Story 483: The Velvet Abyss

The spiral staircase ended in an opulent chamber that looked entirely out of place in the depths of a warzone. The room exuded a warmth that belied its foreboding silence. Arching brickwork gave the space a cathedral-like grandeur, illuminated by flickering chandeliers. The walls were lined with shelves holding bottles, relics, and oddities from countless ages. A golden velvet couch stretched across one side of the room, its cushions worn yet inviting, while barrels sat ominously along the walls like silent sentinels.

Viper was the first to break the silence. “Are we... sure this isn’t just someone’s wine cellar?” she asked, her tone uncharacteristically light.

Ghost, crouched near one of the barrels, shook his head. “Wine doesn’t usually come with traps,” he muttered, pointing to faint engravings on the barrel lids. Runes—similar to those on the crimson bottle from the previous room—glimmered faintly in the dim light.