Round 183

Jeane's crimson eyes widened as the corridor stretched out before them, the ethereal walls pulsing with an unsettling light. She clutched her heavy mace tighter, the familiar weight offering little comfort in these ancient, unstable depths. "This feels wrong," she muttered, more to herself than to Seraphine. "We should find another way." But even as she spoke, the ground beneath their feet shuddered again, a violent reminder that staying put might be far worse.

Seraphine met Jeane's worried gaze with a steady one of her own, though her grip on the ornate box tightened almost imperceptibly. "We can't stay here forever," she pointed out, her voice cool and rational despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "And this... She glanced down at the artifact in her hands, ...whatever it is, might be our best chance at understanding what's happening to this place." The walls groaned ominously around them, dust raining from the ceiling in a fresh shower.

"But what if—" Jeane began, then cut herself off as another tremor shook the corridor. She stumbled forward, her mace slipping from her grasp and clattering down the descending spiral staircase into the darkness below. The metal echoed ominously as it tumbled away, leaving her momentarily disoriented and unarmed.

Seraphine moved quickly, reaching out to steady Jeane with a firm grip on her shoulder. "Careful," she warned, her keen elven eyes scanning the unstable terrain. "We need to be mindful of every step in this place." As if summoned by their predicament, a section of the wall slid open with a grating sound, revealing a small chamber beyond. The air from within seemed to hum with an otherworldly energy.

Jeane's breath caught in her throat as she stared at the opening. "Did you do that?" she hissed, her free hand instinctively reaching for magic that wasn't there—her staff was still lost somewhere in this damnable tower. Seraphine shook her head slowly, her expression grim. "I don't think so," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "This... this feels like an invitation."