Claiming the Elemental Shards

Feng Jiai's breath hitched in her throat.

Her lips parted in a panic, voice trembling as she stammered, "T-These defenses weren't here before! I-I swear, I've been in this place dozens of times! Th-this is new! I'm so sorry!"

She turned toward Quinlan with eyes wide and lips quivering. But, despite what she expected, he didn't flinch. Didn't panic.

He simply exhaled through his nose and turned toward the door that was now sealed shut, glowing with angry crimson runes, thick steel plates sliding down over it like a vault in wartime lockdown.

"Calm down." His voice was oddly light, even amused.

He took a few steps forward, rolling his shoulders. "No use panicking now."

Feng backed up instinctively as heat poured from him in waves. "W-What are you doing?"

Quinlan's response was a wicked, unhinged grin.

"Buying us time."