The open door yawned before them like the mouth of some ancient beast—dark, vast, and unknowable. A faint shimmer of light traced the edges of the threshold, flickering like a heartbeat poised on the brink of silence. Liam stepped forward first, the quill-key still glowing faintly in his grasp. Elena and Finn followed, their eyes drawn to the swirling mosaic that stretched across the chamber floor.
The illuminated path guided them forward, tiles shifting beneath their steps as if responding to their intentions. Memories whispered from the walls—fragments of conversations, echoes of laughter, and the quiet sobs of those who had walked these halls before. Each sound tugged at their hearts, stirring regrets they had tried to forget.
"We must stay focused," Liam muttered, gripping the quill-key tighter. "The Archive thrives on distraction."