The path grew narrower as they pressed onward, winding like a serpent along the mountain's spine. Shadows stretched long against the stone, and the higher they climbed, the thinner the air became. Each breath felt like it scraped their lungs, yet Lira found her steps steadier now, the brush with death hardening her resolve.
Renkai walked ahead, his hand never straying far from his blade, every muscle coiled as if expecting the eagle's shadow at any moment. Thalanir brought up the rear, his antlers faintly aglow, ready to shield them should the mountain reveal another threat.
As dusk bled across the horizon, they reached a plateau where a circle of weather-worn stones stood like guardians. At the center, a flat slab bore strange carvings — spirals, lines, and symbols that pulsed faintly with inner light.
