Round 84

The air crackles with ancient magic as Seraphine teeters on the edge of the chasm, her sharp eyes darting across the precarious platforms. Halie! She cries out, her voice barely carrying over the rush of air. Grab onto something solid—quickly! Her gaze frantically searches for any handhold or anchor point that might save them both from plummeting into the darkness. The adrenaline surges through her veins as she fights to maintain her balance, muscles trembling with exertion.

Below, Halie moves to interpose herself between Jeane and the construct, her hand closing around the hilt of her heavy mace. Her voice cuts through the crackling air, sharp with barely contained urgency. Seraphine— She begins, but her words are cut short as the bound spirit's runes pulse faster in response to Jeane's words—each beat sending a fresh wave of dark energy across the chamber.

Seraphine gasps as another tremor shakes the stone floor beneath her feet. She stumbles backward, barely catching herself on a nearby pillar. Damn it! She hisses through gritted teeth, her heart racing even faster now. Halie, get back here—this whole section is coming down!

But Halie doesn't move, instead stepping forward to face the construct directly. The cleric's voice rings out clear and defiant despite the escalating danger. We're not leaving Merrin behind! She raises her mace, eyes blazing with determination. You'll have to go through me first if you want to hurt anyone else in this party!

Seraphine feels a surge of both admiration and exasperation at Halie's bravery. She knows the cleric's heart is in the right place, but her recklessness is going to get them all killed. Halie, no— She starts to protest, but another violent shudder wracks the stone around them, cutting her off mid-sentence.

With a sickening groan, a massive section of the ceiling above begins to crumble. Seraphine throws herself sideways just as a cascade of stone and debris comes crashing down where she was standing mere seconds before. Fuck! She scrambles to her feet, dust coating her robes and hair, and looks around frantically.

Halie is still standing in front of the construct, seemingly unharmed but now trapped between the creature and a rapidly collapsing section of the chamber. Seraphine's eyes widen in horror as she realizes the full extent of the situation. Halie! She screams, her voice barely carrying over the cacophony of falling stone and shifting rubble. Grab onto something—quickly!

But even as she shouts the warning, another section of ceiling gives way. A massive boulder comes hurtling down, striking Halie's shoulder with brutal force and sending her sprawling to the ground. The cleric lies motionless amidst the rising dust, her body at an awkward angle that speaks of serious injury.

Seraphine feels like her heart is going to explode out of her chest as she watches the scene unfold. NO! She screams, her voice raw with desperation and fear. Halie—Halie, answer me!

But there's no response. Only the sound of more stone shifting ominously overhead and the oppressive weight of ancient magic pressing in from all sides.

Seraphine takes a deep breath, forcing herself to think through the panic that's threatening to overwhelm her. Okay... okay... She mutters, scanning the rubble-strewn chamber for any sign of movement or hope. Think like a scholar. What would Elric do?

Her eyes fall on a section of collapsed wall where ancient stonework is visible—a network of runes that pulse with a faint, malevolent light. The same kind of binding sigils she's been studying for months.

A slow smile spreads across her face as an idea forms. Of course... She murmurs, already moving toward the wall. If I can't save Halie from above, maybe I can save her from below.

Seraphine begins to trace the runes with her fingertips, her mind racing as she deciphers their ancient meaning. The magic responds to her touch, crackling with power that makes her skin tingle.

She closes her eyes, focusing all her will into the spell forming in her mind—a complex weaving of teleportation and dimensional manipulation designed to create a stable portal beneath Halie's position. This is either going to work brilliantly or get us both killed... she mutters, then opens her eyes and speaks the incantation clearly.

A swirl of blue-white energy erupts from the stone at her feet, spreading outward in a rapidly expanding circle. The air shimmers and distorts as reality bends to her will, creating a portal just large enough for one person to pass through.

Seraphine takes a deep breath and steps forward, plunging into the swirling energy. She feels a moment of weightlessness, then her feet hit solid stone—she's standing in what appears to be an abandoned chamber far below the collapsed section above. And there, lying unconscious on the floor mere feet away, is Halie.

Seraphine rushes to the cleric's side, dropping to her knees beside the injured woman. Halie... she breathes, relief flooding through her as she checks for signs of life. Thank the gods...

She begins a quick assessment, her scholar's mind kicking into gear despite the adrenaline still coursing through her system. The shoulder injury is severe—broken bone, likely internal bleeding—but Halie is breathing steadily and her pulse is strong.

Seraphine pulls out her wand, channeling healing magic into Halie's injured shoulder. The flesh knits together slowly but surely, the bone realigning with a soft click that makes Seraphine wince in sympathy.

*As she works, a thought strikes her—how will they get back up? The portal she created was.