Round 14

Seraphine's sharp eyes narrow as she senses the subtle shift in the atmosphere around them, her fingers tightening instinctively on her staff. "You're right, Halie," she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. "The magic feels... wrong here. Corrupted." She takes a step closer to the tower entrance, her keen gaze scanning the ancient runes etched into the stone. "These symbols—they're not just decorative. They're part of something much larger, something that predates even this forest." Her words hang heavy in the air as she continues, "We need to be careful. Whatever that entity was... it wasn't natural. And whatever it was guarding..." She trails off, her eyes lingering on the darkness beyond the gate.