Impending

Raven couldn't help but inspect the mana crystals as they continued to explore the heart of the dungeon. The vibrant colors and soft glow of the crystals had captivated her attention from the moment they entered the cavern, but now that she was closer, something felt off—something she couldn't quite place. She crouched down next to a cluster of glowing blue crystals, her fingers grazing the surface.

At first, she thought the glow came from the mana contained within them, but as she observed more closely, Raven noticed something strange. The crystals weren't simply glowing because of the mana inside them—they were emitting a faint, rhythmic pulse, like a heartbeat. The light wasn't static, it flickered and shifted, almost as if the crystals themselves were alive.

Raven frowned, intrigued by the discovery. That's not how normal mana crystals behave, she thought, feeling a ripple of excitement. Normally, mana crystals radiated a consistent glow, powered by their stored mana. But these... these crystals were different. They seemed to breathe with energy, responding to the flow of magic in the air around them.

She reached out cautiously and touched one of the crystals. The instant her skin made contact, she felt a jolt of energy, but it was not the usual hum of mana. This sensation was much deeper, a kind of resonance that reverberated through her very bones. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was... alive. Her connection to the crystal felt almost like a mutual exchange, as if the crystal recognized her touch, her own mana, and responded to it.

"Raven?" Celia called from a few feet away, her voice laced with curiosity. "What are you doing?"

Raven quickly pulled her hand away from the crystal, but the pulse of energy lingered in her fingertips for a moment, as if reluctant to release its hold. She glanced up at her sister, who was now walking toward her with an inquisitive look.

"Something's off about these crystals," Raven said, her voice low but filled with wonder. "They're not powered by just mana. They're... reacting to it, like they're alive. It's not just the light, either. I felt it when I touched one." She gestured toward the glowing formations scattered throughout the room.

Celia raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Alive? Do you think they're, like, breathing or something?" she teased, but there was a hint of genuine curiosity behind her words.

Raven nodded, her expression serious. "Yeah, I know it sounds weird, but I'm not sure what else to call it. They're not like any mana crystal I've ever seen. They have some kind of... resonance. Like they're connected to the dungeon itself."

As if on cue, the air around them seemed to hum, the ambient magic in the room flickering slightly as if reacting to their presence. Raven felt a strange pull, almost like the crystals were calling to her, urging her to investigate further. She took a step back, wary but compelled by an unexplained curiosity.

Before she could speak again, Professor Lysque's voice rang out from across the cavern. "Everyone, be cautious! There's something unique about these crystals, but we don't know enough about them yet. Keep your distance and don't try to interact with them unless I say so!"

The professor's warning snapped Raven out of her trance. She straightened, suddenly more aware of the others in the room. Her fingers tingled with the leftover energy from the crystal's pulse, and she could still feel the lingering connection, but she obeyed the professor's order and stepped back.

"What do you think, Raven?" Celia asked, her voice quieter now, as if sensing the gravity of the situation. "What makes them so special?"

Raven shook her head, still uncertain. "I don't know. But whatever they are, they're not just ordinary crystals. They've got something more to them, something alive, almost."

Lumina, who had been quietly observing the scene, stepped forward. "Could it be tied to the Bloodhound's death? The mana could have fused with the crystals in a way that... changed them," she suggested, her voice thoughtful. "It's possible that the Bloodhound's presence here left a lingering imprint on the crystals, transforming them into something unique."

Arielle, who had been standing off to the side, suddenly spoke up, her voice low but filled with curiosity. "Maybe they're not just ordinary mana crystals at all. Maybe they're like... conduits—able to channel and store the energy from the dungeon itself. What if they're linked to the dungeon's very essence, its core magic?"

Raven considered this, her mind racing with the possibilities. If these crystals were truly conduits for the dungeon's mana, it would explain their strange behavior. They could be reacting to the ambient magic in the air, storing and transmitting it in ways normal crystals could not.

"Whatever they are," Raven said, finally looking up from the crystals, "they're not just for decoration. There's more to them, and we should be careful. They could be tied to something deeper in this dungeon—something we don't fully understand yet."

Professor Lysque nodded approvingly as she walked up to their group. "Exactly, Raven. Keep your distance for now, but remember this feeling. These crystals are more than meets the eye, and I suspect they have a significant role to play in the dungeon's mysteries."

