The narrow tunnel pressed in on Lira from both sides. Rough stone walls rose sharply, jagged in places, their surfaces slick with dampness, as if the cave itself exhaled a slow, musty breath that clung to her skin. The silver glow of the vial barely illuminated the path ahead, flickering over small indentations and cracks, casting shifting shadows that danced in time with her heartbeat. Every step she took echoed softly, then multiplied, rebounding off hidden corners to create a chorus of faint, overlapping sounds that seemed alive, teasing, and at times almost sentient.
"Careful," Serelyth murmured, her voice low and steady, resonating in Lira's mind as a tether. "These passages… they twist not only space, but perception. Listen closely. Do not be fooled by what you think you hear."
