The descent was silent.
Riven, Nyx, and Krux slipped into the darkness beneath the library, the hatch sealing behind them with a soft, final click.
Cold air wrapped around them, thick with the weight of time. The scent of dust, damp parchment, and stale mana lingered in the air like a ghost of forgotten knowledge. The walls of the passage were tight, curving as they spiraled downward, deeper into the abyss of the Hidden Archives.
Riven led the way, his flames casting flickering shadows along the stone.
His mind pulsed with his connection to Sana. She remained stationed at the front desk above, still as a statue, ensuring no one would notice their absence. The deception held—for now.
But the air was shifting.
It was heavier now, thick with something unseen yet undeniable.
Krux stopped first.
His usual grin was nowhere to be found. He pressed a hand against the cold stone, his golden eyes darkening with something deep, something terrible.
