Nina shivered as she stepped deeper into the dungeon, boots echoing softly against the smooth stone.
The air wasn't cold, but it pressed in around her—heavy, charged, wrong. Her body tensed without her permission.
[You're in trouble. Big trouble.]
Her Patron murmured inside her head, tone dry.
She sighed.
"Thanks for the reminder."
[You did leave your siblings behind without a word. Leo's going to pop a vein.]
Nina winced.
"Yeah. I know. That's why I've got to finish this fast. If I'm lucky, I can get out before he shows up and yells me into next week."
[That's a generous estimate of your luck.]
She didn't answer. Her focus snapped ahead.
Hwan and Kevin walked a few paces in front of her. The former looked around with narrowed eyes, his usual energy dampened by the silence.
Kevin, on the other hand, walked with his hands behind his head, oddly relaxed.
"There's nothing here. No traps, no mobs, not even a flying eyeball monster. Just… quiet. Too quiet."
