Round 141 Transcript

The platform beneath Seraphine shudders violently, and she stumbles, her hands still splayed on the wall as she struggles to maintain her balance. The dust from the falling debris swirls around her, reducing visibility to mere feet. In that moment, Jeane's shadow magic seems to falter, its glow weakening as the platform's instability threatens to overwhelm it.

I feel a sudden surge of panic as I watch the shadow magic above me falter, its glow weakening in the swirling dust. The platform groans ominously, and I know we have mere moments before everything comes crashing down on top of us.
"Jeane!" I scream, my voice nearly lost in the chaos, but I can see her form silhouetted against the dim light, her wings spread wide as she frantically tries to salvage her binding ritual.
The dust is getting thicker now, choking and blinding. I cough, trying to clear my lungs while also attempting to shield Merrin from the falling debris with my own body. It's a futile gesture, but I can't just leave her there.
"Seraphine!" Jeane's voice cuts through the din, strained but still filled with command. "Can you get that tunnel open? We need an escape route!"
I nod frantically, even though she probably can't see me. The narrow opening she's pointing to is barely visible through the haze of dust, a dark maw leading into unknown depths. But it's our only chance.
With a desperate burst of strength, I push myself off the crumbling platform, staggering towards the tunnel. My hands scrape against the rough stone walls as I fumble for the handle of my heavy mace, drawing it free from its strap on my back. The weapon feels solid and familiar in my grip, a small comfort in this maddening situation.
As I reach the tunnel entrance, I take a deep breath, bracing myself for what I might find inside. The air here is slightly clearer, but just as heavy with the scent of ancient stone and something else... something old and powerful that makes the hairs on my arms stand on end.
"Merrin!" I call back over my shoulder, my voice echoing strangely in the confined space. "Jeane! We need to move her now!"
I begin to clear away the smaller rocks blocking the tunnel entrance, using my mace as a makeshift tool. Each strike sends a jolt up my arm, but I welcome the pain; it grounds me in this moment of sheer terror and chaos.
The platform groans again, louder this time, and I hear a massive crack above us. A huge section of the ceiling gives way, crashing down onto the far side of the chamber with a deafening roar. Dust billows out from the impact, choking and blinding me completely.
"I can't see anything!" I cry out, my voice muffled by the thick cloud of debris. "Jeane? Merrin? Are you there?"