As they continued their exploration, Raven couldn't shake the feeling that the dungeon was watching them. It was as if the very walls, the mana crystals, and the ground beneath her feet were more than passive observers—they were active participants in their journey, waiting for something.

That's when it happened.

Without warning, the entire dungeon began to tremble. It was a low, deep rumble at first, like the growl of some ancient beast stirring from slumber. Raven's heart raced as the floor beneath them shifted, and the walls groaned ominously, sending small cracks spider-webbing through the stone.

"Professor!" Raven called out, her voice strained with sudden panic.

"Everyone, get to the exit! Now!" Professor Lysque shouted, her command cutting through the growing chaos.

Panic spread like wildfire through the group, and the students began to sprint towards the entrance. The tremors worsened, shaking the very foundation of the dungeon. The crystals embedded in the walls flickered erratically, their pulse flashing faster with each quaking step, as though they too were reacting to the disturbance.

Raven's eyes scanned the students around her, her heart pounding in her chest. Lumina made it past the threshold of the chamber, disappearing into the dark tunnel beyond. Arielle, her eyes wide with fear, followed closely behind her. But it was Celia—Celia wasn't moving.

Raven's breath caught in her throat as she looked around, searching frantically for her sister. Celia?

She could barely see her amidst the chaos, her body lost among the throngs of students. But there, just at the far edge of the chamber, Raven spotted her sister's form, still standing there. Celia was facing the entrance, but something in the air had stopped her from running—something that was making her hesitate.

Why isn't she coming?! Raven thought, panic rising in her chest. Did she go further into the dungeon? Did she get distracted by the Heart's Eye?

Raven's mind raced with the possibilities. She knew her sister—Celia's curiosity and reckless nature could easily drive her to push deeper into the dungeon. They were right in the heart of it, the pulse of magic vibrating through the very walls. The Heart's Eye—a forbidden, legendary location that was said to hold unimaginable power—was just a few chambers away, and Celia had always been drawn to things like that, no matter the danger.

"Damn it, Celia," Raven muttered, gritting her teeth. She could feel the dungeon rumbling harder, the ground beneath her feet starting to crack. I can't let her stay there. I won't let her do something stupid.

Without thinking, Raven turned toward the long, dark hallway that led deeper into the dungeon—the path that would lead her to the Heart's Eye. Celia had to be in there. Raven's pulse quickened, her mind now single-mindedly focused on one goal, get to Celia, get her out, no matter what.

"Raven! Where are you going?!" Lysque's voice rang out, sharp and urgent.

Raven didn't even slow down. "I'm going to save Celia!" she shouted, her voice raw with fear. "There might be other students in there too! I'll bring them out!"

"Stay here!" Lysque's voice rose above the tremors. "I'll go get them!"

But it was too late. Raven was already moving, her legs carrying her toward the hallway as the dungeon groaned louder, the vibrations now strong enough to rattle her teeth. The light from the mana crystals flickered erratically as if responding to the imminent collapse. The walls were beginning to crack and crumble, small debris falling from above. The dungeon was dying—but what if there's something below it?

Raven barely registered her own thoughts, her focus completely on the path ahead. The thought of a collapse was terrifying, but saving Celia was the only thing that mattered right now. If the dungeon was crumbling, they didn't have much time before it all came crashing down.

The hallway stretched out before her, its shadows growing deeper with every step she took. The tremors only grew stronger, sending shockwaves through the ground and the air, as if the dungeon itself were protesting her presence.

As she ran, Raven's mind raced. What if it's not just the dungeon collapsing? What if there's something deeper under all this? A hidden force… or something waiting to be awakened? The thought sent a chill down her spine, but she didn't have time to ponder it further. 

Her footsteps echoed in the silent hallway, the sound of her breathing and the distant rumble of the dungeon filling her ears. She couldn't afford to hesitate now. Celia's life is on the line.

As she neared the entrance to the deeper chamber, the vibrations underfoot grew more violent, and Raven could feel the walls closing in around her. The air itself seemed to press against her, the once vibrant mana crystals flickering and dimming as though drained of energy.

The heart of the dungeon was calling to her. Something about the air was different here, heavy with anticipation. And, at the very back of her mind, Raven couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting for them, something ancient and powerful, just out of reach.

But none of that mattered right now. 

"Hold on," Raven whispered, her voice barely audible. She had to save her sister—no matter the cost.