Round 113

The stone groans, a sound like the earth itself sighing in its sleep. The section of wall that slid open to reveal this narrow passageway shudders, its edges splintering as it pulls away from the chamber. The air is thick with dust and the smell of damp earth. Merrin steps forward, her eyes fixed on the opening. "Stay sharp," she warns, her voice low and urgent. Jeane moves to follow, her sword at the ready. Varrika brings up the rear, her gaze darting back and forth between the others. As they step through the passageway, the darkness closes in around them.

Seraphine's sharp eyes widen as the chamber walls begin to collapse inward with a resounding rumble. The Watcher! She exclaims, her voice tight with fear and awe. What is this creature? Why has it trapped us here? The massive stone guardian's form seems to expand impossibly, filling every corner of the cramped space. Its voice resonates within Seraphine's mind, a dark promise that sends shivers down her spine. The air grows thin and cold as the ancient magic of this place seeps into her very being.

The echoes of time... She murmurs, her gaze fixed on the Watcher's shifting form. I saw them myself during my fall—battles from different eras overlapping, reality bending and breaking. Her fingers tighten around her mace, a futile gesture against such a powerful entity. Despite the immediate danger, Seraphine finds herself hyper-aware of her isolation now that she's severed from Jeane. Without my companion's magic to anchor me here, I'm utterly vulnerable in this timeless realm.

The memory of their fall together flashes through her mind—Jeane's body pressed against hers for the entire descent. The ancient power surged through her body when she touched the Time-Splitting Sword, dark tendrils curling around her arms with an electric sensation. The Watcher's true nature and intentions are unclear, but one thing is certain: she needs to understand this entity if she hopes to escape this place and reunite with her party.