Round 4

The sun dipped below the horizon as the three women approached the ancient gate, its runes pulsing with an ominous hunger in the fading light. Merrin probed the lock mechanism with practiced fingers while Halie stood beside her, hand on mace hilt and eyes fixed on the ancient symbols that writhed across the stone surface. The air grew colder as they approached the tower entrance, the humming energy within radiating a palpable darkness.

Jeane circled the barrier slowly, wings shifting restlessly behind her as she examined each rune with predatory curiosity. "I can feel it—powerful enough to cut," she whispered, barely containing her excitement. Seraphine maintained distance, sharp eyes fixed on the magical signature that pulsed beyond the ward. The power humming beyond the barrier radiated a palpable hunger.

Merrin's fingers danced across the ancient mechanism, searching for hidden catches or false plates. But as she worked, Halie's expression grew graver by the moment. "Stop," she hissed suddenly, grabbing Merrin's wrist. "Look at these runes—they're not just decorative. They're... alive." The symbols indeed seemed to writhe and pulse with an ominous energy.

Jeane stepped closer, her crimson eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Interesting," she purred, reaching out a hand toward the nearest rune before Halie's sharp warning stopped her short.