Round 13

As Halie's fingers danced across the gate's runes, her voice remained steady and deliberate, "We need to understand this ward's structure before we attempt any more direct manipulation." Merrin moved closer, eyes scanning the surface for signs of traps or additional wards, her fingers tracing the cracks and crevices with a practiced touch. The blue light from the partially activated ward cast eerie shadows across her face, but she remained focused on finding a weak point to pass safely.

Halie's gaze narrowed as she knelt before the gate, tracing the visible rune patterns with the silver holy symbol of the Goddess of Light. A minor Detect Magic spell revealed intricate connections between the light and shadow glyphs, confirming that the symbols were correctly paired, but something crucial remained hidden. Merrin's eyes met Halie's, a silent understanding passing between them as they worked together to unravel the ward's secrets.