The thunder of the HeartForge faded behind them as Branthor led the group down a narrow passage carved from obsidian and basalt. The sound of molten rivers dimmed, replaced by the low hum of something older, the pulse of sleeping embers, whispering beneath the stone.
The deeper they went, the darker it became. The crimson light of the forge receded, and only the dim runes along the walls remained, glowing faintly like dying stars. Each step echoed with a metallic ring, and their breaths formed visible wisps in the cooling air.
The heat that had once scorched their skin now gave way to a deep, bone-heavy stillness.
Zeus broke the silence first, his voice oddly muted in the enclosed space, "Where are we going now? I thought we saw everything."
Branthor didn't glance back. "Almost everything," he rumbled, "There is one final chamber you should see,"
Elara frowned, curiosity outweighing fatigue, "You mean… there's something else beyond the HeartForge itself?"
