The Onyx Gates groaned open, revealing a cavernous tunnel lit by strange, bioluminescent green moss.
Ren looked up from Syris' chest. "Wow. You really committed to the 'Evil Villain Lair' aesthetic, didn't you? Do you have a skull throne too?"
Syris looked down at her, confused. "My throne is made of obsidian. Skulls are brittle. They make poor furniture."
"It was a joke, Syris."
"I do not know jokes." He tightened his grip on her waist as the boat docked against a polished black stone pier. "I need to get you to the Nest before the heat from the duck wears off."
He stood up, carrying her effortlessly.
"I can walk," Ren protested, wiggling her legs. "My legs work fine."
"The stone is freezing," Syris countered, stepping onto the pier. "If you walk, your feet will get cold. If your feet get cold, your blood cools. If your blood cools, I get cold. Therefore, you do not walk."
Ren rolled her eyes. "Logic 100. Fine."
