"Don't move too far," Caria warned from somewhere else. "This place warps distance. She could be three steps away or twenty."
Sophia let out a slow breath. "And it's already cutting off mana sense."
Rhys tightened his grip on Runius. The blade felt heavier, grounded — the only real thing in an unreal space.
He took a step.
Immediately, the floor changed — soft sand becoming smooth stone without warning.
Aria cursed. "Okay, that's just rude."
Caria's voice echoed from the void, steady and focused. "Remember the rules. Trust your body. Trust your instincts. Do not trust your senses."
Sophia added, calm but firm, "Rhys, lead. We'll follow."
"Alright," Rhys said. "Stay close. Grab the cloak of the person in front."
Hands found fabric.
Caria holding Sophia.
Sophia holding Aria.
Aria gripping Rhys.
A human chain.
Rhys inhaled. "Moving."
He stepped forward—
A faint rustle snapped through the white.
Something small. Something fast.
