Ash's heart sank as a low chuckle echoed from the darkness. The cloaked man stepped into the light, his dagger gleaming.
Behind him, two more figures emerged—hooded, armed, and silent. "I warned you," he said, his voice cold. "The seal stays buried."
Maya raised her bow, arrow trained on the man's chest. "Who are you working for?"
The man smiled, thin and sharp. "You'll meet them soon enough."
Jagu roared, lunging forward as the cloaked man's allies charged. Lira's sword flashed, meeting steel with a clang.
Tor swung his hammer, sending one attacker sprawling. Sylva unleashed a bolt of arcane energy, lighting the chamber in a blaze of blue. Koren's arrows flew, each finding a mark.
Ash drew his twin swords, parrying a strike from the cloaked man. The man was fast, his dagger a blur, but Ash's experiences held.
He ducked a slash, countering with a quick cut to the man's arm. The man hissed, retreating into the shadows.
