Round 77

The air in the hidden chamber grows thick with tension as the ancient construct's pronouncement echoes through the space. "The test begins now," it intones, its burning eyes fixed on Merrin. The distortion around them intensifies, and the catwalk groans ominously beneath their feet. The humming noise emanating from Merrin grows louder, threatening to overwhelm them. Seraphine's makeshift bridge creaks under the weight of her own movements as she checks its stability. "This thing better hold us!" she mutters, her hands shaking slightly with the strain.

Jeane’s expression darkens as she listens to the construct's pronouncement. "The weight of worthiness is not in the words, but in the weight of the heart," she repeats slowly, her voice cold and measured. Well then—let us put that claim to the test. She turns back to Merrin with a look both fierce and calculating. The runes pulse faster as Merrin's transformed figure tilts its head—I see how it responds to you, creature, Jeane thinks, *but I don't understand what drives this…...

I can barely look at Merrin’s transformed state—the runes pulsing like brands on flesh, her gaze distant and otherworldly. This isn't right. My hand instinctively moves to the crossbow at my side—loaded and ready but useless against whatever entity now inhabits my friend. The thought of leaving Merrin trapped here is unbearable, but staying might mean all of us dying when this catwalk finally gives way. *Jeane's words about soul engineering echo in my mind—the stakes just got higher than I...