Round 612

The narrow stone corridor stretched ahead like a dark throat swallowing them whole. Merrin half-carried Varikka, the dwarf's weight solid and reassuring despite her injury. The Guardian's voice echoed behind them, surprise coloring his tone—had they caught him off guard? Or was this merely the prelude to some new trap? Varrika's mace scraped against the stone floor as they moved, her injured ankle protesting with each step. Merrin kept a firm grip on her arm, steadying her through the pain. The corridor was tight, forcing them to move single-file, and darkness pressed in from both sides.

"Shouldn't have done that," the Guardian called after them, his words carrying an unsettling curiosity. What had they stumbled into? Merrin's mind raced, calculating their options. They needed to find solid ground, somewhere safe from the collapsing tower—and Varikka needed rest for her ankle. "We've got to keep moving," Merrin said, her voice low and urgent. The sound of the collapse was fading behind them, but that meant little in this maze of stone and shadow.

Varrika nodded, her face set in determination despite the pain. "Agreed. But we need to find a way out fast." Her mace clattered against the wall as she dragged it along, leaving deep gouges in the stone. Merrin's grip on her arm tightened as they rounded a sharp corner, the corridor opening up into a larger chamber. Torches flickered weakly along the walls, casting dancing shadows that played across ancient carvings.

Merrin's eyes widened as she took in the scene. The chamber was circular, with three corridors branching off from it—one continuing straight ahead, another descending sharply to their right, and a third rising steeply up to their left. But what drew her attention most was the massive stone statue dominating the center of the room. It depicted a robed figure holding aloft a curved sword, its blade seeming to catch the torchlight and reflect it back in shimmering waves.

"That has to be it," Varrika breathed, her eyes fixed on the statue. "The Time-Splitting Sword." Merrin nodded slowly, her gaze shifting between the statue and the three corridors. "Maybe. But which way do we go?" The Guardian's voice echoed again from behind them, closer this time. "Choose wisely, little ones. Only one path leads to what you seek."