Serian and Mela just stared at him, their expressions a mixture of shock and wariness. The room was silent except for the faint, echoing drip of something in the dark.
Mela was the first to find her voice, and even then it was just a whisper. "What was that? You were… different."
"I got an upgrade. It is more efficient this way." Nox did not feel the need to explain it further, so he started walking toward the bone staircase that led to the next level. "Come on, the lich is still waiting."
The two girls exchanged a look of deep concern, but they followed him without another word. The staircase was a long, spiraling ascent up the inside of the spire's dark walls, and with every step, the air grew colder. After a climb that felt like it lasted for an eternity, they reached the top, stepping into another large, square chamber.
