The passage beneath the drained basin narrowed quickly, forcing Arios, Lucy, and Liza to move in a single line once again. Unlike earlier tunnels, this one did not slope downward in any obvious direction. Instead, it curved subtly, bending left and right in irregular intervals, as if carved by something that did not care for symmetry or ease of movement.
The stone underfoot was damp, slick in places where water seeped through hairline fractures in the walls. Arios adjusted his pace automatically, slowing just enough to ensure Lucy wouldn't lose footing behind him. Liza followed last, her steps light despite the uneven terrain, eyes never staying in one place for more than a second.
No one spoke.
Not because there was nothing to say, but because the dungeon no longer felt like it rewarded conversation. Every sound carried farther than expected, echoing faintly even when they whispered. The space seemed to listen.
