Oliver barely had a moment to breathe. His chest rose and fell quickly, his heart hammering like a drum inside his ribs. The ruins around him trembled, and the ground beneath his feet shook so hard he thought it might split apart at any moment. Broken columns groaned and rattled, loose stones tumbling to the cracked ground. Dust rained down in thick clouds, making it hard to see. The air itself felt strange—thick, heavy, and charged with something unseen yet terrifying. It was as if the whole world had taken a deep breath and was holding it, waiting for something terrible to happen.Oliver tried to steady himself, pushing against his aching knees as he looked around. "What now?" he gasped, his voice barely more than a whisper.Wren's head jerked up. Their sharp eyes widened in horror. "Move! Now!"There was no time to question. Oliver ran.A deep crack splintered through the stone behind him, opening like a jagged wound. From that dark fissure, heat blasted upward, as if something mo

Minutes passed. Then hours.Oliver walked through the dark passageways, his boots scraping against the cold stone floor. His breath echoed around him, the only sound in the empty corridors. The air was damp, heavy with silence, pressing down on him like an invisible weight.He kept moving. Left, then right. He ran his fingers along the rough stone walls, hoping for something different, something new. He took out his dagger and scratched a mark into the wall—just a small cut, a sign to remind himself that he had been here before. If he found it again, he would know he was walking in circles.But when he passed through the hallway once more, the mark was gone.Oliver stopped. His stomach twisted. His throat felt tight. He turned sharply, retracing his steps, counting each turn in his head. Left. Right. Down the spiral path. He whispered the directions to himself, over and over, trying to hold onto them. But no matter how carefully he moved, no matter how many turns he took, he always en

The path was steep and dangerous. Oliver followed the woman as she walked down the winding trail, his boots slipping on loose stones. Every step was a battle to stay upright. The ground beneath him felt unstable, as if the earth itself did not want him there. The mist wrapped around his ankles, curling like fingers trying to pull him back. It smelled of damp soil and something else—something old and forgotten.As they went lower, the air grew warmer. But it was not a comforting warmth. It did not feel like the sun on his skin or the heat of a fire on a cold night. It felt unnatural, as if something deep below was breathing hot air into the world above. Oliver swallowed hard, but his throat was dry.The woman walked ahead of him, her dark cloak barely moving even though the wind tugged at his own clothes. She did not stumble. She did not hesitate. She moved as if she belonged here, as if the path itself welcomed her. Oliver, on the other hand, felt like an intruder. He kept his distanc

Oliver barely had a moment to breathe before the ground beneath him trembled. The ancient stone chamber groaned like a sleeping giant stirring awake after centuries of silence. Dust drifted into the air, thin and wispy, catching the dim light like tiny ghosts floating in the gloom."That can't be good," Oliver muttered under his breath, his pulse hammering against his ribs.The air smelled old—of stone, dampness, and something metallic, almost like blood. His heart pounded as he took a cautious step forward, eyes darting around the massive chamber. Every instinct screamed at him to be ready, though for what, he didn’t know.Then, at the center of the room, the pedestal pulsed with golden light.Oliver flinched. The glow pushed back the shadows, casting long, flickering shapes against the walls. The air hummed with energy, something deep and ancient that made the hair on his arms stand on end."What the hell is this?" he whispered, squinting against the brilliance.A low chime rang thr

Dust floated in the air like tiny stars, swirling in the dim light. The shattered mirror realm had disappeared, leaving behind nothing but silence. Oliver could hear his own heartbeat, loud and fast, pounding like a war drum in his chest. He stood in the ruins, his hands shaking, his breath coming in short gasps. Everything around him felt still, too still, like the world itself was holding its breath.Then, the ground trembled beneath his feet.At first, it was a small vibration, just a whisper of movement. But then it grew stronger, shaking the ruins, sending loose stones tumbling from broken walls. A deep, low hum filled the air, not a sound, but a feeling—something ancient and powerful waking up. The hum grew into a roar, so loud it rattled Oliver’s bones. The air itself seemed to crackle with energy, like a storm about to break.“Oliver…?” a voice rasped.He turned sharply. Nadia was leaning against a broken pillar, her face pale, streaked with dirt and sweat. Blood stained the s