Steps That Cannot Be Retraced

"Alright, ladies. Time to see what secrets the dead have left behind." The words felt like a promise and a challenge, echoing softly along the ancient stone walls. And with that final statement, he turned to face the corridor leading deeper into the catacombs, bracing himself for whatever awaited them below.

The descent was slow and treacherous. The tunnel ahead sloped downward, its once-smooth walls rough and worn by centuries of neglect. Mikhailis walked at the front, the runic key in his hand pulsing with a steady glow that pushed back the darkness. Every step he took released a soft crunch of gravel beneath his boots, echoing ominously in the cramped space. His breath came shallow, not just from the stale air, but from the tension building in his chest. He had never liked tight, enclosed places—not that he would ever say it out loud with Rhea and Lira watching him so carefully.