The impact above them came again, louder this time, shaking dust loose from the ancient ceiling in a sudden silver storm.
Selene looked up instinctively as fragments of stone drifted down around the underground chamber. The silver fire along the walls flickered harder, throwing long trembling shadows across the altar and the chained skeleton. Whatever had struck the shrine from above was not random. It carried force, purpose, and enough weight to threaten the fragile peace that had existed here for less than a breath.
Freya moved first.
"We leave through the eastern corridor."
Kael's gaze remained fixed upward for a moment longer before shifting back to the altar. The skeleton's chains were trembling, but its voice had gone silent now, as if it had said enough and no more could be drawn from it until a different condition was met.
Selene looked at the ancient bones.
A witness.
The words still echoed inside her mind.
