Round 33

The wind carried a faint sound of something scraping against stone from deep within the tower. The runes on the gate pulsed faster now, their light growing brighter and more insistent. Jeane froze mid-sentence as the sound echoed through the air. "Did you hear that? Something's moving inside." The ward's hostility spiked suddenly, its magic flaring outward in a visible wave that rippled across the gate's surface. "Shit! It heard us too! Everyone back! The ward's active now—one wrong move and we're all toast!"

Seraphine stumbled backward instinctively as the sound from within the tower made her heart race. Her eyes widened as she watched the runes flare to life, their magic pulsing outward in a visible wave. "The entity inside has awakened," she gasped, fumbling for her spell components. "And the ward... it's no longer dormant. We're standing on its threshold!"

Merrin backpedaled hastily, her hand going to the hilt of her dagger. "Great, just fucking great. Now we've got company both inside and out." She glanced around quickly, assessing their surroundings for any alternative entry points. "Anyone see a secret door or hidden passage? Because I'm starting to think this might not be our best approach after all."

The runes on the gate began to shift and rearrange themselves, forming new patterns that seemed to writhe with barely contained energy. The air grew colder, and a faint, malevolent chuckle echoed from beyond the barrier.