The others watched as the trio moved beyond the edge, Elion's wings spreading wide as Kali lowered Althea beside her.
A moment later, they began descending, their figures gradually disappearing beneath the billowing curtain of mana until there was nothing left to follow but an occasional glimpse of movement between its luminous folds.
The daylight faded quickly above them. Great stone shelves projected from the walls of the abyss, casting deeper shadows across their path, and before long, an impenetrable darkness concealed the people waiting on the bank.
Althea raised a hand, but Elion glanced toward her before she could cast.
"Let's wait until we're farther down before making any light. We don't know what might notice us."
She nodded and lowered her hand. Kali continued descending, having little trouble finding her way through the darkness.
