The red banners above the East Point entrance did not move. Not because there was no wind. But because the wind avoided the archway.
The silver shield embroidered at the center of Rivergate's banner caught the morning light, sharp and cold. Behind it, the crossed spear and sword gleamed like a warning no civilians gathered today.
Only soldiers…..
Only tension....
The General stood at the front, armored and silent. Behind him stood the squad.
Max….Rey…..Snow…..Ben….Mage and Eragon….
No one stood near Eragon that was intentional. Max's voice broke the silence.
"We're only here because the Town's Lord wants proof," he said, not looking at Eragon
"Not because everyone survived last time."
Snow adjusted the bandage on his shoulder, "We shouldn't have survived last time."
Ben snorted quietly. "Some of us shouldn't have."
That one landed, Rey shot Ben a warning glance. Ben ignored it, Eragon said nothing. The General finally spoke,
"Objective: verify instability and eliminate remaining threat."
His eyes moved across the team.
"Discipline will be maintained."
His gaze rested half a second longer on Max. And another half second on Ben.
Message delivered. Mage stood slightly behind the group, hands hidden within his robe sleeves. His face was calm too calm.
"Mana levels are irregular," Mage said softly. "Fluctuating."
Max's jaw tightened, "You didn't say that yesterday."
Mage,"They stabilized overnight."
Rey looked at him sharply. "Stabilized? Or adjusted?"
Mage smiled faintly. "The dungeon is a living structure, It adapts."
Ben muttered, "That's comforting."
The General turned toward the entrance.
"We move."
The moment they crossed the threshold, the air changed sound became distant. Footsteps echoed longer,breathing felt louder, Eragon felt it again. The wind inside the corridor did not flow naturally.
It circled, like it was studying him. Max noticed Eragon slowing slightly.
"Keep up."
Eragon stepped forward
"I am "
"Try harder."
The hostility was not hidden anymore. Snow walked between them.
"Focus," he said quietly. "Save it for after we survive "
Ben gave a dry laugh, "That depends."
Rey scanned the ceiling.
"Movement."
Too late, two hobgoblins dropped from above faster than normal, blades already mid swing. Max blocked one strike cleanly.
Ben thrust forward with his spear, piercing the second through the throat. More shadows moved deeper in the corridor.
Mage raised a hand. A thin line of light cut through the darkness, forcing three creatures back.
"They're not random," Rey observed. "They're holding positions."
"Defensive pattern," Snow added.
Max's eyes flicked toward Eragon again.
"As if they're guarding something."
Ben smirked, "Or someone."
Another wave rushed forward this time coordinated. One distracted Max, two flanked Snow. A fourth aimed straight for Eragon. Eragon stepped aside but something shifted. The creature's blade curved slightly off course, like air resistance had thickened. The strike missed his neck by more than physics allowed. The hobgoblin paused in confusion.
Rey saw it, he definitely saw it. Ben finished the creature with a brutal downward strike. Blood splashed against the stone. Max turned sharply.
"You moved wrong."
Eragon met his stare.
"I didn't."
Max stepped closer.
"You think this is a game? Things don't just 'miss' in here."
Snow interrupted. "Enough."
But the damage was done the accusation lingered. Mage's eyes narrowed slightly. He had seen it too the wind hadn't pushed violently.
It had… redirected,
Subtle...
Controlled...
Intentional....
The fight ended, but tension did not they reached the chamber where the two knights had died.
No one spoke, Ben stopped briefly.
"Still smells like iron."
Max did not look down.
"Keep moving."
The corridor narrowed ahead temperature dropped torches burned weaker. Mage stepped forward this time.
"The mana is converging ahead," he said quietly.
"Converging?" Rey repeated.
"Yes."
Snow frowned. "Toward the boss chamber?"
Mage hesitated for half a second.
"Yes."
That hesitation did not go unnoticed.
Max exhaled slowly,
"If there's another C-rank…"
Ben tightened his grip on his spear,
"Then this time we cut it down properly."
Eragon felt the air compress, Not around the corridor around him. The wind wasn't flowing freely anymore. It was being pulled forward toward the chamber doors. Like something inside was breathing in waiting.
Max stepped in front of Eragon,
"Stay behind me this time."
Eragon's voice was steady.
"I didn't ask you to protect me."
Max turned.
"And I didn't ask to clean up your mess."
Snow stepped between them again.
"Both of you…."
The ground vibrated lightly. Not violently just enough to silence them. The massive iron doors ahead bore fresh claw marks,
Deep...
Deliberate...
Ben swallowed...
"That's new."
Rey touched the metal. Cold…too cold...
Mage's voice lowered
"It has grown."
Max looked back at Eragon one more time.
"If it speaks again," he said quietly, "you don't answer."
Eragon held his stare.
"And if it calls me?"
Max's eyes hardened.
"Then we cut its tongue out."
The doors began to open,
Slowly...
Grinding...
Stone against stone....
The torches behind them flickered violently and went out. Darkness swallowed the corridor. Only the chamber ahead remained faintly illuminated.
Not by flame, by swirling currents of air.
Visible currents spiraling toward a central point toward a massive silhouette standing in the chamber.
Larger than before, armor pieces strapped over green flesh a halberd resting across one shoulder,
Not wild....
Not roaring...
Still...
Watching....
Its gaze locked onto Eragon immediately. The others raised weapons. It did not look at them its voice was deeper now, clearer.
"You survived."
Silence pressed against the walls, Max stepped forward first.
"You're not leaving this chamber."
The creature tilted its head slightly.
"I was not waiting for you."
The wind around Eragon tightened. Mage's breathing slowed, Ben shifted uneasily.
Snow whispered, "It's focused on him again."
Rey answered, barely audible, "No."
"It's drawn to him."
The creature took one step forward stone cracked under its weight,
"You returned to complete the bond….."
Max lunged,
Steel met halberd the impact echoed like thunder inside the chamber. Ben joined from the side Snow followed, Rey coordinated movement with sharp commands. Mage began chanting under his breath. But the wind the wind did not move randomly it circled Eragon.
Not violently...
Not explosively...
Like recognition....
Like memory...
The creature's eyes glowed faintly,
"The seal weakens."
And the chamber doors slammed shut behind them…..!