The air seemed to stiffen as Kael's words faded.
Umbra floated silently, observing the fissure beneath the tree—the purple glow pulsed like the beating of an unholy heart, casting vivid reflections on the twisted trunks.
There was something there. Something that breathed.
Kael remained motionless, eyes fixed on the center of the opening.
The vibration of the corrupted mana was irregular—sometimes intense, sometimes almost imperceptible, as if the flow oscillated between two planes.
"This isn't just residue from the Core..." he murmured, more to himself. "It's a derivation. Someone is feeding this source from the outside."
Umbra lightly placed one of her spectral hands on the trunk. The wood was warm.
"The flow comes from inside the cave. I feel a presence... ancient, but not natural. Something that was molded."
Kael stood up.
"So there's a passage under Azalith. Probably used during the founding of the Academy."
He moved some of the earth away with a gesture.
