Round 17

The runes on the wall flare with dark energy as Halie stumbles back, the ancient magic reacting violently to her investigation. The sound of grinding stone intensifies, and dust begins to fall from the ceiling in heavier quantities. Seraphine feels the entire tower shudder through the floor beneath her feet—this is far worse than mere structural instability. She backs away instinctively, her keen eyes scanning for any sign of a safe exit or magical countermeasures.

"Something is happening," she calls out over the growing cacophony, her voice tight with controlled panic. "We need to move." The wizard's hands are already moving in complex patterns, maintaining the delicate balance of her teleportation ward while simultaneously preparing additional defenses—because whatever just activated in this chamber, it won't be friendly.