Deep beneath the surface world, far removed from the light of sun or moon or stars, footsteps echoed through dim and oppressive tunnels carved from ancient rock . The sound reverberated strangely in the confined space, each footfall seeming to repeat itself endlessly as though the stone itself was counting every step taken through its depths .
The only illumination came from torches mounted at irregular intervals along the rough-hewn walls, their flames providing just enough light to navigate by while leaving vast patches of impenetrable shadow between each flickering source . The firelight danced and wavered with air currents that had no obvious source, creating the unsettling impression that the darkness itself was alive and breathing, merely tolerating these small intrusions of light rather than being truly dispelled by them .
