Xavier followed the bloody tracks through the corridor, his boots making soft impressions in the ancient dust. Naomi and Margaret flanked him, with Ashley bringing up the rear. The crystals grew denser here, jutting from walls like frozen lightning, casting prismatic shadows that shifted without source.
"The blood trail ends here," Xavier whispered, stopping before a stone archway. Beyond it lay darkness so complete it seemed solid.
"Could be a trap," Naomi said, knife ready in her hand.
Xavier pulled one of his twin daggers, the Fang humming softly against his palm. The King's Gaze offered calculations, probabilities, escape routes—but Ashley's presence nearby dampened its influence, letting his own instincts surface.
"Only one way to find out."
He stepped through the archway. For three heartbeats, total darkness enveloped him. Then, as if responding to his presence, crystals embedded in the ceiling began to glow with soft blue light, revealing what lay beyond.
