Round 10

As Halie's holy symbol glowed with an intense white light, Jeane stepped closer to the skeletal guardian, her crimson eyes fixed on the ancient runes etched into its bones. The air seemed to vibrate with anticipation, the silence broken only by the soft creaking of wooden beams and the rustle of leaves. Merrin's hands moved with practiced ease, her fingers deftly manipulating the lockpicks as she assessed the keyhole.

Halie's measured voice cut through the tension, "We do not engage this creature directly—not here at the threshold where every spell echoes through the tower." Jeane's wings, once extended defensively, now unfolded like a dark, leathery fan, a display of dominance that seemed to command the guardian's attention. Her eyes narrowed as she studied the demonic sigils pulsing along its bone structure, a mixture of curiosity and wariness etched on her face.

The skeletal guardian's gaze shifted, its empty sockets locking onto Jeane, as if drawn to her presence. Merrin's hands paused, her fingers hovering above the lockpicks, as if waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The air held its breath, poised on the edge of a decision that would determine the fate of their quest.