Round 6

As the stone slab slid into place, revealing a keyhole at the heart of the gate's rune-carved face, Seraphine stepped forward, her eyes narrowing with a mixture of scholarly fascination and wariness. The air hummed with ancient power, and Merrin's voice cut through the tension, cautioning "Easy now, you two." Jeane's gaze never wavered from the gate as she traced the edges of the newly revealed groove with a slender finger, feeling the vibration of its magic against her skin. Her voice was soft, almost a purr, but there was an edge beneath it—a predator recognizing another predator's work.