Ethan watched in silence.
The energy sphere in his hand faded without him noticing.
The floating stone began to change color.
Its original gray-white surface receded as crimson seeped outward from within. Before long, not a trace of gray-white remained.
Thump.
The bloodred stone gave a faint beat.
Thump.
The second was stronger.
Suspended in midair, it now resembled a beautiful heart.
Then Ethan noticed the stones around them shifting.
He stopped watching, scooped up Auri, grabbed Idra, and rushed back toward the passage they had entered through.
Smaller stones closed in from every direction.
They piled together ahead and behind, sealing the passage before Ethan could reach the exit. Then they continued pressing inward, driving the three of them into a corner.
Idra broke free of Ethan's grip and returned to her small dragon form.
She opened her jaws and breathed dragonfire down the passage. Blazing flames engulfed the stones ahead, melting the closest gray-white rocks.
