyes scan the darkness above, searching for any sign of movement or threat.

Seraphine nods silently, her keen elven senses already picking up on the subtle shifts in the tower's atmosphere. She moves closer to Halie, her hand instinctively going to the spell component pouch at her belt as she begins a low incantation—an arcane detection ritual designed to reveal hidden magical signatures. The air shimmers around her hands as the spell takes effect, visible only to those with trained arcane senses.

Varrika stands perfectly still, her warrior's instincts screaming at her to either charge forward or retreat. But Jeane's warning echoes in her mind, and she forces herself to remain motionless—though every muscle is coiled tight for action. Her hand hovers near the hilt of her greatsword, ready to draw in an instant if needed.

Halie watches Seraphine's arcane ritual with a mix of fascination and unease. She's used to divine magic, not this strange elven sorcery—but she trusts the wizard's judgment. Her holy symbol continues to warm in her hand, almost painfully hot now, as if responding to the dark energies swirling around them.

As the seconds stretch into minutes, the oppressive silence of the tower presses in on all sides—broken only by the distant sound of Merrin's continued exploration and the low hum of Seraphine's detection spell.