Chapter 35 - The Queen's whisper

Star stepped into the half-sunken temple first, the air inside thick with the musty scent of forgotten rain and stone. Glowing runes danced along the walls, shifting shapes every time he blinked, casting perpetual twilight through cracks in the sagging roof. Crumbling altars dotted the main hall, some tipped over like drunken giants, others etched with faded stars that pulsed faintly. Elandor's hand stayed firm on Star's shoulder, a steady warmth amid the chill that seeped from the floor. Lila skipped ahead, her auburn curls bouncing, eyes wide with a mix of awe and mischief, while Duchess Calera moved slower, her hawk eyes scanning every shadow. Thorne lingered at the rear, masked and silent, as if the ruins spoke to him in a language only he understood.