The Door That Shouldn’t Be Opened

"This is bigger than I thought," Cerys muttered, running her gloved fingers over an etching that looked like a curved blade. She was no expert in ancient scripts, but it reminded her of designs she'd once seen in a forbidden library—images rumored to be older than the kingdom itself.

Vyrelda brushed dust from her hands and studied the door. "I've seen references to something like this in old archives. People said it was a myth, a sealed gateway to lost knowledge. Or maybe it's just an old tomb, locked away so no one can disturb the dead."

Cerys tried to force a hint of humor into her voice. "Wouldn't be the first tomb we've broken into." But the dryness of her tone betrayed her tension. She pressed her ear against the door, listening. It felt cold, like it was stealing the warmth from her cheek. The metal vibrated faintly beneath her skin, and she wasn't sure if that was the runes or just her own imagination.