The first tremor came like a warning. Dust trickled down the carved pillars and rippled across the floor. Vencian turned toward the sound as another shudder hit the walls, stronger this time. The entire temple groaned.
Reine flinched, clutching her arms. Roselys steadied herself against a wall.
"Is it that accursed serpent?" Vencian said.
"What else it could be."
He grabbed Reine's hand and pulled her toward the entrance. Roselys followed, but a massive stone block broke loose from the ceiling and slammed to the floor, sealing the exit.
"Curse it," Roselys said. "Let's go the other way."
Vencian looked around, his eyes scanning the chamber. "That'll only lead us deeper."
"Haven't you realized yet?" she said. "That entrance, this spherical chamber with a shallow sunken floor—this design belonged to temples from the third epoch."
Her word made him recall the lessons he attended and books he read.
She continued. "And one of their major features being—"
