Walking on Fragile Stone

"Shh… do you hear that?"

They paused, straining their ears. A faint rumble—not another quake, but something deeper, like a heavy groan echoing from far below. The stone vibrated under their feet, not enough to topple them but enough to remind them they were absolutely not safe.

"Let's hurry," Mikhailis said, swallowing hard. "Before the next quake decides to drop the roof on our heads."

Rhea moved in halting steps, leaning heavily on him. They made their way to what looked like another descending passage, the walls lined with cryptic symbols. The deeper they went, the colder the air felt, as though some ancient chill seeped out from the rock itself. A trickle of water dripped from a fissure overhead, creating a narrow stream that flowed along the center of the path.