Ryan looked at Soren, his eyes widening in genuine surprise.
Despite the Supervisor's encouraging smile, a trace of suspicion still flickered in the depths of his gaze, the old instinct of a boy used to being stepped on. But seeing no hidden malice in Soren's expression, he nodded slowly and pushed himself up.
His legs were shaky, but he managed to walk toward the massive stone doors. As he reached out and pressed his palm against the cold surface, the ancient mechanism groaned.
The doors swung open on their own, revealing an interior that was nothing but pitch-black darkness. It wasn't just a lack of light; it was a physical, heavy void that made it impossible to discern a single detail inside.
Ryan took a final, hesitant breath and stepped across the threshold.
The moment he crossed over, the darkness swallowed his figure whole, and the heavy doors slammed shut with a thunderous boom that echoed through the hall.
