Chapter 93: Cavern Descent (3)
The low tunnel dropped the ceiling to just a few centimeters above Zephyr's head.
"Seriously?" he muttered, hunching so much his shoulders almost brushed both walls. "Did we fall into a cave designed by people with a grudge against tall icons like me?"
"You're five-ten," Brian said from ahead of him. "Relax."
"I am six foot."
"You are not."
The back-and-forth wasn't enough to slow their pace. The team advanced in tight formation: Brian leading, Zephyr behind him, Ava and Kael following, Lyra and Theo behind them, and Cream Puff's hovering drone lights forming a soft moving halo over the group.
The water running along one side of the tunnel trickled with a calm, constant sound. It wasn't deep — barely ankle-height — but the temperature difference was sharp enough that every step sent a jolt of cold through their boots.
Ava kept her voice controlled and concise.
"Vitals steady. No sudden pressure shifts detected. We maintain pace."
