Lucen pulled his hand back fast. "Yeah, note to self: don't poke the glowing death rock."
Selindra didn't look at him. "It's a seal. The first layer."
Varik moved closer, arms folded. "Breakable?"
"Yes," Selindra said softly, studying the monolith's shifting lines. "But the release won't be quiet."
Lucen arched a brow. "Define quiet."
She turned finally, eyes gray and steady. "Everything inside this vault will wake when we open it."
Lucen muttered, "Cool. Nothing says fun like a welcoming committee."
Varik's tone stayed flat. "How long."
Selindra studied the marks again. Her fingertips hovered just above the script, tracing without touching. "An hour, maybe two, to unwind them without damage. Less if brute force."
"Brute force it is," Varik said.
Lucen's eyes widened. "Hold on, hold on. Maybe don't smash the ancient cosmic curse rock? Just a thought."
Selindra's lips twitched faintly, not a smile, more like disdain wrapped in restraint. "You think too small."
