The gates of the Forbidden Fortress groaned shut behind them, the sound echoing through the cavernous halls like the last breath of a dying beast. The air inside was thick, heavy with the scent of dust, mildew, and something else—something metallic, sharp, and faintly reminiscent of blood. Their footsteps reverberated in the vast emptiness as they advanced cautiously through a grand hallway lined with towering stone columns, each etched with ancient symbols that pulsed faintly with a sickly blue light.
The walls themselves seemed to breathe, or perhaps it was the flickering torchlight playing tricks on their tired minds. Runic inscriptions stretched across every surface, whispering faintly in a language none of them could understand. Ezra walked ahead, his sword drawn and his posture tens
