Chapter Forty-Eight: The Name That Should Not Be Spoken

The moment Elena whispered the name, the world shuddered.

A pulse of energy rippled through the cavern, rattling the stones and making the air thrum like the aftermath of a struck bell. The entity froze, its shifting form distorting—as if the name had unmade part of its existence.

Leon let out a strangled sound, his body convulsing as if something inside him had been yanked violently. Elena barely had time to react before he collapsed completely, his weight slumping against her.

"Leon!" she gasped, trying to support him. His skin was colder now, his breath barely there.

The entity's distorted form quivered, its shape flickering between something humanoid and something far more monstrous. It let out a sound that made Elena's bones ache—a sound like screaming and laughter twisted together.

And then—it lunged.

Elena barely managed to drag Leon out of the way as shadowy tendrils lashed toward them, tearing into the stone where they had just been. Dust and debris rained down as the passage trembled, cracks forming in the walls.

It was furious.

The name she had spoken had power—but now, it wanted to silence her for saying it.

She knew she had no choice. She had to keep moving.

With all her strength, she pulled Leon up, draping his arm over her shoulders. He was barely conscious, his weight dragging her down, but she gritted her teeth and forced her legs to move.

The markings on the wall—there had to be something more to them.

With desperate eyes, she scanned the ancient symbols, her heart hammering as the entity reformed itself, preparing another attack.

And then—she saw it.

A symbol, partially buried under the dust and grime, glowing faintly as if calling to her. It matched an illustration she had just glimpsed in the book.

A seal. A ward.

A way out.

Elena didn't hesitate. She reached out and pressed her hand against the symbol.

A violent shockwave erupted through the cavern, sending the entity recoiling with an ear-piercing shriek. The air around them rippled, and for the briefest moment, Elena felt something—a presence—push back against the darkness.

And then—silence.

The entity was gone. For now.

Elena collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. Leon's body was heavy against her, his condition worsening. His lips were pale, his breathing shallow. She had saved them—for now. But at what cost?

Her gaze flickered back to the book, her fingers tightening around it.

The name she had spoken… It had done something.

Not just to the entity—but to Leon.

And she was terrified to find out why.