Chapter 16
The cliffside trail ended abruptly at the mouth of a shadowed cavern, half-hidden behind a veil of hanging vines. A damp, earthy scent rose from within, carrying the faint echo of dripping water. Lyra's shard quivered, sensing the latent magic that pulsed through the cavern walls.
"Looks safe… for now," Kaelen muttered, though his hand rested on the hilt of his sword, tense and ready. Mira's flames flickered nervously, illuminating the jagged entrance.
They stepped inside cautiously. The cavern widened into a vast chamber, its walls glittering with veins of crystal that reflected the shard's light in fractured patterns. The air was thick, charged with energy that made their skin tingle.
A low hum resonated from deep within, as if the cavern itself were alive, whispering secrets in a language older than memory. Lyra's pulse quickened. Every instinct told her this place was more than a refuge—it was a test.
Joren's eyes darted across the chamber. "We need to be careful. Something tells me we're not alone."
Shadows shifted along the crystal walls, moving unnaturally, as if watching them. Mira ignited a small flame in her hand, casting the room in warm light, but the hum grew louder, vibrating in their bones.
Lyra gripped her shard. The hidden cavern promised answers, but also danger—the kind that could shatter more than bones.
---