"No time to lose with that guy," DragonSlayer said, kicking the bound mage lightly with the toe of his boot. "Let's go. The witch is still up there."
The party nodded in agreement, their faces grim. They began to climb the now-finite staircase, their footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence of the castle spire. But as they walked, Kenjiro couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The man hadn't been afraid of his muscular shadow; he had seen something else in his mind, something that had terrified him to his very core. What could possibly be more frightening than the monster he kept locked inside?
They finally reached the top of the long, winding staircase. A single, massive door made of dark, polished wood stood before them, adorned with a single, silver handle shaped like a sleeping serpent. With a shared, determined look, Gluteus pushed it open.
