Round 82

Seraphine stands frozen at the mouth of the narrow passage, the cold water swirling around her ankles. The sounds of Varikka's desperate struggle echo from within the darkness, punctuated by the muffled thuds of something heavy striking stone. Her heart hammers against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat of fear and urgency. Every instinct screams at her to rush forward, to throw herself into the fray and do whatever she can to save her friend, but the cold logic that has kept her alive this long holds her back.

The ground beneath her feet trembles again, a low, ominous rumble that sends a fresh wave of fear coursing through her. This is wrong, she thinks, her fingers tightening around her staff. The magic in this place... it's ancient and twisted, and I don't understand how it works. Rushing in blindly could get us all killed.

She takes a deep breath, forcing herself to think Clearly. Merrin is in there, she reminds herself. She's smart and quick and knows how to handle herself in tight spaces. If anyone can find a way through this mess, it's her. But I need to be ready to help when she does.

She begins casting a spell, the air around her hands shimmering with arcane energy. A faint glow surrounds her, casting long shadows that dance across the stone walls. Whatever happens next, she mutters under her breath, we face it together.