The back tunnel was narrow — walls rough, ceiling low.
Miko and Kael crawled — single file, Kael in front, shadows lighting the way.
The air was stale — dust, stone, old magic.
Miko's head pounded — the seal's voice louder again.
Run.
Hide.
Open.
Free.
She gritted her teeth.
Kael glanced back.
"You're breathing hard."
Miko forced a smile.
"Just… tired."
Kael stopped — turned as much as the tunnel allowed.
"You're not."
Miko sighed.
"The voices… they're back."
Kael's voice was low.
"What are they saying?"
Miko closed her eyes.
"'Run.'
'Hide.'
'Open.'
'Free.'
And… 'they die for you.'"
Kael's shadows tightened.
"They died for what they believed."
Miko nodded.
"I know.
But it feels like my fault."
Kael reached back — took her hand.
"It's not."
Miko squeezed his hand.
"I know.
But it still hurts."
Kael's voice was quiet.
"I know."
They kept crawling.
The tunnel sloped down — steeper.
The seal pulsed — heavy.
Listen.
Miko felt dizzy — vision blurring.
She stopped.
Kael turned.
"Miko."
She leaned against the wall.
"It's… loud."
Kael crawled back — close as the tunnel allowed.
"Talk to me."
Miko exhaled.
"It's showing me things.
Visions.
Me opening the Mother Rift.
You… gone."
Kael's grip tightened.
"That's not going to happen."
Miko looked at him.
"How do you know?"
Kael's voice was steady.
"Because I'm here.
And I'm not letting it happen."
Miko smiled — small.
"You keep saying that."
Kael's expression softened.
"Because it's true."
Miko rested her forehead against his shoulder — awkward in the tunnel.
"I don't want to lose you."
Kael's voice was quiet.
"You won't."
Miko closed her eyes.
"I'm trying."
Kael held her — as much as the tunnel allowed.
"That's enough."
The seal pulsed — once, almost gentle.
Together.
Miko exhaled.
"Yeah."
They kept crawling.
The voices quieted.
For now.