Round 25

The ward pulsed slow and deliberate now—feeding something large inside. A shadow moved across the uppermost window again, this time lingering. The magic structure's rhythm changed, no longer random fluctuations but a steady, hungry beat. Merrin froze mid-stride, heart pounding, straining to hear if the sound had carried. The ground shifted beneath her feet with a heavy stone groaning, settling.

Varrika, positioned near the crumbling facade, also froze, mace at the ready. Her dwarf instincts screamed warning—the wards pulsed slower now, more deliberate, feeding on something large inside. Another shadow passed an upper window—this one stopped to linger, watching the ground below. The predatory magic had changed its rhythm entirely.

Halie marked each suspicious stone slab with care, her heavy mace held ready at her side. The magic felt wrong—this tower wasn't just defended, it was fed by whatever's inside. We have maybe fifteen minutes before whatever's upstairs fully wakes and notices us down here, she thought, dread settling in her gut.

Jeane descended from her second circuit of the tower, wings folding as she landed. The wards are active predators, not passive barriers—every minute we linger here feeds whatever's inside. We have maybe fifteen minutes before whatever's upstairs fully wakes and notices us down here.