[Leif's POV—Holy Temple, Inner Sanctum—Nightfall]
The further we descended into the temple, the louder my heartbeat felt.
Not in my chest.
But in the air.
A low, ancient thrum pulsed through the stone beneath our feet, like the temple itself remembered something the world had forgotten—and was trying to warn us.
The spirit goddess walked ahead, her glow flickering like a candle in storm winds. Alvar stayed close behind me, hand hovering near his blade, silent but burning with fear he refused to show.
Eryndor, Thalion, Daren, Caelum, Priest Caldric…All of us walked deeper. And deeper.
Until the light of the upper temple faded entirely behind us. Only the golden runes on the floor guided our path. Only the ancient heartbeat kept echoing.
Only the dread kept tightening.
***
[The Sealed Archive]
The hallway opened.
A massive door loomed before us—obsidian stone, carved with spiraling patterns of light and shadow twisting together like lovers and enemies.
