Chapter 286: THE GUARDIAN'S RIDDLE

"Are we sure this is the right way?" Kairos materialized from the shadows beside Salomonis, his voice carrying barely concealed doubt. "The main path was back there."

"Scared of the dark?" Aria teased, sparks dancing between her fingers as she illuminated their path. The narrow corridor they followed seemed to twist impossibly, defying normal geometry.

"Says the one lighting up our position like a festival lantern."

Salomonis chuckled at their bickering. "If you two are done flirting—"

"We're not flirting!" they snapped in unison, then glared at each other.

Ahead of them, Luna moved with unwavering certainty, her steps precise as if following an invisible map. The small figure of Yue hurried to keep pace with her, curiosity practically radiating from beneath her hood.

"The tower's architecture," Yue mused, her scholar's mind racing, "it's unlike anything in the records. The way the energy flows through these veins..."