The tunnel narrowed. The air grew colder, smelling of damp stone and ancient grease.
"They are close," Cassian whispered, pressing his back against the wall. He extinguished the alchemical torch, plunging them into semi-darkness lit only by the distant, bioluminescent fungi on the ceiling.
Clank. Clank.
Heavy boots echoed on the stone. Sir Kael wasn't even trying to be stealthy.
"Come out, Crowned Prince!" Kael's voice boomed, distorted by the acoustics of the Labyrinth. "Stop hiding behind your servant!"
Elian crouched beside Cassian, clutching his heavy rucksack. "He's loud. Does he want to attract every monster in the zip code?"
"He is arrogant," Cassian murmured.
They moved forward, stepping into a wide, high-ceilinged chamber. The floor was a mosaic of intricate stone tiles—red, black, and white—arranged in a dizzying geometric pattern.
Elian froze. His Gamer Sense tingled.
"Stop," Elian hissed, grabbing Cassian's belt.
Cassian halted instantly. "What is it?"
