A Shared Path Through the Dark

Mikhailis adjusted his gloves, glancing at the dimly lit entrance to Luthadel's catacombs. The air was thick with dampness, the faint scent of old stone mixing with a subtle metallic tang that made him wrinkle his nose. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for a sparring match rather than a journey into ancient depths. The stone archway looming over them was carved with faded symbols, each barely visible in the flickering torchlight.

Lira stood at his side, arms crossed over her chest. She wore her usual sharp-eyed expression, the one that always made Mikhailis wonder if she saw more than she let on. Her long black ponytail hung neatly down her back, swaying whenever she turned to check their surroundings. A soft sigh escaped her lips, though it was hard to tell if it was from impatience or worry.