"Explain…" Marcus nudged immediately.
"In old wars…there were structures like this," Luna said. "Underground routes built to confuse enemies. Fake tunnels, dead ends, complicated loops...All kinds of underground tactics."
"And I'd wager this was the same."
"So you think this is some sort of hidden base?" Emily asked, leaning in from behind her.
Luna shook her head. "Not necessarily. It felt almost as if—"
"Something witnessed said wars…and tried to replicate it."
Iris let out a quiet breath through her nose. "…You're telling me something down here watched human warfare and decided to copy it?"
Luna realized the thought sounded absurd even now. But it was the Wildlands after all. Anything could happen.
Emily's hands trembled as they grasped onto Luna's sleeve. "Do—do you think that 'something' is—is sstill down here?"
"…Maybe we should head back instead!" Emily added quickly, nodding a little too enthusiastically. "W—we can contact Professor Sterling and—"
